The Best GarageBand AlternativesTop Music Production Apps & Digital Audio Workstations like GarageBand

GarageBand is described as 'Full-featured music studio offering sound library, virtual drummers, and instrument presets available on Mac and iOS. Ideal for all skill levels' and is a very popular music production app in the audio & music category. There are more than 100 alternatives to GarageBand for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPad apps. The best GarageBand alternative is LMMS, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like GarageBand are FL Studio, REAPER, Ardour and Walk Band.

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GarageBand alternatives are mainly Music Production Apps, but if you're looking for Digital Audio Workstations or Audio Editors you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Windows, Android, Online, Linux, Free, Mac + Free and Open Source. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to GarageBand.
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Alternatives list

  1. LMMS icon

    LMMS

     630 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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    8
    114
    Comments about LMMS as an Alternative to GarageBand
    Top Positive Comment
    TheBeast
    13

    More of a learning curve but a great program if you can take the time to learn it.

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    19

    Incredibly more complex, not recommended for beginners

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

    it's for electronic music production, not music recording

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Show more comments
    3 of 8 comments
    GarageBand Icon
    LMMS icon

    • Most users think LMMS is a great GarageBand alternative.

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

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

    • LMMS is Free and Open SourceGarageBand is Free and Proprietary
    • LMMS is Customizable, Privacy focused and LightweightGarageBand is not according to our users
  2. FL Studio icon

    FL Studio

     494 likes
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    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.

    94 FL Studio alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad
    • Online
    FL Studio screenshot 1
     
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    82
    Comments about FL Studio as an Alternative to GarageBand
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    This is exactly what I've been looking for. The perfect site with just what I need

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    GarageBand Icon
    FL Studio icon

    • Most users think FL Studio is a great GarageBand alternative.

    • FL Studio is the most popular Web-based, Android, iPhone, iPad & Android Tablet alternative to GarageBand.

    • FL Studio is the most popular commercial alternative to GarageBand.

    • FL Studio is Paid and ProprietaryGarageBand is Free and Proprietary
    • FL Studio is LightweightGarageBand is not according to our users
  4. REAPER icon

    REAPER

     252 likes
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    A digital audio workstation, MIDI sequencer and video editing software application created by Cockos. The current version is available for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux.

    83 REAPER alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Default theme
     
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    25
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    MAGIX Music Maker icon
    MAGIX Music Maker

    Create songs, soundtracks, and beats with 1,500+ sounds, 64 audio/MIDI tracks, and a mixing console featuring effects and synths, catering to new and experienced musicians. Industry-standard CD burning and a user-friendly interfa...

    https://www.magix.com
    Learn More
  7. Walk Band icon

    Walk Band

     21 likes
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    Walk Band is a music studio app - a toolkit of virtual musical instruments DAW for music maker.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once or Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    Walk Band screenshot 1
     
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    4
    49
    Comments about Walk Band as an Alternative to GarageBand
    Guest
    Positive
    5

    It's basically just like garageband. You can use a MIDI, you can record tracks, you can use some of their tracks as well.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Because they sound the same

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    thebenmix11
    Positive
    -1

    While it doesn't have all of the functionality of GarageBand, it is the closest equivalent that you can get for android. It has a wide variety of instruments and it allows for loops and MIDI. Very complete.

    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    GarageBand Icon
    Walk Band icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Walk Band is a great GarageBand alternative.

    • Walk Band is Paid and ProprietaryGarageBand is Free and Proprietary
  8. Ableton Live icon

    Ableton Live

     212 likes
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    Music software facilitating idea creation, editing, and performance with Arrangement and Session Views. Enhanced interfaces, improved waveforms, and great EQs provide intuitive and detailed music-making for studio and stage experiences.

    85 Ableton Live alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Ableton Live screenshot 1
     
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    2
    15
    Comments about Ableton Live as an Alternative to GarageBand
    Guest
    Positive
    3

    Ableton is a very versatile and powerful alternative.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    -6

    Use for live performances, not really to write/create a song

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    GarageBand Icon
    Ableton Live icon

    • Most users think Ableton Live is a great GarageBand alternative.

    • Ableton Live is Paid and ProprietaryGarageBand is Free and Proprietary
  10. AudioTool icon

    AudioTool

     79 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.

    76 AudioTool alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    AudioTool screenshot 1
     
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    34
  11. Bitwig Studio icon

    Bitwig Studio

     94 likes
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    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.

    53 Bitwig Studio alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Bitwig Studio screenshot 1
     
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    8
  12. Cakewalk icon

    Cakewalk

     74 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

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Cakewalk screenshot 1
     
  13. Adobe Audition icon

    Adobe Audition

     184 likes
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    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.

    95 Adobe Audition alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

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

    Logic Pro

     120 likes
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    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.

    79 Logic Pro alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPad
    Logic Pro screenshot 1
     
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    1
    6
    Comments about Logic Pro as an Alternative to GarageBand
    tijmen
    Positive
    3

    Essentially the pro version of Garageband

    GarageBand Icon
    Logic Pro icon

    • Most users think Logic Pro is a great GarageBand alternative.

    • Logic Pro is Paid and ProprietaryGarageBand is Free and Proprietary
12 of 103 GarageBand alternatives