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Free Cubase Alternatives

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, Waveform and AudioTool.

Cubase 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 Cubase.
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Cubase iconCubase
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  • Mac
  • Windows

Definitive desktop DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) for professional mixing, mastering, music production and sound design.

Learn more about Cubase

  1. LMMS is a free cross-platform alternative to commercial programs like FL Studio , which allow you to produce music with your computer.

    ⚫︎ Support for VST PluginsLMMS support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
    ⚫︎ PortableLMMS can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
    ⚫︎ CustomizableLMMS is easy to customize with themes or similar features.
    ⚫︎ DRM FreeNo Digital rights management (DRM), i.e. no copy protection.
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    LMMS vs Cubase opinions
    Most users think LMMS is a great alternative to Cubase.

    I hope to increase support for audio o multitrack recording - IT's very light for my pC Compaq with 1 ghz CPU , i don' t have a great pc

    Top positive comment   ago
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    2

    It has a lot interesting functions.

    Top positive comment   ago
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    5

    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   ago
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    2
    RCLeahcar

    No support for audio or multitrack recording

    Negative comment • ago
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    2

    Does not support harddisk recording - only midi or samples

    Negative comment • ago
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    10

  2. 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.

    ⚫︎ Works OfflineGarageBand can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
    ⚫︎ Virtual InstrumentGarageBand uses mainy virtual instruments (piano, guitar, drums, bass, etc.).
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    iPad Version: Tracks
    GarageBand vs Cubase opinions
    Some users think GarageBand is a great alternative to Cubase, some don't.

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

    Negative comment • ago
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    1

  4. Cakewalk, formerly SONAR, is a comprehensive audio software for music composition, audio recording, editing, mixing and mastering.

    ⚫︎ Support for VST PluginsCakewalk support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
    ⚫︎ Support for MIDICakewalk includes MIDI hardware and software support to record and import audio.
    ⚫︎ Works OfflineCakewalk can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
    ⚫︎ CustomizableCakewalk is easy to customize with themes or similar features.
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    Cakewalk vs Cubase opinions
    pros, cons and recent comments
    balloonhead666

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

    Positive comment • ago
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    0
  5. Waveform icon

    Waveform

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    • Freemium • Proprietary
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Waveform is a commercial, cross-platform DAW. With a focus on design and composition, it offers tools to greatly simplify everything from initial inspiration to the final mix.

    ⚫︎ Support for VST PluginsWaveform support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
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  6. 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.

    ⚫︎ Support for MIDIAudioTool includes MIDI hardware and software support to record and import audio.
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  8. Zrythm is a digital audio workstation designed to be featureful and easy to use.

    ⚫︎ Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsZrythm can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
    ⚫︎ Support for VST PluginsZrythm support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
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  9. Rosegarden icon

    Rosegarden

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    • Free • Open Source
    • Linux
    • BSD

    Rosegarden is a well-rounded audio and MIDI sequencer, score editor, and general-purpose music composition and editing environment.

    ⚫︎ CustomizableRosegarden is easy to customize with themes or similar features.
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    Rosegarden vs Cubase opinions
    Most users think Rosegarden is a great alternative to Cubase.
  10. FamiStudio icon

    FamiStudio

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    • Free • Open Source
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Wine

    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.

    ⚫︎ Support for MIDIFamiStudio includes MIDI hardware and software support to record and import audio.
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    Version 1.4.0
  11. Bosca Ceoil icon

    Bosca Ceoil

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    • Free • Open Source
    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Adobe AIR

    Bosca Ceoil is all about looping, and designed that way at its heart. Songs are built up from lots of tiny 16 note patterns – the intended workflow is that you loop over these single patterns until you have something you like, then you start making variations.

    ⚫︎ Support for MIDIBosca Ceoil includes MIDI hardware and software support to record and import audio.
    ⚫︎ PortableBosca Ceoil can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
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    Easy to use music sequencer

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

    ⚫︎ Virtual InstrumentBespoke Synth uses mainy virtual instruments (piano, guitar, drums, bass, etc.).
    ⚫︎ Node BasedBespoke Synth supports node editing, a form of visual programming that gives you full control over the rendering.
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Showing 10 of 43 alternatives