Performous
performous.org
What it is
Performous is free software combining karaoke, band games, and dancing on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its modes include vocals, lead, rhythm and bass guitar, drums, and dancing, with multiplayer support. Scored singing shows pitch so players can adjust their performance; karaoke mode displays lyrics without notes or scoring. The project says pitch detection works with laptop or webcam microphones. Controllers are autodetected, and the game can use a keyboard, microphones, USB guitars and drums, and dance pads. Supported song formats include Frets on Fire, UltraStar, SingStar XML, and StepMania. Composer edits and converts notes for music games, offering pitch analysis, zoomable timing, note synthesis, and format import and export. Composer lists SingStar XML, UltraStar TXT, and Frets on Fire MIDI formats. Free karaoke song packages are available under different libre and restricted license terms. The site says its free-song page does not yet include band-game or dancing songs. Performous is licensed under GNU GPL version 2 or later, with documentation, Discord, and a GitHub feedback page.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- Performous combines karaoke, band-game play and dancing, scoring players as they perform songs.Read 14 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- License
- Performous is open source under GNU GPL version 2 or later.Read 14 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- API and SDKs
- The reviewed project pages describe a C++ codebase, build instructions and a webserver feature, but do not publish a separate public API or SDK.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Composer editor
- Composer edits and converts notes for music games, with pitch analysis, zoomable timing, note synthesis, and format import and export.Read 7 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Composer formats
- Composer lists SingStar XML, UltraStar TXT, and Frets on Fire MIDI among its import and export formats.Read 7 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Controller detection
- Controllers are autodetected instead of requiring manual key configuration.Read 14 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Controllers
- Controllers are autodetected, and the game can use a keyboard, microphones, USB guitars and drums, and dance pads.Read 7 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Developer documentation
- The website links to GitHub documentation, a wiki, Discord support and GitHub feedback/issues.Read 14 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Feature expansion
- Version 1.3.0 added a Windows webserver, WebM video support, multitrack drums and Opus audio support.Read 14 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Free songs
- The site offers free karaoke song packages and identifies different license terms for its libre and restricted packages.Read 7 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Game modes
- It supports vocals, lead, rhythm and bass guitar, drums, and dancing, with multiplayer support.Read 7 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Gameplay intelligence
- Its engine tries to infer intended guitar actions and suppresses accidental hammer-ons and pull-offs.Read 14 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Hardware compatibility
- The project lists SingStar microphones, Guitar Hero and Rock Band instruments, USB microphones, USB guitars, USB drums and dance pads.Read 14 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Independent listing
- AlternativeTo classifies Performous as a free, open-source music game and lists eight alternatives across desktop, web and Android platforms.Read 14 Oct 2026 · alternativeto.net
- Instruments
- The game supports lead, rhythm and bass guitar parts, drums and dance play with multiplayer support.Read 14 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Intended audience
- The site describes Performous as a game for people who want to perform songs, improve musical skills, or have fun.Read 7 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Karaoke mode
- A karaoke mode shows lyrics without note targets or scoring.Read 14 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Latest release
- GitHub lists Performous 1.3.1 as the latest release, with Windows, Debian and Fedora assets plus source archives.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Limit: documentation support
- SourceForge says the project has not indicated a best way to get help and points users toward project admins or third-party channels.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
- Limit: missing game features
- A Steam community commenter said Performous works with guitar, bass, drums, StepMania pads and vocals but lacks a life meter.Read 14 Oct 2026 · steamcommunity.com
- Limit: song availability
- The project says it has not prepared free FoFiX-format band songs or StepMania dance songs for its own song page.Read 14 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Limit: source installation
- Linux Journal reported that building from source required a long dependency chase and many development packages.Read 14 Oct 2026 · linuxjournal.com
- Linux distribution support
- The project lists Ubuntu and Debian packages, an Ubuntu daily-build PPA and Arch Linux packages.Read 14 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- macOS download
- The download page offers a bundle for OS X 10.6 or newer.Read 14 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Notable limitation
- The site says it has not yet gathered band-game or dancing songs for its free-song page.Read 7 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Open-source license
- Performous is free software licensed under GNU GPL version 2 or later.Read 7 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Operating systems
- The download page lists Windows XP or newer, OS X 10.6 or newer, and Linux distributions including Ubuntu, Debian, and Arch Linux.Read 7 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Pitch detection
- The project says its pitch detection works with ordinary laptop or webcam microphones.Read 14 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Praise: accuracy and hardware
- Linux Journal highlighted accurate singing detection, device autodetection, OpenGL visuals and support for real rhythm-game controllers.Read 14 Oct 2026 · linuxjournal.com
- Praise: broad gameplay
- Linux Journal characterized Performous as a combination of karaoke, Guitar Hero, Rock Band, Frets on Fire, SingStar, StepMania and Dance Dance Revolution.Read 14 Oct 2026 · linuxjournal.com
- Praise: user satisfaction
- SourceForge shows a 5.0 out of 5 rating from nine user reviews; comments call it excellent, useful, a great game and a real Rock Band experience.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
- Project age
- SourceForge records the project as registered on 2008-09-28.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
- Project maintainers
- SourceForge identifies the project as brought by the usernames aave000, tronic and yoda-jm.Read 14 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
- Rating on SourceForge
- 5.0 out of 5 from 9 reviewsRead 14 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
- Release news
- The 1.3.1 release added missing-audio detection, Fedora 39 pipeline support and a Performous+ theme, while fixing macOS startup and Windows UTF-8 issues.Read 14 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Scoring and learning
- The game scores singing and displays pitch so players can correct mistakes and learn to sing.Read 7 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Self-hosting
- Performous is installed locally from packages, bundles, AppImage builds or source rather than delivered as a hosted service.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Song formats
- Supported chart formats listed by the project are Frets on Fire, UltraStar, SingStar XML and StepMania.Read 14 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Song licensing
- The project supplies libre and restricted song packages with license files; some songs prohibit modification or commercial use.Read 14 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Source builds
- The project directs developers to its Git repository and recommends building the master branch for newer fixes and improvements.Read 14 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Support and community
- The project links to documentation, Discord, and a GitHub feedback page.Read 7 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- System requirements
- The stated baseline is Windows, Linux or OS X on a computer able to run 3D games; microphones and USB controllers are optional by mode.Read 14 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Vocal scoring
- The vocal mode displays pitch continuously so singers can correct mistakes and practise.Read 14 Oct 2026 · performous.org
- Windows download
- The download page offers an installer for Windows XP or newer.Read 14 Oct 2026 · performous.org
Plans and prices
Performous Free Free software · desktop game · requires a computer capable of running 3D games · microphones/controllers optional Read 14 Oct 2026 · performous.org
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Free software under GNU GPL version 2 or later
- Multiplayer vocals, instruments, and dancing
- Autodetected controllers and varied input devices
- Composer edits and converts song notes
- Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux
Limits
- Free-song page lacks band-game and dancing songs
- Free trial is not offered
- Song packages have differing license terms
Who it suits
It suits people who want to perform songs, practice musical skills, or play music games with others. It also fits users who need desktop karaoke, instrument, dance, or song-editing modes.
Verdict
Performous combines several music-game modes with pitch feedback, controller support, and a note editor. Its free software model and desktop coverage are clear, but available free songs vary by license and mode.
Where Specifiction places it
- Karaoke Software#8 of 308.3