The Best Ableton Live AlternativesTop Music Production Apps & Digital Audio Workstations like Ableton Live

Ableton Live is described as 'Software for creating musical ideas, turning them into songs, and performing them, featuring Arrangement and Session Views for fast music-making' and is a very popular music production app in the audio & music category. There are more than 50 alternatives to Ableton Live for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and Web-based apps. The best Ableton Live alternative is LMMS, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Ableton Live are Bitwig Studio, FL Studio, Ardour and REAPER.

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Ableton Live alternatives are mainly Music Production Apps, but if you're looking for Digital Audio Workstations or Audio Editors you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Free, Linux, Open Source, iPad, Android, Android Tablet and Android + Free. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Ableton Live.
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Alternatives list

  1. LMMS icon

    LMMS

     632 likes
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    Cross-platform digital audio workstation supporting lossless audio and VST plugins. Features include music looping, sequencing, and MIDI support. Provides an ad-free, privacy-focused, portable experience without registration, working offline with extensibility through plugins and add-ons.

    91 LMMS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • Flatpak
    LMMS screenshot 1
     
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    71
    Comments about LMMS as an Alternative to Ableton Live
    Comment summary: While LMMS is praised for being free and open-source, it lacks the capabilities and live performance features of Ableton Live. Many users find LMMS's functionality limited with issues in VST support and workflow, although it's appreciated as a decent entry-level DAW for those on a budget. Comparisons often highlight that Ableton's performance and workflow advantages make it superior, particularly for live setups.
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    3

    If you are just getting into the scene and are on a budget, its pretty darn decent especially for being free and open source.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    17

    It is good but does not even come close to the Abelton workflow.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Oscar Sanderson
    Positive
    0

    LMMS is free (free as in freedom and free beer) and open source and overall really cool

    Show more comments
    3 of 13 comments
    Ableton Live Icon
    LMMS icon

    • Most users think LMMS is a great Ableton Live alternative.

    • LMMS is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Ableton Live.

    • LMMS is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Ableton Live.

    • LMMS is Free and Open SourceAbleton Live is Paid and Proprietary
    • LMMS is Customizable, Privacy focused and LightweightAbleton Live is not according to our users
  2. Bitwig Studio icon

    Bitwig Studio

     94 likes
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    Bitwig Studio is a multi-platform music-creation system for production, performance and DJing, with a focus on flexible editing tools and a super-fast workflow.

    53 Bitwig Studio alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Bitwig Studio screenshot 1
     
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    4
    44
    Comments about Bitwig Studio as an Alternative to Ableton Live
    David
    Positive
    3

    The closest match to Ableton's clip-based workflow, Bitwig Studio is equally viable as a DJ and live performance tool as well as a typical DAW for composing original music. Unlike most DAWs, Bitwig directly supports Linux. It's also built from a modular core and now has a modular synth and effect tool for creating any imaginable sound from scratch.

    Guest
    Positive
    7

    Very similar functionality + similar workflow. Easy recovery from rare crashes, and plugin sandboxing means fewer crashes in comparison to Ableton Live

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    4

    It is the only DAW I know that has a similar workflow

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
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    3 of 4 comments
    Ableton Live Icon
    Bitwig Studio icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Bitwig Studio is a great Ableton Live alternative.

    • Bitwig Studio is the most popular commercial alternative to Ableton Live.

    • Bitwig Studio is Paid and ProprietaryAbleton Live is also Paid and Proprietary
  4. FL Studio icon

    FL Studio

     494 likes
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    A complete digital audio workstation featuring professional music creation tools for mixing, mastering, editing, and sequencing. It includes a responsive piano roll sequencer, lifetime license updates, visualizer plugins for video creation, and multi-touch support for advanced graphical interface navigation.

    94 FL Studio alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once or Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad
    FL Studio screenshot 1
     
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    3
    42
    Comments about FL Studio as an Alternative to Ableton Live
    Chip Thrasher
    Positive
    3

    It is also non-linear, has a very similar loop sequencing tool.

