Sibelius
iPhone only
in Music notation software
- Recognised40% of the score97
- Phone app26% of the score100
- Documented20% of the score100
- Free plan14% of the score30
- Free plan
- No
- Runs on
- iPhone, Mac, Web
Summary
Sibelius is professional music notation software for writing, editing, and sharing scores. Users can enter notes with MIDI, a keyboard, or Apple Pencil, and import MusicXML and MIDI while retaining performance data. It supports tablature, VST3 and AU virtual instruments, and AI chord suggestions that generate or complete chord symbols. Edits to dynamic parts stay synchronized with the score. Scores can be published to a private dashboard for browser viewing and playback; classroom tools let teachers share files and guide student focus from a workstation. Sibelius is available on desktop, mobile, and web, with support for Mac, PC, iPad, iPhone, and Chromebook. Sibelius First is described as free notation software for newcomers. Artist allows up to 24 staves per score and cloud sharing for 20 scores, while Ultimate has unlimited staves and cloud sharing. The Ultimate Perpetual Bundle is listed at 899.00 USD as a one-time purchase and includes PhotoScore Ultimate and AudioScore Ultimate. Artist is listed at 79.00 USD per year and Ultimate at 159.00 USD per year; displayed prices exclude VAT and applicable taxes.
Who it is for
Sibelius suits composers and arrangers who need notation tools across desktop, mobile, and web. Classroom sharing and teaching resources also make it relevant to music educators.
What is good
- Accepts MIDI, keyboard, and Apple Pencil input
- Imports MusicXML and MIDI with performance data
- Dynamic part edits synchronize with the score
- Supports tablature and VST3 and AU instruments
What to know first
- Artist is limited to 24 staves per score
- Artist cloud sharing is limited to 20 scores
- Annual Artist and Ultimate prices exclude applicable taxes
Verdict
Sibelius spans score writing, part management, and classroom sharing, with limits that vary by plan. The listed annual prices are 79.00 USD for Artist and 159.00 USD for Ultimate, excluding applicable taxes.
Sibelius plans and pricing
All plansCompared on music notation software
Facts
- Product type
- Professional music notation softwareavid.com · 27 Sept 2026
- Artist staff limit
- Up to 24 staves per scoreavid.com · 27 Sept 2026
- Artist cloud limit
- Cloud sharing for 20 scoresavid.com · 27 Sept 2026
- Ultimate staff limit
- Unlimited staves per scoreavid.com · 27 Sept 2026
- Perpetual extras
- Includes PhotoScore Ultimate and AudioScore Ultimateavid.com · 27 Sept 2026
- Supported platforms
- Desktop, mobile, and webavid.com · 27 Sept 2026
- Note entry methods
- MIDI, keyboard, and Apple Pencilavid.com · 27 Sept 2026
- AI chord suggestions
- Automatically generates and completes chord symbolsavid.com · 27 Sept 2026
- Music import
- Imports MusicXML and MIDI while preserving performance dataavid.com · 27 Sept 2026
- Plugin support
- Supports VST3 and AU virtual instrumentsavid.com · 27 Sept 2026
- Dynamic parts
- Synchronizes edits between scores and partsavid.com · 27 Sept 2026
- Cloud publishing
- Private dashboard for browser-based viewing and playbackavid.com · 27 Sept 2026
- Classroom management
- Share files and guide student focus from a workstationavid.com · 27 Sept 2026
- Teaching resources
- More than 1,700 built-in projects, exercises, and resourcesavid.com · 27 Sept 2026
- Licensing options
- Network or Team licensing for studentsavid.com · 27 Sept 2026
- Device support
- Mac, PC, iPad, iPhone, and Chromebookavid.com · 27 Sept 2026
- Pricing taxes
- Displayed prices exclude VAT and applicable taxesavid.com · 27 Sept 2026
- Discount period
- Offer available August 18, 2026 through September 30, 2026avid.com · 27 Sept 2026
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Sources
- avid.com/sibelius· checked 27 Sept 2026