the best Finale alternatives in 2026, and how to move your scores
if you need a Finale alternative, the closest like-for-like move is another desktop scorewriter such as Dorico, which MakeMusic itself pointed Finale users to. if you would rather write in a browser, with a theory assistant that reads your score, notei opens the MusicXML files Finale exports. either way, export your Finale files to MusicXML now, while Finale still runs.
disclosure: notei is our product, and we publish this page, so we make one of the options it describes. Finale facts link to MakeMusic's own announcements, and the Dorico route is described first because it is the closer match.
every fact about the other programs was checked against the vendor's own pages on .
- Finale stopped being developed and sold on 26 august 2024.
- export your scores as MusicXML while Finale still runs.
- Dorico is MakeMusic's suggested desktop route; notei runs in the browser.
where Finale users stand
MakeMusic stopped developing and selling Finale on 26 august 2024. if you have years of scores in it, you need somewhere to keep writing and a way to get your sheet music out of Finale while it still runs on your computer.
what happened to Finale
according to MakeMusic's announcement, there will be no further updates to Finale. it keeps working on computers where it is already installed, unless an operating system change breaks it, and MakeMusic's later update says activating it on a new computer will continue indefinitely. technical support ended in august 2025, and Finale does not support macOS Sequoia. owners can still download installers for versions they bought from their eStore account.
MakeMusic pointed its users to Steinberg's Dorico, and Finale owners can buy Dorico Pro at a crossgrade discount, now sold directly by Steinberg. that is a reasonable path if you want another full desktop scorewriter.
the best Finale alternatives, ranked
here is our ranking: Dorico takes first place, notei follows second, MuseScore Studio ranks third, and Sibelius sits fourth. we placed notei, our own product, at number two because it trails Dorico, which was the successor MakeMusic itself recommended to its users. this methodology relies exclusively on information stated by each vendor's own pages; we did not install or test these programs. notei ranks above MuseScore Studio because notei works on any computer with nothing to install and has an assistant that reads your score, whereas MuseScore Studio is free with no limits but needs a desktop install; however, a reader whose scores lean on ties, tuplets or tempo marks should put MuseScore Studio ahead of notei.
1. Dorico
Dorico takes the top spot because MakeMusic, Finale's maker, pointed its users to it. developed by Steinberg, it offers a desktop install for macOS and Windows, plus an iPad app. for those transitioning from Finale, MakeMusic offered Dorico Pro for $149 against a retail price of $579 when it announced Finale's end in 2024. since 23 july 2026 the offer has been sold by Steinberg instead of the Finale eStore. scores exported from Finale as MusicXML open in Dorico; Finale v27 exports MusicXML 4.0. it suits Finale users who care most about professional engraving.
2. notei, our product
we place notei second because it offers a distinct path for those who prefer flexibility over local installation. our tool runs entirely in your browser, requiring no downloads and only a free account. you can import existing Finale scores by uploading MusicXML files as editable works; however, the MusicXML import reads no ties, tuplets or unpitched drums, and opens every score at 120 BPM. the free tier provides the complete editor, playback using sampled real instruments, and export options for both MusicXML and MIDI. you can store up to 10 scores in the cloud. a built-in assistant reads your score, answers theory questions, and applies edits you describe in plain language. PDF exports on the free plan carry a watermark. paid plans are notei+ at $9 monthly and full score at $18 monthly. this solution suits Finale users who want to keep writing on any computer without buying a desktop licence.
3. MuseScore Studio
third is MuseScore Studio, a free option with no feature limitations under the GNU GPL licence. it offers a desktop installation for Windows, macOS, and Linux. MuseScore Studio opens MusicXML, so Finale scores exported as MusicXML open in it. the software also exports to PDF, MusicXML, and MIDI formats. MuseScore Studio suits Finale users who want a full desktop scorewriter at no cost.
4. Sibelius
fourth is Sibelius, made by Avid. the Artist licence costs $99 a year and Ultimate is $199 annually, with a perpetual bundle at $899 in US dollars before tax; prices vary by region. Sibelius First is free and limits the number of staves. Sibelius has desktop and mobile apps, and imports and exports MusicXML. it suits Finale users who already work with collaborators on Sibelius.
ranked lists for other needs: the best free music notation software and the best online music notation software.
notei and Finale side by side
Finale's entries describe Finale v27, the last version MakeMusic shipped.
