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An online alternative to TuxGuitar
TuxGuitar is the free, open-source desktop tab editor. SimpleNotation is also free, but runs in the browser: nothing to install or update, the same score on every machine, and a link to share. Both open Guitar Pro files. Here is how they compare.
TuxGuitar is a free, open-source tab and notation editor that you install on Windows, macOS or Linux. It opens Guitar Pro files, plays back through MIDI and exports several formats.
SimpleNotation and TuxGuitar compared
| SimpleNotation | TuxGuitar | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free: writing, playback, import and export, no watermark, no limits on scores | Free and open source |
| Where it runs | Any modern browser on Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, iPad and Android; nothing to install | Installed on Windows, macOS and Linux |
| Account | Not needed to write, play and export; a free guest or account to save online and share links | None |
| Notation and tab together | Yes, two linked staves per fretted instrument; either can be hidden | Yes |
| Keyboard note entry | Yes: A–G pitches, intervals, fret numbers, one key per technique; presets modelled on Finale, Guitar Pro and Sibelius | Yes |
| Playback | Synthesized instruments (guitars, bass, piano, organ, strings, winds, brass, mallets, voices, drums), metronome, count-in, loop, tempo without pitch change | MIDI playback through the system’s or a bundled synthesizer |
| Guitar Pro files | Opens .gp3, .gp4, .gp5, .gpx and .gp; writes .gp | Opens Guitar Pro files; see its documentation for the versions it writes |
| Sharing | Link to a private, unlisted or public score; viewers listen, print and copy it without an account | Files you send |
| Updates | Always the current version; nothing to install | Installed releases |
Rows about TuxGuitar are based on the vendor’s public product pages, October 2026. TuxGuitar is a trademark of its owner. If something here is out of date, tell us.
When TuxGuitar is the better choice
- You want an offline, open-source program on your own machine, with no web service involved.
- You want plugins and a soundfont of your choice for playback.
- You keep large archives of files on disk and batch-convert them.
When SimpleNotation is the better choice
- You are on a Chromebook, a tablet, a locked-down school or work computer, or a machine where installing a Java program is a hassle.
- You want to send someone a link that opens, plays and prints without them installing anything.
- You want to type notes with the letters A to G and intervals, with correct spelling when you transpose.
- You want a one-step converter, such as Guitar Pro to MusicXML or to PDF.
Moving your files
TuxGuitar and SimpleNotation exchange files through Guitar Pro and MusicXML. Save a score as a Guitar Pro file in TuxGuitar and open it here; from here, export .gp (the current Guitar Pro 7 format) or MusicXML for TuxGuitar. Both carry the tab, tunings and techniques. MIDI works too, but has no tab in it.
Questions
Which open-source parts does SimpleNotation use?
Guitar Pro files are read and written with alphaTab (MPL-2.0), MP3 export uses lamejs (LGPL-3.0) and the music font is Bravura (SIL Open Font License). The editor itself is SimpleNotation’s own code, and it is free to use.
Can I open TuxGuitar files?
TuxGuitar’s own .tg files are not supported. Save as Guitar Pro or export MusicXML from TuxGuitar and open that.
Do I need to install anything?
No. Open the editor in a browser and start writing. A keyboard makes note entry much faster than touch.
Does it work on Linux?
Yes, in any modern browser on Linux, as on every other system.