Best Music Notation Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Flat is ranked #1 of 37 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Fender Notion and Sibelius. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Fender Notion. The lowest first paid tier on this page is MagicScore at $2.33/mo.
From composing a score to preparing parts for sharing, notation software supports a range of music-writing tasks. Compared on MIDI and MusicXML support, tablature and parts extraction, these entries can be assessed against the formats and outputs your work calls for. Collaboration features and deployment offer other ways to compare how tools fit your setup, while free plans and paid-from pricing help clarify access and cost. Flat, Fender Notion and Sibelius are among the options to consider. If you exchange editable score files, work with tablature or need separate parts, check those capabilities alongside the collaboration and deployment details shown.
37 music notation software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
37ranked
9free plans on this page
$2.33/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Music notation software 25 channels on this page · 156 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromDeploymentMusicXML supportMIDI supportParts extractionTablature supportCollaboration features Spec sheet Score
01 Flat Free planYesPaid from$9.99/moDeploymentbothMusicXML supportYesMIDI supportYesParts extractionYesTablature supportYesCollaboration featuresYes 8/8spec lines stated 9.0
02 Fender Notion Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeploymentbothMusicXML supportYesMIDI supportYesParts extractionYesTablature supportYesCollaboration featuresYes 7/8spec lines stated 8.8
03 Sibelius Free planYesPaid from$79/moDeploymentbothMusicXML supportYesMIDI supportYesParts extractionYesTablature supportYesCollaboration featuresYes 8/8spec lines stated 8.5
04 MuseScore Studio Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeploymentdesktopMusicXML supportYesMIDI supportYesParts extractionYesTablature supportYesCollaboration featuresnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 8.5
05 Noteflight Free planYesPaid fromFreeDeploymentwebMusicXML supportYesMIDI supportYesParts extractionYesTablature supportYesCollaboration featuresYes 8/8spec lines stated 8.5
06 Dorico Free planYesPaid from$10,913/moDeploymentdesktopMusicXML supportYesMIDI supportYesParts extractionYesTablature supportYesCollaboration featuresYes 8/8spec lines stated 8.4
07 LilyPond Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeploymentdesktopMusicXML supportYesMIDI supportYesParts extractionYesTablature supportYesCollaboration featuresnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 8.3
08 ScoreCloud Free planYesPaid from$5.99/moDeploymentbothMusicXML supportYesMIDI supportYesParts extractionnot statedTablature supportNoCollaboration featuresYes 7/8spec lines stated 8.0
09 TuxGuitar Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeploymentnot statedMusicXML supportnot statedMIDI supportYesParts extractionnot statedTablature supportnot statedCollaboration featuresnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.9
10 DomiSol Free planYesPaid from$8/moDeploymentwebMusicXML supportYesMIDI supportYesParts extractionYesTablature supportnot statedCollaboration featuresYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.9
11 Crescendo Music Notation Software Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeploymentbothMusicXML supportYesMIDI supportYesParts extractionYesTablature supportYesCollaboration featuresnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 7.7
12 Guitar Pro Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeploymentdesktopMusicXML supportYesMIDI supportYesParts extractionnot statedTablature supportYesCollaboration featuresYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.6
13 Denemo Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeploymentdesktopMusicXML supportYesMIDI supportYesParts extractionYesTablature supportYesCollaboration featuresnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 7.5
14 Harmony Assistant Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeploymentdesktopMusicXML supportYesMIDI supportYesParts extractionYesTablature supportYesCollaboration featuresnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 7.5
15 HarmonyBuilder Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeploymentnot statedMusicXML supportnot statedMIDI supportnot statedParts extractionnot statedTablature supportnot statedCollaboration featuresnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.3
