GarageBand Alternatives for Mac

There are many alternatives to GarageBand for Mac if you are looking for a replacement. The best Mac 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 loads of them are available for Mac so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Mac alternatives to GarageBand are FL Studio, REAPER, Ardour and Ableton Live.

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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, Online, Android, Linux and Open Source. 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
     673 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.

    106 LMMS alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2009

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Good alternative?
     
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    9
  2. FL Studio icon
     508 likes

    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.

    114 FL Studio alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2009

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    Good alternative?
     
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    2
  3. REAPER icon
     274 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.

    104 REAPER alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2009

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • US flagUnited States
    Default theme
    Good alternative?
     
  4. 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.

    105 Ardour alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2009

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • US flagUnited States
    Ardour 6
    Good alternative?
     
  5. Ableton Live icon
     226 likes

    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.

    106 Ableton Live alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2009

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    Good alternative?
     
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    2
  6. SoundCraft icon
     18 likes

    Recording, editing and mixing audio; an open-source, clean-room reimplementation of Avid Pro Tools, rebuilt in pure Rust.

    52 SoundCraft alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • New

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Flatpak
    • AppImage
    Good alternative?
     
  7. Bitwig Studio icon
     100 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.

    68 Bitwig Studio alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2014

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Good alternative?
     
  8. 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.

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2021

    Alerts

    • Discontinued

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Good alternative?
     
  9. Logic Pro icon
     128 likes

    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.

    96 Logic Pro alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2009

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPad
    Good alternative?
     
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    1
  10. Adobe Audition icon
     189 likes

    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.

    109 Adobe Audition alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2009

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    Good alternative?
     
  11. Cubase icon
     94 likes

    Definitive desktop DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) for professional mixing, mastering, music production and sound design.

    90 Cubase alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2009

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    Good alternative?
     
12 of 51 GarageBand alternatives