Library/Music software
Every DAW,side by side
| DAW | Known for | Mac | Windows | Linux |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ableton Live | Clip-based arranging and playing liveSystems: Ableton ↗ | — | ||
| Logic Pro | An all-in-one studio for the Mac with a big sound libraryApple: Mac, and an iPad version ↗ | — | — | |
| FL Studio | Pattern-based beatmaking; lifetime free updatesImage-Line: Windows and macOS ↗ | — | ||
| Pro Tools | The recording-studio standard for tracking and editingSystems: Avid ↗ | — | ||
| Cubase | MIDI, scoring and compositionSystems: Steinberg ↗ | — | ||
| Reaper | Small, fast and endlessly customisableSystems: Cockos ↗ | |||
| Bitwig Studio | Modulation everywhere; modular-mindedBitwig: Windows, macOS and Linux ↗ | |||
| GarageBand | Free starting point on Mac, iPhone and iPadApp Store: free ↗ | — | — |
Prices and licence terms change, so there are none here · each name links to the maker’s own page · systems checked 2026-10-07 · “—” means the maker lists no version for it
Sources · checked 7 October 2026
- Ableton, Live minimum system requirements: Windows 10/11 and macOS.
- Apple, Logic Pro: “for Mac and iPad”.
- Image-Line, FL Studio: “Available for Windows and macOS”; “Lifetime Free Updates”.
- Avid, Pro Tools system requirements: macOS and Windows 11.
- Steinberg, system requirements: Cubase on Windows 10/11 and macOS.
- Cockos, REAPER download: Windows, macOS, and Linux on Intel and ARM.
- Bitwig: “on Windows, MacOS, and Linux”.
- Mac App Store, GarageBand (free) and App Store, GarageBand for iPhone and iPad.
- “Known for” is the desk’s one-line summary, not the maker’s claim.