Comparison

FL Studio Mobile vs Ableton Note

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

FL Studio Mobile

Create and save complete multi-track music projects on your mobile device. Record, sequence, edit, mix, and render full songs with a wide array of instruments and effects. Share your creations via Wi-Fi or cloud.

Highlights
  • Multi-track audio recording
  • Sequencer and piano roll editing
  • Mixer with per-track controls
  • Extensive instrument and effect modules
  • MIDI controller and file support
  • Project sharing via Wi-Fi/Cloud
  • Audiobus and IAA support
Features
Read full description

Create and save complete multi-track music projects on your iPad, iPhone or Mac. Record, sequence, edit, mix and render complete songs. FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS * Audio recording, track-length stem/wav import * Browse sample and presets with preview * Effects modules (see Included Content) * Full-screen MacBook and iMac Trackpad and Mouse support. * High quality synthesizers, sampler, drum kits & sliced-loop beats * Instrument modules (see Included Content) * Load projects in the FL STUDIO** FREE Plugin version of this App * MIDI controller support (class compliant). Automation support. * MIDI file import and Export (Single-track or Multi-track) * Mixer: Per-track mute, solo, effect bus, pan and volume adjustment * Piano roll. Edit notes or capture recorded performances. * Save and load WAV, MP3, AAC*, FLAC, MIDI * Share your songs via Wi-Fi or Cloud to other Mobile 3 installations * Step sequencer * User interface configurable with all screen resolutions and sizes. * Virtual piano-keyboard & Drumpads * IAA App support (In/Out), Audiobus support (In/Out) * Audio recording (external and internal sources) * Share your songs via Sync to other Mobile 3 devices / installations * Load your projects in the FL STUDIO* FREE 'Plugin' Version of this App# IN APP PURCHASES & INCLUDED CONTENT FL Studio Mobile includes in-app purchases for the DirectWave sample player. You can install your own samples and don’t need to buy content. All Instrument modules are included: Drum Sampler, DirectWave Sample Player, GMS (Groove Machine Synth), Transistor Bass, MiniSynth & SuperSaw. All Effect modules are included: Analyzer (visual), Auto Ducker, Auto-Pitch (pitch correction), Chorus, Compressor, Limiter, Distortion, Parametric Equalizer, Graphic Equalizer, Flanger, Reverb, Tuner (Guitar/Vocal/Inst), High-Pass/Low-Pass/Band-Pass/Formant (Vox) Filters, Delays, Phaser and Stereoizer. Included Drum Samples: Cymbals, Hats, Kicks, Snares, Toms, Percussion, Risers, SFX Included DirectWave Instruments: Guitars, Keyboards, Orchestral, Synth, Bass, Synth Keyboards, Synth Leads, Synth Pads, Sliced, Drums, Drum Kits and Effects. Included MiniSynth Presets: Bass, Keys, Leads, Pads, SFX, Synths Included SuperSaw Presets: Arps, Bass, Bells, SFX, Leads, Pads, Sequences, Synths WANT TO TRY BEFORE YOU BUY? Install FL STUDIO 20 for macOS / Windows and you can use the FL Studio Mobile Plugin. This is identical to the App, as a plugin inside FL Studio. Get it here: http://www.image-line.com/downloads/flstudiodownload.html MANUAL / TRAINING / VIDEOS http://support.image-line.com/redirect/flstudiomobile_help http://support.image-line.com/redirect/flstudiomobile_videos SUPPORT Please help us to help you! In the App, tap 'Help > Users & Support Forums' to register FL Studio Mobile to your Image-Line account and gain access to the forum. You can then report bugs, make feature requests and access free downloadable content: http://support.image-line.com/redirect/flmobile_forum

About

Ableton Note

Create musical ideas with curated sounds and effects. Build beats, melodies, and sample your surroundings. Seamlessly transfer your projects to Ableton Live for further development.

Highlights
  • Create beats and melodies
  • Sample sounds with phone microphone
  • MIDI Editor for sequencing
  • Transfer projects to Ableton Live
  • 76 Drum Sampler kits
  • 317 synth sounds
Read full description

Start new musical ideas with a curated selection of sounds and effects. Create beats and melodic parts, sample your world, and continue your tracks in Ableton Live. Note is a place to form ideas, explore new sounds and find direction. Get your ideas out or just experiment until inspiration hits, using a selection of Ableton Live’s drum kits, synths and melodic instruments. Create your own sound palette by sampling with your phone’s built-in microphone. And use Note’s built-in MIDI Editor to sequence notes, beats and chords or make tweaks as you listen back Follow your ideas wherever they lead by sending your projects to Live without leaving the app with the help of Ableton Cloud. Open projects from Live’s browser and keep working – you can edit all your MIDI notes, and all your samples and sounds from Note are exactly the same. Ableton Note users get a free license for Ableton Live Lite – simple, intuitive software used by musicians, producers and DJs around the world to write, record, and perform. For Ableton Move users, Note also offers the chance to keep working on a Set from your phone. Begin with a beat: • Choose from 76 Drum Sampler kits • Tap out a beat using the 16-pad grid, or sequence one with the MIDI Editor • Play each drum hit melodically using 16 Pitches mode • Quantize your beat or nudge notes to fix loose timing or mistakes • Add more layers of rhythm • Create beat repetitions with Note Repeat • Change parameters to shape your sound • Experiment with effects or apply swing for variations Start with a melody: • Choose from 317 synth sounds and 60 Melodic Sampler instruments • Play or program your melody or chord progression with the 25-pad grid, piano roll or MIDI Editor • Set a key and scale to get instantly harmonic results • Add more layers of harmony • Change parameters to shape your sound • Add effects to experiment with sound design Sample your environment: • Create your own kits by recording percussive sounds into Note’s Drum Sampler • Record tonal sounds to create your own Melodic Sampler instruments • Manipulate your samples by cutting, filtering or repitching them • Sequence samples into beats, melodies and chords using the MIDI Editor • Shape or transform your sounds with effects • Import your own samples or audio directly from videos Work with Audio • Add audio clips from the library • Warp tempo or adjust pitch of your clips • Record audio directly using your phone’s built-in microphone • Connect an audio interface to record external sources • Combine recorded and imported audio with your beats and melodies Capture improvisations: • Play something, then tap the Capture button to keep it • Play at a tempo that feels comfortable and Note will detect it • Note will recognize the length of the phrase and create a loop • Quantize it, add to it, or change the sound • Connect MIDI hardware to play keys and change the sound of your instruments Create variations: • Note features a grid-based Session View layout • Double your loops to create variation within clips • Duplicate your clips and create different versions of your ideas • Add, delete or adjust multiple notes at once with the MIDI Editor • Create eight tracks with up to eight clips on eight scenes • Try different clip combinations and song structures • Export your work as an audio file to listen and share

