Best Digital Audio Workstations in 2026
Updated
In short: n-Track Studio is ranked #1 of 38 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of SunVox and Pro Tools. The best-ranked option with a free plan is SunVox. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Ardour at $1/mo.
Making music on a computer can call for very different recording, editing, and production capabilities. Compare maximum audio and MIDI tracks with audio warping and VST3 support, then check whether a score editor or video timeline is included. Operating systems help establish platform fit, while free-plan availability and paid-from pricing provide cost context. n-Track Studio and Pro Tools are among the entries, with Reason and Tracktion Waveform also represented. Use the listed details to weigh track capacity and editing tools against your workflow, and check that the software supports the operating systems you use.
38 digital audio workstations ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
38ranked
13free plans on this page
$1/molowest paid tier
5 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Digital Audio Workstations 25 channels on this page · 46 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromOperating systemsMax audio tracksMax MIDI tracksAudio warpingScore editorVideo timeline Spec sheet Score
01 n-Track Studio Free planYesPaid fromnot statedOperating systemsmacos windows linuxMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingYesScore editornot statedVideo timelinenot stated 3/8spec lines stated 7.8
02 SunVox Free planYesPaid fromnot statedOperating systemsnot statedMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingnot statedScore editornot statedVideo timelinenot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.6
03 Pro Tools Free planYesPaid from$9.99/moOperating systemsnot statedMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingnot statedScore editornot statedVideo timelinenot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.3
04 Reason Free planYesPaid fromnot statedOperating systemsnot statedMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingnot statedScore editornot statedVideo timelinenot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.3
05 Tracktion Waveform Free planYesPaid fromnot statedOperating systemsmacos windows linuxMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingYesScore editornot statedVideo timelineYes 4/8spec lines stated 7.3
06 Bitwig Studio Free planNoPaid fromnot statedOperating systemsnot statedMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingnot statedScore editornot statedVideo timelinenot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.9
07 LUNA Free planYesPaid fromnot statedOperating systemsmacos windowsMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingYesScore editornot statedVideo timelinenot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.9
08 GarageBand Free planYesPaid fromnot statedOperating systemsnot statedMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingnot statedScore editornot statedVideo timelinenot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.8
09 LMMS Free planYesPaid fromnot statedOperating systemsmacos windows linuxMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingnot statedScore editornot statedVideo timelineNo 3/8spec lines stated 6.8
10 Ardour Free planYesPaid from$1/moOperating systemsnot statedMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingnot statedScore editornot statedVideo timelinenot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.7
11 Logic Pro Free planNoPaid fromnot statedOperating systemsnot statedMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingnot statedScore editornot statedVideo timelinenot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.7
12 MAGIX Music Maker Free planYesPaid fromnot statedOperating systemswindowsMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingnot statedScore editornot statedVideo timelinenot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.7
13 Cakewalk Next Free planYesPaid fromnot statedOperating systemsmacos windowsMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingYesScore editornot statedVideo timelinenot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.6
14 SoundBridge Free planYesPaid fromnot statedOperating systemsmacos windowsMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingYesScore editornot statedVideo timelineYes 4/8spec lines stated 6.5
15 Cakewalk Sonar Free planYesPaid fromnot statedOperating systemsnot statedMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingnot statedScore editornot statedVideo timelinenot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.4
16 Mixcraft Free planNoPaid fromnot statedOperating systemsnot statedMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingnot statedScore editornot statedVideo timelinenot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.3
17 MuLab Free planYesPaid fromnot statedOperating systemsmacos windowsMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingYesScore editornot statedVideo timelinenot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.3
18 Zrythm Free planYesPaid fromnot statedOperating systemsnot statedMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingnot statedScore editornot statedVideo timelinenot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.3
19 Ableton Live Free planNoPaid fromnot statedOperating systemsnot statedMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingnot statedScore editornot statedVideo timelinenot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.2
20 Harrison Mixbus Free planNoPaid fromnot statedOperating systemsmacos windows linuxMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingnot statedScore editornot statedVideo timelinenot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.2
21 REAPER Free planNoPaid fromnot statedOperating systemsnot statedMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingnot statedScore editornot statedVideo timelinenot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.2
22 SADiE Free planYesPaid fromnot statedOperating systemswindowsMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingnot statedScore editornot statedVideo timelineYes 3/8spec lines stated 6.2
23 FL Studio Free planNoPaid fromnot statedOperating systemsnot statedMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingnot statedScore editornot statedVideo timelinenot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.1
24 OpenMPT Free planYesPaid fromnot statedOperating systemsnot statedMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingnot statedScore editornot statedVideo timelinenot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.1
25 Radium Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedOperating systemsnot statedMax audio tracksnot statedMax MIDI tracksnot statedAudio warpingnot statedScore editornot statedVideo timelinenot stated 0/8spec lines stated 6.1
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Operating systems | Max audio tracks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | n-Track Studio | 7.8 | Free plan | $5.42/mo | Yes | — | macos_windows_linux | — |
| 2 | SunVox | 7.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 3 | Pro Tools | 7.3 | Free plan | — | Yes | 9.99 /mo | — | — |
| 4 | Reason | 7.3 | Free plan | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 5 | Tracktion Waveform | 7.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | macos_windows_linux | — |
| 6 | Bitwig Studio | 6.9 | No | $99/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 7 | LUNA | 6.9 | Free plan | $12.42/mo | Yes | — | macos_windows | — |
| 8 | GarageBand | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 9 | LMMS | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | macos_windows_linux | — |
| 10 | Ardour | 6.7 | No | $1/mo | Yes | 1 /mo | — | — |
| 11 | Logic Pro | 6.7 | No | $2.50/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 12 | MAGIX Music Maker | 6.7 | Free plan | $59.99/mo | Yes | — | windows | — |
| 13 | Cakewalk Next | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | macos_windows | — |
| 14 | SoundBridge | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | macos_windows | — |
| 15 | Cakewalk Sonar | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 16 | Mixcraft | 6.3 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 17 | MuLab | 6.3 | No | €28/mo | Yes | — | macos_windows | — |
| 18 | Zrythm | 6.3 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 19 | Ableton Live | 6.2 | No | $31.21/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 20 | Harrison Mixbus | 6.2 | No | $49.99/mo | No | — | macos_windows_linux | — |
| 21 | REAPER | 6.2 | No | $60/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 22 | SADiE | 6.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | windows | — |
| 23 | FL Studio | 6.1 | No | $99/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 24 | OpenMPT | 6.1 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 25 | Radium | 6.1 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which digital audio workstation is ranked first on Specifiction?
n-Track Studio is ranked #1 of 38 with a score of 7.8. SunVox is second and Pro Tools third.
How many of these have a free plan?
13 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Ardour has the lowest first paid tier we found: $1/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.
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