Tool profile
capella: cost, fit and limits
capella is a family of music notation and music education software made by capella-software AG that includes a notation program, capella-scan for printed music, audio2score, a melody trainer with a sight-singing course, and audite PLUS, sold mainly to German-speaking users.
What to know first
capella is a long-running product line rather than a single app, and its homepage is in German. A banner offers a switch to capella from 119 euros, but the page gives no full price list, no billing basis and no conditions. capella-scan is promoted as a way to stop typing notes from paper. The word AI does not appear, and audio2score is listed without a description of how it works.
capella at a glance
| Maker | capella-software AG, Germany |
|---|---|
| Free plan | No |
| Entry price | From €119 (switch offer) |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Music Notation Software in 2026, rank 10 of 11 |
| Website | capella-software.com |
Who capella is best for
Choirs and music schools using capella
Existing users can look at upgrade and crossgrade pages linked from the price section, and group licenses are listed under a separate page.
Musicians with printed scores
capella-scan is promoted with the line that you never need to retype notes, which targets people holding paper music they want in editable form.
Singers practicing sight-reading
The melody trainer comes with a sight-singing course, which makes capella relevant to singers and teachers beyond plain notation work and paper-to-score conversion.
capella plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Switch to capella (promotion) | ab 119 € (as printed in the banner) | A switch offer for people changing to capella from another program; its conditions were not opened. |
| Upgrade and crossgrade | Not published on the pages opened | Upgrade and Crossgrade pages are linked from the Preise section of the site; neither was opened. |
| Group licenses | Not published on the pages opened | A page for Gemeinschaftslizenzen (group licenses) is linked; its contents and prices were not opened. |
Checked November 2026.
What capella does
- capella-scan
- A scanner for printed music, promoted with the line Nie mehr Noten abtippen (never type notes again), meant to bring paper scores into the program.
- capella audio2score
- The product line lists audio2score, but the pages opened do not describe its method, accuracy or limits, so it cannot be called an AI feature here.
- Melody trainer
- A melody trainer with a sight-singing course sits in the product line, which gives teachers and students an exercise tool next to the notation software.
- Product line extras
- audite PLUS is listed as a separate product, capella reader and tonica appear as related tools, and software purchases offer product activation and a USB stick option.
How capella handles your data
The imprint page identifies capella-software AG and gives the company's German details. The pages opened do not state whether any file or audio you process is sent to a server, whether scores are used to train models, how long data is retained, where any service is hosted, or whether certifications apply. Because capella is sold as installable software with product activation, buyers should ask the vendor whether activation or scanning contacts a server and what is transmitted.
Where capella falls short in practice
- No complete price list. Only a switch promotion from 119 euros is shown, so a first-time buyer cannot compare the cost with other tools or work out a total for several seats.
- German-language site. The pages opened are in German, which adds friction for buyers outside German-speaking markets who need support, documentation or a clear picture of what each product does.
- Method of audio2score unknown. audio2score is listed without any description, so how it processes audio and how accurate it is cannot be judged from the page opened for this ranking.
Works with
Alternatives to capella
capella: common questions
How much does capella cost?
The homepage banner reads that switching to capella costs from 119 euros. That is a promotion for people changing programs, and the page gives no full price list, billing basis or conditions. Upgrade, crossgrade and group license pages are linked but were not opened.
What does capella-scan do?
capella-scan is a scanner product for printed music, promoted with a line meaning never type notes again. The pages opened give no accuracy figure, page limit or supported formats, and they do not describe it as AI. Test it on your own printed scores.
Does capella use AI?
The word AI does not appear on the pages we opened. The product line includes capella audio2score, but it is listed without any description of its method. For vendors that name AI in this ranking, see Klangio, Songscription and Newzik.
Is there a free version of capella?
The pages opened do not state whether a free plan exists. A reader product, capella reader, appears in the product line. The only price printed is the switch offer from 119 euros, so ask the vendor or check the capella reader page for what is free.
Who makes capella?
The imprint names capella-software AG, and the company is located in Germany. The site is written in German, and the product line also lists tonica, capella melody trainer and audite PLUS. Software purchases are subject to product activation, per the account menu.