GarageBand Alternatives

GarageBand is described as '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' 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, BSD and Android apps. The best GarageBand alternative is Audacity, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like GarageBand are LMMS, FL Studio, Reaper and Ardour.

GarageBand 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 GarageBand.

GarageBand alternatives page was last updated

GarageBand

252

Free • Proprietary
Music Production App

Welcome to the school of rock. A Mac-sized practice space. Your own recording studio. If you want to learn to play an...

More about GarageBand

Audacity
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Audio Editor
Audio Recorder
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
PortableApps.com
LAME
133 Audacity alternatives
Audacity is free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. You can use Audacity to record live audio, convert tapes and records, edit sound files, change the speed or pitch of a recording and much more.
- - Audacity is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to GarageBand.
- - Audacity is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to GarageBand.
Suggest and vote on features
Audacity Features
1. Ad-freeAudacity doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
2. PortableAudacity can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
3. LightweightAudacity consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
4. Support for VST PluginsAudacity support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
5. Works OfflineAudacity can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
6. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Audacity without registration.
7. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsAudacity can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
8. Lossless AudioAudacity has lossless audio support, basically studio quality sound.
9. No TrackingAudacity will not track you or use your personal data.
Multitrack editing
Mix Music
Remove Noise
Track editing
Noise Reduction
Music Recording
Support for Android Things
Record to tape
Pitch Correction
FSA tracking
Comments about Audacity as a Alternative to GarageBand
Some users think Audacity is a great GarageBand alternative, some don't.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
Guest
Can record and add tracks but little beyond that
Top positive comment•
6

Guest
It's free and easy to use, but doesn't have sample music like FL, good if you are making acoustic music. Not too good for remix or altering acoustic sounds.
Top positive comment•
1

Guest
Audacity is more specifically for music editing rather than creation
Top negative comment•
14

MacGuini
As much as I love using Audacity. This is nothing like Garage Band. This is a completely different type of software. Garage Band creates sound. Audacity edits it.
Negative comment•
0

NevanNedall
I don't feel Audacity's purpose matches what people are looking for from a program like Garage Band.
Negative comment•
0

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5 of 12 comments
LMMS
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Music Production App
Digital Audio Workstation
Audio Recorder
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
PortableApps.com
Haiku
88 LMMS alternatives
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...
Suggest and vote on features
LMMS Features
1. Support for VST PluginsLMMS support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
2. PortableLMMS can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
3. Music SequencerRecord, edit, or play back music with LMMS, by handling note and performance information.
4. DRM FreeNo Digital rights management (DRM), i.e. no copy protection.
Export to MP3
Piano Roll
Export to MIDI
MIDI Keyboard Input
Customizable
Royalty-free music
Lossless quality
Image exporting
Free API
Beat bassline
Comments about LMMS as a Alternative to GarageBand
Most users think LMMS is a great GarageBand alternative.
all • positive • negative relevance • date
Guest
It does not lag when there’s a ton of sounds playing
Top positive comment•
3

TheBeast
More of a learning curve but a great program if you can take the time to learn it.
Top positive comment•
13

Guest
not as user friendly as garageband
Top negative comment•
12

MacGuini
It's the closest to Garage Band for Linux. But it's also far from being comparable. LMMS may be powerful, but it doesn't have the ease of use that Garage Band has. It's professional quality. Which is why this is a horrible alternative to Garage Band.
Negative comment•
-1

Guest
The GUI seems to try to mimic GarageBand but fails to replicate the ease of usage for those unfamiliar with LMMS.
Negative comment•
1

