GarageBand Alternatives for Linux

GarageBand is not available for Linux but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Linux with similar functionality. The best Linux alternative is LMMS, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to GarageBand and many of them are available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux alternatives to GarageBand are REAPER, Ardour, Bitwig Studio and Bespoke Synth.

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Most GarageBand alternatives are Digital Audio Workstations, but you can also narrow the list to Music Production Apps or Audio Recorders. Other popular filters are Windows, Android, Linux, Online and Free. You can also filter for EU-based alternatives if you prefer software from the European Union.
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Alternatives
GarageBand alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. LMMS icon
     671 likes

    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.

    101 LMMS alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • Flatpak
    Good alternative?
     
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  2. REAPER icon
     271 likes

    Digital audio workstation for Windows, macOS, and Linux offering multitrack audio and MIDI recording, editing, mixing, mastering, powerful automation, plugin support, scriptable customization, portable installs, frequent updates, and a comprehensive feature set.

    100 REAPER alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • US flagUnited States
    Default theme
    Good alternative?
     
  3. Ardour icon
     247 likes

    Ardour is a hard disk recorder and digital audio workstation application. Record, edit, and mix on Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows.

    101 Ardour alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • US flagUnited States
    Ardour 6
    Good alternative?
     
  4. Bitwig Studio icon
     99 likes

    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.

    65 Bitwig Studio alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Good alternative?
     
  5. Bespoke Synth icon
     34 likes

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

    93 Bespoke Synth alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Good alternative?
     
  6. Carla icon
     42 likes

    Carla is an audio plugin host, with support for many audio drivers and plugin formats. It has some nice features like automation of parameters via MIDI CC (and send output back as MIDI too) and full OSC control.

    48 Carla alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Good alternative?
     
  7. FamiStudio icon
     31 likes

    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.

    37 FamiStudio alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Wine
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • iPhone
    Good alternative?
     
  8. Qtractor icon
     56 likes

    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...

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Good alternative?
     
  9. Studio One icon
     52 likes

    Studio One is an advanced digital audio workstation for Mac and Windows featuring a bevy of powerful composition, editing, mixing and mastering tools on top of standard multi-track DAW features. Highly praised for its intuitive chord track that lets users drag and drop both...

    64 Studio One alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  10. Every track includes real time equalization and dynamics processing to sweeten and fine tune your mix. This is in addition to your six real time track effects, making Fairlight far more powerful than other digital audio workstation software!

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  11. Yadaw  icon
     7 likes

    A lightweight, cross-platform DAW built in Rust with egui, designed for sound design and audio prototyping.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Good alternative?
     
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