# Sibelius — Music Notation and Scoring App

> Professional music notation and scoring software for mobile devices. (iPhone/iPad app by Avid®.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sibelius/id1503221259 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Avid®](https://appshunter.io/developer/436394595)
- Category: Music, Education
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.20/5 from 1,760 App Store ratings · 585 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.4 · 1.4 GB
- Languages: German (Germany), Russian, European Spanish, American English, Italian, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified, China), European Portuguese, French (France)
- Released: 2021-07-29
- Data updated: 2026-08-28
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sibelius/id1503221259/reviews.md

## What is Sibelius?

Sibelius brings professional music notation to iPad and iPhone, putting the workflows used by countless composers, orchestrators, and arrangers at your fingertips. Seamlessly move between iPad, iPhone and desktop, and from studio to coffeeshop to scoring stage, and write anywhere inspiration strikes.

# Work on scores anywhere
Sibelius for mobile puts the #1 selling music notation program at your fingertips—literally. Work with the same tools and features used by countless composers and production houses every day on your iPad and iPhone. Whether writing down ideas, creating full-blown compositions, or reviewing scores, you have the freedom to create wherever you’re comfortable.

#Take your portfolio to go
Forget having to bring and break out your laptop when meeting with clients and collaborators. Instead, you can conveniently take the world’s most powerful notation toolset and your entire music portfolio with you wherever you go—ideal for those unexpected opportunities. And for tandemly working through last-minute revisions.

# Hear your music in stunning detail
Sibelius includes a high-quality sample library filled with a variety of musical instrumentation, so you can hear what your music will sound like when performed by real musicians. The Espressivo advanced notation interpretation even lets you adjust rhythm and swing to create a more humanistic feel.

# Speed your workflow
Sibelius for mobile is designed to take full advantage of Apple Pencil and iPad touch capabilities. Its elegant, streamlined interface provides the most intuitive and efficient workflows possible while supporting the same keyboard shortcuts you know and love from working on the desktop version, so you’ll feel right at home.

# Get innovative note entry
Experience the pen and paper workflow reimagined. Enter notes with the onscreen Keypad or a keyboard, and Sibelius takes care of all note layout. Touch a note and drag up or down to change its value, or drag left or right to add a flat or sharp. With an Apple Pencil, tap a note and tilt up or down to add a flat or sharp, or tilt left or right to choose the note value. 

# Have everything you need
In addition to the Keypad, Sibelius for mobile features a Create menu that’s optimized for iOS, making it easy to add clefs, key signatures, time signatures, barlines, symbols, text styles, and more to your score from searchable galleries. You can also quickly search through all Sibelius commands using the Command Search, putting the entire app at your fingertips.

# Move tiers to meet needs
Sibelius is designed to grow with you to support your creative aspirations and project needs. From the introductory (and free) Sibelius First to the industry-standard Sibelius Ultimate, you can add more notation capabilities and instrument parts to take on more creative opportunities by simply upgrading your subscription tier. 

# Have everything on one creative platform
Seamlessly move from desktop to tablet and back without ever having to import or export files. That’s because whether on mobile or desktop, you’re always in Sibelius. With files saved to iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, or other iOS-supported cloud service, you have easy anywhere access to all your ideas and scores.

# Enable a hybrid workflow
While Sibelius for mobile is fully featured, providing many of the same tools as its desktop counterpart, there are some notation and layout features only available in the desktop version, making it an integral part of a complete workflow (compare versions). Plus, the mobile version comes free with the desktop version, enabling you to work where and how you want.

