LMMS vs Soundtrap

LMMS is a free, open-source tool for making music on Linux, macOS, and Windows. It brings sequencing, composition, mixing, and automation into one workflow for melodies, beats, synthesized sounds, and samples. Notes can be played with a MIDI or typing keyboard, and projects can import MIDI and Hydrogen files. The instrument collection includes 16 built-in synthesizers, with emulations of the TB-303, Commodore 64 SID, NES, GameBoy, and Yamaha OPL2. Multisample instruments support SoundFont, Giga, and Gravis UltraSound formats. Effects include LADSPA and VST plugins as well as built-in compression, limiting, delay, reverb, distortion, bass enhancement, equalizers, and spectrum analysis. LMMS supports 64-bit VST instruments, with a 32-bit VST bridge on 64-bit Windows, but not VST3 plugins. The manual says backups are enabled by default and a backup file is made when saving a project. Its listed plan costs nothing, and there is no free trial.

Soundtrap is a cloud-based digital audio workstation for creating music and podcasts, available in a browser and on Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. The studio includes vocal and mixing tools, virtual instruments, a MIDI editor, and royalty-free loops and samples. Users can edit multitrack projects, sequence MIDI and use noise reduction. Collaboration includes real-time video and chat, comments on shared projects and autosave. Soundtrap says its library has up to 24,000+ loops and hundreds of presets, with new sound packs added every two weeks. A free account allows users to create and save projects and use selected free loops, instruments, drum kits and studio tools; some sounds and features require a paid plan. Soundtrap for Education is designed for students and teachers, and integrates with services including Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, Canvas and Schoology. Educators can try it free for 30 days without providing payment details upfront. Browser support includes current Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari, though some audio features may not work fully in every browser and operating system, and recording may have higher latency. Mobile apps do not include automation or MIDI input.