GarageBand Alternatives for Windows

Alternatives to GarageBand for Windows with any license

LMMS

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 samples. You can have fun with your MIDI-keyboard and much more; all in a user-friendly and modern interface.
- Incredibly more complex, not recommended for beginners Guest • Jan 2016 • 21 agrees and 6 disagrees
- More of a learning curve but a great program if you can take the time to learn it. TheBeast • Jan 2017 • 12 agrees and 2 disagrees
- Free, has many features, and is easy to get started with. As a plus: it runs on nearly every platform. Guest • Jul 2018
- The GUI seems to try to mimic GarageBand but fails to replicate the ease of usage for those unfamiliar with LMMS. Guest • Dec 2018
Free Open Source Mac Windows Linux BSD PortableApps.com
Support for VST plugins Support for Android Things DRM Free Free API ... Google Drive integration Lossless quality MIDI keyboard input Mix Music Music composer Performance Monitoring Picture sharing Plugin API Portable Royalty-free music Sample packs Sync with Simplenote Add a feature

384 Like
FL Studio

FL Studio (formerly known as FruityLoops) is a digital audio workstation developed by the Belgian company Image-Line. FL Studio features a graphical user interface based on a pattern-based music sequencer. The program is available in three different editions for Microsoft Windows, including Fruity Edition, Producer Edition, and the Signature Bundle. Image-Line offers lifetime free updates to the program, which means customers receive all future updates of the software for free.
- This is exactly what I've been looking for. The perfect site with just what I need Guest • Oct 2015 • 5 agrees and 3 disagrees
Commercial $ $ $ Mac Windows Android iPhone Android Tablet
Support for VST plugins Audio recording Drum matrix editing Live recording ... Mix Music Music composer Non linear editor Works Offline Piano Roll Track everything Add a feature

329 Like
Ardour

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. NOTE: Ardour source code is freely available but pre-built binaries are commercial free-libre software: users who download from ardour.

Freemium $ $ $ Open Source Mac Windows Linux
Audio editing Multitrack editing Mix Music Non destructive editing ... Support for VST plugins Add a feature

154 Like
Ableton Live

Live is software for creating musical ideas, turning them into finished songs, and even taking them onto the stage. With two views - the classic Arrangement View, where musical ideas are laid out along a timeline, and the unique Session View, where you can improvise and quickly experiment with musical ideas - Live is a fast, fun, intuitive way to make music. What's new: The latest version of Live comes with everything from workflow enhancements to audio improvements.
- Ableton is a very versatile and powerful alternative. Guest • Mar 2018 • 0 agrees and 1 disagrees
- Use for live performances, not really to write/create a song Guest • Jul 2017 • 0 agrees and 3 disagrees
Commercial $ $ $ Mac Windows
Batch Editing Drag n drop MIDI keyboard input Mix Music ... Music composer Pitch Shifting Virtual instrument Support for VST plugins Add a feature

131 Like
Reaper

REAPER is a complete digital audio production application for Windows and OS X, offering a full multitrack audio and MIDI recording, editing, processing, mixing and mastering toolset. REAPER supports a vast range of hardware, digital formats and plugins, and can be comprehensively extended, scripted and modified. Feature Highlights ----------------------- *Efficient, fast to load, and tightly coded. Can be installed and run from a portable or network drive.

Commercial $ $ $ Mac Windows
Customizable Support for VST plugins Audio editing Supports for MIDI ... Multi Channel Mix Music Music composer Portable Tracker (via plugin) Add a feature

133 Like
Adobe Audition

Adobe Audition software delivers the professional tools you need to make your video and audio productions sound their best. Handle a wide range of audio production tasks efficiently, including recording, mixing, and sound restoration.

Commercial Mac Windows
Audio editing Audio restoration Effect automation controls M/S metering ... Multiple metering standards Multiple window layouts Music composer Non-destructive effect inserts Sidechain compression Task level chat Support for VST plugins Add a feature

146 Like
Cubase

Cubase is a computer program for music production/recording. The program offers recording, producing and mixing of sounds in order to make music production for distribution on CDs or the internet. Cubase is a series of MIDI, music sequencer and digital audio editing computer applications (commonly known as a DAW - Digital Audio Workstation).

Commercial Mac Windows
Audio editing Mix Music Music composer Voice Recording ... Support for VST plugins Add a feature

65 Like
Bitwig Studio

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.

Commercial Mac Windows Linux
Mix Music Music composer Scripting Support for VST plugins Add a feature

52 Like
Reason

Reason is a virtual studio rack with all the tools and instruments you need to turn your ideas into music. And it's more than just a set of excellent synths and effects. It's a complete music system. Step into the age of Reason. Reason comes with synthesizers, samplers, drum machine, REX file loop player, professional mastering tools, mixer, vocoder, world class effects, pattern sequencer and more. As many of each as your computer can handle.

Commercial Mac Windows
DRM Free Virtual instrument Beat maker Built-in Sequencer ... Mix Music Music composer Synth rack Add a feature

97 Like
Sound Forge

Sound Forge Pro software efficiently and reliably provides audio editors and producers complete control over all aspects of audio editing and mastering. Whether in the studio or field, it's the ultimate all-in-one production suite for professional audio recording and mastering, sound design, audio restoration, and Red Book CD creation.

Commercial $ $ $ Mac Windows
Audio editing Music composer Add a feature

73 Like
Tracktion

Tracktion is a multi-platform software for music production, with a modern graphic user interface.

