LilyPond

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Score8.7

Rank#6 of 37

PriceFree

Free planYes

Runs onLinux, macOS, Windows

Summary

LilyPond is free music-engraving software for producing sheet music on GNU/Linux, macOS, and Windows. It takes human-readable text containing score information and automatically manages spacing, line and page breaks, and clashes among lyrics, notes, and chords. It also adjusts slurs and beams. Its notation range includes classical, early, and modern music, tablature, vocal music, lead sheets, educational materials, and orchestral projects. Users can change layout settings, write text-based style sheets, and add functions with the built-in Scheme language. Files can be edited or generated by programs and scripts, and the command-line tool can be used from other applications. The official site describes integrating music into LaTeX or HTML and using an extension with OpenOffice.org and LibreOffice. Third-party editing tools listed by the site include Frescobaldi, Denemo, and Spontini-Editor; these are developed outside LilyPond's core. The text-based workflow can also be used with speech-recognition software and screen readers. The project is published under the GNU General Public License. Listed Windows binaries do not support Windows 7 or 8, and macOS binaries require macOS 10.15 or higher.

Who it is for

LilyPond suits musicians and arrangers who want to create scores from text, as well as people using scripts or assistive technologies to work with notation.

What is good

Automatically handles spacing and page breaks
Supports tablature, vocal music, and orchestral projects
Files can be generated by programs and scripts
Text workflow can work with screen readers

What to know first

Listed Windows binaries do not support Windows 7 or 8
Listed macOS binaries require macOS 10.15 or higher
User-listed editing tools are developed outside LilyPond's core

Verdict

LilyPond offers a text-based approach to music engraving, with automatic layout and broad notation support. Its workflow may suit users comfortable editing score text or generating it programmatically.

LilyPond plans and pricing

All plans

LilyPond Free Free software; GNU/Linux, Windows, macOS lilypond.org · 4 Oct 2026

Compared on music notation software

Free plan: Yeslilypond.org
Deployment: desktoplilypond.org
MusicXML support: Yeslilypond.org
MIDI support: Yeslilypond.org
Parts extraction: Yeslilypond.org
Tablature support: Yeslilypond.org

Facts

Purpose: LilyPond is a music engraving program for producing sheet music.lilypond.org · 4 Oct 2026
Notation range: It supports engraving classical, complex, early, and modern music, tablature, vocal music, lead sheets, educational materials, and orchestral projects.lilypond.org · 4 Oct 2026
Input format: LilyPond processes text input containing score information in a human-readable form.lilypond.org · 4 Oct 2026
Automatic layout: It automatically determines spacing, breaks lines and pages, resolves clashes between lyrics, notes, and chords, and slopes slurs and beams.lilypond.org · 4 Oct 2026
Customization: Users can change layout settings, create text-based style sheets, and add functions using the built-in Scheme language.lilypond.org · 4 Oct 2026
Programmatic use: LilyPond input files can be edited or generated by programs and scripts, and the command-line tool can be used from other applications.lilypond.org · 4 Oct 2026
Integrations: The official features page describes integrating music into LaTeX or HTML and adding it to OpenOffice.org and LibreOffice with the OOoLilyPond extension.lilypond.org · 4 Oct 2026
Third-party editors: The official site lists user-developed editing tools including Frescobaldi, Denemo, and Spontini-Editor, and notes these are developed outside LilyPond’s core.lilypond.org · 4 Oct 2026
Accessibility: The text-based workflow can be used with speech-recognition software and screen readers to write LilyPond files.lilypond.org · 4 Oct 2026
License: LilyPond is published under the GNU General Public License, and the official Freedom page also identifies the GNU Free Documentation License.lilypond.org · 4 Oct 2026
Supported desktop platforms: The official site lists GNU/Linux, macOS, and Windows as supported platforms.lilypond.org · 4 Oct 2026
Platform limits: The listed Windows binaries do not support Windows 7 or Windows 8, and the listed macOS binaries require macOS 10.15 or higher.lilypond.org · 4 Oct 2026
Support: The lilypond-user mailing list is the main place for users to discuss the program and help one another; some support is also available on IRC.lilypond.org · 4 Oct 2026
Release channels: The official site distinguishes stable releases from unstable development releases and recommends stable downloads for users unsure about installation.lilypond.org · 4 Oct 2026