Ableton Live Alternatives

Ableton Live is described as 'Live is software for creating musical ideas, turning them into finished songs, and even taking them onto the stage' 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, BSD and iPad apps. The best Ableton Live alternative is LMMS, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Ableton Live are Ardour, FL Studio, Bitwig Studio and Reaper.

Ableton Live alternatives are mainly Music Production Apps but may also be Digital Audio Workstations or Audio Editors. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Ableton Live.

Ableton Live alternatives page was last updated

Ableton Live

185

Paid • Proprietary
Music Production App

Live is software for creating musical ideas, turning them into finished songs, and even taking them onto the stage.

More about Ableton Live

LMMS
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Music Production App
Digital Audio Workstation
Audio Recorder
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
PortableApps.com
Haiku
88 LMMS alternatives
LMMS is a free cross-platform alternative to commercial programs like FL Studio , which allow you to produce music with your computer. This includes the creation of melodies and beats, the synthesis and mixing of sounds, and arranging of...
- - LMMS is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Ableton Live.
- - LMMS is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Ableton Live.
Suggest and vote on features
LMMS Features
1. Support for VST PluginsLMMS support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
2. PortableLMMS can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
3. Music SequencerRecord, edit, or play back music with LMMS, by handling note and performance information.
4. DRM FreeNo Digital rights management (DRM), i.e. no copy protection.
Export to MP3
Piano Roll
Export to MIDI
MIDI Keyboard Input
Customizable
Royalty-free music
Lossless quality
Image exporting
Free API
Beat bassline
Comments about LMMS as a Alternative to Ableton Live
Most users think LMMS is a great Ableton Live alternative.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
Oscar Sanderson
LMMS is free (free as in freedom and free beer) and open source and overall really cool
Top positive comment•
0

Guest
If you are just getting into the scene and are on a budget, its pretty darn decent especially for being free and open source.
Top positive comment•
2

darkciide
While LMMS might be free, it does not come close to the abilities of Ableton.
Top negative comment•
2

sedeti
It's nothing compared to ableton
Negative comment•
0

Guest
Ableton Live, is meant for live performance. LMMS is not.
Negative comment•
1

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5 of 13 comments
Ardour
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Open Source
Music Production App
Digital Audio Workstation
Audio Recorder
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
86 Ardour alternatives
Ardour is a hard disk recorder and digital audio workstation application. It runs on GNU/Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows. Ardour's intention is to provide digital audio workstation software suitable for professional use.
- - Ardour is the most popular commercial alternative to Ableton Live.
Suggest and vote on features
Ardour Features
1. Non Destructive EditingArdour can make changes to a file without overwriting the original data, which remains available in case you want to revert to it.
2. Support for VST PluginsArdour support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
3. Music SequencerRecord, edit, or play back music with Ardour, by handling note and performance information.
4. Music LooperArdour supports a grid of musical loops and phrases that you can trigger and manipulate in real time.
5. Lossless AudioArdour has lossless audio support, basically studio quality sound.
6. Ad-freeArdour doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
7. Works OfflineArdour can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
8. Virtual InstrumentArdour uses mainy virtual instruments (piano, guitar, drums, bass, etc.).
9. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsArdour can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
Multitrack editing
Mix Music
Live Performance
Support for MIDI
Comments about Ardour as a Alternative to Ableton Live
Most users think Ardour is a great Ableton Live alternative.
burnx50
Ableton-style clip launcher is added to Ardour 7.
Positive comment•
2

