the best free music notation software in 2026
MuseScore Studio takes the top spot, offering a completely free desktop experience with no limitations for anyone who can install software. MuseScore Studio is free under the GNU GPL licence. we place notei at number two, a strong choice for writing directly in your browser while utilizing an assistant that actively reads and interprets your score. notei is developed by this very team. we ranked it second solely because MuseScore Studio provides more features without cost. below these two leaders, four additional free options follow.
disclosure: notei is our product, and we publish this page.
every fact about the other programs was checked against the vendor's own pages on .
- MuseScore Studio
- notei, our product
- Flat
- Dorico SE
- Noteflight Basic
- Sibelius First
how we ranked
we ranked these tools by exactly what each free tier offers you without paying. we examined whether you must install software, which file formats you can export, how many scores or instruments are included, and what remains watermarked or locked behind paywalls. we verified every product’s own website on 26 october 2026. each fact links directly to the vendor’s source. we did not run timed tests or benchmarks; our ranking reflects what you get, not raw speed. since prices and limits shift frequently, we advise checking the vendor’s site before making your final decision. these results reflect only the vendors’ own claims, as we did not install or test any of these programs. we weighted having a tool that works on any computer without installation and an assistant that reads your score above Flat’s larger free score limit (15 against notei’s 10) and its real-time co-editing; this weighting is our judgment, though a reader who co-writes should rank Flat first.
the ranking at a glance
| software, in rank order | runs in the browser | free plan and its limits | exports | AI features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. MuseScore Studio | no. a desktop install for Windows, macOS and Linux. (source) | MuseScore Studio is free with no limitations, under the GNU GPL. (source) | PDF, MusicXML, MIDI, SVG, PNG, MEI and audio. (source) | no AI assistant is listed for MuseScore Studio. (source) |
| 2. notei (ours) | yes, at app.notei.co, with nothing to install. (source) | the full editor, sampled playback and up to 10 scores in the cloud; assistant credits are limited each month. you need a free account. (source) | MusicXML and MIDI, and PDF with a watermark; WAV is on the paid plans. (source) | a built-in assistant that reads your open score, answers theory questions and makes plain-language edits. (source) |
| 3. Flat | yes, with nothing to install; native apps for Mac, Windows, iOS and Android too. (source) | Flat Basic: up to 15 scores and 30 instruments, with real-time collaboration. (source) | PDF with Flat branding; MIDI export needs Flat Power. flat.io/desktop lists MusicXML export on Free, but flat.io/pricing lists it under Flat Power. (source) | Flat's AI-powered PDF Import is paid per page; no music-theory assistant is listed. (source) |
| 4. Dorico SE | no. a desktop install for macOS and Windows, plus an iPad app. (source) | Dorico SE is free forever, for up to eight players. (source) | PDF and MP3, as Steinberg's SE page lists them; input from a MIDI keyboard. (source) | no AI features are named for Dorico. (source) |
| 5. Noteflight Basic | yes, an online, browser-based editor. (source) | Noteflight Basic: up to 10 scores and basic notation features. (source) | MusicXML, MIDI and a PDF of the full score; a PDF of all individual parts is paid-only. (source) | no AI features are listed. (source) |
| 6. Sibelius First | no. a desktop install plus mobile apps; Avid's Cloud publishing lets others view and play a score in a browser. (source) | Sibelius First is free with an Avid account; Avid's pages give its limit as 8 staves on one page and 4 on another. (source) | Sibelius First opens MusicXML and MIDI files; Avid lists MusicXML and MIDI export from Sibelius Artist up, and PDF export under Ultimate. (source) | Avid lists AI chord suggestions for Sibelius without saying which tiers include them; no general AI assistant is listed. (source) |
1. MuseScore Studio
MuseScore Studio is free with no limitations under the GNU GPL licence. the editor requires installation on Windows 10 or later, macOS 11 or later, and Linux systems; it does not offer a browser version, nor builds for ChromeOS, iPhone, or Android. it opens and exports MusicXML and MIDI files while exporting PDF, SVG, PNG, and audio formats. you can connect a MIDI keyboard for input. for realistic playback, optional MuseSounds are available, though they demand approximately 15 GB of disk space. scores save to MuseScore.com for easy sharing via link. notably, no AI assistant is listed for this software. we recommend MuseScore Studio for anyone with a Windows, Mac, or Linux computer who wants the most capabilities available without paying a dime.
2. notei, our product
notei ranks second for those who prefer writing directly in the browser at app.notei.co without installing anything. you need only a free account to access the full editor, which offers playback using sampled real instruments. the free plan allows you to export MusicXML and MIDI files, as well as open MusicXML, MIDI, and MuseScore files. you can save up to ten scores to the cloud, keeping them synced across devices. a built-in assistant reads your open score, answers music theory questions, and applies edits you describe in plain words, utilizing a monthly allowance of assistant credits. however, notei has significant drawbacks: it lacks real-time co-editing capabilities, its MusicXML import cannot process ties, tuplets, or unpitched drums, and its MusicXML export omits ties and tempo markings. on the free plan, PDF exports carry a watermark, while WAV audio export remains on paid plans like notei+ at $9 a month or full score at $18 a month. this tool suits people who want to write on any computer with a browser, including Chromebooks, and who desire help with theory while they compose.
