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Head-to-head · Guitar Tab Software

TuxGuitar vs Reflow

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score TuxGuitar #2 in Guitar Tab Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 4 features Visit TuxGuitar
Reflow #8 in Guitar Tab Software 7.5/10 Paid ✓ 3 of 4 features Visit Reflow

TuxGuitar leads on 1 check, Reflow on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreTuxGuitar · 9.0/10
  • Free planonly TuxGuitar
  • Most featuresReflow · 3 of 4

TuxGuitar scores higher on our rubric for guitar tab software: 9.0 against 7.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #8.

TuxGuitar offers free plan; Reflow doesn't. On notation modes, Reflow gives you Tab, standard and notation where TuxGuitar offers Tab and standard.

TuxGuitar is the better fit for free open-source desktop tab editing. Reflow is the better fit for mac and iOS score production.

  • TuxGuitar fits best

    Free open-source desktop tab editing

  • Reflow fits best

    Mac and iOS score production

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Side by side

Feature TuxGuitar 9.0/10 Visit ↗ Reflow 7.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 7.5
Ranking #2 in Guitar Tab Software #8 in Guitar Tab Software
Best for Free open-source desktop tab editing Mac and iOS score production
Pricing model Free Paid
Starting price Free plan $14.99 one-time
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop, Mobile Desktop, Mobile
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, Android macOS, iOS
Support Email, Community, Docs Docs
Built for Solo, Small business Solo, Small business
Features TuxGuitar 2/4 · Reflow 3/4
Tab playback ✓ ✓
MIDI support ✓ ✓
Audio recording Not checked yet Not checked yet
Sharing or publishing Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Supported platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, Android iOS, macOS
Notation modes Tab and standard Tab, standard and notation
Our review
Pros
  • Multi-track editing with both standard notation and tablature views
  • Imports Guitar Pro, PowerTab, TablEdit, and MIDI files
  • Exports audio, MusicXML, PDF, SVG, LilyPond, and ASCII formats
  • Detailed guitar, bass, drum, and standard notation editing
  • Playback includes looping, tempo control, and speed training
  • Broad import, export, sharing, and Mac Audio Unit support
Cons
  • Playback uses MIDI-based sound output rather than audio recording
  • No collaboration features are listed
  • The broad feature set stays focused on tablature and score editing
  • Available only on macOS and iOS
  • No subscription-free option below the one-time purchase
  • Web sharing is temporary rather than a permanent score host
Our verdict

TuxGuitar is a free, open-source application for creating, editing, viewing, and playing multi-track guitar tablature. It is suited to guitarists, arrangers, students, and songwriters who want desktop or Android software for combining…

Read the review →

Reflow is a native music-notation editor for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, aimed at guitarists, bassists, drummers, arrangers, and musicians who need editable scores rather than simple chord charts. It combines tablature, standard notation, chord…

Read the review →
  1. TuxGuitarGuitar Tab Software 9.0Free plan
  2. ReflowGuitar Tab Software 7.5Paid

Strengths and trade-offs

  • TuxGuitar — where it wins

    • Multi-track editing with both standard notation and tablature views
    • Imports Guitar Pro, PowerTab, TablEdit, and MIDI files
    • Exports audio, MusicXML, PDF, SVG, LilyPond, and ASCII formats

    Where it doesn't

    • Playback uses MIDI-based sound output rather than audio recording
    • No collaboration features are listed
    • The broad feature set stays focused on tablature and score editing

  • Reflow — where it wins

    • Detailed guitar, bass, drum, and standard notation editing
    • Playback includes looping, tempo control, and speed training
    • Broad import, export, sharing, and Mac Audio Unit support

    Where it doesn't

    • Available only on macOS and iOS
    • No subscription-free option below the one-time purchase
    • Web sharing is temporary rather than a permanent score host

More comparisons

All guitar tab software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update