Screenshots

FL Studio Mobile4 screens
Ableton Note4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Ableton Note at $6.99 against FL Studio Mobile's $14.99. Ableton Note also leads on rating (4.2 vs 3.8) and review sentiment (72% vs 57%). FL Studio Mobile's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

FL Studio Mobile costs $14.99 and Ableton Note $6.99 up front. FL Studio Mobile sells 11 one-off in-app purchases and Ableton Note sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ableton Note holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 577 and 695 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 57% of FL Studio Mobile's written reviews are positive against 72% of Ableton Note's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FL Studio Mobile ships an update every 9 days, Ableton Note every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
FL Studio Mobile versus Ableton Note: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFL Studio MobileAbleton Note
Price$14.99$6.99 — better
Rating3.8 (577 ratings)4.2 (695 ratings) — better
Positive reviews57.0% of reviews72.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings577695 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#3 — better#7
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size407 MB1010 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperImage Line SoftwareAbleton AG

Customer experience

FL Studio Mobile

All ratings577 ratings
Positive65.9%
Neutral10.2%
Negative23.9%
Written reviews1,108 reviews
Positive57.0%
Neutral14.0%
Negative29.0%

Ableton Note

All ratings695 ratings
Positive78.4%
Neutral10.6%
Negative10.9%
Written reviews481 reviews
Positive72.3%
Neutral13.7%
Negative13.9%

User reviews

FL Studio Mobile

From 577 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great app for making music on the go
  • 👍 Intuitive and easy to use interface
  • 💡 Ability to import own samples and sounds
  • 🚀 Powerful sequencing and composition tools
  • 👍 Good value for the price

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🔇 Limited sound selection and synth capabilities
  • 🔇 Clunky piano roll and note editing
  • 🔇 Restrictive effects and mixing options
  • 🔇 Compatibility issues with newer devices

Ableton Note

From 695 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Intuitive workflow
  • 🎨 Great sound quality
  • 🤝 Seamless Ableton Live integration
  • 💰 Affordable price
  • 🔥 Inspiring for creativity

Room to improve

  • 🔇 No audio track support
  • 🎹 Limited note editing capabilities
  • ⏱️ Bluetooth latency issues
  • 🔢 Restricted to 4/4 time signature
  • 🔧 Lacking some advanced features

Bugs and requests

FL Studio Mobile

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • App crashes when importing audio files
  • Saved projects randomly deleted or corrupted
  • MIDI import/export not functioning properly
  • Slide notes not working in slicer feature
  • Audio quality issues when exporting tracks

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add tempo automation
  • Improve piano roll and note editing
  • Expand sound library and synthesis options
  • Enhance effects and mixing capabilities
  • Improve compatibility and stability

Ableton Note

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Occasional loss of unsaved work
  • Freezing issues when editing clips

Requested features

6 requests
  • Audio track support
  • Expanded note editing tools
  • Midi controller support
  • More effects and synth options
  • Time signature flexibility
Show 1 more
  • Ability to import samples from Ableton Live

In-app purchases

11 purchases

FL Studio Mobile

One-time11
  • Transistor BassFree
  • Groove Machine SynthFree
  • Sliced Beats$0.99
Show 8 more
  • Voices$0.99
  • Acoustic Guitars$0.99
  • Tuned 808 Bass$0.99
  • Synth Lead$1.99
  • Synth Plucks$1.99
  • Chill-Lo-Fi Mobile$1.99
  • Amped Guitar & Bass$2.99
  • Varazdin Orchestral Mobile$3.99
1 purchases

Ableton Note

One-time1
  • Drift In-App Purchase$3.99

Questions

Is FL Studio Mobile free?
FL Studio Mobile costs $14.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Ableton Note free?
Ableton Note costs $6.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, FL Studio Mobile or Ableton Note?
Ableton Note is rated higher. FL Studio Mobile averages 3.8 out of 5 from 577 ratings, while Ableton Note averages 4.2 from 695 ratings.
Do FL Studio Mobile or Ableton Note have ads?
Neither FL Studio Mobile nor Ableton Note shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FL Studio Mobile or Ableton Note?
FL Studio Mobile ships an update every 9 days, and Ableton Note every 5 weeks. Most recently, FL Studio Mobile was updated on October 14, 2026 and Ableton Note on October 14, 2026.
Which is more popular, FL Studio Mobile or Ableton Note?
FL Studio Mobile currently peaks at #3 in the App Store charts, and Ableton Note at #7. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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