This is a comparison of music notation programs.
Name | Guitar tablature | WYSIWYG editor | MIDI entry [a] | Playback | File formats | Developer(s) | Stable release; review date | License | Cost | Operating systems | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Import | Export | ||||||||||
Canorus | No | Yes | MIDI | CanorusML, [b] MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] simple LilyPond [e] | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] LilyPond, [e] PDF | Reinhard Katzmann, Matevž Jekovec, Georg Rudolph | 0.7.3; 18 June 2018 | Since 0.7.3:
GPL-3.0-only 0.1.0 to 0.7.2: GPL-2.0-only |
No cost | Linux | |
Capella | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST, SoundFonts | Capella, [f] CapXML, [g] MusicXML, [c] MIDI [d] | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] BMP, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, Truevision TGA, PCX, HTML | capella-software AG | 9.0-13; 19 March 2024 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows, macOS |
Denemo | Yes | Yes | Step-time | MIDI | Denemo, [h] limited LilyPond, [e] MusicXML [c] | LilyPond, [e] MusicXML, WAV, Ogg, PDF, PNG, MIDI | Jeremiah Benham, Richard Shann | 2.6.0; 11 March 2022 | GPL-3.0-or-later | No cost | Windows, macOS, Linux |
Dorico | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST | Dorico, [i] MusicXML, [c] MIDI [d] | MIDI, [d] MusicXML, [c] WAV, MP3, PDF, PNG, TIFF, SVG | Steinberg | 5.1.40; 29 May 2024 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows, macOS |
Early Notation Typesetter | No | Yes | No | No | ENT [j] | ENT, [j] PDF | Samuel Gossner, Daniel West, Dieter Theuns | 0.9.6; 20 October 2020 | Proprietary | No charge for single font | Windows, macOS, Linux |
Encore | Yes | Yes | MIDI | Encore, [k] MusicTime, [l] Rhapsody, [m] Compressed MusicXML [n] | MIDI, [d] Cakewalk MIDI, [o] Master Tracks Pro, [p] PDF | Passport Music Software | 5.0.4 (Windows); 5.0.7 (macOS); 2015 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows, macOS | |
Finale | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST, AU, [q] Garritan library | Finale, [r] MusicXML, [c] MIDI [d] | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] WAV, MP3, AIFF, PDF, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, EPS, BMP, GIF, PICT [q] | MakeMusic, Inc. | 27.4; 29 November 2023 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows, macOS |
Forte | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST | Forte, [s] MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] CapXML [g] | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] BMP, JPEG | Lugert Verlag GmbH | 12; 2020 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows |
Frescobaldi | No | WYSIWYM | MIDI | LilyPond, [e] MusicXML, [c] ABC | MusicXML, [c] PDF | Wilbert Berendsen | 3.3.0; 26 March 2023 | GPL-2.0-or-later | No cost | Windows, macOS, Linux | |
Guitar Pro | Yes | Yes | MIDI, RSE | Guitar Pro (versions 1–8), [t] MusicXML, [c] Compressed MusicXML, [n] MIDI, [d] ASCII tab, [u] Power Tab, [v] TablEdit [w] | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] ASCII tab, [u] PNG, PDF, WAV | Arobas Music | 8.1; 27 March 2023 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows, macOS, Linux | |
Impro-Visor | No | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI | Impro-Visor [x] | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] PDF | Bob Keller | 10.2; 1 August 2019 | GPL-2.0-or-later | No cost | Windows, macOS, Linux |
LilyPond | Yes | No | No | MIDI | LilyPond; [e] using converters: ABC, [y] ETF, [z] MIDI, [d] MusicXML [c] | PDF, PNG, PS, SVG | Han-Wen Nienhuys, Jan Nieuwenhuizen | 2.24.3; 19 November 2023 | GPL-3.0-or-later | No cost | Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD |
