Flat vs Jamulus

Flat is music-notation software for writing, editing, playing back, and collaborating on scores. It runs on the web, iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows, and supports MusicXML and MIDI import and export. Users can compose, edit, and play scores offline; cloud sync requires Flat Power. Multiple users can write, edit, and comment on the same score from different devices in real time. The free plan includes essential notation tools, playback, and collaboration, but is limited to 15 scores. Flat Basic lists 30 instruments; Power includes more than 180, including HQ studio instruments, alongside unlimited scores and advanced playback. Flat Power costs $9.99 per month or $49.99 per year. The desktop app is free to download and use, with a 15-score cap on its free plan. PDF import requires Flat Power or paid credits, while desktop exports include PDF, MP3, and WAV. Flat for Education integrates with Google for Education, Microsoft Office 365, and Canvas and has a free one-month trial. Personal accounts have a minimum age of 13 in most countries.

Jamulus is free, open-source software for playing, rehearsing, or jamming remotely in real time over a broadband connection. It is described for choirs, bands, folk and classical musicians, music lessons, schools, and universities. In its client mixer, users can set the level they hear from each connected musician and use mute, solo, pan, and grouping controls. People connected to the same server can exchange text messages visible to everyone there. A connected MIDI controller can operate mixer volume, pan, mute, and solo controls, with availability depending on platform and version. Users may run their own server, but this is optional because clients can connect to listed or unlisted servers. Network conditions affect server quality; the manual says fewer than five players is usually fine on a slower home connection. Communications are sent without encryption, and normal use shares a user's Jamulus name, city, country, instrument, and skill level with connected servers, peers, and protocol-using third parties. When recording is enabled, unmodified servers show a notice, and the server operator controls recordings.