Guest
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.
Negative comment•
1

Guest
The description did not mention you can make music on the program yourself.
Negative comment•
-25
FL Studio
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Music Production App
Digital Audio Workstation
Audio Editor
Mac
Windows
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
HUAWEI AppGallery
iPad
90 FL Studio alternatives
FL Studio (originally known as FruityLoops) is a full-featured Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) offering a complete range of professional tools for everything from audio editing and beat creation to advanced arrangement, composition, mixing and mastering.
- - FL Studio is the most popular Android, iPhone, iPad & Android Tablet alternative to Ableton Live.
Suggest and vote on features
FL Studio Features
1. Support for VST PluginsFL Studio support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
2. Live PerformanceListen to and adjust your music productions with FL Studio based on incoming audio in real time.
3. LightweightFL Studio consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
4. Works OfflineFL Studio can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
Voice Recording
Piano Roll
Synth rack
MIDI Keyboard Input
Beat slicer
Visualize Music
MultiTouch
Context-aware help
FFMPEG support
Great Opus codec support
Comments about FL Studio as a Alternative to Ableton Live
Most users think FL Studio is a great Ableton Live alternative.
Chip Thrasher
It is also non-linear, has a very similar loop sequencing tool.
Positive comment•
3

Guest
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.
Positive comment•
5

Guest
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.
Positive comment•
5
Bitwig Studio
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Digital Audio Workstation
Music Production App
Audio Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
40 Bitwig Studio alternatives
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.
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Bitwig Studio Features
1. Live PerformanceListen to and adjust your music productions with Bitwig Studio based on incoming audio in real time.
2. Support for VST PluginsBitwig Studio support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
3. Support for MIDIBitwig Studio includes MIDI hardware and software support to record and import audio.
4. Support for scriptingBitwig Studio supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
Grid layout
Modular System
Multiplatform
Piano Roll
Mix Music
Music Recording
Comments about Bitwig Studio as a Alternative to Ableton Live
Almost everyone thinks Bitwig Studio is a great Ableton Live alternative.
David
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.
Positive comment•
2

Guest
It is the only DAW I know that has a similar workflow
Positive comment•
3

Guest
Very similar functionality + similar workflow. Easy recovery from rare crashes, and plugin sandboxing means fewer crashes in comparison to Ableton Live
Positive comment•
6

Krosstalk
Similar to ableton live but missing max…
Positive comment•
0
Reaper
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Digital Audio Workstation
Music Production App
Audio Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
80 Reaper alternatives
REAPER is a complete digital audio production application for Windows, Mac and Linux, offering a full multi-track audio and MIDI recording, editing, processing, mixing and mastering tool set.
Suggest and vote on features
Reaper Features
1. Support for VST PluginsReaper support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
2. Support for scriptingReaper supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
3. Support for MIDIReaper includes MIDI hardware and software support to record and import audio.
4. PortableReaper can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
5. Ad-freeReaper doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
6. Dark ModeReaper supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
Customizable
MultiTrack
Extensive customisability
Spectral editing
Convert audio to MIDI
Multi Channel
Patch Management
Built-in routing
Pitch shift engine
Piano Roll
Comments about Reaper as a Alternative to Ableton Live
Most users think Reaper is a great Ableton Live alternative.
Guest
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.
Negative comment•
0
GarageBand
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Music Production App
Digital Audio Workstation
Audio Recorder
Mac
iPhone
iPad
103 GarageBand alternatives
Welcome to the school of rock. A Mac-sized practice space. Your own recording studio. If you want to learn to play an instrument, write music, or record a song, GarageBand can help — whether you’re a rookie or a rock star.
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GarageBand Features
1. Works OfflineGarageBand can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
2. Virtual InstrumentGarageBand uses mainy virtual instruments (piano, guitar, drums, bass, etc.).
3. Music SequencerRecord, edit, or play back music with GarageBand, by handling note and performance information.
Preset beats
Audio Samples
Piano Roll
Support for Keyboard Shortcuts
Opinions about GarageBand as a Alternative to Ableton Live
Some users think GarageBand is a great Ableton Live alternative, some don't.
Adobe Audition
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Audio Editor
Music Production App
Digital Audio Workstation
Mac
Windows
95 Adobe Audition alternatives
Adobe Audition is an audio editing and post-production suite.
Suggest and vote on features
Adobe Audition Features
1. Support for VST PluginsAdobe Audition support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
Spectral editing
Multiple metering standards
Waveform Seekbar
Audio restoration
MultiTrack
Multiple window layouts
M/S metering
Rack Effects
Effect automation controls
Sidechain compression