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5 of 7 comments
FL Studio
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Music Production App
Digital Audio Workstation
Audio Editor
Mac
Windows
Android
iPhone
Android Tablet
HUAWEI AppGallery
iPad
90 FL Studio alternatives
FL Studio (originally known as FruityLoops) is a full-featured Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) offering a complete range of professional tools for everything from audio editing and beat creation to advanced arrangement, composition, mixing and mastering.
- - FL Studio is the most popular Android, iPhone, iPad & Android Tablet alternative to GarageBand.
- - FL Studio is the most popular commercial alternative to GarageBand.
Suggest and vote on features
FL Studio Features
1. Support for VST PluginsFL Studio support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
2. Live PerformanceListen to and adjust your music productions with FL Studio based on incoming audio in real time.
3. LightweightFL Studio consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
4. Works OfflineFL Studio can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
Voice Recording
Piano Roll
Synth rack
MIDI Keyboard Input
Beat slicer
Visualize Music
MultiTouch
Context-aware help
FFMPEG support
Great Opus codec support
Comments about FL Studio as a Alternative to GarageBand
Most users think FL Studio is a great GarageBand alternative.
Guest
This is exactly what I've been looking for. The perfect site with just what I need
Positive comment•
1
Reaper
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Digital Audio Workstation
Music Production App
Audio Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
80 Reaper alternatives
REAPER is a complete digital audio production application for Windows, Mac and Linux, offering a full multi-track audio and MIDI recording, editing, processing, mixing and mastering tool set.
Suggest and vote on features
Reaper Features
1. Support for VST PluginsReaper support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
2. Support for scriptingReaper supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
3. Support for MIDIReaper includes MIDI hardware and software support to record and import audio.
4. PortableReaper can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
5. Ad-freeReaper doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
6. Dark ModeReaper supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
Customizable
MultiTrack
Extensive customisability
Spectral editing
Convert audio to MIDI
Multi Channel
Patch Management
Built-in routing
Pitch shift engine
Piano Roll
Opinions about Reaper as a Alternative to GarageBand
Most users think Reaper is a great GarageBand alternative.
Ardour
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Open Source
Music Production App
Digital Audio Workstation
Audio Recorder
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
86 Ardour alternatives
Ardour is a hard disk recorder and digital audio workstation application. It runs on GNU/Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows. Ardour's intention is to provide digital audio workstation software suitable for professional use.
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Ardour Features
1. Non Destructive EditingArdour can make changes to a file without overwriting the original data, which remains available in case you want to revert to it.
2. Support for VST PluginsArdour support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
3. Music SequencerRecord, edit, or play back music with Ardour, by handling note and performance information.
4. Music LooperArdour supports a grid of musical loops and phrases that you can trigger and manipulate in real time.
5. Lossless AudioArdour has lossless audio support, basically studio quality sound.
6. Ad-freeArdour doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
7. Works OfflineArdour can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
8. Virtual InstrumentArdour uses mainy virtual instruments (piano, guitar, drums, bass, etc.).
9. Extensible by Plugins/ExtensionsArdour can be extended with add-ons, plugins and extensions.
Multitrack editing
Mix Music
Live Performance
Support for MIDI
Opinions about Ardour as a Alternative to GarageBand
Most users think Ardour is a great GarageBand alternative.
Ableton Live
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Music Production App
Digital Audio Workstation
Audio Editor
Mac
Windows
80 Ableton Live alternatives
Live is software for creating musical ideas, turning them into finished songs, and even taking them onto the stage.
Suggest and vote on features
Ableton Live Features
1. Live PerformanceListen to and adjust your music productions with Ableton Live based on incoming audio in real time.
2. Virtual InstrumentAbleton Live uses mainy virtual instruments (piano, guitar, drums, bass, etc.).
3. Support for VST PluginsAbleton Live support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
4. Music SequencerRecord, edit, or play back music with Ableton Live, by handling note and performance information.
5. Works OfflineAbleton Live can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
6. Batch EditingAbleton Live allows you to select multiple items (tasks, files, images etc) and edit their properties all at once.
Mix Music
MIDI Keyboard Input
Music Recording
Pitch Shifting
Drag and Drop
Piano Roll
Comments about Ableton Live as a Alternative to GarageBand
Most users think Ableton Live is a great GarageBand alternative.
Guest
Ableton is a very versatile and powerful alternative.
Positive comment•
3

Guest
Use for live performances, not really to write/create a song
Negative comment•
-6
Walk Band
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Proprietary
Music Production App
Digital Audio Workstation
Android
17 Walk Band alternatives
Walk Band is a music studio (a toolkit of virtual musical instruments) customized for Android. It contains tons of features including Piano, Guitar, Drum Kit,Drum Machine, Bass, Multi-tracks synthesizer etc. All instruments use the realistic instrument sounds.
Suggest and vote on features
Walk Band Features
1. Virtual InstrumentWalk Band uses mainy virtual instruments (piano, guitar, drums, bass, etc.).
Drum matrix editing
Stickers
Piano Roll
Performance Monitoring
Comments about Walk Band as a Alternative to GarageBand
Almost everyone thinks Walk Band is a great GarageBand alternative.
Guest
It's basically just like garageband. You can use a MIDI, you can record tracks, you can use some of their tracks as well.
Positive comment•
5

thebenmix11
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.
Positive comment•
-1

MacGuini
This is the closest alternative to GarageBand I have found.
Positive comment•
0

Guest
Because they sound the same
Positive comment•
1
Adobe Audition
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Audio Editor
Music Production App
Digital Audio Workstation
Mac
Windows
95 Adobe Audition alternatives
Adobe Audition is an audio editing and post-production suite.
Suggest and vote on features
Adobe Audition Features
1. Support for VST PluginsAdobe Audition support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
Spectral editing
Multiple metering standards
Waveform Seekbar
Audio restoration
MultiTrack
Multiple window layouts
M/S metering
Rack Effects
Effect automation controls
Sidechain compression
Bitwig Studio
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Digital Audio Workstation
Music Production App
Audio Editor
Mac
Windows
Linux
40 Bitwig Studio alternatives
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.
Suggest and vote on features
Bitwig Studio Features
1. Live PerformanceListen to and adjust your music productions with Bitwig Studio based on incoming audio in real time.
2. Support for VST PluginsBitwig Studio support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
3. Support for MIDIBitwig Studio includes MIDI hardware and software support to record and import audio.
4. Support for scriptingBitwig Studio supports scripts and macros to automate or customize tasks.
Grid layout
Modular System
Multiplatform
Piano Roll
Mix Music
Music Recording
Opinions about Bitwig Studio as a Alternative to GarageBand
Most users think Bitwig Studio is a great GarageBand alternative.
Logic Pro
Is this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Music Production App
Digital Audio Workstation
Audio Editor
Mac
iPad
79 Logic Pro alternatives
Logic Pro lets you translate musical inspiration into professional productions. A range of powerful, easy-to-use features puts sophisticated tools at your fingertips, and complete surround support lets you make incredible, immersive music.
Suggest and vote on features
Logic Pro Features
1. Music SequencerRecord, edit, or play back music with Logic Pro, by handling note and performance information.
2. Support for MIDILogic Pro includes MIDI hardware and software support to record and import audio.
3. Support for VST PluginsLogic Pro support third-party Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins.
Synthesizer
Piano Roll
Mix Music
Music Recording
Record Tracks
Loop Library
Comments about Logic Pro as a Alternative to GarageBand
Most users think Logic Pro is a great GarageBand alternative.
tijmen
Essentially the pro version of Garageband
Positive comment•
3