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Music · head to head

Cubase vs MuseScore

Cubase logo

Cubase

Music

Steinberg workstation with the strongest score editor of any DAW, now licensed without a USB dongle

From
$99.99/one-time
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

  • Only MuseScore has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Cubase steinberg Licensing ties activations to an account across up to three machines, so an isolated or air-gapped studio computer needs the offline activation procedure rather than a carried dongle, and that procedure must be repeated whenever the hardware is rebuilt.; 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: Cubase covers Score editor, MuseScore covers Score engraving.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cubase and MuseScore actually diverge.

Attributes where Cubase and MuseScore differ
AttributeCubaseMuseScore
Starting price$99.99/one-timeFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchaseOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOSmacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android

Identical on both: 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 Cubase

  • Score editor
  • Expression maps
  • VariAudio
  • Chord Track and Chord Pads
  • Logical Editor
  • Video track
  • Steinberg Licensing
  • MixConsole

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.

Cubase

  • Writing to picture where the deliverable includes printed parts as well as a mix, because the score comes from the same project rather than a MIDI exportnot MuseScore
  • Driving large orchestral sample libraries, where expression maps turn articulation switching into notation instead of hidden keyswitch lanesnot MuseScore
  • Studios standardised on Steinberg or Yamaha hardware, where control surface integration is already builtnot MuseScore
  • Replacing a dongle based Cubase installation, where the reason to upgrade is removing the USB key as a single point of failurenot MuseScore

MuseScore

  • A student or educator needing capable, no-cost notation software for classroom assignmentsnot Cubase
  • A composer who wants open source software they can audit, modify or redistribute under the GPLnot Cubase
  • A hobbyist arranger who never needs premium sound libraries and is satisfied with the free MuseSounds core setnot Cubase
  • 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 Cubase

Where each one falls short

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

Cubase

  • Steinberg Licensing ties activations to an account across up to three machines, so an isolated or air-gapped studio computer needs the offline activation procedure rather than a carried dongle, and that procedure must be repeated whenever the hardware is rebuilt.
  • Elements and Artist withhold features most buyers eventually need, including the top VariAudio tier and full surround work, so the realistic price is the Pro edition rather than the entry figure.
  • Projects saved in a newer version cannot be opened in an older one, so studios collaborating with clients on mixed versions have to standardise, and paid upgrades arrive roughly once a year.
  • There is no Linux build and no stated plan for one, so the platform choice is Windows or macOS only and a Linux studio is excluded outright.
  • The interface carries three decades of accumulated windows and dialogs spread across the Project window, MixConsole, Key Editor and Score Editor, so the learning curve is considerably longer than Live or Logic for a new user.

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

Cubase

$99.99/one-time
  • Cubase Elements$99.99/one-time
    • Perpetual licence
    • Capped audio, MIDI and instrument track counts
    • Reduced editing and mixing tool set
  • Cubase Artist$329.99/one-time
    • Perpetual licence
    • Higher track limits than Elements
    • Score editor included
  • Cubase Pro$579.99/one-time
    • Perpetual licence
    • Unlimited tracks
    • Full score editor, expression maps and surround

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 Cubase if

  • You need score editor.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want expression maps.
Cubase 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 Cubase or MuseScore better?
Neither clearly leads. Cubase starts at $99.99/one-time and MuseScore at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cubase or MuseScore?
MuseScore has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99.99/one-time for Cubase and Free for MuseScore.
Does Cubase or MuseScore run on more platforms?
Cubase runs on Windows, macOS. MuseScore runs on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android.
Can I use MuseScore for free?
Yes. MuseScore has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Cubase starts at $99.99/one-time.
What is Cubase best used for?
Cubase is most often used for writing to picture where the deliverable includes printed parts as well as a mix, because the score comes from the same project rather than a midi export, driving large orchestral sample libraries, where expression maps turn articulation switching into notation instead of hidden keyswitch lanes, studios standardised on steinberg or yamaha hardware, where control surface integration is already built, replacing a dongle based cubase installation, where the reason to upgrade is removing the usb key as a single point of failure. Of those, writing to picture where the deliverable includes printed parts as well as a mix, because the score comes from the same project rather than a midi export and driving large orchestral sample libraries, where expression maps turn articulation switching into notation instead of hidden keyswitch lanes are not what MuseScore is typically brought in for.
What can Cubase do that MuseScore cannot?
Cubase covers Score editor, Expression maps, VariAudio, Chord Track and Chord Pads. MuseScore covers Score engraving, MIDI input and playback, Part extraction, MuseSounds.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cubase: Does Cubase still need a USB dongle?

No. From Cubase 12 onwards Steinberg Licensing replaced the eLicenser. Activation runs through the Steinberg Activation Manager on up to three computers.

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.

Cubase: Can I run Cubase on a computer with no internet access?

Yes, but through the offline activation path in the Activation Manager rather than a normal sign in, and you repeat it if the machine is rebuilt. Test it before committing an isolated scoring rig.

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.

Cubase: Is Cubase a subscription?

No. Editions are bought outright and keep working. Steinberg charges separately for version upgrades, which appear roughly once a year.

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.

Cubase: Which edition do I need for scoring work?

Pro. Artist includes a score editor, but Pro is the edition with the full engraving, expression map and surround feature set that media work assumes.

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