Pro Tools vs Serato Studio
Pro Tools
avid.comSerato Studio
serato.comSide by side
| Figure | Pro Tools | Serato Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $9.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 25 | 4 |
| Spec score · Audio Editing Software | 9.2 (#2) | 8.5 (#20) |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Intended users | Avid describes Pro Tools as a workstation trusted by studios, producers, and artists, with workflows spanning music production and audio post. | Serato describes Studio as beat-making software with a DJ-friendly workflow for producers and users making DJ edits. |
| Purpose | Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation for recording, editing, and mixing audio. | Serato Studio is beat-making software for creating album-quality beats and custom DJ edits. |
| Paid from | 9.99 | 9.99 |
| Support | Users can get help through community support, and those with an active support contract, subscription, or Avid Support Code can create a support case or call Avid. | Serato lists 24/7 support with the subscription plan, and its Studio support section offers help requests and product guides. |
Plans
Pro Tools
- IntroPrice not published
- IntroPriced on request
- Artist$9.99 a month
- Pro Tools Artist$9.99 a month
- Pro Tools Studio$34.99 a month
- Artist$99 a year
- Studio$34.99 a month
- Pro Tools Ultimate$99 a month
- Studio$299 a year
- Ultimate$99 a month
Serato Studio
- FreeFree
- Buy$149 a month
- Subscribe$9.99 a month
- Buy$149, paid once
In their own words
Pro Tools
Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation for recording, editing and mixing audio on Windows and macOS. It includes MIDI tools, virtual instruments, samples and arrangement features for music production. Recording options include loop recording, playlist comping, punch-in recording and support for up to 256 simultaneous audio inputs. Editing tools include Elastic Audio, clip gain, pitch manipulation and audio-to-MIDI conversion, alongside Slip, Grid, Shuffle and Spot modes. Mixing features include automation, flexible routing, folder tracks and plugins, with spatial rendering for Dolby Atmos and Audio Vivid. Studio and Ultimate include video tracks and timecode for sound-to-picture work. Intro is free forever and lists up to 8 audio, instrument and MIDI tracks. Artist costs $9.99 a month, Studio costs $34.99 a month and Ultimate costs $99 a month. Avid specifies 16 GB RAM, 15 GB free installation space and an internet connection for installation and activation. Community support is available; direct support cases or calls require an active support contract, subscription or Avid Support Code.
Serato Studio
Serato Studio is beat-making software for creating beats and custom DJ edits, with a workflow aimed at producers and DJ users. Its Sample Deck can sync samples to project BPM and key, chop them, separate stems, and apply time stretching, key shifting, reverse and effects. Real-time stem separation can split tracks into acapella, melody, bassline and drum parts. Studio includes a step sequencer and more than 190 instruments, including bass, keys, synths, pads, percussion, guitars and orchestral sounds. It supports VST3 and Audio Unit plugins, MIDI hardware mapping, Serato DJ crates and FX plugins. Users can export tracks, mixes, loops or individual drum pads as separate audio files. Studio runs on macOS and Windows and requires a Serato.com account. Free mode is limited to one audio track, four decks and four scenes, with automation disabled. The Subscribe plan costs $9.99/mo; the separate Buy plan is listed at $149 a month.