When comparing Lilypond vs Dorico, the Slant community recommends Lilypond for most people. In the question“What is the best music notation software?” Lilypond is ranked 3rd while Dorico is ranked 4th. The most important reason people chose Lilypond is:
Lilypond is easily the most powerful free/libre engraver, and arguably even more powerful than the commercial heavyweights Sibelius and Finale, mostly because it is set up as a Turing-complete programming language: it can be extended for any notation task whatsoever. For most common tasks this is of course not necessary (Lilypond has them built in), but whenever some feature doesn't exist yet, the user can just add it.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Customisable in every detail
Lilypond is easily the most powerful free/libre engraver, and arguably even more powerful than the commercial heavyweights Sibelius and Finale, mostly because it is set up as a Turing-complete programming language: it can be extended for any notation task whatsoever. For most common tasks this is of course not necessary (Lilypond has them built in), but whenever some feature doesn't exist yet, the user can just add it.
Pro Best Typographical placement of musical elements, most readable engraving
Although there is a learning curve, the output of Lilypond is superior in every way. Very little after engraving adjustment is needed and the typography is both beautiful and very readable.
Pro Free and open source, much effective for mass engraving
Lilypond is free, and open source.
Lilypond community is active and helpful.
Lilypond is much effective for mass engraving, by typing text instead of 1-button mouse clicking.
Pro Imports various sound files formats
There are converters that could convert from midi, encore (.enc), ABC music (.abc), MusicXML(*. mxml), etc.
Pro Very very lightweight
Even more lightweight than MuseScore, just need the binary, some libraries (that come preinstalled with almost all systems), and a text editor (even ed will do).
Pro Most stable software & files
Lilypond is quite stable as a software. As files are text files they're virtually incorruptible, the files could be edited with any text editor.
Pro Great support team
Pro Produces high quality scores
The scores produced by Dorico look really nice on paper and on the screen, and much better than any other software I've used, making this an ideal software for engravers.
Pro An intuitive interface
The interface makes the use very intuitive. Easy to use, for musicians.
Pro Suitable for contemporary music
Developers are aware of the needs of contemporary music (experimental notation, accidentals on each note, nested tuplets) and will add even more features to meet them.
Cons
Con There's a big learning curve at first
Con Even for fans of text-based languages, Lilypond is not easy to use
Lilypond's syntax is influenced by both LaTeX and Lisp, and one might argue that it combines the disadvantages of both: it is both inconsistent and verbose. For simple tasks, ABCjs is more convenient to write, whereas for big projects a proper AST layout would be desirable.
Con Expensive
Ranging from $150 to $844 (depending on the version), Dorico is by no means a cheap application. The price can be rather painful for students, or people who just want to try notation.