## Key features

- Professional music notation
- Cross-platform synchronization
- High-quality sample library
- Apple Pencil and touch optimization
- Innovative note entry
- Command Search functionality
- Scalable subscription tiers

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sibelius Artist for iOS | $5.99 | per month |
| Sibelius Ultimate for iOS | $12.99 | per month |


## What do users think of Sibelius?

Overall sentiment: neutral

**Pros**

- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive
- 🚀 Useful for composing on the go
- 💡 Good for making quick edits to existing scores
- 🎨 Stylish and professional-looking app

**Cons**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes frequently
- 🔒 Difficulty unlocking full version and accessing features
- 💰 Subscription service is very expensive
- 🔇 Limited sound library and poor playback quality
- 📁 Unreliable saving and file management

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Scores disappearing or not saving properly
- Subscription issues and inability to log in
- Crashes when performing basic actions
- Compatibility problems with newer iPad OS versions

**Most requested features**

- Ability to enlarge chord symbols
- More time signature options
- Support for MIDI input
- Better Apple Pencil integration
- Autosave and improved file management
- Export options like MusicXML and PDF
- Customizable shortcuts and toolbars

## Recent user reviews (10 of 585)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sibelius/id1503221259/reviews.md

### 2/5 — J’ai perdu toute ma progression

*2026-08-16, version 2026.6*

Je composais tranquillement une valse au piano solo et après 3-4h à composer j’ai simplement fermé mon cellulaire pour aller faire quelque chose 5 min et au moment de revenir j’ai perdu l’entièreté de ma progression… je n’aurais sûrement pas la motivation de recommencer sachant que j’ai déjà gaspillé plusieurs heures sur cette app. Par pitié mettez la sauvegarde auto comme paramètre de base.

### 4/5 — Pas assez intuitif, mais l’application semble de qualité

*2026-08-14*

Bonjour, merci d’avoir crée cette application de qualité. :) Je ne la trouve cependant pas intuitive du tout, très dure à utiliser, et très limitée dans le placement des notes, comparée à d’autres logiciels. S’il-vous-plaît, faites que l’application ne soit pas dure à utiliser… Impossible de placer les notes à un endroit précis. ;-; Merci de votre attention, j’espère que les développeurs feront le nécessaire pour qu’un clic censé placer une notes ne fasse pas apparaître d’autres onglets que l’on a pas choisis. Merci beaucoup, très belle journée/soirée, Dieu vous bénisse. :D

### 5/5 — 不是我这乐器咋没声音？

*2026-08-12*

我的那个打击乐器除了线，其他的二线三线四线打击乐器都没有声音，连个声音都没有

### 1/5 — 莫名其妙闪退

*2026-07-13*

我真服了，打了3分钟闪退两次，马上打完疯狂闪退，我真服了什么破软件我气的直接卸了

### 5/5 — Great app definitely recommend it

*2026-07-12, version 2026.6*

Amazing didn't know how to use at first but now make great songs

### 4/5 — Sibelius

*2026-07-03, version 2026.6*

Working well so far. I’m doing amazing!

### 5/5 — Angelina ballerina

*2026-06-26, version 2026.6*

FRANZ Liszt

### 1/5 — Deleted hours of work

*2026-06-17, version 2026.5*

Having spent ages putting in a score, when I revisited the file it was completely blank. The file was still there, and I had previously closed and re-opened the file so it was definitely saved.

### 3/5 — Chorister

*2026-06-01, version 2026.5*

Sibelius First

### 5/5 — Great App

*2026-05-28*

Last year I was using another app for notating music because I was so impressed that the cloud updated across all my ipads and iphone and computer the moment I notated something on one platform. I decided to give Sibeluis one more chance before I moved on to one of the many apps available.  Happy I stayed because as long as I have a bluetooth (typewriter) keyboard for my ipad, notating is a breeze. All of the shortcuts on the keyboard are the same on ipad as they are on my Macbook Pro.  From the ipad, I just email the file and pick it up on my macbook pro and tweak the score.  And the app is improving daily. Nice work!!

## Frequently asked questions about Sibelius

### What does Sibelius do?

Sibelius is a professional music notation and scoring application that allows users to create, edit, and hear their musical compositions. It provides a full suite of tools used by composers, orchestrators, and arrangers, optimized for mobile devices.

### What are the key features of Sibelius on mobile?

Key features include professional notation tools, seamless cross-platform synchronization between mobile and desktop, a high-quality sample library to hear compositions, optimized touch and Apple Pencil input, innovative note entry methods, and a Command Search for quick access to functions.

### How much does Sibelius cost?

Sibelius offers a tiered subscription model. There is a free introductory version, Sibelius First, and users can upgrade to more comprehensive versions like Sibelius Ultimate through subscription tiers to access additional notation capabilities and instrument parts.