3. Flat
Flat ranks third as a versatile option that runs directly in your browser without requiring installation. it also offers dedicated apps for Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android devices. the free tier, Flat Basic, allows you to manage fifteen scores and use up to thirty instruments. you can import MusicXML and MIDI files, and export PDFs with Flat branding, though the availability of MusicXML export on the free plan is inconsistent across their documentation. a standout feature on the free plan is real-time co-editing of a single score. if you need MIDI export, you will need Flat Power, priced at $9.99 a month or $49.99 a year. this software suits people who write together with someone else at the same time.
4. Dorico SE
Dorico SE comes from Steinberg and remains free forever for scores containing up to eight players. you must download a desktop installation for macOS or Windows, though an iPad app is also available for one or two players, or four with a complimentary Steinberg ID. the software exports PDFs and accepts input from MIDI keyboards. Steinberg lists no AI features for Dorico SE. this suite suits writers for small ensembles who care deeply about the printed page’s layout and are happy to install dedicated software on their computers.
5. Noteflight Basic
number 5 is Noteflight Basic, a browser-based editor from a Hal Leonard company. it costs nothing and allows up to ten scores featuring basic notation capabilities. you can import and export MusicXML and MIDI files. while generating a PDF of your full score remains free, accessing PDFs for individual parts requires upgrading to Noteflight Premium, which is priced at $7.95 a month or $49 a year. the platform lists no AI features in its current specification. this tool suits short pieces best, particularly when you need to share scores with other signed-in Noteflight users.
6. Sibelius First
number 6 is Sibelius First, made by Avid. it is free but requires an Avid account to access. when you download the software, it includes a thirty-day trial of Sibelius Ultimate for exploration. Avid’s own pages present conflicting staff limits for the free tier: up to eight staves on their comparison page, yet only four on the mobile page. Avid lists the Sibelius mobile app for iPad, iPhone, Android and Chromebook, while Sibelius First is a desktop install; its comparison page lists First on mobile through the Apple App Store. according to Avid's comparison page, Sibelius First can open MusicXML and MIDI files, while MusicXML and MIDI export are available from the paid Artist tier up, with PDF export listed under Ultimate. this option suits people who expect to move up to a paid Sibelius plan later.
which one to pick
so, which one should you pick? if you have a Windows, Mac, or Linux computer and want everything free without limits, choose MuseScore Studio. for those using a Chromebook, a shared computer, or who simply want an AI assistant while writing, notei is your best bet. you should pick Flat if you plan to co-write with someone in real time. Dorico SE suits small-ensemble writers who care deeply about how the printed page looks. all six options are free to try. we suggest a practical test: write the same eight bars in two of them.
common questions
is MuseScore Studio really free?
yes. MuseScore Studio is free with no limitations, under the GNU GPL licence, and it installs on Windows, macOS and Linux.
which free notation software works on a Chromebook?
notei and Flat do, because they run in the browser; Flat states Chromebook support for Flat for Education. Noteflight's support page lists Chrome but does not name Chromebook. MuseScore Studio and Dorico SE list no ChromeOS version, and Avid lists Chromebook for the Sibelius mobile app without saying Sibelius First runs there.
which free notation software has an AI assistant?
of the six, only notei lists an assistant that reads your open score, answers theory questions and makes plain-language edits; its free plan has a monthly allowance of credits. Sibelius lists AI chord suggestions, and Flat sells its AI-powered PDF Import per page.
why is notei second and not first?
MuseScore Studio gives you more for free, with no limits, if you can install software. notei is our product, and it fits best when you write in a browser or want an assistant that reads your score.
sources
each product's facts come from its maker's own pages:
- MuseScore Studio: musescore.org/en/download, musescore.org/en, handbook.musescore.org/file-management/publish-to-musescore.com, musescore.com/upgrade, handbook.musescore.org/sound-and-playback/musesounds, handbook.musescore.org/file-management/opening-and-saving-scores, handbook.musescore.org/file-management/file-export
- notei: notei.co/pricing, notei.co, app.notei.co/pricing, notei.co/assistant, notei.co/features
- Flat: flat.io, flat.io/pricing, flat.io/desktop, flat.io/pdf-import, flat.io/for/music-composers, flat.io/edu
- Dorico SE: steinberg.net/dorico/compare-editions, steinberg.net/dorico/se, steinberg.net/dorico/ipad, steinberg.net/dorico
- Noteflight Basic: support.noteflight.com/hc/en-us/articles/360023099451-Which-Browsers-Are-Supported-by-Noteflight, noteflight.com, noteflight.com/plans, noteflight.com/premium, noteflight.com/guide, support.noteflight.com/hc/en-us/articles/360021512951-Importing-and-Exporting-Music
- Sibelius First: avid.com/sibelius, avid.com/sibelius/comparison, avid.com/sibelius/for-mobile, avid.com/sibelius/first, my.avid.com/get/sibelius-first, resources.avid.com/SupportFiles/Sibelius/2024.3/Sibelius_Reference.pdf
other comparisons: notei vs MuseScore, notei vs Flat, notei vs Dorico, notei vs Noteflight and notei vs Sibelius, all on the notation software alternatives hub. ranked lists: the best online music notation software and the best Finale alternatives. notei's plans and prices are on the pricing page.