Freemium Mac Windows Linux
Audio editing Audio recording Modular System Mix Music ... Music composer Support for VST plugins Add a feature

29 Like
Studio One

Artists of all levels, from beginner to seasoned professional, will find Studio One a serious alternative to the intimidating, bloated offerings currently considered the standards. It's a groundbreaking music creation and production application for Mac OS X and Windows XP/Vista/7 that makes audio recording, MIDI sequencing, and audio mastering ridiculously simple right out of the box.

Commercial Mac Windows
Audio editing Drag n drop Audio recording MIDI Clips ... MIDI keyboard input Mix Music Music composer Support for VST plugins Add a feature

29 Like
Looplabs

Looplabs is a collaborative cloud based music studio that lets anyone, regardless of skills or ability, easily make professional quality music anywhere, anytime and with anyone. For Free. Stocked with tens of thousands of royalty-free sounds to use.

Free Mac Windows Linux Web Chrome OS
Beat maker Music composer Real time collaboration SNMP Trap Support Add a feature

11 Like
Cakewalk

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 editor to a sophisticated score composer.

Freemium Windows
Support for VST plugins Ad-free Customizable Multitrack editing ... Mix Music Music composer Works Offline Add a feature

28 Like
WaveShop

WaveShop is a free, open-source audio editor for Windows XP/Vista/7. WaveShop is fast, lightweight, and bit-perfect, meaning samples aren't altered unless they need to be. Editing a portion of an audio file only affects that portion; the rest of the file is untouched. Blocks of audio can be cut and pasted without changing their contents at all. This is especially useful for patching a finished master without corrupting its dither.
- Discontinued The program is no longer updated. Last version, 1.0.14, released in November 2013, can be still downloaded from the official website.
Free Open Source Windows PortableApps.com
Audio editing Audio recording Mix Music Music composer ... Portable Add a feature

19 Like
energyXT

Create music now With energyXT you will be creating tracks faster than with any other music application out there.

Commercial Mac Windows Linux iPhone iPad
Audio recording Supports for MIDI Mix Music Music composer ... Tabbed interface Support for VST plugins Add a feature

12 Like
Avid Pro Tools

Working with audio files and creating music at a professional level is definitely a job that requires specialized tools as well as a high degree of knowledge in the domain. Among the most powerful utilities that can be utilized for this you will find Pro Tools M-Powered.

Commercial $ $ $ Mac Windows
Audio editing Audio recording Mix Music Music composer ... Virtual instrument Support for VST plugins Add a feature

39 Like
Soundtrap

Make music online by recording vocals, guitars and using loops. Invite friends to collaborate. free and no download is required. Works on Mac, Windows, iPad, Android tablets and phones, Linux and Chromebooks.

Freemium Mac Windows Linux Web Android ... iPhone Chrome OS Windows S iPad Chrome
Audio editing Audio recording Automatic Looping Music composer ... Web-Based Add a feature

4 Like
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Magix ACID Pro

ACID Pro software is a DAW powerhouse that combines full multitrack recording and mixing, MIDI sequencing, and legendary ACID looping functionality for a seamless music-creation and post-production environment. More creative partner than production tool, ACID Pro software inspires you like nothing else. With its Transparent Technology design, ACID Pro software removes typical barriers to the creative workflow so you can effortlessly transform ideas into real results.

Commercial Windows
Mix Music Music composer Add a feature

41 Like
Anvil Studio

Anvil Studio is a free Windows 7/Vista/XP/2000/98 program designed for people who want to: -- record music with MIDI and Audio equipment, -- compose music for MIDI and Audio equipment, -- sequence music with MIDI equipment, or -- play with music using a computer and sound card.

Free Windows
No features added Add a feature

12 Like
Mixcraft

Mixcraft is a recording studio with effects, featuring Reverb, Delay/Echo, EQ, Compression, Flanger and Chorus, as well as resonant filters and a powerful loop editor. The high performance 32 bit sound engine supports broadcast quality WAV files and will even import compressed MP3, OGG & WMA files. Use it to record your own music, your band or even a remix for a dance recital. Mixcraft is arguably the closest thing Windows users have to GarageBand for Mac OS X.
- It has many of the same features and actually MORE of other features. But really, buy a Mac. Guest • Jun 2015 • 1 agrees and 1 disagrees
- Mixcraft is a great little studio Guest • Jan 2016
Commercial Windows
Multiple languages Mix Music Music composer Support for VST plugins Add a feature

30 Like
Harrison Mixbus

A full-featured Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) by Harrison with mixing that mimics the properties of an analogue mixer. Harrison consoles are world-renowned and they have put their expertise into improving and extending Ardour, an open-source, high quality DAW.
- Easy to get started with, but infinitely powerful. Guest • Nov 2016
Commercial Mac Windows Linux
Audio editing Audio recording Mix Music Support for VST plugins Add a feature

12 Like
Cross DJ

Mix, scratch, sample, record: rock great parties with top-DJ features. Turn your mobile device into a complete DJ system. Mix your tracks in perfect sync, scratch, add effects, loops and more. Automix your songs for non-stop music. Record your set and share it on SoundCloud. Music lovers, mix at your next party and impress your friends. Pro DJs, Cross DJ uses the same engine as Pioneer’s rekordbox. It’s like having 2 CDJs in your pocket.
- Does not let you sequence audio files Guest • Jun 2015
Freemium Mac Windows Android iPhone Android Tablet ... iPad
BPM Detection Mix Music Add a feature

20 Like
MuLab

MuLab is a rich and rock solid sound and music production tool for Mac OSX and Windows, designed to create, record, edit and finalize Your Music!

Freemium Mac Windows
Audio editing Audio recording Modular System Mix Music ... Music composer Portable Support for VST plugins Add a feature

20 Like