Comparison

Reflow vs TabStudio

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

Head to head
About

Reflow

This application allows musicians to create and edit musical scores for various instruments. It supports importing multiple file formats, offers realistic instrument playback, and includes tools for composition and practice. All data is stored locally, ensuring privacy.

Highlights
  • Tablature and notation editing
  • Import Guitar Pro, MIDI, and MusicXML files
  • Realistic virtual instrument playback
  • Multi-track score composition
  • Chord diagram library
  • Looping and playback speed adjustment
  • Export to multiple formats (MusicXML, MIDI, PDF, WAV)
Features
Read full description

Reflow is a tablature and notation editor for guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and vocals. Write tabs, compose songs, import Guitar Pro and MIDI files, and hear everything played back with realistic instruments. Trusted by thousands of musicians for over a decade. Import Your Files - Open Guitar Pro 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 files (.gp, .gp5) - Import Standard MIDI files with track mapping and quantization controls - Import MusicXML files - Access thousands of tabs shared online Tablature & Notation - Guitar, bass, banjo, ukulele, and any stringed instrument - Bends, slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs, harmonics, and all standard techniques - Lyrics with auto-advance — press Space or Hyphen to chain syllables across beats - Standard notation stays in sync above the tab staff - Custom tuning support Virtual Instruments - Interactive piano keyboard — tap to enter or preview notes - Interactive fretboard — see note names, tap to enter notes - Scale overlay — display any scale on the keyboard or fretboard Drum Notation - Full drum kit mapping on a standard percussion staff - Custom drum mapping editor — assign any MIDI note to any staff position - Enter beats with keyboard shortcuts, numeric keypad, or tap input Chord Diagrams - Built-in library with 89 chord types and voicings - Add diagrams above any beat - Chord names display automatically Multi-Track Scores - Combine guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and vocals in one score - Solo, mute, and adjust volume and pan per track - Realistic instrument sounds across 128 instruments - Rack view with per-track controls and custom track colors Edit While It Plays - Edit your score during playback — hear changes in real time - Add notes, adjust dynamics, switch instruments without stopping Audio & Practice - High-quality instrument sounds with instant playback - Loop / A-B repeat — drag markers to loop any section - Adjustable playback speed from 0.25x to 2x - Metronome, precount, and playback tracking - MIDI input from external controllers View Modes - Continuous vertical scroll — modern reading experience - Page view with Fit Page Width - Free zoom and horizontal scroll Export & Share - Export to MusicXML, GP5, GP7, MIDI, WAV, M4A, and PDF - Open your scores in Dorico, Sibelius, MuseScore, or Finale - Print your scores directly - Bundled sample songs to explore and learn from Keyboard Shortcuts - Full keyboard support on Mac and iPad with hardware keyboard - Works on all keyboard layouts — AZERTY, QWERTZ, and more Privacy First - All data stored locally on your device - iCloud backup and sync - No account, no login, no tracking - Works fully offline One-Time Purchase - Free to try — all features available in evaluation mode - Evaluation watermark and 10-measure export limit - Purchase once to remove the watermark and unlock full exports Download Reflow and start creating music today.

About

TabStudio

Create, edit, and listen to guitar and bass tablature on your mobile device. Quickly compose musical ideas with intuitive tools, add articulations, and export your work as professional PDFs. Ideal for musicians and teachers on the go.

Highlights
  • Intuitive tablature editing
  • Full rhythm control
  • Guitar articulations and chord notations
  • Real-time audio playback
  • Multi-instrument and custom tuning support
  • PDF export and sharing
Features
Read full description

Ever come up with an amazing guitar riff or solo line during practice, only to forget it because you didn't have staff paper or a laptop nearby? Looking for a fast, intuitive way to write and listen to guitar tabs on the go without wrestling with heavy desktop software? TabStudio is a streamlined, powerful guitar and bass tablature creator designed for guitarists, bassists, songwriters, and music teachers. Turn your musical ideas into clean, playable tabs in seconds, listen to instant audio playback, and export professional sheet music right from your iPhone or iPad! [ Effortless & Fast Tablature Editing ] - Intuitive fretboard and number input interface designed specifically for touchscreens—no steep learning curve required. - Full rhythm control including whole notes down to 32nd notes, dotted notes, triplets, and rests. - Speed up your songwriting workflow with easy measure management, copy/paste, and instant undo/redo. [ Rich Guitar Articulations & Chord Notations ] - Express every nuance of your playing with essential guitar techniques: Hammer-ons, Pull-offs, Slides, Bends, Vibrato, Palm Muting, Harmonics, and more. - Add chord names, fret diagrams, and performance notes above your measures to build complete lead sheets. [ Real-Time Audio Playback & Practice Tools ] - Hear your composition immediately! Play back your tabs to check melodies, harmonies, and rhythm accuracy on the spot. - Fine-tune your tempo (BPM), turn on the built-in metronome, and loop challenging sections to practice at your own pace. [ Multi-Instrument & Custom Tuning Support ] - Create tabs for 6-string Acoustic/Electric Guitar, 4-string/5-string Bass, Ukulele, and more. - Easily switch between Standard tuning, Drop D, Half-Step Down, Open tunings, or customize each string to match your setup. [ Crisp PDF Export & Instant Sharing ] - Export your finished tabs as clean, print-ready PDF documents with a single tap. - Share your sheet music effortlessly with bandmates, students, or friends via AirDrop, Email, or messaging apps. [ 100% Privacy & Zero Distractions ] - No sign-ups, no accounts, and zero ads to interrupt your creative flow. - All your scores and musical ideas stay safely stored on your device. Download TabStudio today and never let a great guitar riff slip away again!

Screenshots

Reflow4 screens
TabStudio4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: TabStudio at 4.0 against Reflow's 3.5. TabStudio also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). Reflow's advantage is ratings volume (33 vs 1) and iOS requirement (16.4 vs 26.5). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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

Both are free to download. Reflow sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. TabStudio asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TabStudio holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Reflow has 33 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Reflow versus TabStudio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReflowTabStudio
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (33 ratings)4.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews44.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings33 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.4 — better26.5
Further details — not scored
Size104 MB149 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGargantJOOYOUNG MAENG

Customer experience

Reflow

All ratings33 ratings
Positive60.6%
Neutral9.1%
Negative30.3%
Written reviews116 reviews
Positive44.0%
Neutral12.9%
Negative43.1%

TabStudio

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Reflow

One-time1
  • Reflow — Full Version$14.99
None

TabStudio

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Reflow free?
Reflow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TabStudio free?
TabStudio is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Reflow or TabStudio?
TabStudio is rated higher. Reflow averages 3.5 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while TabStudio averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Reflow or TabStudio have ads?
Neither Reflow nor TabStudio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Reflow or TabStudio?
Reflow ships an update every 9 days, and TabStudio every 9 days. Most recently, Reflow was updated on November 10, 2026 and TabStudio on November 7, 2026.

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