Comparison

Reflow vs Musicnotes

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

Head to head
About

Reflow

Create, edit, and share musical scores and guitar tablature. Supports multiple instruments, realistic playback, and import/export of various file formats. Ideal for songwriters and musicians looking to compose and practice.

Highlights
  • Tablature and notation editor
  • Import Guitar Pro and MIDI files
  • Realistic instrument playback
  • Instant web sharing
  • Multi-track scores
  • Chord diagrams
  • Edit while playing
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. Instant Web Share - Share any score as a web link — one tap, no account needed - Recipients get a full interactive player with audio playback and cursor tracking - Speed control and loop markers in the web player - Links expire after 7 days 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 - Instant Web Share — temporary web link with interactive player - 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

Musicnotes

Access and play a vast library of digital sheet music. Practice with interactive tools, transpose keys, and annotate scores. Organize your music into set lists for lessons, rehearsals, or performances.

Highlights
  • Interactive sheet music player
  • Key transposition tool
  • Annotation and markup
  • Set list organization
  • 500,000+ sheet music arrangements
  • Personal sheet music upload
  • Interactive playback with tempo control
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Musicnotes is your digital sheet music reader, player and music library for practice, performance, and learning. Access and print over 500,000 officially licensed printable sheet music arrangements, scores, and practice materials to play, study, and build your skills wherever you go. Whether you're a student, teacher, hobbyist, or professional musician, Musicnotes provides reliable, interactive annotation tools to support your musical education, rehearsal, and personal growth. Musicnotes brings sheet music and scores to life with interactive playback, helping you follow the notation as you listen, learn, and practice. WHY MUSICNOTES? • Sheet music player and reader for practice, rehearsal, lessons, and performance • Read, play, organize, annotate, perform, and print from one of the most trusted sheet music apps • Transpose songs into different keys for vocal training, music theory study, and instrument practice • Mark up your sheet music with a stylus or finger to improve sight-reading, interpretation, and recall skills • Organize your sheet music and scores into set lists for lessons, recitals, rehearsals, performances or group practice • Browse over 500,000 officially licensed printable sheet music arrangements, study scores and practice sheets • Receive 100 free sheet music titles, blank sheet music and scales, to support your learning and education journey • Upload and store your personal sheet music PDFs online for easy access • Easily import your Music notes sheet music pieces into the ForScore Pro app for note management • Discover popular musicals and artists like Sabrina Carpenter, Taylor Swift, La La Land, Lady Gaga, and Bruno Mars ACCESS A WORLD OF EDUCATIONAL MUSIC RESOURCES • Take your digital sheet music library offline—perfect for students, teachers, and performers seeking reliable music reference material • Scan printed scores and convert them into digital study material • Explore free and paid music for all skill levels, instruments and voice: piano, guitar, drums, flute, clarinet, trumpet, violin, cello, accordion, percussion, banjo, saxophone, tuba, baritone horn and more • Learn classical repertoire, lullabies, jazz standards, christmas classics or modern pop • Perfect for use in private lessons, school programs, and conservatory training PRACTICE TOOLS FOR MUSIC EDUCATION • Customize key and tempo for vocal range exercises or skill development • Use interactive playback with the music note player to improve rhythm, timing, and accuracy • Loop difficult sections for targeted repetition and muscle memory • Practice music theory fundamentals with harmony playback and tempo control • Organize your music note sheets into set lists to prepare for lessons, practice routines, or recitals ANNOTATE & TEACH MORE EFFECTIVELY • Highlight, write, and add custom markings to reinforce learning points • Switch between annotated and clean sheet music scores • Sync notes across devices with Musicnotes Pro, ideal for teachers & students THE BEST TOOL FOR TEACHING, LEARNING, AND PERFORMING • Tap or swipe to turn pages—or use AirTurn & Pageflip for hands-free playing • Customize paper backgrounds to mirror physical sheet music • Print purchased scores for classroom or in-person lessons • Use Musicnotes Pro Credits to redeem arrangements for your music curriculum • High-resolution PDFs available with Pro membership Try Musicnotes today and discover why music teachers, students, and performers trust it as the #1 sheet music reader, player, and performance app Musicnotes Pro is an annual subscription that will charge to your App Store Account & auto-renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Your App Store Account will be charged within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. Your subscription & auto-renewal can be managed in your Account Settings. Terms of Use: https://www.musicnotes.com/TermsOfUseApp.html

Screenshots

Reflow4 screens
Musicnotes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Musicnotes at 4.8 against Reflow's 3.5. Musicnotes also leads on ratings volume (43K vs 33) and chart position (#202 vs unranked). Reflow's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, 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

Both are free to download. Reflow sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $34.99 per year and Musicnotes sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Musicnotes holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Musicnotes has 43K ratings behind it against 33, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of Reflow's written reviews are positive against 55% of Musicnotes's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Reflow ships an update every 2 weeks, Musicnotes every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Reflow versus Musicnotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReflowMusicnotes
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (33 ratings)4.8 (43K ratings) — better
Positive reviews44.5% of reviews54.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3343K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#202 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.415.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size101 MB128 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperGargantMusicnotes

Customer experience

Reflow

All ratings33 ratings
Positive60.6%
Neutral9.1%
Negative30.3%
Written reviews110 reviews
Positive44.5%
Neutral13.6%
Negative41.8%

Musicnotes

All ratings43,029 ratings
Positive97.8%
Neutral1.3%
Negative0.9%
Written reviews601 reviews
Positive54.7%
Neutral12.6%
Negative32.6%

Bugs and requests

Reflow

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Musicnotes

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Login issues and inability to access purchased content
  • Crashes and performance problems, especially on newer devices
  • Inconsistent behavior when navigating and scrolling sheet music
  • Unreliable playback and sync features

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add ability to permanently delete pre-installed songs
  • Improve note-taking and annotation tools, including Apple Pencil support
  • Implement better browsing and search functionality
  • Allow more flexible printing and copying options
  • Add seamless syncing between app and website purchases

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Reflow

Subscriptions1
  • Reflow Premium7 Days trial$34.991 Year
One-time1
  • Reflow — Full Version$14.99
12 purchases

Musicnotes

Subscriptions1
  • Musicnotes Pro$14.991 Year
One-time11
  • PDF Sheet Music Arrangement2 variants$2.99
  • Sheet Music Arrangement$3.99
  • Sheet Music Arrangement$4.99
Show 8 more
  • Sheet Music Arrangement$5.99
  • Sheet Music Arrangement$6.99
  • Sheet Music Arrangement$7.99
  • Sheet Music Arrangement$8.99
  • Sheet Music Arrangement + PDF$8.99
  • Sheet Music Arrangement + PDF$9.99
  • Sheet Music Arrangement$12.99
  • Pro Credit Pack (3 Credits)$12.99

Questions

Is Reflow free?
Reflow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Musicnotes free?
Musicnotes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Reflow or Musicnotes?
Musicnotes is rated higher. Reflow averages 3.5 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while Musicnotes averages 4.8 from 43K ratings.
Do Reflow or Musicnotes have ads?
Musicnotes shows ads; Reflow does not.
Which is updated more often, Reflow or Musicnotes?
Reflow ships an update every 2 weeks, and Musicnotes every 3 weeks. Most recently, Reflow was updated on September 10, 2026 and Musicnotes on September 26, 2026.

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