List of the Top 12 Music Notation Software with a Free Trial in 2025

Noteflight's online music notation software stands out for its ease of use and extensive customization options, making it ideal for both professional and amateur musicians alike, and it is accessible on any device. Through the Noteflight Marketplace, users can purchase music, as well as download, print, and modify notation files they obtain. Furthermore, musicians have the chance to sell their own original works and arrangements via the Marketplace, which is enhanced by the support of ArrangeMe. The Marketplace Song Catalog enables users to legally search for copyrighted music that can be arranged for various purposes. You can create an unlimited number of musical scores, capture live audio directly within your projects, print parts, and utilize any MIDI device for input or transcription. Sharing your compositions with specific individuals and organizing your scores into collections are just a couple of the additional features offered. Tailored specifically for music educators, the platform allows for the creation of a private website for students, granting them access to all Noteflight Premium functionalities, including tools for recording, performance, and assessment, which greatly enriches their educational journey. Altogether, this platform serves as a valuable asset for those aiming to enhance their musical skills and creative expression. Each of these features contributes to making Noteflight an indispensable tool in the realm of music education and composition.

MagicScore SongWriter is an outstanding application tailored for crafting both songs and instrumental pieces. It serves a diverse audience, including songwriters, vocalists, choirs, students, and enthusiastic musicians. With MagicScore SongWriter, users can effortlessly progress through the entire songwriting journey, starting from the initial melody and chord creation to the final phases of publishing and printing. Furthermore, it streamlines the writing and editing of both solo and accompaniment sections. A range of intuitive tools is provided to ensure a seamless experience with sheet music and digital creations, featuring templates for song structure and layouts for ensembles. The software comes equipped with essential editors for easy lyric typesetting and accurate sound modifications. Importantly, MagicScore SongWriter is recognized as the most advanced and innovative program in the MagicScore collection, making it an indispensable asset for any budding musician. This software significantly enriches the creative experience by offering thorough assistance throughout the entire process, thereby transforming the way musicians bring their ideas to life.

Crescendo provides an intuitive and accessible platform for creating musical notation and guitar tabs, allowing users to easily compose, save, and print their musical works directly from their computers. Featuring a wide array of sheet music symbols, along with options for various time and key signatures, the software offers a versatile layout that empowers composers to carefully develop their arrangements. Users can input notes and rests in different durations, ranging from whole notes to thirty-second notes, and can also notate percussion using a selection of drum kits and templates. The program allows for the creation of dotted notes, chords, and repeats, further enriching the compositions produced. Additionally, users have the capability to add text for titles, tempo indications, dynamics, or lyrics, and can efficiently manage measures through copy, cut, and paste functions to weave in thematic elements seamlessly. Staves can be braced together, which is particularly useful for collaborative ensemble compositions, and the software supports VSTi instruments like piano and violin, providing high-quality MIDI playback for an authentic listening experience. This multifaceted tool not only streamlines the composing process but also inspires musicians to fully realize their creative musical ideas. Ultimately, Crescendo stands out as an essential resource for both budding and experienced composers alike.

Solfeg.io has developed two distinct products: one aimed at individual music learners and another tailored specifically for educators. The app designed for schools offers an engaging, interactive music software experience alongside a comprehensive lesson suite featuring numerous songs for teaching various aspects of music, theory, and instruments. Key features include: ✅ An extensive song library featuring trending tracks from TikTok and Spotify for students to play along with 🎶 Engaging quizzes to assess student understanding 💻 A wealth of resources and meticulously crafted lesson plans 📊 Detailed statistics to track student progress Pricing options include the Maestro plan at $249 annually and the Virtuoso plan at $899 annually. For those seeking to learn independently, Solfeg.io provides a play-along app that allows users to unwind while mastering popular songs on instruments such as the ukulele, piano, or guitar. This app boasts several features: A dynamic song library filled with the latest hits from TikTok and Spotify 🎧 A built-in tuner for guitar and ukulele ✅ Chord recognition capabilities Instant feedback to enhance learning 👂 TABS for easy navigation through songs 🎼 Guided video tutorials for a step-by-step learning experience ▶️ Weekly exercises to reinforce skills ✨ Progress tracking to motivate learners The pricing for this self-learning app is set at $5.99 per month or $29.99 for six months, making it an affordable option for music enthusiasts looking to improve their skills. Furthermore, the combination of engaging features across both products provides a comprehensive learning experience for users of all ages.

