Every European music notation software tool reviewed
Limassol, Cyprus
MuseScore Studio: free download, described on the home page as completely free with no limitations; paid MuseSounds not priced on the pages we read
Demo on request
Best for: Individuals, schools and choirs who want a free notation program with a large community
MuseScore Studio is the free desktop notation editor that MuseScore Ltd publishes from Limassol, Cyprus. The home page names version 4.7.6 as the current download, says that 34 contributors were active in the last year, and offers the interface in 69 languages. The same page describes the program as completely free with no limitations, which is a stronger price statement than any other vendor on this page makes.
Notes can be entered from a MIDI keyboard, and scores move in and out through MusicXML and MIDI. MuseScore Ltd distributes the program through MuseHub, which also carries the paid MuseSounds libraries, and we did not see prices for those. The terms and privacy pages sat behind a bot check, so the parent company, licence name and data location stay unconfirmed here. Expect community forums rather than a vendor helpdesk.
What MuseScore does well
- Free download, and the home page states no limitations
- Community-built open source with 34 contributors in the last year
- Notes can be entered from a MIDI keyboard
- MusicXML and MIDI listed for moving scores between programs
- Interface available in 69 languages
Where MuseScore falls short
- Terms and privacy pages were unreadable to us
- Parent company and hosting location not stated in the text we read
- No price shown for the paid MuseSounds libraries
- Help comes from the community, not a vendor desk
Standout feature. MuseScore is the only desktop editor in this category whose complete program is free, open source and stated to have no limitations.
London, United Kingdom
Flat Basic: free, limited to 15 scores and 30 instruments; Flat Power: monthly and yearly plans with unlimited scores, amounts not shown in the text we read
Demo on request
Best for: Students, teachers and small ensembles who write and share scores in a browser
Flat is a notation service for the web, desktop and mobile that Tutteo Limited operates from London. The company is registered in England and Wales under number 09734095, with its registered office at 9th Floor, 107 Cheapside. The service lets several people work on one score at once, syncs across devices, and offers offline composing and a desktop app for Mac and Windows.
The free Basic plan holds 15 scores and 30 instruments and includes MusicXML and MIDI import and transcription with MIDI devices. Flat Power removes the score limit, and the amounts for it were not in our text. A US distributor, Tutteo Inc., a Delaware company, serves American customers. The privacy policy permits storage outside the user's jurisdiction, and the home page counts more than 5 million community members, which is the vendor's own figure.
What Flat does well
- Basic plan costs nothing
- Several users can edit one score at the same time
- Desktop app for Mac and Windows beside the browser version
- Imports MusicXML and MIDI files
- Company number of the UK entity is published
Where Flat falls short
- Basic plan stops at 15 scores
- Amounts for the Power plan were not in our text
- Where the data is stored is not stated
- A separate US entity distributes Flat in the United States
Standout feature. Flat is the only tool in this category where several people edit the same score at once in a browser.
Stockholm, Sweden
Free $0; Plus $5.99 per month or $59 per year; Songwriter $11.99 per month or $119 per year; Pro $20.99 per month or $149 per year (USD, plans comparison page)
Demo on request
Best for: Songwriters and arrangers who want to capture ideas by playing or singing
ScoreCloud is the notation platform of Doremir Music Research AB, whose terms give Beckbrännarbacken 6 in Stockholm and organisation number 556751-6355. Three products share the name: Studio for full scores, Songwriter for lead sheets built from recordings, and Express for iPhone and iPad. The about page says the company is backed by Swedish and international private investors and by the VC fund Almi Invest.
Plans are public. Free costs $0 and saves 10 songs in the cloud with watermarked printing and PDF. Plus is $5.99 a month or $59 a year, Songwriter $11.99 or $119, and Pro $20.99 or $149, all in US dollars. MusicXML import works on every plan, MusicXML export needs Songwriter or Pro, and Doremir says it follows the GDPR and will not pass personal data to third parties. Hosting is not named.
What ScoreCloud does well
- Four plans with prices on a public page
- A free tier exists
- A voice or instrument recording can be turned into notation
- MusicXML import is open on all plans
- Swedish company with organisation number published
Where ScoreCloud falls short
- Only US dollar prices are shown
- Free tier watermarks printed pages and PDFs
- Exporting MusicXML requires a paid plan
- Where files are stored is not stated in our text
Standout feature. ScoreCloud is the only product in this category that offers a recording-to-notation entry method together with four public price tiers.
