Sibelius
Notation software for composers, arrangers and engravers
Ranked 1 of 6 in best music notation software
Professional notation with complete engraving, automatic part generation and video sync on its Ultimate tier. It is paid by yearly subscription or a perpetual bundle, and the Artist tier limits staves.
Best for Professional engraving and part extraction
About Sibelius
Sibelius focuses on score layout and part generation, which Avid says automates complex layout and dynamic part extraction. The Ultimate tier adds unlimited staves, unlimited cloud sharing, complete engraving features and video sync with timecode. The Artist tier limits scores to 24 staves and includes cloud sharing for 20 scores.
Avid sells Sibelius by yearly subscription, and a perpetual Ultimate bundle is available for buyers who prefer a single payment. The product is offered across Mac, Windows, iPad, iPhone and Chromebook. Sibelius suits professional engraving and publishing more directly than free tools such as MuseScore.
Key features
- Automatic part generation
- Cloud sharing
- Video sync and timecode
- PhotoScore and AudioScore on Ultimate
- Perpetual bundle option
Strengths
- Strong score layout and part generation
- Runs on Mac, PC, iPad and iPhone
Limits
- Yearly subscription for most tiers
- Artist tier limits staves and cloud scores
Where Sibelius ranks
| List | Rank | Score | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Music notation software | 1 of 6 | 92.0 | Professional engraving and part extraction |
Questions about Sibelius
- Is Sibelius free?
- Sibelius is a paid product (subscription). Artist $99 a year; Ultimate $199 a year; Ultimate perpetual bundle $899.
- Is Sibelius open source?
- No. Sibelius is proprietary software; its source code is not public.
- Which platforms does Sibelius support?
- Sibelius is available on: Windows, macOS, iPadOS, iOS, ChromeOS.
- What is Sibelius best for?
- Professional engraving and part extraction. In our ranking of music notation software it is number 1 of 6 with a score of 92.0.
- What are the best alternatives to Sibelius?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are MuseScore, Flat, StaffPad, Noteflight.