CogNote
7.7#2 in music school softwareFrom $5 a monthFree planWebAPISelf-hosted
VisitCogNote vs MusicDesk
What both publish
| Fact | CogNote | MusicDesk |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | CogNote can generate invoices from attendance and billing policies, email PDF invoices, record payment and export payment CSV files. | MusicDesk supports recurring monthly family subscriptions and accepts major credit cards through Stripe. |
| Family portal | Each family receives a private link for schedules, practice links and notes without a login. | Families can view upcoming lessons, cancel within the school's notice window, and book makeups when enabled. |
| Integrations | The documented stack uses Supabase, Vercel, Resend or SMTP, Stripe, VexFlow and OpenSheetMusicDisplay. | The maker names Stripe for payment processing and family payments, plus Supabase, Resend, Vercel, and Calendly among its third-party services. |
| Product | CogNote is an open-source studio management suite for private music teachers, with scheduling, attendance, families, progress tracking, quizzes, and flashcards. | MusicDesk provides student management, scheduling, automated billing, and related tools for music teachers and schools. |
| Scheduling | It supports recurring weekly lessons and one-tap attendance while preserving local lesson times across daylight-saving changes. | It supports one-on-one and group lessons, attendance tracking, lesson notes, substitute teachers, and teacher-specific schedules. |
| Support | The hosting page directs product questions to [email protected]. | Email support is included for all users, and the FAQ says phone and video support are in the works. |
CogNote plans
- Hosted FreeFree
- Self-hostedFree
- Hosted Pro$5 a month
MusicDesk plans
- MusicDesk$14.99 a month
Pick CogNote if…
CogNote suits private music teachers who need lesson administration and student practice tools in one system. Its family portal and account-free practice links may also work well for studios sharing schedules, notes, and exercises with families.
Pick MusicDesk if…
MusicDesk suits music schools and independent teachers managing schedules, student records, family billing, and teacher pay. It may also fit schools that want families to manage lesson details through a portal.