StaveWave
StaveWave runs online: upload a PDF, scan, or photo, and it compares recognition results. The score check flags uncertain bars. Best fit if you want editable MusicXML with a targeted review rather than installed software.
Updated August 2026
The best sheet music scanner depends on where you work.
Compare six options by platform, pricing model, and MusicXML export. Each tool offers different ways to review and correct recognition errors.
Compare six scanners at a glance.
| Tool | Best for | Runs on | Pricing model | Exports |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| StaveWave | Online scanner with an integrated review step | Any browser — Mac, Windows, Linux, iPad, Chromebook | 100 free signup credits, then prepaid credits. No subscription or monthly fees | MusicXML, MXL, MIDI |
| 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) |
Verdicts
Audiveris
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.
PhotoScore & NotateMe Ultimate
PhotoScore has shipped alongside Sibelius for years — a Lite version comes with Sibelius, and the Ultimate edition sends recognized scores directly into it. It also reads handwritten music via NotateMe. Best fit if Sibelius is your notation home and you want a direct workflow.
SmartScore 64 Professional
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.
ScanScore 3
ScanScore sells tiers by the number of staves you need — solo melody up to full ensemble — and a companion phone app captures pages into the desktop editor. Best fit if you scan mostly small ensembles and want a lower-cost option than a full professional license.
PlayScore 2
PlayScore 2 uses a phone camera to capture the page and plays it back, which makes it useful for hearing 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 to consider before choosing a scanner
Is there a free way to scan sheet music to MusicXML?
Yes. Audiveris is free, open-source desktop software that exports MusicXML, if you are comfortable installing and operating it yourself. StaveWave runs online and gives new accounts 100 free credits. After that, buy credits as needed—no subscription or monthly fees.
Which sheet music scanner is the most accurate?
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 for review, desktop tools give you an editor, and mobile apps defer correction to your notation software.
Can these tools read handwritten music?
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.
What resolution should I scan at?
300 DPI or higher for printed music.