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MuseScore vs Soundtrap

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
Soundtrap logo

Soundtrap

Music

Spotify-owned browser-based DAW and podcast studio, sold on separate Music Maker and Storytellers subscription tracks

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: MuseScore advanced engraving control and default output polish generally trail Sibelius and Dorico, even though the gap has closed somewhat in recent versions.; Soundtrap the free tier limits export quality and recording time enough that any real, publishable project needs a paid plan.
  • They diverge on capability: MuseScore covers Score engraving, Soundtrap covers Browser-based multitrack editor.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MuseScore and Soundtrap actually diverge.

Attributes where MuseScore and Soundtrap differ
AttributeMuseScoreSoundtrap
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feePer user per month
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android

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 MuseScore

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

Only in Soundtrap

  • Browser-based multitrack editor
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Podcast-specific tools
  • Loop and instrument library
  • Spotify Premium bundle
  • Direct publishing

What people use each for

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

MuseScore

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

Soundtrap

  • A podcaster wanting browser-based multi-track voice recording with automatic leveling and noise reductionnot MuseScore
  • A musician collaborating remotely with bandmates in real time without sharing large project files manuallynot MuseScore
  • A Spotify Premium subscriber taking advantage of the bundled discount on a Soundtrap plannot MuseScore
  • A creator who wants access to both music and podcast production tools and picks the Complete tiernot MuseScore

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Soundtrap

  • The free tier limits export quality and recording time enough that any real, publishable project needs a paid plan.
  • Music Maker and Storytellers are marketed as distinct products despite sharing the same underlying editor, which can lead a buyer to pay for the wrong track or duplicate features across two subscriptions.
  • Production depth, plugin support and mixing precision remain behind desktop DAWs such as Pro Tools or Logic Pro, limiting it for professional mastering work.
  • As a Spotify-owned product, roadmap priorities are set by a streaming company, and features that primarily benefit Spotify’s ecosystem (like direct publishing) get more attention than deep audio engineering tools.
  • Reliance on a stable internet connection for cloud-based recording and collaboration makes it a poor fit for fieldwork or unreliable-connectivity environments compared with a local desktop DAW.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Soundtrap

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic recording and editing
    • Limited export quality and recording time
  • Music Maker Premium$9.99/month
    • Full-quality export
    • Extended recording time and loop library access
  • Music Maker Supreme$14.99/month
    • Expanded instrument and loop library
    • Higher-tier collaboration limits
  • Storytellers$14.99/month
    • Podcast-specific auto-leveling and noise reduction tools

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Soundtrap if

  • You need browser-based multitrack editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want real-time collaboration.
Soundtrap review

Questions people ask

Is MuseScore or Soundtrap better?
Neither clearly leads. MuseScore starts at Free and Soundtrap at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MuseScore or Soundtrap?
MuseScore starts at Free and Soundtrap at Free.
Does MuseScore or Soundtrap run on more platforms?
MuseScore runs on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android. Soundtrap runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use MuseScore for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is MuseScore best used for?
MuseScore is most often used for a student or educator needing capable, no-cost notation software for classroom assignments, a composer who wants open source software they can audit, modify or redistribute under the gpl, a hobbyist arranger who never needs premium sound libraries and is satisfied with the free musesounds core set, a user who wants unlimited downloads from the musescore.com sheet music library and subscribes to pro specifically for that, independent of the notation app. Of those, a student or educator needing capable, no-cost notation software for classroom assignments and a composer who wants open source software they can audit, modify or redistribute under the gpl are not what Soundtrap is typically brought in for.
What can MuseScore do that Soundtrap cannot?
MuseScore covers Score engraving, MIDI input and playback, Part extraction, MuseSounds. Soundtrap covers Browser-based multitrack editor, Real-time collaboration, Podcast-specific tools, Loop and instrument library.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Soundtrap: Is Soundtrap free to use?

A free tier exists but with limited export quality and recording time; most real projects require a paid Music Maker, Storytellers or Complete plan.

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.

Soundtrap: What is the difference between Music Maker and Storytellers?

Music Maker is aimed at musicians with a loop and instrument library; Storytellers focuses on podcast tools like auto-leveling and noise reduction, though both run on the same core editor.

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.

Soundtrap: Who owns Soundtrap?

Spotify, which acquired it in 2017 and now bundles it with Spotify Premium subscriptions at a discount.

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