MagicScore | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, SoundFonts | SFD, [aa] MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] Karaoke, [ab] WAV, MP3 | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] Karaoke, [ab] WAV, MP3, PDF, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, BMP, GIF, EMF, WMF | Maestro Music Software | 8.280; 2017 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows |
Mozart | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI | Mozart, [ac] MusicXML, [c] NIFF, [ad] MIDI, [d] Karaoke, [ab] ABC [y] | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] ABC, [y] BMP, EMF, GIF, JPEG, PBM, PNG, TIFF | Mozart Music Software | 16.1.4; June 2024 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows |
Mus2 | No | Yes | MIDI | Mus2 [ae] | MIDI, [d] AIFF, WAV, PDF, SVG, BMP, JPEG, PNG | Utku Uzmen (Data-Soft Ltd.) | 3.2.3; November 2022 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows, macOS | |
MuseScore Studio | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, SoundFonts, SFZ | MuseScore, [af] MusicXML, [c] Compressed MusicXML, [n] MIDI, [d] Karaoke, [ab] MuseData, [ag] Bagpipe Music Writer, [ah] Band-in-a-Box, [ai] Overture, [aj] Capella, [f] CapXML, [g] Guitar Pro (versions 1–6), [t] Power Tab (experimental), [v] PDF (experimental), ABC [y] (with plugin) | MusicXML, [c] Compressed MusicXML, [n] PDF, PNG, SVG, MIDI, [d] WAV, FLAC, Ogg, MP3 | The MuseScore developer community | 4.3.2; 12 June 2024 | GPL-3.0-only for desktop tools; online and mobile tools are proprietary and freemium | No cost for most tools | Windows, macOS, Linux |
MusiCAD | No | Yes | MIDI | MusiCAD, [ak] MIDI, [d] ABC [y] | MIDI, [d] ABC, [y] PDF, JPEG, PNG, BMP | Musys Software | 4.0; 1 May 2015 | Proprietary | Prompt to purchase license appears when saving [2] | Windows | |
MusicEase | Yes | Yes | MIDI | MusicEase, [al] MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] ABC, [y] SongWright [am] | MIDI, [d] PDF | MusicEase Software | 10.1g; February 2024 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows, macOS | |
Musink | No | WYSIWYM | MIDI | Musink [an] | MIDI, [d] PDF, PNG, XPS | Lee Reid | 1.3.0.3 | Proprietary | No cost | Windows, macOS | |
MusiXTeX | Yes | No | No | No | TeX ( incl. PMX and M-Tx), [ao] MusicXML [c] (with converters) | DVI, [ap] PS, PDF, MIDI [d] (for PMX input) | Daniel Taupin, Ross Mitchell, Andreas Egler | 1.38; 29 March 2024 | GPL-2.0-or-later | No cost | Windows, macOS, Linux |
Notation Composer | No | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, SoundFonts | Notation, [aq] MusicXML, [c] Compressed MusicXML, [n] MIDI, [d] Karaoke [ab] | MusicXML, [c] Compressed MusicXML, [n] PDF, MIDI, [d] Karaoke, [ab] PNG, BMP, JPEG, GIF, WAV, FLAC, Ogg, MP3 | Notation Software | 4.0.3; 2022 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows, macOS, Linux |
NoteWorthy Composer | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI | NWC, [ar] MIDI, [d] Karaoke [ab] | MIDI [d] | NoteWorthy Software | 2.75a.2; 2017 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows |
Notion | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST | MusicXML, [c] Compressed MusicXML, [n] MIDI, [d] Guitar Pro [t] (versions 4–5) | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] WAV | PreSonus | 6.8.2; 24 August 2021 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows, macOS, iOS (iPad) |
Overture | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST, AU [q] | Overture, [aj] MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] Score Writer [as] | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] WAV, MP3 | Sonic Scores | 5.6.1.1; 2 December 2019 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows, macOS |
Philip's Music Writer | Yes | No | No | MIDI | PMW [at] | MIDI, [d] PS | Philip Hazel | 5.22; 21 December 2023 | GPL-2.0-or-later | No cost | Linux (older versions for RISC OS) |
Power Tab Editor | Yes | Yes | MIDI | Power Tab, [v] MIDI [d] | MIDI, [d] ASCII tab, [u] BMP, HTML | Brad Larsen | 1.0.0.175; 26 August 2006 | Proprietary | No cost | Windows | |
