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Deezer vs MuseScore

Deezer logo

Deezer

Music

All the music you love

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MuseScore logo

MuseScore

Music

Free, open source notation software under the GPL, distinct from the separate paid MuseScore.com and MuseSounds subscriptions

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Deezer premium pricing displayed in AED currency only despite international availability; MuseScore advanced engraving control and default output polish generally trail Sibelius and Dorico, even though the gap has closed somewhat in recent versions.
  • They diverge on capability: Deezer covers Music streaming, MuseScore covers Score engraving.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Deezer and MuseScore actually diverge.

Attributes where Deezer and MuseScore differ
AttributeDeezerMuseScore
Pricing modelsubscriptionOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidmacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Founded2007Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Music).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Deezer

  • Music streaming
  • Podcasts
  • Radio
  • HiFi audio
  • Smart speakers
  • Car systems
  • Family controls
  • Private sessions

Only in MuseScore

  • Score engraving
  • MIDI input and playback
  • Part extraction
  • MuseSounds
  • Plugin support
  • Cross-platform availability

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Deezer

  • Ad-free on-demand music streaming with offline downloadsnot MuseScore
  • Multi-user household streaming via the Family plannot MuseScore
  • Two-person households via the Duo plannot MuseScore
  • Higher-fidelity/lossless audio streaming on Premiumnot MuseScore

MuseScore

  • A student or educator needing capable, no-cost notation software for classroom assignmentsnot Deezer
  • A composer who wants open source software they can audit, modify or redistribute under the GPLnot Deezer
  • A hobbyist arranger who never needs premium sound libraries and is satisfied with the free MuseSounds core setnot Deezer
  • A user who wants unlimited downloads from the MuseScore.com sheet music library and subscribes to Pro specifically for that, independent of the notation appnot Deezer

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Deezer

  • Premium pricing displayed in AED currency only despite international availability
  • Free tier does not support offline listening and includes advertising
  • Family plan limited to 6 accounts maximum

MuseScore

  • Advanced engraving control and default output polish generally trail Sibelius and Dorico, even though the gap has closed somewhat in recent versions.
  • Support is community-forum based rather than a vendor help desk, which matters for institutions used to paid support contracts.
  • The MuseScore Studio, MuseScore.com and MuseSounds naming overlap causes genuine buyer confusion about what actually costs money, since two of the three commercial layers can be mistaken for the free app itself.
  • Realistic orchestral playback out of the box is noticeably behind the sample libraries bundled with Sibelius Ultimate or Dorico Pro unless the paid MuseSounds Pro tier is added.
  • Plugin quality and maintenance vary since they are community-built rather than vendor-certified, which can introduce compatibility issues across version updates.

Pricing, plan by plan

Deezer

Free
  • Premium$23.99/month
    • 1 account
    • Ad-free
    • Pick any track
  • Duo$29.99/month
    • 2 accounts
    • Ad-free
    • Pick any track
  • Family$35.99/month
    • 6 accounts
    • Ad-free
    • Pick any track
  • FreeFree
    • 1 account
    • Ad-supported
    • Over 120 million tracks

MuseScore

Free
  • MuseScore StudioFree
    • Full notation software, GPL licensed, no locked features
  • MuseScore.com Pro$undefined/month
    • Separate subscription for unlimited sheet music downloads from MuseScore.com
    • Not required to use the notation software itself
  • MuseSounds Pro$undefined/month
    • Separate subscription for premium sampled instrument libraries
    • Free core instrument set included with MuseScore Studio without it

Which should you pick?

Choose Deezer if

  • You need music streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want podcasts.
Deezer review

Choose MuseScore if

  • You need score engraving.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android.
  • You also want midi input and playback.
MuseScore review

Questions people ask

Is Deezer or MuseScore better?
Neither clearly leads. Deezer starts at Free and MuseScore at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Deezer or MuseScore?
Deezer starts at Free and MuseScore at Free.
Does Deezer or MuseScore run on more platforms?
Deezer runs on Web, iOS, Android. MuseScore runs on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android.
Can I use Deezer for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Deezer best used for?
Deezer is most often used for ad-free on-demand music streaming with offline downloads, multi-user household streaming via the family plan, two-person households via the duo plan, higher-fidelity/lossless audio streaming on premium. Of those, ad-free on-demand music streaming with offline downloads and multi-user household streaming via the family plan are not what MuseScore is typically brought in for.
What can Deezer do that MuseScore cannot?
Deezer covers Music streaming, Podcasts, Radio, HiFi audio. MuseScore covers Score engraving, MIDI input and playback, Part extraction, MuseSounds.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Deezer: How many accounts are included in each Deezer subscription plan?

The Free plan includes 1 account. Premium plan includes 1 account. Duo plan includes 2 accounts. Family plan includes 6 accounts maximum.

Source
MuseScore: Is MuseScore Studio really free with no catch?

Yes, the core notation software is free and open source under the GPL with no locked features or paid tier of its own.

Deezer: What is the monthly cost of Deezer Premium if paid annually?

When paid annually, Premium costs AED 17.92 per month (AED 214.99 per year), representing a 25% discount compared to the monthly rate of AED 23.99.

Source
MuseScore: What is MuseScore Pro then?

It refers to a subscription on MuseScore.com, the sheet music sharing website, for unlimited downloads and advanced online playback, not the desktop notation app.

Deezer: Can I access offline listening on the free Deezer plan?

No. The free plan offers ad-supported streaming with over 120 million tracks but does not include offline listening capability. Offline access is available only on the Premium, Duo, and Family subscription tiers.

Source
MuseScore: What is MuseSounds Pro?

A separate subscription for premium sampled instrument libraries used for realistic playback inside MuseScore Studio; the free core instrument set works without it.

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