MuseScore Alternatives

MuseScore is described as 'free music notation and composition software available for Windows, Mac, and Linux' and is a very popular music production app in the audio & music category. There are more than 50 alternatives to MuseScore for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Linux, Mac, Android Tablet and iPad. The best alternative is TuxGuitar, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like MuseScore are Guitar Pro, LilyPond, Rosegarden and Avid Sibelius.

MuseScore alternatives are mainly Music Production Apps but may also be Digital Audio Workstations. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of MuseScore.

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MuseScore

207

Free • Open Source
Music Production App

Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
iPhone
BSD
iPad
PortableApps.com
Haiku

MuseScore is a free music notation and composition software available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Learn more about MuseScore

TuxGuitar
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Music Production App
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
56 alternatives to TuxGuitar
A Multitrack tablature editor and player.
Suggest and vote on features
TuxGuitar Features
1. Support for MIDITuxGuitar includes MIDI hardware and software support to record and import audio.
2. PortableTuxGuitar can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Multitrack editing
Skinnable
Guitar Pro
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Music Production App
Mac
Windows
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
iPad
60 alternatives to Guitar Pro
Guitar Pro is first and foremost a program designed to edit tablatures for guitar, bass, and other fretted instruments from 4 to 8 strings.

Guitar Pro has no features, suggest some!

Guitar Pro vs MuseScore
pros, cons and recent comments
riveravaldez
MuseScore is by far more powerful and complete, for all instruments and formats, etc.
Negative comment• ago

0
LilyPond
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Music Production App
Mac
Windows
Linux
45 alternatives to LilyPond
GNU LilyPond is a computer program for music engraving. One of LilyPonds major goals is to produce scores that are engraved with traditional layout rules, reflecting the era when scores were engraved by hand.
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LilyPond Features
1. PortableLilyPond can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Customizable
Cross-Platform
Sheet music transcription
LilyPond vs MuseScore
Almost everyone thinks LilyPond is a great alternative to MuseScore.
Guest
Lilypond provides everything a graphical interface such as Musescore could provide and more. The fact it uses a markup language to export a pdf. MusicXMl, midi, or svg from makes it extremely accessible. The learning curve is a bit harsher, but it pays off so much.
Positive comment• ago

0
Rosegarden
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Music Production App
Digital Audio Workstation
Linux
BSD
101 alternatives to Rosegarden
Rosegarden is a well-rounded audio and MIDI sequencer, score editor, and general-purpose music composition and editing environment.
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Rosegarden Features
1. Support for MIDIRosegarden includes MIDI hardware and software support to record and import audio.
Piano Roll
Customizable
Avid Sibelius
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Music Production App
Mac
Windows
iPad
58 alternatives to Avid Sibelius
Sibelius is a scorewriter program, created by Sibelius Software (now part of Avid Technology) for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and historically RISC OS.
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Avid Sibelius Features
1. WYSIWYG SupportAvid Sibelius integrates a WYSIWYG editor to edit the look and content of a document, page, or file.
2. Support for VST PluginsAvid Sibelius support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
Visual timeline
Ideas Hub
Visual bookmarks
Ribbon Interface
Engraving options
Music XML Support
Impro-Visor
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Music Production App
Mac
Windows
Linux
65 alternatives to Impro-Visor
Impro-Visor (short for “Improvisation Advisor”) is a music notation program designed to help jazz musicians compose and hear solos similar to ones that might be improvised. The objective is to improve understanding of solo construction and tune chord changes.

Impro-Visor has no features, suggest some!
Frescobaldi
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Music Production App
Mac
Windows
Linux
40 alternatives to Frescobaldi
Frescobaldi is a LilyPond sheet music text editor. It aims to be powerful, yet lightweight and easy to use. Frescobaldi is Free Software, freely available under the General Public License.

Frescobaldi has no features, suggest some!
Denemo
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Music Production App
Mac
Windows
Linux
49 alternatives to Denemo
GNU Denemo is a music notation editor that lets you rapidly enter notation for typesetting via the LilyPond music engraver. You can compose, transcribe, arrange, listen to the music and much more.
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Denemo Features
1. Support for MIDIDenemo includes MIDI hardware and software support to record and import audio.
Dorico
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
Music Production App
Mac
Windows
15 alternatives to Dorico
Dorico redefines the gold standard in scoring software. Its musical intelligence is like having an expert assistant by your side, while its intuitive workflows help you focus on each aspect of score preparation.
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Dorico Features
1. Support for MIDIDorico includes MIDI hardware and software support to record and import audio.
2. WYSIWYG SupportDorico integrates a WYSIWYG editor to edit the look and content of a document, page, or file.
Intuitive Interface
Guitar support
Engraving options
MIDI Keyboard Input
Music XML Support
Aria Maestosa
Is this a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Music Production App
Mac
Windows
Linux
36 alternatives to Aria Maestosa
Aria Maestosa is an open-source (GPL) midi tracker/editor. It lets you compose, edit and play midi files with a few clicks in a user-friendly interface offering keyboard, guitar, drum and controller views.
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Aria Maestosa Features
1. Support for MIDIAria Maestosa includes MIDI hardware and software support to record and import audio.