The short answer
MakeMusic discontinued Finale development and sales in 2024, and technical support ended in 2025. Downloads and authorization remain available for now, but important archives still need a verified migration path into maintained software.
Bottom line: Do not treat a discontinued proprietary format as the only copy of important work. Export MusicXML while Finale is available, verify the result, and choose the next tool based on whether you need professional engraving or AI-first collaboration.
Best for
Existing users maintaining a legacy archive of Finale projects.
NotationAI vs Finale
| Decision | What changes between the products |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Finale was a Windows and macOS desktop application. NotationAI runs in a browser. |
| Capture and input | Finale is a traditional notation environment; NotationAI adds audio and hum capture. |
| Collaboration | Finale files are local project artifacts. NotationAI supports a shared live score. |
| File interchange | MusicXML is the key bridge out of a Finale archive. |
| Pricing model | Finale is no longer sold. NotationAI offers free core editing with optional Pro AI capacity. |
Where Finale is strong
- Decades of professional engraving capability
- A large installed base and archive of .mus and .musx projects
- Detailed layout control for legacy production workflows
- MusicXML export for migration into modern notation applications
Limits to consider
- Development, sales, and technical support have ended; downloads and authorization remain available for now but are not a long-term archival strategy
- Native Finale files create long-term archival dependency
- It does not provide a modern browser-native collaboration workflow
When NotationAI is the better fit
- Move portable MusicXML copies into a maintained browser product
- Continue editing and sharing without requiring every collaborator to install Finale
- Add capture and AI-assisted arrangement after migration
How to move a score
- 1
Open each important Finale project and export MusicXML while the installation remains usable.
- 2
Archive the native Finale file, exported MusicXML, PDF reference, and an audio render together.
- 3
Import the MusicXML into NotationAI and compare it measure by measure with the PDF reference.
Frequently asked questions
- Can NotationAI open a native Finale file?
- Use Finale to export MusicXML first. Keep the original file and a PDF reference because no interchange format preserves every application-specific layout decision.
- Why migrate if Finale still opens on my computer?
- Migration protects the score from future operating-system, activation, and hardware changes. A verified MusicXML copy is much easier to move between maintained notation tools.