Sibelius

• Sibelius Artist for iOS — $5.99
• Sibelius Ultimate for iOS — $12.99

Last verified 31 Jul 2026

4.2 1742 ratings · App Store

1. 4/5It’s definitely got potential

   I’d like to see the ability to save as musicxml in the ultimate version. Also would like to see better quality sounds. I like the way you can write using a mouse. It’s like what you do on a desktop. Makes it so much easier since I’m used to it. Still getting used to where everything is since it’s all hidden. I’m used to having everything on screen. If you can implement an option for everything to be visible that would be awesome. Also exporting as an audio recording would be great, but only if you add better quality sounds. 900mb sounds is not very good. But I could work around that if you bring the ability to export as music xml. But this is the closest thing I’ve found to writing music in a quality program outside the computer. For when I travel I can keep writing music. Sure I could go with staffpad but it doesn’t recognize my handwriting most of the time. So, if you brought the sound quality and ability to save as music xml you would have an awesome app on your hands. It’s definitely got potential and I’d like to see pro tools come to iPad next.

   Brieasaurus · 31 Jul 2026

2. 2/5A wee little rant

   By god this is the most annoying app i have ever used in my god forsaken life. I try to write one simple note, to which it responds by placing another in a location i did not remotely put it in; i try to select a note to go back and edit it and it places another on top; and to top it all off, once i finally think i got the app to work, it randomly closes and loses my file. I finally got somewhere after about 2 hours of working through fits of screaming matches, and i go to click play and it refuses to play the one part i actually want to listen to. For the moments where it actually works (in between my mental breakdowns,) i like to remember that it does offer more than other apps for free, but then i remember how every time i think i have it figured out, something random like the page glitching out of my view or removing necessary pages/measures happens, and i then recall how much mental gymnastics this game has put me through. the only good thing about this app is the price of the free version. I can only sum up this app in one way and that would be as an emotionally abusive ex boyfriend whom gaslights you on the daily as if he were in one of sabrina carpenter's songs. if you have the patience of a saint and an extremely stable mental health, i recommend this to you. As for me, i will likely continue to use it despite my very public breakdown-esque review due to the fact that this causes slightly less breakdowns than other apps and i am too broke to pay for another.

   allofthenamesiwantaretaken · 31 Jul 2026

3. 5/5Has potential and a mean streak!

   I have Sibelius on my iMac and MacBook Pro, and finally now on my iPad Pro. I was so excited about this app and the mobility of the Sibelius product on my iPad. I really like Sibelius, but… I was working on a Big Band piece for a couple of days while visiting the grandkids out of town. I was constantly saving my progress. On day 2, the app just shut down completely, with no sign of my work anywhere. I probably had about 7 hours of work invested in this piece. That is very frustrating when you know that you are constantly saving your work and it totally disappears to never be seen again! This is a major show stopper! If you don’t have the confidence that your work won’t be lost, then how can you invest time in this version of the app???? I do think the app has potential once the bugs are worked out. Don’t go spending days on charts without taking screenshots. I took one screenshot, and it was of only the first page of my work. I had complicated drum parts, guitar parts, and of course horn parts as well. So, 4 pages vaporized. Bummer!!!

   Windsurfer320 · 31 Jul 2026

4. 3/5Frustrated and un-jolly

   Ugh, had this app for a couple years now and I pay the 5.99 Sibelius artist subscription. I use it to write basic lead sheets and easy piano arrangements for my students. It’s convenient as I don’t use a desktop anymore. Now, in the middle of December some weird mercury in retrograde crap happens and I don’t have my regular access. Apple says there is nothing wrong on their end and that my subscription is still active. However, the app says I’m only a Sibelius first and I have to upgrade… when I try it states that already have it, and I am logged in on 5 devices and have to log out (it’s only on my iPad and iPhone) or my subscription expired. I’ve updated my iPad, I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled multiple times, and even upgraded to the ultimate… nothing helped at all, but contribute more to the holly-jolly stress in my life. Also contacted avid, they said it’s an apple thing, contact apple, they say it’s an Avid thing… I feel like a ping pong ball right now. Mercury in retrograde ends Jan. 2nd… I don’t think I can wait that long… may check out Dorico in the meantime. Sibelius… do your best to convince a longtime supporter to stay with you. I’m running out of patience.

   janeontour · 31 Jul 2026

5. 1/5Just NO

   This is the worst music software I've ever used. I'm using an iPad Pro with pencil. I cannot select notes. According to the docs, I should be able to long press on a note to select it, or hold down near the note and "lasso" around it. EVERY THING I TRY IT JUST ADDS MORE NOTES. I can't hold down on a note and drag it to change pitch IT JUST ADDS ANOTHER NOTE. Every time I drag along the paper, the paper just moves around with the pencil or my finger. Oh, and to add a pick up measure, I have to open the search and type "Make Into Bar". I might as well go back to using my computer and typing text into Lilypond if I'm going to be typing all this stuff. And why can't I turn my pencil into an eraser to delete things by double tapping on it like I can with a drawing apps? And how do I set the time signature? When I tried to do that, it said I had to have something selected. Huh? The green bar is at the beginning of the piece. So, I guess I have to write the entire song out first, then select the whole song, then set the time signature????? I have an idea, just set the stinking time signature wherever the cursor is from that point forward--it's not that complicated. Absolutely non-intuitive interface.

   TimTimpani · 31 Jul 2026

Privacy

Accessibility

No accessibility labels collected yet.