| what we compared | notei | Finale |
|---|---|---|
| runs in the browser / install required | runs in your browser at app.notei.co, with nothing to install. | desktop software, with separate Windows and Mac editions; development has ended. (source) |
| free tier and its limits | free forever: the full editor, real-instrument playback, MusicXML and MIDI export, and up to 10 scores in the cloud. PDF has a watermark, assistant credits are limited each month, and WAV is on paid tiers. you need a free account. | no free tier, and no longer sold. owners can still re-download installers for versions they bought. (source) |
| price of the paid tier | notei+ is $9/month and full score $18/month; students pay half ($4.50 and $9). this is early pricing and may change. | not for sale. Finale owners were offered Dorico Pro for $149 (retail $579 at the 2024 announcement). since 23 july 2026 the crossgrade is sold by Steinberg instead of the Finale eStore. (source) |
| AI assistant or AI features | a built-in assistant that reads your open score. it answers theory questions, makes plain-language edits, and can harmonise, arrange or vary a line as editable notes. harmonise, arrange, extend, vary and feedback on your writing are on notei+ and full score only. | no AI features; there will be no further updates. (source) |
| playback quality | sampled real instruments on every plan, the free one included. | no further development. audio export renders with the currently selected SoundFont. (source) |
| MusicXML import / export | opens MusicXML and MuseScore files as editable scores; MusicXML export is free on every plan. | imports MusicXML 1.0 to 3.1 and exports MusicXML; Finale v27 exports MusicXML 4.0, but Dorico crossgrades bought from Steinberg since 23 july 2026 no longer include Finale v27. (source) |
| MIDI import / export | opens MIDI files as editable scores; MIDI export is free on every plan. | imports and exports standard MIDI files. (source) |
| PDF export | PDF export on every plan, with a watermark on free and without one on paid plans. | exports PDF. (source) |
| collaboration | no shared editing yet. your scores sync across the devices you sign in on. | no collaboration feature is listed on finalemusic.com. (source) |
| mobile / Chromebook support | works on a Chromebook, a school laptop, a Mac, a Windows PC or a tablet, because it runs in the browser. there is no native mobile app. | no mobile or Chromebook version is listed. macOS Sequoia does not meet Finale's system requirements. (source) |
where Finale is still the better tool
for an existing Finale library, Finale itself is still the most faithful way to open those files, as long as it runs on your machine.
- existing installs keep working (barring OS changes), and new-device authorization continues, so owners can keep opening their Finale files and re-download any version they bought.
- Finale owners get discounted pricing on Dorico Pro, now bought directly from Steinberg.
each point comes from the vendor's own pages, linked under sources at the end of this page.
notei is not a like-for-like replacement for a professional engraving program, and it has no shared editing. if fine engraving control is what you used Finale for, look at the desktop scorewriters first; the alternatives page lists their free tiers.
move your scores from Finale to notei
MusicXML is the format that carries notation between programs. Finale v27 writes MusicXML 4.0, and notei opens MusicXML as an editable score. do the export while Finale still runs on your computer, even if you do not plan to switch yet.
- open the score in Finale and choose File > Export > MusicXML. save the .musicxml file next to the original.
- keep the .musx file. the original stays the reference copy, and Finale can still open it on this computer.
- open notei at app.notei.co in any browser and sign in with a free account.
- import the MusicXML file. notei turns it into a score you can edit, play back and export again.
- check it against the original with Finale's printout or PDF beside it, part by part.
what may not carry over
notei's MusicXML importer is young, and it has these limits today.
- opening a MusicXML file: the importer reads no tuplets, no ties and no unpitched drums; every import opens at 120 BPM; a minor key arrives under its relative major's name.
- saving as MusicXML: export writes no ties and no tempo.
- PDF export: watermarked on Free; clean on notei+ and full score.
- scores kept in your account: Free keeps up to 10 scores in the cloud; paid tiers have no limit.
in practice, re-enter ties and tuplets by hand and set the tempo again. a minor-key piece needs a check that it shows the key you expect, and drum parts written on unpitched percussion staves will not come across. Finale's spacing tweaks and page layout may not survive either, so check the layout as well as the notes. MIDI files from Finale open in notei too, but MIDI carries far less notation than MusicXML, so treat it as a fallback.
common questions
is Finale still available?
no. MakeMusic stopped developing and selling Finale on 26 august 2024, and technical support ended in august 2025. it keeps working where it is already installed, and owners can still download installers for versions they bought.
can I still open my Finale files?
yes, while Finale runs on your computer. export each score as MusicXML from Finale, which every current notation program reads, and keep those files as your archive in case a future system update stops Finale working.
what is the best Finale alternative?
it depends on how you work. for a full desktop scorewriter, Dorico is the route MakeMusic pointed to, with a crossgrade discount for Finale owners. for writing in the browser on any computer, with an assistant that explains the music, notei is an option.
sources
Finale facts, from the vendor's own pages:
- makemusic.com/press-room/press-releases-2024/makemusic-sunsets-finale
- finalemusic.com/blog/end-of-finale-new-journey-dorico-letter-from-president
- finalemusic.com/blog/macos-sequoia-incompatible-with-finale-v27
- usermanuals.finalemusic.com/FinaleWin/Content/Finale/sub-export.htm
- finalemusic.com
- usermanuals.finalemusic.com/FinaleWin/Content/Finale/sub-import.htm
- usermanuals.finalemusic.com/FinaleWin/Content/Finale/MIDI_files.htm
notei facts, from notei.co:
Finale and MakeMusic are named here only to explain the move between products, and notei is not affiliated with either. comparisons with MuseScore, Flat and Noteflight are on their own pages.
other comparisons: notei vs MuseScore, notei vs Flat, notei vs Noteflight, notei vs Sibelius and notei vs Dorico, all on the notation software alternatives hub. related guides: write sheet music online, MSCZ to PDF.