Rosegarden | No | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI | Rosegarden, [au] MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] Hydrogen [av] | LilyPond, [e] MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] Csound, [aw] Mup, [ax] PDF | Chris Cannam, Richard Bown, Guillaume Laurent | 24.06; 5 June 2024 | GPL-2.0-or-later | No cost | Linux |
SCORE | Yes | No | Step-time | MIDI | SCORE (.mus) | EPS |
Leland Smith, San Andreas Press |
5.01; 1 November 2013 | Proprietary | Non-free | MS-DOS Windows |
ScoreCloud Studio | No | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST | MIDI, [d] live audio | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] WAV, PDF | Doremir Music Research AB | 4.7.12; January 2024 | Proprietary | Free without file saving | Windows, macOS, iOS |
Sibelius | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST, AU, [q] Avid library | Sibelius, [ay] MusicXML, [c] MIDI [d] | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] MP3, PDF, SVG, EPS, PNG | Avid Technology, Inc. | 2024.6; 20 June 2024 | Proprietary | No cost up to 4 staves [3] | Windows, macOS, RISC OS, iOS |
SmartScore 64 | Yes | Yes | MIDI | SmartScore, [az] scanned images, MusicXML, [c] NIFF [ad] | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] Finale, [r] NIFF, [ad] PDF | Musitek Corporation | 11.5.105 (Windows); 11.5.106 (macOS); 24 February 2024 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows, macOS | |
TuxGuitar | Yes | Yes | MIDI | TuxGuitar, [ba] MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] Guitar Pro (versions 1–6), [t] Power Tab, [v] TablEdit [w] | MIDI, [d] Guitar Pro (versions 3–5), [t] LilyPond, [e] ASCII tab, [u] PDF | Julian Gabriel Casadesus | 1.6.3; 7 June 2024 | LGPL-2.1-only | No cost | Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD | |
Name | Guitar tablature | WYSIWYG editor | MIDI entry [a] | Playback | Import | Export | Developer(s) | Stable release; review date | License | Cost | Operating systems |
File formats |
This is a comparison of music notation programs.
Name | Guitar tablature | WYSIWYG editor | MIDI entry [a] | Playback | File formats | Developer(s) | Stable release; review date | License | Cost | Operating systems | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Import | Export | ||||||||||
Canorus | No | Yes | MIDI | CanorusML, [b] MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] simple LilyPond [e] | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] LilyPond, [e] PDF | Reinhard Katzmann, Matevž Jekovec, Georg Rudolph | 0.7.3; 18 June 2018 | Since 0.7.3:
GPL-3.0-only 0.1.0 to 0.7.2: GPL-2.0-only |
No cost | Linux | |
Capella | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST, SoundFonts | Capella, [f] CapXML, [g] MusicXML, [c] MIDI [d] | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] BMP, JPEG, TIFF, PNG, Truevision TGA, PCX, HTML | capella-software AG | 9.0-13; 19 March 2024 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows, macOS |
Denemo | Yes | Yes | Step-time | MIDI | Denemo, [h] limited LilyPond, [e] MusicXML [c] | LilyPond, [e] MusicXML, WAV, Ogg, PDF, PNG, MIDI | Jeremiah Benham, Richard Shann | 2.6.0; 11 March 2022 | GPL-3.0-or-later | No cost | Windows, macOS, Linux |
Dorico | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST | Dorico, [i] MusicXML, [c] MIDI [d] | MIDI, [d] MusicXML, [c] WAV, MP3, PDF, PNG, TIFF, SVG | Steinberg | 5.1.40; 29 May 2024 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows, macOS |
Early Notation Typesetter | No | Yes | No | No | ENT [j] | ENT, [j] PDF | Samuel Gossner, Daniel West, Dieter Theuns | 0.9.6; 20 October 2020 | Proprietary | No charge for single font | Windows, macOS, Linux |
Encore | Yes | Yes | MIDI | Encore, [k] MusicTime, [l] Rhapsody, [m] Compressed MusicXML [n] | MIDI, [d] Cakewalk MIDI, [o] Master Tracks Pro, [p] PDF | Passport Music Software | 5.0.4 (Windows); 5.0.7 (macOS); 2015 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows, macOS | |
