Nuendo vs Qtractor
Nuendo
steinberg.netQtractor
qtractor.orgSide by side
| Figure | Nuendo | Qtractor |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Spec score · Audio Editing Software | 8.8 (#9) | 8.4 (#24) |
| Spec score · Audio editors | 8.8 (#3) | 8.1 (#9) |
| Spec score · Game Audio Editors | 8.4 (#7) | 8.1 (#14) |
| Spec score · Digital Audio Workstations | 8.3 (#9) | 7.9 (#20) |
| Spec score · Music Production Software | 8.2 (#8) | 7.9 (#15) |
| Downloads | Steinberg recommends using Steinberg Download Assistant to download and install Nuendo 15 and related utilities. | The site lists version 1.6.4, dated 2026-09-06, as its latest release and links to downloadable binary packages on SourceForge. |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Support | Nuendo 15 is available through Steinberg's downloads page, which provides general information and installation utilities. | The project directs users to its SourceForge project page for bug reports, feature requests, forums, mailing lists, and development matters. |
Plans
Nuendo
- Nuendo 15 Full VersionPriced on request
- Nuendo 15 CrossgradePriced on request
- Nuendo 15 Crossgrade$799.99, paid once
- Nuendo 15 Full version$999.99, paid once
In their own words
Qtractor
Qtractor is a Linux desktop application for multitrack audio and MIDI sequencing and recording, aimed especially at personal home studios. Its non-destructive, non-linear editing supports unlimited tracks, overlapping clips, and unlimited undo and redo. Audio clips can use fades, cross-fades, gain, normalization, export, time-stretching, and pitch-shifting. MIDI work includes a piano-roll editor, Standard MIDI file formats 0 and 1, controller mapping, and SysEx setups. Qtractor supports OGG, MP3 playback, WAV, FLAC, and AIFF, as well as LADSPA, DSSI, VST2, VST3, LV2, and CLAP plugins. It uses JACK for audio and ALSA for MIDI and includes connection patchbay controls. Tracks can be mixed down, rendered, and merged; session and project descriptions are stored in XML files. Qtractor is free, open-source software under the GNU General Public License version 2 or later. The site lists version 1.6.4, released 2026-09-06, and provides binary downloads and CMake build instructions. The project says bugs remain while describing the software as production/stable.