MuseScore Studio
Free, open-source music notation software for writing, playing back and printing scores.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Windows, macOS, Linux
Is MuseScore Studio free?
Yes, free and open source
- License:
- GNU GPL
Checked on MuseScore Studio's site Nov 8, 2026
Switch from MuseScore Studio to
All 4
FlatFree plan + paid
NoteflightStarting price: $7.95 a month or $49 a year (Premium)
Guitar ProStarting price: $69.95 one-time (Guitar Pro 8 licence)
- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 4
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About MuseScore Studio
MuseScore Studio is a free score-writing program for composing, arranging and transcribing music in standard notation and tablature. You place notes with the mouse, the computer keyboard or a MIDI keyboard, and it plays the score back, optionally with the separately downloaded MuseSounds sample libraries. It handles everything from a piano piece or lead sheet to choir, band and full orchestral scores, and exchanges files with other notation programs through MusicXML and MIDI. Students, teachers, church musicians and hobby composers use it as a no-cost alternative to Sibelius, Finale and Dorico, and it has a large community forum and handbook. The desktop app has no paid tier or feature limits; the company behind it makes money from the MuseScore.com sheet-music site and MuseHub. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, with companion mobile apps for viewing scores.
Best for: Musicians, students and teachers who want full-featured notation software without paying.
MuseScore Studio pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Each line is quoted from MuseScore Studio's own site, with the page it came from.
| Plan or term | What it says | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, no limitations | Nov 8, 2026 | musescore.org |
Pros and cons
What works
- Completely free with no feature limits
- Note entry by mouse, computer keyboard or MIDI keyboard
- MusicXML and MIDI exchange with other notation programs
- Large community, handbook and translations into many languages
Why people leave
- Best playback sounds come through the separate MuseHub/MuseSounds download
- Big version jumps have changed layouts and broken older plugins
- Mobile apps are for viewing and playback, not full editing
MuseScore Studio vs Flat, Noteflight and Guitar Pro
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | MuseScore Studio | Flat | Noteflight | Guitar Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Open source | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid | Paid |
| Verified price | — | — | $7.95 a month or $49 a year (Premium) | $69.95 one-time (Guitar Pro 8 licence) |
| Free plan | Free app | Yes (Flat Basic) | Yes | No |
| Open source | Yes | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android | Web | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
Top MuseScore Studio alternatives
See all 4- 1Flat68.8
Notation in the browser and on phones with real-time collaboration, handy for classrooms.
- 2Noteflight64.8
Browser-based notation with sharing and class assignments, so students can write scores without installing anything.
- 3Guitar Pro42.3
Tab-first editor with stronger playback and practice tools for guitarists.
- 4
TuxGuitar42.3Free tab-focused editor that opens Guitar Pro files, for guitar-first work.
Why people left MuseScore Studio
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
No switching stories yet. If you moved away from MuseScore Studio, review the app you switched to and tell us why.
Reviews
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MuseScore Studio: common questions
What is MuseScore Studio?
MuseScore Studio: Free, open-source music notation software for writing, playing back and printing scores. Best for musicians, students and teachers who want full-featured notation software without paying. Available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is MuseScore Studio free?
Yes. MuseScore Studio is free, open-source software.
How much does MuseScore Studio cost?
MuseScore Studio is free and open source. Price: Free, no limitations. Checked on MuseScore Studio's own site, November 2026.
Is MuseScore Studio open source?
Yes. The source code is on GitHub at musescore/MuseScore.
What platforms does MuseScore Studio run on?
MuseScore Studio is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
What are the best alternatives to MuseScore Studio?
The highest-ranked MuseScore Studio alternatives right now are Flat, Noteflight and Guitar Pro. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
MuseScore Studio vs Flat: what's the difference?
MuseScore Studio is free and open source; Flat is free with paid plans. MuseScore Studio is open source and Flat is not. Only MuseScore Studio runs on Linux. Only Flat runs on Web, iOS and Android.