CantoBase vs Opus1
Last updated:
CantoBase is the right choice when you want a parent practice loop (assignments, push notifications, parent-visible practice log) plus auto-enforcement of your cancellation policy. Opus1 is the right choice if you run a music school with multiple teachers and want a clean modern UI for scheduling and billing, and you don't need a parent practice portal or policy auto-enforcement. Opus1 is newer than My Music Staff and feels lighter on the surface, but its feature depth (practice tracking, parent engagement) is thinner than CantoBase. Both run around $15/mo at the solo entry point.
Choose CantoBase if
- You want a parent practice portal with push notifications.
- You want cancellation + make-up policy auto-enforcement.
- You're solo or 1-3 teachers.
- You want per-session billing.
Choose Opus1 if
- You run a music school with 4-plus teachers.
- You want a clean scheduling + payments UI and nothing else.
- Parent engagement isn't a current priority.
How do CantoBase and Opus1 compare feature-by-feature?
| Feature | CantoBase | Opus1 |
|---|---|---|
| Parent portal (practice + assignments) | Yes Signed link, no account. | No Family login exists; no practice loop. |
| Make-up + cancellation policy auto-enforcement | Yes Late cancel triggers the charge automatically. Make-up requests honor your rules. | No |
| Web Push practice notifications | Yes Native browser push, no carrier cost, rich media. | No Email only. |
| Practice tracking | Yes | No |
| Modern UI / UX | Yes SvelteKit + Tailwind. | Yes Newer-feeling than MMS. |
| Multi-teacher / school | Partial Studio tier, 1-3 teachers. | Yes |
| Per-session billing | Yes | No |
| Stripe Connect direct payout | Yes Teacher owns the Stripe account. No marketplace skim. | Partial |
| 30-day free trial, no credit card | Yes | Yes |
How does pricing compare?
| Tier | CantoBase | Opus1 |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial | 30 days, no CC | Available |
| Solo | $15/mo, up to 30 students | ~$15/mo entry tier |
| Multi-teacher / school | $29/mo, unlimited students (+$5/seat for extra teachers) | Tiered by teacher count |
See full CantoBase pricing. Opus1 pricing verified from opus1.io as of May 20, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is Opus1 better than My Music Staff?
Opus1 has a cleaner, more modern UI than MMS, but a much smaller feature set. Most teachers comparing the two say Opus1 "feels early" and "more like scheduling + payments than a full school system." If MMS's complexity is the problem, both Opus1 and CantoBase are simpler answers, but they're simpler in different ways.
Does Opus1 have a parent portal?
Opus1 has a family login but not a practice-focused parent portal in the CantoBase sense. Parents can pay invoices; they can't see what was assigned this week or log practice time.
Which is cheaper, CantoBase or Opus1?
Within a dollar at the solo entry tier. CantoBase Starter is $15/mo (up to 30 students), Opus1 entry is around $15/mo. CantoBase Studio at $29/mo unlimited students is hard to beat for growing solo studios.
Does Opus1 do practice tracking?
No. Opus1 is scheduling and payments forward; practice tracking and parent engagement aren't part of the current feature set.
Which is better for a 4-teacher music school?
Opus1 is more school-shaped (multi-teacher scheduling, school-level views). CantoBase Studio is built for 1-3 teachers; past that, the per-seat $5 add and the absence of school-level reporting start to bite. For a 4-plus teacher school, Opus1 or My Music Staff are more honest fits.
Can I migrate from Opus1 to CantoBase?
Yes. Export students and contacts from Opus1, import to CantoBase. Stripe Connect re-setup, then start fresh on the parent-portal side.
Try CantoBase for 30 days
No credit card. Full access. If it's not the right fit, walk away with your data.
More comparisons
- CantoBase vs My Music StaffMy Music Staff is the deep mature platform for academies. CantoBase is the same-afternoon tool for solo teachers with a real parent portal.
- CantoBase vs TeachworksTeachworks is generic tutoring across many subjects. CantoBase is music-specific with practice assignments, parent portal, and push notifications Teachworks doesn't have.
- CantoBase vs FonsFons is scheduling + payments with an MTNA partnership. CantoBase is everything that happens around the lesson: assignments, practice, parent comm, make-ups that enforce themselves.
- CantoBase vs Duet PartnerDuet sends parents text messages. CantoBase sends parents a rich practice log with Web Push, plus auto-enforces your cancellation policy. Duet is $9/mo unlimited; CantoBase $15-$29.
- CantoBase vs OctaviaOctavia is Free Forever for unlimited students with rich teaching content tools. CantoBase auto-enforces your cancellation policy and ships per-session billing Octavia doesn't have.
- CantoBase vs Jackrabbit MusicJackrabbit Music is class management software for multi-teacher schools (dance, music, gymnastics). CantoBase is built for solo teachers and 1-3 teacher studios. Different products for different scales.
- CantoBase vs Studio HelperStudio Helper is an older multi-teacher studio platform with strong invoicing. CantoBase is a modern solo-focused tool with signed-link parent portal and cancellation auto-enforcement.