QuickScore Elite is a comprehensive software solution for music composition that integrates notation, arrangement, MIDI, and audio sequencing into one platform. This powerful tool enables users to create publication-ready scores, develop musical content for both desktop and online environments, and produce audio CDs, MP3 files, and soundtracks designed specifically for films, videos, and games. As the flagship music composition software from Sion Software, QuickScore Elite Level II was honored with the Editors' Choice award from Electronic Magazine in 1998 and has maintained a strong reputation by winning the Top Ten Reviews Gold Award for five straight years. Users can easily begin their projects by selecting from a variety of customizable score templates, which cater to different formats such as Piano, Solo Instrument, Organ, Choir, Band, and Orchestra. If a desired template is not available, users have the option to design their own configurations for future projects. Additionally, the software includes the FluidGM soundfont player, which enhances the music creation experience by providing high-quality instrument sounds. With its extensive features and user-friendly interface, QuickScore Elite is suitable for both budding composers and seasoned musicians who wish to realize their musical ideas. This versatility ensures that every user finds the right tools to express their creativity effectively.

NotePerformer offers an extensive array of sounds that represent a modern symphonic orchestra, allowing for an evaluation of your musical score while providing authentic performances from all instruments. The installation process is simple, making it just as easy to use as the default sounds in your notation software. We strive to make our software more enjoyable than any other playback solution available. If you face any challenges, we welcome your feedback and suggestions for improvement. Enjoy the advantage of not needing to wait for samples to load, as our optimized sounds provide much quicker accessibility while you compose your scores. By utilizing our unique technologies, we create a fluid experience that combines sampling with synthesis. NotePerformer can be installed on an unlimited number of devices, though you'll need to restart your notation software for each switch. This adaptability is perfect for companies, studios, or educational settings where multiple users can share access on-site. Pricing starts at $200 for 1-5 users, and it supports the integration of both Mac and PC workstations. Experience enhanced playback quality in widely-used notation software like Sibelius, Finale, and Dorico, which can take your music production to the next level. Furthermore, our intuitive interface is designed so that even those with limited technical skills can achieve remarkable outcomes, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the creative process. Ultimately, NotePerformer aims to enrich your musical journey and empower you to bring your compositions to life with ease.

MagicScore Maestro 8 provides the tools necessary to turn your musical ideas into refined, easily readable notation files through one of the most sophisticated and customizable scoring systems currently available. This software makes it possible to create high-quality prints of your musical creations with ease and minimal time commitment. Alongside the extensive features of our Maestro Notation program, it also gives you complete oversight of every note in your piece, guaranteeing that your creative vision comes to life. When a moment of inspiration arises or you're facing an imminent deadline, it becomes crucial to record your thoughts quickly and accurately in multiple formats. MagicScore Maestro offers all of these functionalities, presenting a comprehensive set of features that stands strong against other leading music notation and composition software on the market. By opting for this tool, you can enhance your music production process and experience a streamlined workflow from inception to completion. Moreover, its user-friendly interface ensures that both novice and experienced composers can effectively harness its capabilities.

MagicScore Guitar 8 serves as a comprehensive tool for guitarists, addressing all their musical requirements in one package. Regardless of whether you are a seasoned player, a passionate teacher, or a novice, this software equips you with sophisticated tab editing and music notation capabilities that are user-friendly. It facilitates quick song creation by enabling seamless arrangement of tabs alongside musical notes. Tailored to assist both in crafting arrangements and enhancing skills, it comes with a variety of built-in features for sharing creations, as well as practice and teaching resources that support beginners in their educational pursuits. Furthermore, the software's adaptability and intuitive design render it a vital asset for musicians of all experience levels, ensuring that its extensive feature set is advantageous to everyone. Users are empowered to harness their creativity fully, transforming and enriching their guitar playing experience while exploring new musical horizons. With such a wealth of functionalities at their fingertips, musicians can truly expand their artistic expression.