    Guest
    Positive
    5

    Ease of use - wide range of VST and native instruments and effects. Been around a long time but constantly updating. Has a 'live' mode and traditional DAW operation.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    5

    I have been using Ableton and Fl for a long time on PC and Mac's. With Android tablets being limited in power and functionality I would best advice Fl Moble. Its the most powerful and well functioning DAW on mobile devices so far.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Ableton Live Icon
    FL Studio icon

    • Most users think FL Studio is a great Ableton Live alternative.

    • FL Studio is the most popular Web-based, Android, iPhone, iPad & Android Tablet alternative to Ableton Live.

    • FL Studio is Paid and ProprietaryAbleton Live is also Paid and Proprietary
    • FL Studio is LightweightAbleton Live is not according to our users
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  6. Ardour icon

    Ardour

     240 likes
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    Ardour is a hard disk recorder and digital audio workstation application. Record, edit, and mix on Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows.

    92 Ardour alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Ardour 6
     
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    3
    23
    Comments about Ardour as an Alternative to Ableton Live
    burnx50
    Positive
    2

    Ableton-style clip launcher is added to Ardour 7.

    Guest
    Negative
    1

    Ardour is good if you primary deal with audio. It is not very good for midi. You can work around making midi work for you. It has a lot of functionality, but what makes Ableton great is the clip launche. Ardour can't replace Ableton at this point.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    -25

    The description did not mention you can make music on the program yourself.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Ableton Live Icon
    Ardour icon

    • Most users think Ardour is a great Ableton Live alternative.

    • Ardour is Paid and Open SourceAbleton Live is Paid and Proprietary
    • Ardour is Privacy focusedAbleton Live is not according to our users
  7. REAPER icon

    REAPER

     253 likes
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    A digital audio workstation, MIDI sequencer and video editing software application created by Cockos. The current version is available for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux.

    83 REAPER alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Default theme
     
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    1
    15
    Comments about REAPER as an Alternative to Ableton Live
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    Reaper is really good if you like the traditional timeline. I personally love Ableton Live because of the clip launcher. In ableton you easily create a clip, and it loops for ever. It is really good for songwriting. I own Reaper, but have not been able to replace Reaper with Ableton. The UI in reaper is a little outdated as well. But I will admit, if you learn Reaper, it is a top notch program.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Ableton Live Icon
    REAPER icon

    • Most users think REAPER is a great Ableton Live alternative.

    • REAPER is Paid and ProprietaryAbleton Live is also Paid and Proprietary
    • REAPER is Customizable and LightweightAbleton Live is not according to our users
  8. GarageBand icon

    GarageBand

     268 likes
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    Experience a rich music creation suite on Mac and iOS with comprehensive sound libraries, virtual session drummers, and user-friendly tools suitable for beginners and pros. Create, edit, and share your music effortlessly through a seamless Apple integration.

    103 GarageBand alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    iPad Version: Tracks
     
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    9
  10. Cakewalk icon

    Cakewalk

     74 likes
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    Cakewalk, formerly SONAR, is a comprehensive audio software for music composition, audio recording, editing, mixing and mastering. It features a full suite of high quality audio and MIDI effects and instruments and composition tools ranging from drum sequencer and piano roll...

    115 Cakewalk alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Cakewalk screenshot 1
     
  11. Adobe Audition icon

    Adobe Audition

     184 likes
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    A comprehensive audio editing suite designed for commercial use with features like post-production refinement, video and podcast editing capabilities, minus composition tools. Equipped with Waveform and Multitrack modes for recording and editing, with new Clip and Session Markers.

    95 Adobe Audition alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Adobe Audition screenshot 1
     
  13. Logic Pro icon

    Logic Pro

     120 likes
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    Comprehensive studio app offering advanced DAW and MIDI tools, a creative interface, powerful software instruments, plugins like Beat Breaker, full mixer capabilities, and seamless integration with Mac and iPad for professional-sounding mixes.

    79 Logic Pro alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPad
    Logic Pro screenshot 1
     
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