List of scorewriters

This is a list of music notation programs. It excludes programs designed specifically for writing guitar tablature. For a list of guitar tablature software see the list of guitar tablature software.

Free software

abcexplorer, a scorewriter for text abc format
Denemo, a scorewriter primarily providing a front-end for LilyPond
EasyABC, a scorewriter and player for abc format
Frescobaldi, a GUI front-end for LilyPond. [GNU/Linux, OS X and Microsoft Windows]
GNU LilyPond, a text-based scorewriter with several backends including PS, PDF and SVG
Gregorio, a brief notation for representing Gregorian chant
Impro-Visor, a GUI- and text-based scorewriter for constructing lead sheets and jazz solos on Linux, OS X, and Windows
MuseScore, a WYSIWYG scorewriter for Linux, Windows, and OS X
MusiXTeX, a set of macros and fonts that allow music typesetting in TeX
Musink Lite, a WYSIWYM scorewriter and publication tool for Windows
NoteEdit, a KDE scorewriter
Rosegarden, a scorewriter for Linux
Philip's Music Scribe (or PMS), a text-based scorewriter originally written for Acorn RiscOS (released as a commercial program ^[1] in the 1990s), later ported to POSIX and licensed under the GNU GPL
Aria Maestosa, open-source (GPL) midi sequencer/editor for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS

Capella
Cubase Score V1-5 (first run on version numbers)
Cubase SX
Cubase V4-6 (second run on version numbers)
Dorico
Encore
Finale plus the following lite versions: Allegro, PrintMusic, NotePad, Songwriter
Forte (notation program)
Guitar Pro (primarily for guitars and bands, but also notates other instruments including drums)
Igor Engraver
MagicScore, plus Music Notation for MS Word and lite version MagicScore School and free versions MagicScore onLine and MagicScore Note
Mozart
Mus2
MusEdit
MusiCAD
MusicEase, notates standard music, shaped notes and tablature; transposes and imports abc music.
Music Construction Set (obsolete; was also for Apple II, Atari 400, and Commodore 64)
Musicmaster
Music Write
MusicTime Deluxe
Notion
NoteWorthy Composer
Overture plus lite version Score Writer.
Sibelius, plus lite versions Sibelius First, Sibelius Student, Sibelius Instrument Teacher Edition, G7
ScoreCloud Studio - Audio, manual or MIDI input analysis to musical notation, and editor.
SmartScore Pro (music scanning and scorewriting. Lite versions: SmartScore Songbook, MIDI, Piano and Guitar Editions)

ConcertWare (obsolete)
Cubase Score V1-5 (first run of version numbers)
Cubase SX
Cubase V4-6 (second run of version numbers)
Emagic, makers of Notator (bought by Apple in 2002; Windows version no longer developed or supported)
Encore
Finale notation program, plus lite versions: Finale Notepad, Notepad Plus, Songwriter, PrintMusic, Allegro
Guitar Pro (primarily for guitars and bands, but also notates other instruments including drums)
Igor Engraver
Logic Pro, Logic Express (successor to Notator and Notator Logic)
Mosaic (Mac OS 9 only)
Mus2
MusicEase, notates standard music, shaped notes and tablature; transposes and imports abc music.
MusicTime Deluxe
Notion
Overture plus lite version Score Writer.
Sibelius, plus lite versions Sibelius First, Sibelius Student, Sibelius Instrument Teacher Edition, G7
ScoreCloud Studio - Audio, manual or MIDI input analysis to musical notation, and editor.
SmartScore Pro (music-scanning and music-scoring. Lesser versions: SmartScore Songbook, MIDI, Piano and Guitar Editions)
Stave'n'Tabs (free, in-app purchasable PRO version), plus iOS version

Bank Street Music Writer (Atari 8-bit, Apple II, Commodore 64 and DOS)
Cubase Score V1-2 (Atari ST)
Deluxe Music Construction Set (Commodore Amiga)
MusicPrinter Plus (DOS)
SCORE (DOS – once a leading publishing program)
ScoreCloud Express - Audio, manual or MIDI input analysis to musical notation, and editor for iOS