Finale | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST, AU, [q] Garritan library | Finale, [r] MusicXML, [c] MIDI [d] | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] WAV, MP3, AIFF, PDF, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, EPS, BMP, GIF, PICT [q] | MakeMusic, Inc. | 27.4; 29 November 2023 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows, macOS |
Forte | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST | Forte, [s] MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] CapXML [g] | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] BMP, JPEG | Lugert Verlag GmbH | 12; 2020 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows |
Frescobaldi | No | WYSIWYM | MIDI | LilyPond, [e] MusicXML, [c] ABC | MusicXML, [c] PDF | Wilbert Berendsen | 3.3.0; 26 March 2023 | GPL-2.0-or-later | No cost | Windows, macOS, Linux | |
Guitar Pro | Yes | Yes | MIDI, RSE | Guitar Pro (versions 1–8), [t] MusicXML, [c] Compressed MusicXML, [n] MIDI, [d] ASCII tab, [u] Power Tab, [v] TablEdit [w] | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] ASCII tab, [u] PNG, PDF, WAV | Arobas Music | 8.1; 27 March 2023 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows, macOS, Linux | |
Impro-Visor | No | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI | Impro-Visor [x] | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] PDF | Bob Keller | 10.2; 1 August 2019 | GPL-2.0-or-later | No cost | Windows, macOS, Linux |
LilyPond | Yes | No | No | MIDI | LilyPond; [e] using converters: ABC, [y] ETF, [z] MIDI, [d] MusicXML [c] | PDF, PNG, PS, SVG | Han-Wen Nienhuys, Jan Nieuwenhuizen | 2.24.3; 19 November 2023 | GPL-3.0-or-later | No cost | Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD |
MagicScore | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, SoundFonts | SFD, [aa] MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] Karaoke, [ab] WAV, MP3 | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] Karaoke, [ab] WAV, MP3, PDF, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, BMP, GIF, EMF, WMF | Maestro Music Software | 8.280; 2017 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows |
Mozart | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI | Mozart, [ac] MusicXML, [c] NIFF, [ad] MIDI, [d] Karaoke, [ab] ABC [y] | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] ABC, [y] BMP, EMF, GIF, JPEG, PBM, PNG, TIFF | Mozart Music Software | 16.1.4; June 2024 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows |
Mus2 | No | Yes | MIDI | Mus2 [ae] | MIDI, [d] AIFF, WAV, PDF, SVG, BMP, JPEG, PNG | Utku Uzmen (Data-Soft Ltd.) | 3.2.3; November 2022 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows, macOS | |
MuseScore Studio | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, SoundFonts, SFZ | MuseScore, [af] MusicXML, [c] Compressed MusicXML, [n] MIDI, [d] Karaoke, [ab] MuseData, [ag] Bagpipe Music Writer, [ah] Band-in-a-Box, [ai] Overture, [aj] Capella, [f] CapXML, [g] Guitar Pro (versions 1–6), [t] Power Tab (experimental), [v] PDF (experimental), ABC [y] (with plugin) | MusicXML, [c] Compressed MusicXML, [n] PDF, PNG, SVG, MIDI, [d] WAV, FLAC, Ogg, MP3 | The MuseScore developer community | 4.3.2; 12 June 2024 | GPL-3.0-only for desktop tools; online and mobile tools are proprietary and freemium | No cost for most tools | Windows, macOS, Linux |
MusiCAD | No | Yes | MIDI | MusiCAD, [ak] MIDI, [d] ABC [y] | MIDI, [d] ABC, [y] PDF, JPEG, PNG, BMP | Musys Software | 4.0; 1 May 2015 | Proprietary | Prompt to purchase license appears when saving [2] | Windows | |
MusicEase | Yes | Yes | MIDI | MusicEase, [al] MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] ABC, [y] SongWright [am] | MIDI, [d] PDF | MusicEase Software | 10.1g; February 2024 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows, macOS | |
