TuxGuitar
TuxGuitar: A broad free tab editor with strong format support, playback, and four-platform coverage. Ranked #2 of 32 in Guitar Tab Software by our editors (9.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for free open-source desktop tab editing.
At a glance
- Editor score9.0 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forFree open-source desktop tab editing
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Tab playbackYes
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Multi-track editing with both standard notation and tablature views
- Imports Guitar Pro, PowerTab, TablEdit, and MIDI files
- Exports audio, MusicXML, PDF, SVG, LilyPond, and ASCII formats
Where it doesn't
- Playback uses MIDI-based sound output rather than audio recording
- No collaboration features are listed
- The broad feature set stays focused on tablature and score editing
Our verdict on TuxGuitar
TuxGuitar is a free, open-source application for creating, editing, viewing, and playing multi-track guitar tablature. It is suited to guitarists, arrangers, students, and songwriters who want desktop or Android software for combining tablature with standard score notation. Fretboard and piano note entry, chord editing, instrument-track controls, and multi-track support give users several ways to build and refine arrangements.
Its strongest area is format and output coverage. TuxGuitar can import Guitar Pro, PowerTab, TablEdit, and MIDI files, then export to MIDI, audio, MusicXML, PDF, SVG, LilyPond, and ASCII formats. That makes it practical for moving arrangements between tab software, notation workflows, printable documents, and text-based formats. Plugin support extends the application to file formats and audio output, while playback uses MIDI-based sound output for reviewing parts.
The platform range includes Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, giving the product a wider device footprint than a desktop-only editor. Its open-source model and GNU Lesser General Public License also suit users who prefer freely available software with source-access characteristics. TuxGuitar is a strong choice when editing, playback, imports, exports, and multi-platform access matter most. Choose another tool if collaboration or audio recording is central to the workflow, since TuxGuitar’s published feature set centers on notation, tablature, MIDI playback, and file conversion.
Your product? Our editors can test TuxGuitar in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
TuxGuitar pricing
TuxGuitar fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Supported platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android |
| Notation modes | Tab and standard |
| Tab playback | Yes |
| MIDI support | Yes |
| Audio recording | Not verified |
| Sharing or publishing | Not verified |
| Deployment | Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | tuxguitar.app |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to TuxGuitar
- Guitar ProA mature, deep tab editor for musicians who need notation, playback, and broad exports.9.3
- Guitar2TabsA flexible audio-to-tab tool with editing, playback, sharing, and broad export support.8.5
- SongsterrA capable tab player for learning songs, with useful practice controls behind Plus.8.3
See all TuxGuitar alternatives →
TuxGuitar vs the competition
- TuxGuitar vs Guitar Pro
- TuxGuitar vs Guitar2Tabs
- TuxGuitar vs Songsterr
- TuxGuitar vs Soundslice
- TuxGuitar vs Cesure
- TuxGuitar vs TablEdit
Compare TuxGuitar with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
TuxGuitar is ranked in 2 of our directories.
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Featured on iTechGuides
TuxGuitar is listed in our Guitar Tab Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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