16 capella Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeploymentdesktopMusicXML supportYesMIDI supportYesParts extractionYesTablature supportYesCollaboration featuresYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.2
17 SmartScore Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeploymentdesktopMusicXML supportYesMIDI supportYesParts extractionYesTablature supportYesCollaboration featuresYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.1
18 Pizzicato Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeploymentdesktopMusicXML supportYesMIDI supportYesParts extractionYesTablature supportYesCollaboration featuresnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 7.0
19 iWriteMusic Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeploymentdesktopMusicXML supportNoMIDI supportYesParts extractionYesTablature supportnot statedCollaboration featuresnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 7.0
20 music21 Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeploymentbothMusicXML supportYesMIDI supportYesParts extractionYesTablature supportYesCollaboration featuresnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 6.9
21 MagicScore Free planNoPaid from$6.99/moDeploymentdesktopMusicXML supportYesMIDI supportYesParts extractionYesTablature supportYesCollaboration featuresYes 8/8spec lines stated 6.8
22 Notation Composer Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeploymentdesktopMusicXML supportYesMIDI supportYesParts extractionYesTablature supportnot statedCollaboration featuresYes 6/8spec lines stated 6.8
23 StaffPad Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeploymentdesktopMusicXML supportYesMIDI supportYesParts extractionYesTablature supportnot statedCollaboration featuresYes 6/8spec lines stated 6.7
24 Symphony Pro Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeploymentbothMusicXML supportYesMIDI supportYesParts extractionYesTablature supportYesCollaboration featuresnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 6.7
25 Overture Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeploymentdesktopMusicXML supportYesMIDI supportYesParts extractionYesTablature supportYesCollaboration featuresNo 7/8spec lines stated 6.7
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Deployment | MusicXML support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flat | 9.0 | Free plan | — | Yes | $9.99/mo | both | Yes |
| 2 | Fender Notion | 8.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | both | Yes |
| 3 | Sibelius | 8.5 | No | — | Yes | $79/mo | both | Yes |
| 4 | MuseScore Studio | 8.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | desktop | Yes |
| 5 | Noteflight | 8.5 | No | $4.08/mo | Yes | Free | web | Yes |
| 6 | Dorico | 8.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | $10,913/mo | desktop | Yes |
| 7 | LilyPond | 8.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | desktop | Yes |
| 8 | ScoreCloud | 8.0 | Free plan | $5.99/mo | Yes | $5.99/mo | both | Yes |
| 9 | TuxGuitar | 7.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 10 | DomiSol | 7.9 | Free plan | $10/mo | Yes | $8/mo | web | Yes |
| 11 | Crescendo Music Notation Software | 7.7 | No | $80/mo | Yes | — | both | Yes |
| 12 | Guitar Pro | 7.6 | No | $69.95/mo | No | — | desktop | Yes |
| 13 | Denemo | 7.5 | No | — | Yes | — | desktop | Yes |
| 14 | Harmony Assistant | 7.5 | No | — | No | — | desktop | Yes |
| 15 | HarmonyBuilder | 7.3 | No | $14/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 16 | capella | 7.2 | No | — | No | — | desktop | Yes |
| 17 | SmartScore | 7.1 | No | $49/mo | No | — | desktop | Yes |
| 18 | Pizzicato | 7.0 | No | — | No | — | desktop | Yes |
| 19 | iWriteMusic | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | desktop | No |
| 20 | music21 | 6.9 | No | — | Yes | — | both | Yes |
| 21 | MagicScore | 6.8 | No | $2.33/mo | No | $6.99/mo | desktop | Yes |
| 22 | Notation Composer | 6.8 | No | $198.99/mo | No | — | desktop | Yes |
| 23 | StaffPad | 6.7 | No | — | No | — | desktop | Yes |
| 24 | Symphony Pro | 6.7 | No | — | No | — | both | Yes |
| 25 | Overture | 6.7 | No | $80/mo | No | — | desktop | Yes |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which music notation software is ranked first on Specifiction?
Flat is ranked #1 of 37 with a score of 9.0. Fender Notion is second and Sibelius third.
How many of these have a free plan?
9 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, MagicScore has the lowest first paid tier we found: $2.33/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.
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