Comparison — updated August 2026
Six real options — an online service, desktop software, an open-source engine, and a mobile app — compared by platform, pricing model, and MusicXML export. Every scanner makes mistakes on real scans; the honest difference is how each one helps you find and fix them.
At a glance
| Tool | Best for | Runs on | Pricing model | Exports |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| StaveWave | online scanner with a built-in review | Any browser — Mac, Windows, Linux, iPad, Chromebook | Free tier, metered above it | MusicXML, MXL, MIDI, engraved PDF |
| Audiveris | free scanner | Windows, macOS, Linux (Java) | Free, open source | MusicXML, MXL |
| PhotoScore & NotateMe Ultimate | for Sibelius users | Windows, macOS | One-time license | MusicXML, MIDI, direct to Sibelius |
| SmartScore 64 Professional | desktop editor | Windows, macOS | One-time license | MusicXML, MIDI, PDF |
| ScanScore 3 | tiered desktop option | Windows, macOS, capture app for phones | One-time license, tiered by staff count | MusicXML, MIDI, PDF |
| PlayScore 2 | mobile capture and playback | iPhone, iPad, Android | Free app, subscription for MusicXML export | MusicXML, MIDI (subscription) |
Best online scanner with a built-in review
StaveWave runs entirely in the browser: upload a PDF, scan, or photo, and independent recognition engines read the page and check each other. Instead of handing you the whole score to proofread, the score check flags the uncertain bars and pins each one to the ink on your original page. Best fit if you want editable MusicXML with a targeted review rather than installed software.
Best free scanner
Audiveris is the leading open-source OMR engine. It costs nothing, runs anywhere Java runs, and exports standard MusicXML. The trade: you install and operate it yourself, work through a technical desktop interface, and proofread the full output in its editor. Best fit if you are comfortable with technical setup and your budget is zero.
Best for Sibelius users
PhotoScore has shipped alongside Sibelius for years — a Lite version comes with Sibelius, and the Ultimate edition sends recognized scores straight into it. It also reads handwritten music via NotateMe. Best fit if Sibelius is your notation home and you want the tightest hand-off.
Best desktop editor
SmartScore pairs its recognition with a full desktop editing environment, so you can correct and reformat the recognized score in one place before export. Best fit if you want to finish the correction work inside the scanning app itself.
Best tiered desktop option
ScanScore sells tiers by how many staves you need — solo melody up to full ensemble — so you pay for the size of music you actually scan, and a companion phone app captures pages into the desktop editor. Best fit if you scan mostly small ensembles and want a cheaper entry than a full professional license.
Best mobile capture and playback
PlayScore 2 points a phone camera at the page and plays it back instantly, which makes it the quickest way to hear a part. MusicXML export needs the subscription, and correction happens later in your notation app. Best fit for rehearsal playback and quick captures on a phone.
Questions
Yes. Audiveris is free, open-source desktop software that exports MusicXML, if you are comfortable installing and operating it yourself. StaveWave has a free tier that runs in the browser with no install.
No published independent benchmark covers current versions of these tools, and accuracy depends heavily on the print quality, scan resolution, and complexity of your music. The practical question is how each tool handles the errors that every scanner makes: StaveWave flags uncertain bars against your original page, desktop tools give you an editor, and mobile apps defer correction to your notation software.
Mostly no. Printed notation is what optical music recognition handles well. PhotoScore's NotateMe component reads handwriting entered on a tablet; scanned handwritten manuscripts remain unreliable across all tools.
300 DPI or higher for printed music. Phone photos work when the page is flat, evenly lit, and shot straight on.
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