Lohfelden, Germany
prices not shown in the text we read; the menu lists subscriptions, upgrade offers, vouchers and a crossgrade for users of other programs
Demo on request
Best for: Musicians who want a German vendor with notation, scanning and audio-to-score tools under one roof
capella is a family of notation programs from capella-software AG, a German stock company at Hauptstraße 47 in Lohfelden. The imprint gives Söhrewald as the seat, Kassel HRB 15433 as the register entry and DE 154326766 as the VAT ID. The general terms say German and European law applies and name Kassel as place of jurisdiction, so the counterparty and the court are both written down.
The menu lists capella, a reduced capella start, a reader, capella-scan, capella audio2score, tonica fugata, a melody trainer and audite PLUS, with VST3 support in capella 10. A crossgrade page addresses users of other notation programs. The product pages we fetched were mostly navigation, so features, platforms and amounts are unconfirmed, and so is the hosting location.
What capella does well
- Register number and seat of the German stock company are published
- Terms are under German and European law with Kassel as venue
- Separate scan and audio-to-score programs from the same maker
- capella 10 lists VST3 support
- A crossgrade route is offered to users of other programs
Where capella falls short
- No amounts appeared in the text we read
- Supported platforms are not stated
- Feature depth could not be read from the pages fetched
- Where the data is hosted is not stated
Standout feature. capella is the only vendor in this category that names a court in its terms and sells separate scan and audio-to-score programs next to its editor.
Utting am Ammersee, Germany
Founded 1994
prices not shown in the text we read; the site shows time-limited sale banners and bundle and upgrade pages
Demo on request
Best for: Hobby musicians who want a desktop notation program from a German company with long-term support
Notation Composer is the flagship edition of Notation Software Germany GmbH, listed at Eduard-Thoeny-Str. 6 in Utting am Ammersee. The imprint gives Amtsgericht Augsburg HRB 27100 and VAT number DE283550976, and names Dr. Reinhold Hoffmann as CEO. The company page traces the business to 1994, when it started as Notation Software, Inc. in Bellevue, Washington.
Notes can be entered with a MIDI instrument, mouse, computer keyboard or AI, and a second feature builds scores from MIDI files. The site sells Composer, Musician and Player, shows version 5.1 with 5.1.2 announced, and links a Band-in-a-Box plugin, a student download and a lifetime help desk. Its FAQ asks why anyone should buy Notation when MuseScore is free. Amounts and platforms are not in the text.
What Notation Composer does well
- German GmbH with commercial register and VAT numbers shown
- Notes can be entered by MIDI, mouse, keyboard or AI
- Composer, Musician and Player editions to choose from
- Plugin for Band-in-a-Box
- Interface offered in English, German, Spanish and Italian
Where Notation Composer falls short
- Only sale banners, no prices, appeared in the text
- The platform list could not be read
- The company began in the United States before moving its seat to Germany
- Hosting is not stated
Standout feature. Notation Composer is the only program in this category that lists AI next to MIDI, mouse and keyboard as a way to enter notes.
Lille, France
not shown on the pages we read
Demo on request
Best for: Guitarists who learn from tabs and want to write their own scores
Guitar Pro is the tab and notation editor that Arobas Music SARL publishes from 71 Quai de l'Ouest in Lille. The legal page gives share capital of €230,000, trade register entry B 444 341 028 and VAT number FR 14 444 341 028. The site lists Guitar Pro 8 for Windows and macOS, mobile apps, the mySongBook tab catalogue and an Academy with lesson modules such as My First Guitar Course and Guitar Scales.
The core job is writing tablature next to standard staves, which suits guitarists, bassists and drummers who transcribe songs. The pages do not describe real-time feedback on your playing, so the Academy is closer to course material than to a coach. The legal page names OVH in Roubaix as host of guitar-pro.com and mysongbook.com. No prices appeared in our text.
What Guitar Pro does well
- French SARL with register entry and share capital published
- OVH in Roubaix, France, named as website host
- Runs on Windows and macOS, with iOS and Android apps
- mySongBook offers a searchable tab catalogue
- Academy menu lists guitar lesson modules
Where Guitar Pro falls short
- Primarily an editor, with no feedback on your playing described
- No prices in the text we read
- How deep the lessons go was not verified
- Piano and drums play a secondary role
Standout feature. Guitar Pro is the only tool in this category that joins a score editor to a searchable catalogue of ready-made tabs.
