# Dorico review, pricing and alternatives

Source: https://listme.name/software/dorico
Website: https://www.steinberg.net/dorico/

Music notation software from Steinberg for Windows, macOS and iPad

Dorico is music notation software from Steinberg for composing, arranging and publishing scores. It runs on Windows and macOS, and there is a free iPad app. The free Dorico SE edition writes scores for up to eight players, and Elements and Pro are paid editions.

Dorico is a notation program that Steinberg describes as designed from the ground up for composing. It offers flexible input and editing tools, and transformation features that change tonality, move music between players, map parts onto new scales and create voiced parts from chord symbols. It imports MIDI and MusicXML and exports MIDI, MusicXML, audio and graphics.

Three editions are sold. Dorico SE is free and limited to scores for up to eight players, Elements is aimed at home use and secondary school students, and Pro adds the publishing options that professional engravers and publishers need. Dorico for iPad is free, and projects move between the desktop and the iPad app. The desktop versions run on 64-bit Windows 10 (version 1809 or later) and Windows 11, and on macOS 12 and later.

- Free plan, paid upgrades | Windows, macOS, iPadOS
- Price: Free Dorico SE for up to eight players; Elements and Pro are paid
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## Strengths

- Free Dorico SE for scores up to eight players
- Tools to move and reduce music between instruments
- Projects move between desktop and iPad

## Limits

- Pro costs several times the price of Elements
- Features are split across three editions

## Rankings

- #2 of 10 in [best Music notation software](https://listme.name/best/music-notation-software), score 91.0: A composition-first notation program for Windows and macOS, with a free edition for scores up to eight players and a free iPad app. The Pro edition has the publishing options engravers need, at several times the price of Elements.

## Alternatives

- [Sibelius](https://listme.name/software/sibelius), score 92.0
- [MuseScore](https://listme.name/software/musescore), score 90.5
- [Flat](https://listme.name/software/flat), score 85.5
- [StaffPad](https://listme.name/software/staffpad), score 83.0
- [Noteflight](https://listme.name/software/noteflight), score 80.0
- [LilyPond](https://listme.name/software/lilypond), score 78.5
- [capella](https://listme.name/software/capella), score 76.0
- [Guitar Pro](https://listme.name/software/guitar-pro), score 75.5