### What devices is Sibelius compatible with?

Sibelius is available for iPad and iPhone, bringing professional music notation capabilities to Apple's mobile ecosystem. It also syncs seamlessly with desktop versions.

### Who would benefit from using Sibelius?

This app is ideal for composers, orchestrators, arrangers, and music students who need to write, edit, or review musical scores on the go. Its portability and professional features make it suitable for both quick idea capture and full composition.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2026.8 — 2026-08-20

What's new in Sibelius for mobile 2026.8:
-Improvements for cross-staff ties
-Better vertical spacing for cross-staff notation
-Support for line continuation text
-Critical bug fixes

### 2026.6 — 2026-06-25

What's new in Sibelius for mobile 2026.6:
- An option to auto-save your work after every change
- Accessible navigation gestures for VoiceOver users
- New scores now open with a proper zoom setting
- Cross-staff accidental improvements, improved banjo tab, concert pitch wildcards, and more!

### 2026.5 — 2026-05-07

What's new in Sibelius for mobile 2026.5:

-Objects that go off the printed page are now fully selectable, allowing them to be dragged back onto the score
-Bar rests that have been globally hidden can now be individually shown
-Bar rests in empty bars can be hidden via a single “hide” operation
-Copying notes to a TAB staff no longer leaves out certain notes
-Our most frequent crash reports have all been fixed

### 2026.2 — 2026-02-25

What's new in Sibelius 2026.2
- Bar rests are now automatically hidden within cross-staff passages
- Cross-staff beaming has been significantly improved
- Two-note tremolos are now compatible with long-duration notes

### 2025.12.1 — 2025-12-17

What's new in Sibelius 2025.12 and 2025.12.1  
# Notehead names now appear within Command Search
# Support for customized "score subset and part" lists
# Apple Pencil/Stylus tap-and-press now quickly enters note input
# Improved staff filter text directive support

## Apps similar to Sibelius

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Flat: Sheet Music Maker & Tabs](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flat-sheet-music-maker-and-tabs/id1177592149) | 4.6 (6,736) | Free | Music |
| [Score Creator: compose music](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/score-creator-compose-music/id627486149) | 3.5 (491) | Free | Music |
| [Notation Pad-Sheet Music Score](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notation-pad-sheet-music-score/id1091921942) | 4.3 (5,264) | Free | Music |
| [MuseScore－Sheet Music & Chords](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/musescoresheet-music-and-chords/id835731296) | 4.6 (77,582) | Free | Music |
| [Sheet Music Scanner](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sheet-music-scanner/id884984324) | 4.5 (6,365) | Free | Music |
| [Notation Pad Pro - Sheet Music](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notation-pad-pro-sheet-music/id1163705635) | 4.2 (159) | $149.00 | Music |

## More apps by Avid®

- [Avid MediaCentral \| UX](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avid-mediacentral-ux/id517760700)
- [Avid Control](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avid-control/id1017075761)
- [MediaCentral \| Cloud UX](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mediacentral-cloud-ux/id1280863531)
- [VENUE \| On-Stage](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/venue-on-stage/id1305784479)
- [Avid Link](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avid-link/id1358255509)
- [VENUE \| Function Pad](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/venue-function-pad/id1440061182)

All apps by Avid®: https://appshunter.io/developer/436394595

## Related topics

[sibelius](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/sibelius) · [avid sibelius](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/avid-sibelius) · [dorico](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/dorico) · [music notation software](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/music-notation-software) · [music notation](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/music-notation) · [iwritemusic](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/iwritemusic) · [chordify bv](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/chordify-bv) · [finale](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/finale) · [dcu loop](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/dcu-loop) · [amulet response](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/amulet-response) · [musescore studio](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/musescore-studio) · [musescore 4](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/musescore-4) · [music staff](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/music-staff) · [sheet music writer](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/sheet-music-writer) · [composition](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/composition) · [composition app](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/composition-app) · [free music notation](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/free-music-notation) · [finale music](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/finale-music) · [musescore](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/musescore) · [music composition](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/music-composition)

---

*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-28.*