Toulouse, France
lifetime licence per platform, prices in euros and US dollars listed in a table that is not in the text we read
Demo on request
Best for: Composers and teachers who want a one-time licence and wide file format support
Harmony Assistant is the composing program of Myriad SARL, whose legal page gives 26 rue Michel de Montaigne in Toulouse, share capital of €8,000, an RCS Toulouse entry and VAT number FR39 344 511 514. Olivier Guillion is named as publishing editor. The team page says the programmers have worked in music, graphics and multimedia since 1982 and moved to internet distribution in 1996.
Two modes, page and engraver, handle layout, and input comes by mouse, computer keyboard or MIDI keyboard. The program reads and writes MIDI, WAV, AIFF, MP3, OGG, TAB, ABC and XML, ships an embedded SoftSynth with hundreds of instruments, and includes MyrScript for custom features. The latest release listed is 2026H1e from 1 June 2026. Licences are non-refundable and tied to one platform, and the price table did not render as text.
What Harmony Assistant does well
- French SARL with register and VAT numbers published
- One purchase per platform, valid for later versions
- Can be downloaded and used without a time limit
- Versions for Windows, Mac OS and Linux
- MyrScript scripting language for adding features
Where Harmony Assistant falls short
- A licence covers one platform only
- Sales terms make licences non-refundable
- Prices could not be read from the fetched text
- Site and interface look dated
Standout feature. Harmony Assistant is the only program in this category that lists a Linux version and an embedded scripting language.
London, United Kingdom
not shown on the pages we read
Demo on request
Best for: Composers who sketch with a stylus on a Windows tablet or iPad
StaffPad is a composing app by StaffPad Ltd, whose privacy notice gives the registered office as Riverbank House, 2 Swan Lane, London EC4R 3TT and names the company as data controller. The about page credits David William Hearn as designer and founder and Dr Matthew Tesch as lead developer and founder. StaffPad is a registered trademark of StaffPad Ltd.
Music is written in your own handwriting, audio can be recorded or imported, and edits happen by touch, with sampled sounds for playback. The home page says the app is built for pen and touch, and the device list names Windows 10 pen devices and iPad with Apple Pencil. StaffPad Reader is a free companion that shows parts on several devices in real time over Wi-Fi. Terms date from 23 June 2021 and prices are not shown.
What StaffPad does well
- Notes are written by hand with a pen
- Free StaffPad Reader app for performers
- Audio import and editing by touch
- Registered office in London is published
- Edits appear on connected devices as they are made
Where StaffPad falls short
- Requires a device that supports pen and touch
- No prices on the pages we read
- Terms of service were last updated in June 2021
- Hosting is not stated
Standout feature. StaffPad is the only tool in this category whose primary input is handwriting with a pen, backed by a free Reader app for performers.
Paris, France
a pricing page exists; amounts are not in the text we read
Demo on request
Best for: Orchestras, ensembles and schools that share and annotate scores digitally
Newzik is the score library and reader that SYNCSING SAS develops in Paris. The head office is 7 avenue Ingres, the share capital is €5,804.70, the trade register number is 525 205 514 and the VAT number is FR61 525205514. The privacy policy, modified on 11 July 2025, commits the company to the GDPR and French data protection law.
PDFs, scans and setlists are gathered in one library, annotated, shared and synchronised in real time. Pages turn through face movements or a Bluetooth pedal. LiveScore converts a PDF into an interactive score, and the site lists transposition, MusicXML or MIDI export and an OMR API for developers. The home page claims 500,000 users, over 150 institutions and 14 million scores, all vendor figures. It does not describe writing music from scratch.
What Newzik does well
- French SAS with register and VAT numbers published
- LiveScore turns a PDF into an interactive score
- MusicXML and MIDI export listed
- Annotations are shared with a group in real time
- Pages can be turned without touching the device
Where Newzik falls short
- It is a reader and converter, not a complete notation editor
- The legal notice names Google LLC as website host
- No amounts in the text we read
- App described for iOS and web only
Standout feature. Newzik is the only tool in this category designed around the performer's score library, with synced annotations and hands-free page turns.
