Guitar Tabs X vs Noterix

Guitar Tabs X is an editor for writing and saving songs and musical ideas as tablature. It supports guitar, bass, and ukulele tabs, with tools for creating and editing notation and entering or changing chords. Users can preview and play tabs, then export songs as PDF, MIDI, or HTML, including as web pages. The app also provides a server of songs shared by other users, which can be browsed without registration. It runs on Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows, and tablature is its listed notation mode. The maker describes its tab file format as readable and small. Its free plan costs nothing and provides basic functionality; a Pro option is listed, with prices and subscription periods shown in app stores and monthly, yearly, or one-time subscription choices. Registration is not required. The privacy policy says user data is not stored apart from songs shared to the server, and that shared songs cannot be traced to actual users. The terms advise saving songs elsewhere regularly because the maker is not responsible for data loss.

Noterix is a guitar tablature and standard notation editor for Windows and the web, with real-time audio playback, effects and a multichannel mixer. Scores support up to eight simultaneous tracks, variable time signatures, key changes, guitar articulations and complex rhythms. Its audio engine includes a SoundFont 2.0 instrument library, adjustable 44.1, 48 and 96 kHz sample rates, tempo mapping and MIDI output for external devices or DAW integration. Per-track effects include amp simulation, cabinet impulse response loading, distortion, EQ, reverb, delay, compression, noise gate and chorus/flanger. Practice tools include section looping, tempo reduction by up to 75% without changing pitch, a metronome scheduler, count-in and A/B take comparison. It imports compatible Guitar Pro 7/8 files and has limited support for compatible GPIF-based GPX files, but not legacy GP3/4/5 files. Guitar Pro and PDF export are planned for a future update. The Windows app costs 109.99 USD as a one-time payment; Pro starts at $9.99 per month, billed $89.91/year.