MuseScore
Free music notation software, write sheet music without Sibelius subscriptions.
Quick facts
- Price model
- Open source
- Starting price
- Free desktop app
- Best for
- Sheet music composition · Choir and band arrangements · Student theory homework
- Replaces
- Sibelius, Finale, Notion subscription tiers
- Platforms
- MacWindowsLinux
- Last verified
- 2026-06-22
Why it's listed
Industry-standard free notation. Download the desktop app from musescore.org.
MuseScore creates professional-looking scores, exports PDF and MusicXML, and plays back MIDI. Desktop app is open source; musescore.com community has separate sharing features, use musescore.org for the free editor.
The catch
musescore.com online scores are separate from the desktop app; don't confuse paid community features with notation needs.
Good fit for
- Music students
- Choir directors
- Composers
Not ideal for
- DAW-heavy producers only needing audio
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