Handorf, Germany
not shown in the text we read; a free trial can be downloaded after entering an email address
Demo on request
Best for: Musicians who need to turn printed or PDF scores into editable files
ScanScore is a brand of Lugert Verlag GmbH & Co. KG, whose imprint gives Hauptstr. 18 in Handorf, Sebastian Lugert as chief executive, USt-ID DE 192223406 and register Amtsgericht Winsen/Luhe HRA 3250. The site comes in German and English. The program scans, plays, transposes and edits sheet music from a PDF, a scanner or a smartphone.
Results can be exported as PDF, audio, MIDI and MusicXML, so a recognised score can continue in another program. A free test version downloads once you enter an email address, and an AI chatbot called Scanny answers questions on the home page. The English terms page still shows an unfilled lawyer template with a placeholder shop, so the sales terms are not confirmed, and the cookie list names advertising and tracking services from Google, Microsoft, Facebook and OpenAI.
What ScanScore does well
- German company with register and VAT numbers published
- Takes PDF, scanner and smartphone images
- Exports PDF, audio, MIDI and MusicXML
- A free test version is available
- Can transpose and play back the recognised score
Where ScanScore falls short
- English terms page contains unfilled template text
- The cookie list names many advertising and tracking services
- Prices were not in the text we read
- Meant for scanning, not for composing from nothing
Standout feature. ScanScore is the only recognition tool in this category that accepts PDF, scanner and smartphone input from a German publisher.
Canterbury, United Kingdom
not shown in the text we read; an ordering and pricing page is linked
Demo on request
Best for: Composers who want to write music by hand and send it to another notation editor
NotateMe is the handwriting-entry half of the PhotoScore & NotateMe Ultimate 2020 bundle from Neuratron Ltd, 71 New Dover Road, Canterbury, Kent. The privacy statement and contact page give that address, and Neuratron says it has made software since 1993. The product page also lists a Lite version with a reduced NotateMe Now.
Music is written by hand, and Neuratron describes licensed editing interfaces in the style of Sibelius. Finished scores go directly to Sibelius or are saved as MusicXML, MIDI and PhotoScore files for Finale, Dorico and other editors, on Windows and Mac OS X. The product page was last modified on 14 May 2021 and the privacy statement is dated July 2021, so confirm current versions. An ordering and pricing page is linked, but no amount appeared in our text.
What NotateMe does well
- Neuratron's Canterbury address is published
- Music can be written by hand
- Scores go straight to Sibelius
- Saves MusicXML and MIDI for other editors
- Versions for Windows and Mac OS X
Where NotateMe falls short
- The pages we read are from 2020 and 2021
- No price in the text we read
- Offered inside a bundle rather than alone
- Not meant as a full engraving program
Standout feature. NotateMe is the only tool in this category that hands handwritten music directly to Sibelius.
Canterbury, United Kingdom
Founded 1993
not shown in the text we read; a free demo can be downloaded and an ordering page is linked
Demo on request
Best for: Teachers and arrangers who convert printed scores to editable files
PhotoScore is the scanning program of Neuratron Ltd in Canterbury, and the about page tells its history in detail. It began as Optical Manuscript on Acorn computers in 1997, reached Windows and Mac as PhotoScore in 1999 and 2000, and appeared as a Lite Windows version bundled with Sibelius in late 1998. The same page says Sibelius 7 was updated to import Optical Manuscript files.
Neuratron states that PhotoScore & NotateMe Ultimate reads PDFs and originals with its OmniScore2 dual-engine system, and claims over 99.5 percent accuracy on most of them, which is a vendor figure. The Ultimate comparison table lists 4- and 6-line guitar tablature, percussion staves, lyrics in 120 languages and common markings, plus WAV and AIFF export. The Lite version limits pages and voices, and the pages are dated 2020 and 2021.
What PhotoScore does well
- Neuratron's Canterbury address is published
- Recognises guitar tablature and percussion staves
- Can open PDF files
- Passes music to Sibelius or saves MusicXML
- A free demo can be downloaded
Where PhotoScore falls short
- The pages we read are from 2020 and 2021
- No price in the text we read
- Lite version caps pages, voices and many symbols
- A recognition tool, not a place to write music
Standout feature. PhotoScore is the only program in this category whose own history records a Lite version bundled with Sibelius in 1998.
