Open Source Cubase AlternativesTop Music Production Apps & Digital Audio Workstations like Cubase

The best open source alternative to Cubase is LMMS. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Cubase and many of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Cubase are Ardour, Zrythm, Bespoke Synth and Qtractor.

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Cubase alternatives are mainly Digital Audio Workstations, but if you're looking for Music Production Apps or Audio Editors you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Linux, Free, Open Source, Linux + Open Source and Android. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Cubase.
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Alternatives list

  1. LMMS icon

    LMMS

     629 likes
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    Cross-platform digital audio workstation supporting lossless audio and VST plugins. Features include music looping, sequencing, and MIDI support. Provides an ad-free, privacy-focused, portable experience without registration, working offline with extensibility through plugins and add-ons.

    91 LMMS alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • Flatpak
    LMMS screenshot 1
     
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    6
    45
    Comments about LMMS as an Alternative to Cubase
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    5

    It has a lot interesting functions.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    11

    Does not support harddisk recording - only midi or samples

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    puikheid
    Negative
    0

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

    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
    • LMMS is Customizable, Privacy focused and LightweightCubase is not according to our users
  2. Ardour icon

    Ardour

     239 likes
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    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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    2
    21
    Comments about Ardour as an Alternative to Cubase
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    It's great. Complete tool!

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    -2

    Opensource, available on Windows, Mac, and Linux, you can import PT projects, create your own model, and use it as a completed DAW for your computer. Enjoy !

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Cubase Icon
    Ardour icon

    • Most users think Ardour is a great Cubase alternative.

    • Ardour is Paid and Open SourceCubase is Paid and Proprietary
    • Ardour is Privacy focusedCubase is not according to our users
  6. Qtractor icon

    Qtractor

     52 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...

    76 Qtractor alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Qtractor screenshot 1
     
  7. FamiStudio icon

    FamiStudio

     24 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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Wine
    Version 1.4.0
     
  11. MusE Sequencer icon

    MusE Sequencer

     10 likes
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    Open-source DAW for GNU/Linux designed for multitrack MIDI and audio sequencing, real-time effects, automation, plugin support including LV2, VST, DSSI, non-destructive editing, JACK compatibility, and free BSD port for advanced audio production and virtual studio needs.

    31 MusE Sequencer alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • BSD
    MusE Sequencer screenshot 1
     
  12. Efflux icon

    Efflux

     4 likes
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    Efflux is a Progressive Web Application allowing you to create music within your browser, either on- or offline on anything from a phone to desktop machine.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    Efflux screenshot 1
     
  13. Bosca Ceoil icon

    Bosca Ceoil

     25 likes
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    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.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Adobe AIR
    Easy to use music sequencer
     
  14. Cacophony icon

    Cacophony

     3 likes
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    Cacophony is a minimalist and ergonomic MIDI sequencer. It's minimalist in that it doesn't have a lot of functionality MIDI sequencers have. It's ergonomic in that there is no mouse input and a very clean interface, allowing you to juggle less inputs and avoid...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • itch.io
    Cacophony screenshot 1
     
12 of 25 Cubase alternatives