GarageBand Alternatives for Mac

There are many alternatives to GarageBand for Mac if you are looking for a replacement. The best Mac alternative is FL Studio. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try LMMS or Bespoke Synth. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to GarageBand and many of them are available for Mac so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Mac alternatives to GarageBand are REAPER, Ardour, Ableton Live and Bitwig Studio.

filter to find the best alternatives

GarageBand alternatives are mainly Music Production Apps, but if you're looking for Digital Audio Workstations or Audio Recorders you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Windows, Android, Online, Linux, Open Source, Mac + Free and Free. 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. 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 or Subscription
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad
    FL Studio screenshot 1
     
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    83
    Comments about FL Studio as an Alternative to GarageBand
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    it is intuitive and allows to use the basic necessary options without much restriction

    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, Windows, Android & Mac 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
  2. LMMS icon

    LMMS

     632 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

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • Flatpak
    LMMS screenshot 1
     
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    115
    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
    Positive
    0

    It allows you to have a lot of fun and configurations even starting without any knowledge

    Show more comments
    3 of 9 comments
    GarageBand Icon
    LMMS icon

    • Most users think LMMS is a great GarageBand alternative.

    • LMMS is the most popular 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
  4. REAPER icon

    REAPER

     254 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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  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    FL Studio icon
    FL Studio

    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 vide...

    https://www.image-line.com
    Learn More
  7. 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
  8. 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
  10. 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
     
  11. 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
  14. Carla icon

    Carla

     36 likes
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    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.

    44 Carla alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Carla screenshot 1
     
12 of 42 GarageBand alternatives