Best Music Notation Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Dorico is ranked #1 of 37 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Flat and Fender Notion. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Flat. The lowest first paid tier on this page is MagicScore at $2.33/mo.
Composers and arrangers use music notation software to write scores and prepare music for sharing or performance. Compared on MIDI support, MusicXML support, and parts extraction, the options also provide criteria such as tablature support and collaboration features to match against your notation needs. Dorico, Flat, and Fender Notion are among the tools you can weigh. Consider whether you need to exchange score data, create separate parts, work with tablature, or collaborate with others. Deployment details, free-plan availability, and Paid from pricing add practical points for assessing fit with your setup. The relevant capabilities depend on how you write and share music.
37 music notation software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 Dorico iPhone only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.7Free Deployment: desktopMusicXML support: YesMIDI support: Yes
- 2 Flat iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.5Free Deployment: bothMusicXML support: YesMIDI support: Yes
- 3 Fender Notion iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.3Free Deployment: bothMusicXML support: YesMIDI support: Yes
- 4 Sibelius iPhone only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.2 Deployment: bothMusicXML support: YesMIDI support: Yes
- 5 TuxGuitar Android only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.9Free MIDI support: Yes
- 6 ScoreCloud iPhone only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.7$5.99/mo Deployment: bothMusicXML support: YesMIDI support: Yes
- 7 DomiSol iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.5$10/mo Deployment: webMusicXML support: YesMIDI support: Yes
- 8 Crescendo Music Notation Software iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.3$80/mo Deployment: bothMusicXML support: YesMIDI support: Yes
- 9 Guitar Pro iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.1$69.95/mo Deployment: desktopMusicXML support: YesMIDI support: Yes
- 10 MuseScore Studio No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9Free Deployment: desktopMusicXML support: YesMIDI support: Yes
- 11 Noteflight No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.9$4.08/mo Deployment: webMusicXML support: YesMIDI support: Yes
- 12 iWriteMusic iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8Free Deployment: desktopMusicXML support: NoMIDI support: Yes
- 13 LilyPond No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7Free Deployment: desktopMusicXML support: YesMIDI support: Yes
- 14 StaffPad iPhone only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.5 Deployment: desktopMusicXML support: YesMIDI support: Yes
- 15 Symphony Pro iPhone only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.5 Deployment: bothMusicXML support: YesMIDI support: Yes
- 16 Denemo No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.8 Deployment: desktopMusicXML support: YesMIDI support: Yes
- 17 capella No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.5 Deployment: desktopMusicXML support: YesMIDI support: Yes
- 18 Harmony Assistant No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4 Deployment: desktopMusicXML support: YesMIDI support: Yes
- 19 SmartScore No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4$49/mo Deployment: desktopMusicXML support: YesMIDI support: Yes
- 20 Pizzicato No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3 Deployment: desktopMusicXML support: YesMIDI support: Yes
- 21 MagicScore No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.2$2.33/mo Deployment: desktopMusicXML support: YesMIDI support: Yes
- 22 Overture No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.9$80/mo Deployment: desktopMusicXML support: YesMIDI support: Yes
- 23 HarmonyBuilder No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.9$14/mo
- 24 Notation Composer No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.8$198.99/mo Deployment: desktopMusicXML support: YesMIDI support: Yes
- 25 music21 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.8 Deployment: bothMusicXML support: YesMIDI support: Yes
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Deployment | MusicXML support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dorico | 9.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | $10,913/mo | desktop | Yes |
| 2 | Flat | 9.5 | Free plan | — | Yes | $9.99/mo | both | Yes |
| 3 | Fender Notion | 9.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | both | Yes |
| 4 | Sibelius | 9.2 | No | — | Yes | $79/mo | both | Yes |
| 5 | TuxGuitar | 8.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 6 | ScoreCloud | 8.7 | Free plan | $5.99/mo | Yes | $5.99/mo | both | Yes |
| 7 | DomiSol | 8.5 | Free plan | $10/mo | Yes | $8/mo | web | Yes |
| 8 | Crescendo Music Notation Software | 8.3 | No | $80/mo | Yes | — | both | Yes |
| 9 | Guitar Pro | 8.1 | No | $69.95/mo | No | — | desktop | Yes |
| 10 | MuseScore Studio | 7.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | desktop | Yes |
| 11 | Noteflight | 7.9 | No | $4.08/mo | Yes | Free | web | Yes |
| 12 | iWriteMusic | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | desktop | No |
| 13 | LilyPond | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | desktop | Yes |
| 14 | StaffPad | 7.5 | No | — | No | — | desktop | Yes |
| 15 | Symphony Pro | 7.5 | No | — | No | — | both | Yes |
| 16 | Denemo | 6.8 | No | — | Yes | — | desktop | Yes |
| 17 | capella | 6.5 | No | — | No | — | desktop | Yes |
| 18 | Harmony Assistant | 6.4 | No | — | No | — | desktop | Yes |
| 19 | SmartScore | 6.4 | No | $49/mo | No | — | desktop | Yes |
| 20 | Pizzicato | 6.3 | No | — | No | — | desktop | Yes |
| 21 | MagicScore | 6.2 | No | $2.33/mo | No | $6.99/mo | desktop | Yes |
| 22 | Overture | 5.9 | No | $80/mo | No | — | desktop | Yes |
| 23 | HarmonyBuilder | 5.9 | No | $14/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 24 | Notation Composer | 5.8 | No | $198.99/mo | No | — | desktop | Yes |
| 25 | music21 | 5.8 | No | — | Yes | — | both | Yes |
Is your app 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 Samsung Mobile US Press?
Dorico is ranked #1 of 37 with a score of 9.7. Flat is second and Fender Notion 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 mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation.