Free Cubase AlternativesTop Music Production Apps & Digital Audio Workstations like Cubase

The best free alternative to Cubase is LMMS, which is also Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Cubase and many of them is free so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free alternatives to Cubase are GarageBand, Cakewalk, Bespoke Synth and AudioTool.

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Cubase alternatives are mainly Music Production Apps but may also be Digital Audio Workstations or Audio Editors.  Other popular filters includes Linux + Open Source. Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Cubase.
Cubase iconCubase
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Definitive desktop DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) for professional mixing, mastering, music production and sound design.

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Cubase alternatives page was last updated Nov 13, 2024
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  1. LMMS icon
    LMMS icon

    LMMS

     589 likes
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    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...

    93 LMMS alternatives
    LMMS screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    LMMS screenshot 1
    LMMS screenshot 2
    +2
    LMMS screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Ad-free

    Features

    1.  Support for VST Plugins
    2.  Digital Audio Workstation
    3.  Piano Roll
    4.  Export to MP3
    5.  Export to MIDI
    6.  MIDI Keyboard Input
    7.  Audio Recording
    8.  Portable
    9.  Music Sequencer
    10.  Support for MIDI
    11.  Lossless quality
    12.  Royalty-free music
    13.  Performance Monitoring
    14.  Free API
    15.  Beat bassline
    16.  Dark Mode
    17.  Mix Music
    LMMS iconCubase Icon

    LMMS VS Cubase

    Is LMMS a good alternative to Cubase?
     
    Comments about LMMS as an Alternative to Cubase
     
       
    Guest

    It has a lot interesting functions.

    Top positive comment •Mar 28, 2019
    5
    Guest

    The UI is nowhere near Cubase. It's like comparing mattresses to game consoles. They might both be rectangular, but that's it.

    Top negative comment •Jul 29, 2020
    3
    puikheid

    It's not a linear DAW and barely has any feature overlap.

    Negative comment •Nov 13, 2024
    0
    Show more comments
    3 of 6 comments
    Cubase Icon
    LMMS icon

    • Most users think LMMS is a great Cubase alternative.

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

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

    • LMMS is Free and Open SourceCubase is Paid and Proprietary
  2. GarageBand icon
    GarageBand icon

    GarageBand

     264 likes
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    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.

    102 GarageBand alternatives
    iPad Version: Tracks

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    iPad Version: Piano Roll Editor
    Mac Version: Guitar Amplifier
    +4
    Size comparison between iPhone, iPad, and Macbook

    Properties

    1.  Works Offline

    Features

    1.  Virtual Instrument
    2.  Music Sequencer
    3.  Preset beats
    4.  Audio Samples
    5.  Piano Roll
    6.  Support for Keyboard Shortcuts
    GarageBand iconCubase Icon

    GarageBand VS Cubase

    Is GarageBand a good alternative to Cubase?
     
    Comments about GarageBand as an Alternative to Cubase
     
    Guest

    GarageBand is a very lightweight program compared to professional grade DAWs such as Cubase.

    Negative comment •Nov 15, 2018
    1
    Cubase Icon
    GarageBand icon

    • Some users think GarageBand is a great Cubase alternative, some don't.

    • GarageBand is Free and ProprietaryCubase is Paid and Proprietary
  4. Cakewalk icon
    Cakewalk icon

    Cakewalk

     63 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
    Cakewalk screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free Personal • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Cakewalk screenshot 1
    Cakewalk screenshot 2
    +2
    Cakewalk screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    3.  Works Offline

    Features

    1.  Support for VST Plugins
    2.  Support for MIDI
    3.  Multitrack editing
    4.  Step Sequencer
    5.  Music Sequencer
    6.  Virtual Instrument
    7.  Music Looper
    8.  Lossless Audio
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Mix Music
    11.  Melodyne Intergration
    12.  MultiTrack
    13.  Piano Roll
    14.  Music Recording
    Cakewalk iconCubase Icon

    Cakewalk VS Cubase

    Is Cakewalk a good alternative to Cubase?
     
    Comments about Cakewalk as an Alternative to Cubase
     
    ballOOn Head

    Best Freeware with all the professional abilities. Highest Level of Features Like all paid programs but not very stable

    Positive comment •Dec 17, 2021
    0
    Cubase Icon
    Cakewalk icon

    • Most users think Cakewalk is a great Cubase alternative.

    • Cakewalk is Free Personal and ProprietaryCubase is Paid and Proprietary
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Avid Pro Tools icon

    Avid Pro Tools

    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.

    https://www.avid.com
    Learn More
  6. Bespoke Synth icon
    Bespoke Synth icon

    Bespoke Synth

     22 likes
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    Bespoke is a software modular synthesizer. It contains a bunch of modules, which you can connect together to create sounds.

    77 Bespoke Synth alternatives
    Bespoke Synth screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Bespoke Synth screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Works Offline

    Features

    1.  Modular connections
    2.  Synthesizer
    3.  Virtual Instrument
    4.  Node Based
    5.  Music Looper
    6.  Music Sequencer
    7.  Support for MIDI
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  Music Recording
    10.  Mix Music
    Bespoke Synth iconCubase Icon

    Bespoke Synth VS Cubase

    Is Bespoke Synth a good alternative to Cubase?
     
  7. AudioTool icon
    AudioTool icon

    AudioTool

     74 likes
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    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.

    72 AudioTool alternatives
    AudioTool screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    AudioTool screenshot 1
    AudioTool screenshot 2
    +2
    Edit wave files and share them through probe.audiotool.com

    AudioTool Features

    1.  Support for MIDI
    2.  Music Sequencer
    3.  Mix Music
    4.  Modular System
    5.  Piano Roll
    6.  Sound Effects
    AudioTool iconCubase Icon

    AudioTool VS Cubase

    Is AudioTool a good alternative to Cubase?
     

    • AudioTool is the most popular Web-based alternative to Cubase.

    • AudioTool is Free and ProprietaryCubase is Paid and Proprietary
  8. Draw.Audio icon
    Draw.Audio icon

    Draw.Audio

     6 likes
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    Explore sound art with an innovative, free musical sketch-pad offering a synthesizer, sequencer, and drawing tools. Underpinned by the Web Audio API, it enables music recording, editing, and playback without ads, all in a seamless web-based interface for creative expression.

    52 Draw.Audio alternatives
    Draw.Audio screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    Draw.Audio screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  No registration required
    3.  No Tracking

    Features

    1.  Music Sequencer
    2.  Web-Based
    Draw.Audio iconCubase Icon

    Draw.Audio VS Cubase

    Is Draw.Audio a good alternative to Cubase?
     
  10. Zrythm icon
    Zrythm icon

    Zrythm

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

    93 Zrythm alternatives
    Zrythm screenshot 1

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Zrythm screenshot 1
    Zrythm screenshot 2
    +4
    Zrythm screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Privacy focused
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  No Tracking

    Features

    1.  Support for VST Plugins
    2.  Audio Export
    3.  Multiple languages
    4.  Music Sequencer
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  Support for MIDI
    7.  Support for Audio Units Plugins
    8.  Mix Music
    9.  Music Mastering
    Zrythm iconCubase Icon

    Zrythm VS Cubase

    Is Zrythm a good alternative to Cubase?
     
  11. Qtractor icon
    Qtractor icon

    Qtractor

     46 likes
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    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...

    77 Qtractor alternatives
    Qtractor screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Qtractor Features

    1.  Support for MIDI
    2.  Support for VST Plugins
    3.  Music Sequencer
    4.  Multitrack editing
    Qtractor screenshot 1
    Qtractor screenshot 2
    Qtractor iconCubase Icon

    Qtractor VS Cubase

    Is Qtractor a good alternative to Cubase?
     
  12. FamiStudio icon
    FamiStudio icon

    FamiStudio

     18 likes
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    FamiStudio is very simple music editor for the Nintendo Entertainment System or Famicom. It is designed to be easier to use than FamiTracker, but its feature set is also much more limited. It is targeted at both chiptune artists and NES homebrewers.

    32 FamiStudio alternatives
    Version 1.4.0

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Wine

    FamiStudio Features

    1.  Support for MIDI
    Version 2.1.0
    Version 2.3.0
    FamiStudio iconCubase Icon

    FamiStudio VS Cubase

    Is FamiStudio a good alternative to Cubase?
     
9 of 48 Cubase alternatives