MagicScore OneTouch Composer is distinguished as the first music notation software tailored specifically for Windows tablets on a global scale. It was developed as an evolution of the renowned MagicScore Maestro and has garnered recognition as the top choice for Windows 8 tablets, a testament to its success in the Intel Application Innovation Contest. Acknowledged by TopTenReviews as the leading software in its category, OneTouch Composer serves a wide array of musicians, from novices and students to educators and experienced composers. The software incorporates the most desirable features from MagicScore Maestro, enhancing the overall user experience significantly. Furthermore, OneTouch Composer boasts exceptional user-friendliness, making it a perfect option for anyone eager to explore music composition in a straightforward manner. With its cutting-edge design and comprehensive functionality, OneTouch Composer not only meets the needs of its users but also elevates the standards for music notation software in the industry. This program invites creativity and expression, ensuring that all users can find joy in their musical endeavors.

MagicScore Notation for MS Word 8 combines the powerful functionalities of MagicScore Notation software with the convenience of integrating music notation into any MS Word document with a single click. Many music notation programs have a significant drawback: users can only add a static image of the score to their documents, which prevents any modifications to the notes without starting the process over again. MagicScore Notation for Microsoft Word resolves this limitation by allowing users to edit the musical notes directly in the word processor with ease. This cutting-edge software removes the inconvenience of dealing with image files altogether. To add music notation to a MS Word document, users can effortlessly insert a MagicScore Notation object add-in through a toolbar button or by navigating to the Insert->Object menu in Word. Such seamless integration not only enhances the user experience but also simplifies the editing process for music notation, making it accessible for musicians and composers alike. Consequently, this innovative tool empowers users to focus more on their creativity rather than the technicalities of document formatting.

Harness your musical imagination and translate it into an extraordinary score to communicate your artistic perspective with the world. Just as each musician possesses a unique flair, the motivations for selecting Finale software to craft music are diverse and personal. Finale provides you with the tools to effortlessly manifest any musical notation you dream of while supporting your creative journey. Whether your muse guides you toward a simple lead sheet or an intricate Hollywood score, Finale remains a dependable ally in achieving outstanding outcomes. This software not only allows you to decide what to create but also offers the freedom to shape your concepts as you see fit. From designing a straightforward tune to orchestrating a grand Broadway show, you can mold your music with ease, trusting your instincts and preferred methods. By inputting your compositions into Finale, you open up a realm of possibilities, letting you seamlessly rearrange bars, alter keys, and delve into countless variations for your musical ideas. Ultimately, this software serves as both a canvas and a tool, empowering your creativity to thrive without limits, while also enhancing your overall compositional experience. With Finale, you are invited to explore new dimensions in your music-making journey, reinforcing the joy of creative expression.

Dorico stands out as a robust software solution for music composition and notation, allowing users to produce high-quality printed scores with remarkable ease. The application incorporates sequencer-style editing functionalities that not only enhance playback but also preserve the sophistication of the written music. With an array of innovative and time-saving features, Dorico is designed to cater to both novices and professionals with demanding requirements. Now available on iPad, it can be conveniently downloaded for free from the App Store, expanding its accessibility to a wider audience. Whether your goal is composing, arranging, or creating and printing music, Dorico simplifies the entire process remarkably. Its intelligent design effortlessly adjusts notation as you compose, promoting a fluid workflow. Offering nearly 1,500 lifelike sounds for playback, the software ensures realistic audio experiences while its advanced notation tools deliver rapid results without the need for tedious workarounds. The combination of its impressive functionality and user-friendliness cements Dorico's reputation as an indispensable tool for anyone dedicated to the art of music creation. Furthermore, its continuous updates and community support enhance the overall user experience, making it an ever-evolving platform for musicians.