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 ComposeYogi or Cakewalk. 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, Logic Pro and Bespoke Synth.

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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, Linux, iPad, Linux + Free, Android, Open Source and Windows + 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
     97 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.

    61 Bitwig Studio alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
     
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    4
    Bitwig Studio vs Ableton Live Comments
    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

    Guest
    Positive
    4

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

    3 of 4 comments
    • Bitwig Studio is Paid and ProprietaryAbleton Live is also Paid and Proprietary
  2. FL Studio icon
     502 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.

    105 FL Studio alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad
     
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    3
    FL Studio vs Ableton Live Comments
    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.

    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.

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

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

    100 Ardour alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
     
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    3
    Ardour vs Ableton Live Comments
    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.

    Guest
    Negative
    -25

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

    • Ardour is Paid and Open SourceAbleton Live is Paid and Proprietary
    • Ardour is Privacy focusedAbleton Live is not according to our users
  4. Cakewalk icon
     84 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...

    126 Cakewalk alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
     
  5. Logic Pro icon
     124 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.

    89 Logic Pro alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPad
     
  6. Adobe Audition icon
     188 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.

    102 Adobe Audition alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
     
  7. AudioTool icon
     84 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.

    84 AudioTool alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
     
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    2
    AudioTool vs Ableton Live Comments
    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.

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    EEZY to use and has a good UI

    • AudioTool is Free and ProprietaryAbleton Live is Paid and Proprietary
  8. Avid Pro Tools icon
     59 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.

    97 Avid Pro Tools alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
     
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    1
    Avid Pro Tools vs Ableton Live Comments
    Guest
    Negative
    2

    they really do different things, also not free

    • Avid Pro Tools is Paid and ProprietaryAbleton Live is also Paid and Proprietary
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