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, Adobe Audition and Logic Pro.

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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, 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

     95 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.

    58 Bitwig Studio alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Bitwig Studio screenshot 1
     
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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

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

    FL Studio

     496 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.

    98 FL Studio alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad
    FL Studio screenshot 1
     
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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.

    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.
    • 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

     242 likes

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

    97 Ardour alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Ardour 6
     
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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.

    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.
    • 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
    Adobe Audition icon
    Adobe Audition

    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 recor...

    https://www.adobe.com
    Learn More
  7. Cakewalk icon

    Cakewalk

     76 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...

    120 Cakewalk alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Cakewalk screenshot 1
     
  8. Adobe Audition icon

    Adobe Audition

     186 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.

    96 Adobe Audition alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

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

    Logic Pro

     121 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.

    84 Logic Pro alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPad
    Logic Pro screenshot 1
     
  12. Zrythm icon

    Zrythm

     35 likes

    Zrythm is a digital audio workstation designed to be featureful and easy to use.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Zrythm screenshot 1
     
  14. 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...

    81 Qtractor alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Qtractor screenshot 1
     
  15. 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.

    95 Avid Pro Tools alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

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

    they really do different things, also not free

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Avid Pro Tools is Paid and ProprietaryAbleton Live is also Paid and Proprietary
12 of 36 Ableton Live alternatives