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Frescobaldi vs Sibelius: catalog facts
Frescobaldi	Sibelius
Free Free and open source under the GNU General Public License.	Paid Artist from $99 a year, Ultimate from $199 a year, or an $899 perpetual bundle.
macOS	Windows, macOS, iOS
Point-and-click link between engraved score and source text MIDI playback and MIDI input for entering music	Automatic layout and part generation Video sync and timecode support in Ultimate
Requires learning LilyPond's text notation Not a drag-and-drop notation editor like MuseScore	Subscription pricing for most tiers Artist tier capped at 24 staves per score
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Closed source
License: GPL	License not stated
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 1, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.