Musink | No | WYSIWYM | MIDI | Musink [an] | MIDI, [d] PDF, PNG, XPS | Lee Reid | 1.3.0.3 | Proprietary | No cost | Windows, macOS | |
MusiXTeX | Yes | No | No | No | TeX ( incl. PMX and M-Tx), [ao] MusicXML [c] (with converters) | DVI, [ap] PS, PDF, MIDI [d] (for PMX input) | Daniel Taupin, Ross Mitchell, Andreas Egler | 1.38; 29 March 2024 | GPL-2.0-or-later | No cost | Windows, macOS, Linux |
Notation Composer | No | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, SoundFonts | Notation, [aq] MusicXML, [c] Compressed MusicXML, [n] MIDI, [d] Karaoke [ab] | MusicXML, [c] Compressed MusicXML, [n] PDF, MIDI, [d] Karaoke, [ab] PNG, BMP, JPEG, GIF, WAV, FLAC, Ogg, MP3 | Notation Software | 4.0.3; 2022 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows, macOS, Linux |
NoteWorthy Composer | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI | NWC, [ar] MIDI, [d] Karaoke [ab] | MIDI [d] | NoteWorthy Software | 2.75a.2; 2017 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows |
Notion | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST | MusicXML, [c] Compressed MusicXML, [n] MIDI, [d] Guitar Pro [t] (versions 4–5) | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] WAV | PreSonus | 6.8.2; 24 August 2021 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows, macOS, iOS (iPad) |
Overture | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST, AU [q] | Overture, [aj] MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] Score Writer [as] | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] WAV, MP3 | Sonic Scores | 5.6.1.1; 2 December 2019 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows, macOS |
Philip's Music Writer | Yes | No | No | MIDI | PMW [at] | MIDI, [d] PS | Philip Hazel | 5.22; 21 December 2023 | GPL-2.0-or-later | No cost | Linux (older versions for RISC OS) |
Power Tab Editor | Yes | Yes | MIDI | Power Tab, [v] MIDI [d] | MIDI, [d] ASCII tab, [u] BMP, HTML | Brad Larsen | 1.0.0.175; 26 August 2006 | Proprietary | No cost | Windows | |
Rosegarden | No | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI | Rosegarden, [au] MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] Hydrogen [av] | LilyPond, [e] MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] Csound, [aw] Mup, [ax] PDF | Chris Cannam, Richard Bown, Guillaume Laurent | 24.06; 5 June 2024 | GPL-2.0-or-later | No cost | Linux |
SCORE | Yes | No | Step-time | MIDI | SCORE (.mus) | EPS |
Leland Smith, San Andreas Press |
5.01; 1 November 2013 | Proprietary | Non-free | MS-DOS Windows |
ScoreCloud Studio | No | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST | MIDI, [d] live audio | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] WAV, PDF | Doremir Music Research AB | 4.7.12; January 2024 | Proprietary | Free without file saving | Windows, macOS, iOS |
Sibelius | Yes | Yes | Step-time and real-time | MIDI, VST, AU, [q] Avid library | Sibelius, [ay] MusicXML, [c] MIDI [d] | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] MP3, PDF, SVG, EPS, PNG | Avid Technology, Inc. | 2024.6; 20 June 2024 | Proprietary | No cost up to 4 staves [3] | Windows, macOS, RISC OS, iOS |
SmartScore 64 | Yes | Yes | MIDI | SmartScore, [az] scanned images, MusicXML, [c] NIFF [ad] | MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] Finale, [r] NIFF, [ad] PDF | Musitek Corporation | 11.5.105 (Windows); 11.5.106 (macOS); 24 February 2024 | Proprietary | Non-free | Windows, macOS | |
TuxGuitar | Yes | Yes | MIDI | TuxGuitar, [ba] MusicXML, [c] MIDI, [d] Guitar Pro (versions 1–6), [t] Power Tab, [v] TablEdit [w] | MIDI, [d] Guitar Pro (versions 3–5), [t] LilyPond, [e] ASCII tab, [u] PDF | Julian Gabriel Casadesus | 1.6.3; 7 June 2024 | LGPL-2.1-only | No cost | Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD | |
Name | Guitar tablature | WYSIWYG editor | MIDI entry [a] | Playback | Import | Export | Developer(s) | Stable release; review date | License | Cost | Operating systems |
File formats |