Ableton Live AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Audio Editors

The best Audio Editor alternative to Ableton Live is Bitwig Studio. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Cakewalk or Bespoke Synth. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Ableton Live and many of them are Audio Editors so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Audio Editor alternatives to Ableton Live are FL Studio, Ardour, Adobe Audition and Logic Pro.

filter to find the best alternatives

Ableton Live alternatives are mainly Audio Editors, but if you're looking for Digital Audio Workstations or Music Production Apps you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Free, Open Source, Linux, 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. Bitwig Studio icon

    Bitwig Studio

     94 likes

    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.
    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
  2. FL Studio icon

    FL Studio

     494 likes

    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
  4. Ardour icon

    Ardour

     240 likes

    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
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    MAGIX Music Maker icon
    MAGIX Music Maker

    Create songs, soundtracks, and beats with 1,500+ sounds, 64 audio/MIDI tracks, and a mixing console featuring effects and synths, catering to new and experienced musicians. Industry-standard CD burning and a user-friendly interfa...

    https://www.magix.com
    Learn More
  6. Cakewalk icon

    Cakewalk

     75 likes

    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
     
  7. Adobe Audition icon

    Adobe Audition

     184 likes

    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
     
  10. Logic Pro icon

    Logic Pro

     120 likes

    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
     
  13. Qtractor icon

    Qtractor

     52 likes

    Qtractor is an Audio/MIDI multi-track sequencer application written in C++ with the Qt framework. Target platform is GNU/Linux, where the Jack Audio Connection Kit (JACK) for audio, and the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA) for MIDI, are the main infrastructures for...

    76 Qtractor alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Qtractor screenshot 1
     
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    6
  14. Avid Pro Tools icon

    Avid Pro Tools

     57 likes

    Pro Tools makes music creation fast and fluid, providing a complete set of tools to create, record, edit, and mix audio. Get inspired and start making music with a massive collection of plugins, instruments, and sounds.

    91 Avid Pro Tools alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once or Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Avid Pro Tools screenshot 1
     
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    1
    Comments about Avid Pro Tools as an Alternative to Ableton Live
    Guest
    Negative
    2

    they really do different things, also not free

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Ableton Live Icon
    Avid Pro Tools icon
    • Avid Pro Tools is Paid and ProprietaryAbleton Live is also Paid and Proprietary
  15. AudioTool icon

    AudioTool

     81 likes

    Make music online with a powerful set of tools ranging from synthesizers and samplers to mixers, delays, reverb and much more. AudioTool is an advanced, collaborative DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) built for the browser.

    76 AudioTool alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    AudioTool screenshot 1
     
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    2
    7
    Comments about AudioTool as an Alternative to Ableton Live
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Really great interface for starting out, very much capable in the basics, but the actual effects and imputing your own samples isn't too great.

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

    EEZY to use and has a good UI

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

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

    • AudioTool is Free and ProprietaryAbleton Live is Paid and Proprietary
12 of 35 Ableton Live alternatives