CantoBase vs Octavia
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CantoBase is the right choice when you want make-up and cancellation policy enforced automatically, per-session billing flexibility, and a signed-link parent portal that doesn't require a family account. Octavia is the right choice if Free Forever unlimited students matters (you're starting out, or you want to never think about subscription cost), and you'll use Octavia's rich in-lesson teaching content tools (embedded metronome, audio recorder, notation creator, YouTube integration). Octavia is Australian-built and music-teacher-first. Honest pricing comparison: Octavia wins at the bottom (free), CantoBase wins at the policy-enforcement layer and per-session billing.
Choose CantoBase if
- You want cancellation + make-up policy auto-enforcement.
- You want per-session billing (not just monthly).
- You want signed-link parent UX (no family account at all).
- You're US-focused and want US-routed support.
Choose Octavia if
- Free Forever unlimited students is the deciding factor.
- You'll use embedded teaching tools (metronome, recorder, notation, YouTube).
- You're Australian or AUD-billing matters.
- You don't need policy auto-enforcement (you'll handle make-ups manually).
How do CantoBase and Octavia compare feature-by-feature?
| Feature | CantoBase | Octavia |
|---|---|---|
| Free Forever tier | No 30-day trial only. | Yes Unlimited students, single teacher. |
| Make-up + cancellation policy auto-enforcement | Yes Late cancel triggers the charge automatically. Make-up requests honor your rules. | No Manual make-up tracking. |
| Per-session billing | Yes | No Invoice/recurring only. |
| Parent portal style | Signed link, no account. | Family login (account creation). |
| In-lesson teaching tools (metronome, recorder, notation) | No Out of scope by design. | Yes Built-in. |
| Web Push practice notifications | Yes Native browser push, no carrier cost, rich media. | Partial |
| Multi-currency (AUD + USD) | No USD only. | Yes |
| Stripe Connect direct payout | Yes Teacher owns the Stripe account. No marketplace skim. | Partial Platform-mediated Stripe. |
| Lesson note archive duration | Yes Full history. | Partial 3-month archive on Free Forever. |
How does pricing compare?
| Tier | CantoBase | Octavia |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 30-day trial | Free Forever, unlimited students |
| Solo paid | $15/mo, up to 30 students | $15/mo Pro Teacher (unlimited students) |
| Solo unlimited paid | $29/mo, unlimited students (+$5/seat for extra teachers) | $15/mo (covered above) |
| Multi-teacher (5) | $49/mo (+4 seats) | $35/mo flat |
| Multi-teacher (10) | $74/mo (+9 seats) | $50/mo flat |
See full CantoBase pricing. Octavia pricing verified from octavia.studio as of May 20, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is Octavia really free forever?
Yes, for unlimited students on a single-teacher account. The free tier has a 3-month archive limit on lesson notes and the parent family-login is PDF-export-only, but otherwise it's a real free product. That's a structural advantage at the top of funnel.
Why would I pay $15 for CantoBase Starter when Octavia is $15 for unlimited students?
Honest answer: at the $15 tier head-to-head, Octavia has the better pricing position (unlimited vs 30 students cap). The reasons to pick CantoBase at the same price: cancellation + make-up policy auto-enforcement (Octavia is manual), per-session billing (Octavia is invoice/recurring only), and signed-link parent portal (Octavia uses family-account login). If those four don't matter to you, Octavia is the better-priced choice.
Which is cheaper for a 10-teacher school?
Octavia at $50/mo flat vs CantoBase at $74/mo ($29 Studio + 9 seats × $5). Octavia wins meaningfully at multi-teacher scale.
Does Octavia auto-enforce cancellation policy?
No. Octavia tracks lessons and make-ups, but the teacher still has to decide and apply policy manually. CantoBase's cancellation engine is the wedge here: rules in the system, rules enforced by the system.
Is Octavia the same as My Music Studio?
Yes. Octavia is the March 2026 rebrand of My Music Studio (founder Hildy Essex). Note: My Music Studio is NOT the same as My Music Staff (mymusicstaff.com) - those are two different products from different companies. If you see "MMS" in a Reddit thread, it almost always means My Music Staff.
What does Octavia have that CantoBase doesn't?
Free Forever tier (unlimited students), in-lesson teaching tools (metronome, audio recorder, notation creator, YouTube embed inline with lesson notes), AUD billing, and flat-rate multi-teacher pricing that beats CantoBase past 5 teachers.
Can I migrate from Octavia to CantoBase?
Yes. Export students from Octavia, import into CantoBase. Lesson notes archive doesn't transfer cleanly (different note formats). Cancellation policy + parent-portal links are fresh setup on the CantoBase side.
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