Tool profile
TuxGuitar: cost, fit and limits
TuxGuitar is a free guitar tablature editor and player released under the GNU Lesser General Public License, whose page names Julian Casadesus as the original author, and which opens Guitar Pro, Power Tab Editor, TablEdit and MIDI files on desktop systems and Android.
What to know first
TuxGuitar is a plain, free tablature tool. It edits and plays multi-track guitar tabs, opens files from Guitar Pro, Power Tab Editor, TablEdit and MIDI, and ships installers for Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD and Android. The page says development stalled in late 2022 and that enthusiasts moved the work to a new GitHub repository. It names no AI feature and has no paid plan.
TuxGuitar at a glance
| Maker | Julian Casadesus (original author), Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Free |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Music Notation Software in 2026, rank 11 of 11 |
| Website | tuxguitar.app |
Who TuxGuitar is best for
Guitarists on a zero budget
The program is free under the LGPL and covers tab editing and playback, which is enough for learning songs without buying a commercial editor.
Players with old tab files
Opening Guitar Pro, Power Tab Editor and TablEdit files means a collection from several older programs can be read in one place.
Linux and FreeBSD users
Installers exist for Linux and FreeBSD as well as Windows, macOS and Android, which is rare for tablature editors and helpful on unusual systems.
TuxGuitar plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free download | Free | Tablature editor and player under the LGPL, with installers for Linux, Windows, macOS and FreeBSD. |
| Android installer | Free | An Android build is listed among the installers on the download page, with no price or store details given. |
| Source and community work | Free | The page links to a new GitHub repository where enthusiasts continue development after the original work stalled in late 2022. |
Checked November 2026.
What TuxGuitar does
- Multi-track tab editing
- The program edits several tracks at once and plays them back, so a full band arrangement can be written as tablature rather than one guitar line.
- File compatibility
- It opens Guitar Pro, Power Tab Editor, TablEdit and MIDI files, which lets players bring tabs from several older editors into one program and keep playing them.
- Many platforms
- Installers are listed for Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD and Android, so the same tool runs on a laptop, a desktop, a server-class BSD machine and a phone.
- File format change
- Version 2.0.0 and later use a new file format. Older versions cannot read it, but tablatures can be exported in the old format when you need to share them.
How TuxGuitar handles your data
TuxGuitar is a program you download and run locally, and the page describes no account, upload or cloud service. The page opened therefore states nothing about data retention, model training, hosting regions or certifications. Files stay in whatever folders you save them to. The page credits Julian Casadesus as the original author and names no company, and the license is the GNU Lesser General Public License, which governs how the software can be used and shared.
Where TuxGuitar falls short in practice
- Development stalled. The page says development stalled in late 2022 and points to a new repository, so bug fixes and new features now depend on volunteers rather than a company.
- Format incompatibility. Files saved by version 2.0.0 or later cannot be opened by earlier versions unless you export them in the old format first, which complicates sharing with older installs.
- Tablature focus. The program centers on guitar tablature, so it is a weaker fit for full staff notation of orchestral or choral scores, or for anything beyond tabs and MIDI.
Works with
Alternatives to TuxGuitar
TuxGuitar: common questions
Is TuxGuitar still maintained?
The vendor page says development stalled in late 2022 and that enthusiasts moved the work to a new GitHub repository, which it links. So updates now come from volunteers. Check the repository's recent activity before relying on it for a long project.
Which files can TuxGuitar open?
The page lists Guitar Pro, Power Tab Editor, TablEdit and MIDI files. It also says versions 2.0.0 and later use a new file format that older versions cannot read, though tablatures can be exported in the old format for sharing.
Does TuxGuitar use AI?
No AI feature is mentioned on the vendor page. TuxGuitar is a tablature editor and player, so notes are entered by hand or opened from other files. For audio-to-tab conversion, see Klangio's Guitar2Tabs, which is the nearest match in this ranking.
What does TuxGuitar cost?
Nothing. The page calls it the free guitar tablature editor, released under the GNU Lesser General Public License, and shows no paid plan. Installers are listed for Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD and Android, so no purchase is needed on any of them.
Can TuxGuitar write standard notation as well as tabs?
The page describes TuxGuitar as a tablature editor and player and does not detail staff notation features. If you need engraved scores for non-guitar instruments, a notation editor such as LilyPond or a browser tool like Flat is the better fit.