I've also used Finale for a long time - I think 23 or 24 years, at this point. I'm used to it, and I'd never switch - too many files over too many years to convert to some other software. Finale is not exactly easy to use, but once you get used to it, it works fine. It's very flexible and very powerful - it can notate almost anything you can think of, if you're willing to be patient and try all the different tools. I think it's the "industry standard" software. It's used by Wynton Marsalis's people and by John Williams's people, and all sorts in between.

Complaints: they put out an update every year, and files are not backward compatible. So something you make in Finale 2015 cannot be read by Finale 2014. If you're working with someone else, swapping files back and forth, you can only do that if you both have exactly the same version of Finale. And Finale doesn't give you the option to downsave to previous versions of the software, either. This is an obvious marketing ploy - to get you to buy the annual update (which is usually $100).

The problem with the annual updates (aside from cost) is that they typically add new features which you may or may not need, and every update either changes the way some old feature works, or renders non-functional some feature that you used to find critical for your workflow. So with every update, you have to re-learn how to use some portions of the software. That's a real headache, especially when you discover what no longer works, which used to work perfectly, and which you relied on.

Frankly, if I weren't already wedded to the software, I'm not sure I would use it. Adam's comments above are the first I've heard from someone who uses Finale and Sibelius and prefers Finale. Everyone I've ever talked to who has used them both has eventually switched to Sibelius exclusively. I'm told that it's easier to use and the user interface is faster, and it doesn't have version-compatibility issues or backward-save problems of the sort that are built into Finale; nor are features/workflow constantly changing from one update to the next (and Sibelius releases far fewer updates). I prefer Sibelius's fonts (although the optional-to-install Engraver font in Finale is quite nice, too). I haven't used Sibelius myself, so I can't speak from experience as to what it's like.

If I were going to make my first investment in a professional engraving software package, from what I've heard, I'd go with Sibelius, unless, as Adam says, you're a real "scoring nerd" and you intend to employ a lot of super-complex and/or non-standard notation. Whichever you choose, there are plenty of people on this forum familiar with each, and we can help you through the inevitable "how the #$%^&* does this work???" questions that will arise. Please ask!

I tried both in our media labs when I had music theory assignments in college. I ended up purchasing Sibelius my last year of grad school so I could still have some sort of transcription/composition software.

Sibelius is much easier to use right out of the box. Most of the things I needed for my workflow were instantly accessible. There are some special things that I've had to look up, but between Sibelius and GABC, there's nothing else I need.

Finale 2014 can save as Finale 2012 (there was no 2013). That's new.
I've been a Finale user since v. 2.6 (mid '90s). It's hard to find people who have used both. I haven't.
All notation programs are slaves to their past. Finale has a slightly longer past to be a slave to than Sibelius, so radical changes to the basic givens of the program are harder to do.
Several years back, Avid (current owners of Sibelius) laid off their development team. Yes, some development is still going on. But from a business PoV it may prove to be a fatal mistake, because the lot got snapped up by Steinberg and are working on a notation program that, if it comes to market, will make both Finale and Sibelius obsolete. Daniel Spreadbury, one of the developers (lead?) has a blog where he discusses progress,

For me, each engraving program is just another tool on my workbench. I use Finale, Sibelius, Score, WinScore, Berlioz and Graphire Music Press. The two goto programs, though would be Finale and WinScore—the first for it's versatility, and the second for (so far, anyway) unrivaled excellence in printed output.

Especially in the versions since the introduction of the ScoreManager, Finale has really excelled in management and production of score for large ensembles. I often have to arrange for ensembles ranging from brass quartet/quintet thru full orchestra, and invariably the common thread is that it needs to be done right now, and be ready to play from without a lot of rehearsal—if any. For all of it's warts, I highly commend learning Finale as an investment of time that will pay dividends.

I'd like to contest a couple of points posted above:

Complaints: they put out an update every year, and files are not backward compatible. So something you make in Finale 2015 cannot be read by Finale 2014. If you're working with someone else, swapping files back and forth, you can only do that if you both have exactly the same version of Finale. And Finale doesn't give you the option to downsave to previous versions of the software, either. This is an obvious marketing ploy - to get you to buy the annual update (which is usually $100).

As of Finale 2014, the file format was changed completely to a new XML format that will allow interoperability between all future versions of Finale for the foreseeable future. So, Finale 2015 will be able to open a Finale 2014 file, and Finale 2014 will be able to open a Finale 2020 file, and so on. (Citation Here)

Also, to create a bridge to the prior format, as already mentioned, Finale 2014 can save to Finale 2012. It'll be interesting to see if the next version will also contain the same feature to export to Finale 2012.

Having been a Score user for ever, this year I finally got both Finale 2014 and Sibelius 7.5. As an unbiased new user, I found Finale very easy to use and with an excellent user's manual and introductory material. I found a few things in Sibelius to like, but not the user's manual. So I'm using Finale for most new notational things now. Since I also used a DAW for midi sequencing, neither is satisfactory (to me) for that purpose. But it is pleasant to hear sounds, optionally, in either, as the notes are entered, Score being a silent, visual program always.

I've always used finale and see no reason to switch. It's not necessary to upgrade every year. Finale also offers some lighter versions of the program for a lot less money depending on what features you are looking for. Of course they also offer the full program at a significant academic/theological discount. I just wish they would offer a Gregorian font for chant.

http://www.finalemusic.com/products/

I forgot to mention that for engraving music with autographic recognition, InDesign is it.

I think everyone (for the most part) is just comfortable with the program they used first.

For me, this is Finale.

If you're looking for your first music program, I think it should probably be Finale since I believe Sib is not going to release any new versions of their program... so learning Finale now might make living in 2025 easier.

Also, the company forum-'support' site has not worked correctly for two years. If this is how they treat their customer (a 20 year customer at that) then maybe it's time to move on.

If you are comfortable with facebook, both finale and sibelius have active groups where a question is often answered more quickly than on the official fora.

For those who don't use it much, MuseScore has been good to me. I try to use lilypond when I am able, but sometimes I just want a normal scoring program, at which point I use lilypond.

I use MuseScore and have the same issue with chant as Dr. Mahrt, it may be a universal 'glitch'.

I've used Finale years ago and found it clunky in Windows. Suspect the current version is much improved. I've been a Sibelius user for over a decade and find it intuitive and easy to use. I have not used it (yet) for chant notation, but have run into the awkward meters as noted in mahrt's post above when composing organ pieces based on chant. Will have to give CHGiffen's suggestion a try. If someone has suggested document setting options for that approach specific to Sibelius, I'm interested in learning your techniques.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152857159429389

Thanks GHGiffen! I'll be trying that too if I need to do any modern notation chant in the future.

Francis, what do you mean by 'autographic recognition'? I suspect I know what you mean, but would like to hear your explanation.

I've never used a program such as InDesign and suspect that this coming year I'll not have spare hours to invest in learning one, but one never knows.

I love your hybrid notation, by the way.

Chuck's method works with Sibelius too. Here's a quick test (should have refreshed my memory first):