My kids have a 75 gallon tank, tropical freshwater fish. The Aqueon QuietFlow is not quiet even with the tank filled and filter system cleaned.
Do canister filters do the job quietly?
If so which brands are reliable and easy to maintain?
Are there any other good options?
I have been using the Fluval line of canister filters for years. They are very quiet.
This is the one I currently have, though I use it in a 55 gallon tank. https://www.petsmart.com/fish/filters-and-pumps/filters/fluval-external-406-canister-filter-5105739.html
How often do you change/clean the filters?
Darn filter looks very pricey.
Get a canister filter. Upfront cost is higher than simple hangover the edge filters but they’re quiet and last forever. The filters can be washed and last quite a while. You can also add diatomaceous earth and end up with crystal clear water that makes the fish look like they’re floating in air.
You could also get an undergravel filter and a couple of power heads. The problem there is your gravel gets dirty, although you can just use a simple gravel vacuum cleaner when you do water changes. A reverse flow undergravel works great but you might have to make something like that yourself.
So in conclusion, a canister filter is a simple reliable solution.
At that size I was thrilled with my H.O.T. Magnum. Tough as nails, worked for over 15 years, and always turned on when you hit the button with no priming.
It’s easy to open and clean, and has a chamber for whatever media you choose (I always just filled it with those small ceramic pebbles.)
After a quick google, I see the style has changed dramatically, so YMMV. 
I imagine you could find it for less than that on the internet, but yes, they aren’t cheap. However, I have been through almost all other types of filters and got tired of them breaking or not doing a great job. So I decided to just spring for it. This one (especially since I bought the “next size up” from what I needed) has worked great. Plus, it is QUIET. You can’t hear it running until you’re standing right next to it. To me, that’s a great benefit, I don’t like that sound of running water you get with some others.
I clean the filter media about every month or more often. Don’t really keep track. It has removal bins so you can put in whatever type of media you want. Between that, I do regular tank cleaning (gravel vacuum, algae scraping, etc.)