Flat vs Sessionwire

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.

Sessionwire is a remote audio collaboration platform for recording, mixing, mastering, and music education workflows. It streams uncompressed stereo audio at 48kHz, with automute and zero-latency local monitoring. Sessions can include HD multi-party video, screen sharing, remote desktop control, and recording video and voice to disk. Encrypted peer-to-peer file transfer sends files directly between computers rather than through a cloud server. Its free Plugin Suite, in AAX, VST3, and AU formats, streams a DAW session’s mix, plugins, and signal chain into Sessionwire. Guests can join using Chrome, Brave, or Edge without a plugin, app, signup, or download. Hosting requires one of those browsers, macOS 12 or later or Windows 10 64-bit or later, and at least 5 Mbps upload and download. The Free plan includes unlimited connections, guest audio/video/file transfer, SessionChat, and the Plugin Suite. Basic costs $12.99 per month; Studio costs $29.99 per month and includes up to 50 people, session recording, unlimited file size, and a 100GB Vault. A 14-day trial is available.