Dorico vs Sibelius

Dorico9.3Visit SSibelius9.2Visit

Higher score Dorico #1 in Music Notation Software 9.3/10 Free plan · 60-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 4 of 5 features Visit Dorico

vs

S Sibelius #2 in Music Notation Software 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Sibelius

• Dorico fits best

  Professional composers and engravers

• Sibelius fits best

  Writers needing notation plus score sharing

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Side by side

Feature	Dorico 9.3/10 Visit ↗	SSibelius 9.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	9.2
Ranking	#1 in Music Notation Software	#2 in Music Notation Software
Best for	Professional composers and engravers	Writers needing notation plus score sharing
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	—	—
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	60 days	—
Deployment	Desktop, Mobile	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	Windows, macOS, iOS	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Integrations	3 integrations	6 integrations
Features Dorico 4/5 · Sibelius 5/5
MusicXML support	✓	✓
MIDI support	✓	✓
Parts extraction	✓	✓
Tablature support	✓	✓
Collaboration features	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Specs
Deployment	Desktop	Both
Our review
Pros	Combines score creation, engraving, page layout, and instrumental parts Supports MusicXML, MIDI, tablature, playback, and audio export Offers a 60-day trial plus free macOS, Windows, and iPad editions	Dynamic instrumental parts and guitar tablature support varied scores. MIDI and MusicXML workflows support note entry and score exchange. Cloud sharing includes browser-based comments, highlights, and annotations.
Cons	Advanced engraving and layout capabilities are reserved for Pro The iPad edition has optional paid functionality Desktop editions are limited to macOS and Windows	Artist limits scores to 24 staves and cloud sharing to 20 scores. Artist has limited symbols, lines, and text styles. Advanced engraving and video sync require an Ultimate edition.
Our verdict	Dorico is Steinberg’s music notation and composition software for composers, arrangers, educators, publishers, and performers who need to create scores and performance materials. Its shared project structure brings players, flows, layouts,… Read the review →	Sibelius is notation software for composers, arrangers, educators, publishers, and performers who need to create, edit, and share scores. Its feature set spans note entry, playback, engraving, instrumental parts, guitar tablature, and… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Dorico — where it wins

  • Combines score creation, engraving, page layout, and instrumental parts
  • Supports MusicXML, MIDI, tablature, playback, and audio export
  • Offers a 60-day trial plus free macOS, Windows, and iPad editions

  Where it doesn't

  • Advanced engraving and layout capabilities are reserved for Pro
  • The iPad edition has optional paid functionality
  • Desktop editions are limited to macOS and Windows

• Sibelius — where it wins

  • Dynamic instrumental parts and guitar tablature support varied scores.
  • MIDI and MusicXML workflows support note entry and score exchange.
  • Cloud sharing includes browser-based comments, highlights, and annotations.

  Where it doesn't

  • Artist limits scores to 24 staves and cloud sharing to 20 scores.
  • Artist has limited symbols, lines, and text styles.
  • Advanced engraving and video sync require an Ultimate edition.

• Dorico9.3/10 · Free plan · 60-day trial

  A full notation and engraving workflow, with free editions and a 60-day trial.

  Visit DoricoFull verdict →
• SSibelius9.2/10 · Free plan

  Sibelius combines detailed score creation with browser-based sharing and review.

  Visit SibeliusFull verdict →