GarageBand Alternatives for Windows

GarageBand is not available for Windows but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Windows with similar functionality. The best Windows 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 loads of them are available for Windows so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Windows 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 Audio Editors or Digital Audio Workstations you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Mac + 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.
GarageBand iconGarageBand
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Full-featured music studio offering sound library, virtual drummers, and instrument presets available on Mac and iOS. Ideal for all skill levels.

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GarageBand alternatives page was last updated Feb 26, 2025
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Alternatives
  1. FL Studio icon

    FL Studio

     482 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.

    93 FL Studio alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • BE flagBelgium
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad
    FL Studio screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for VST Plugins
    2.  Audio Recording
    3.  Digital Audio Workstation
    4.  Voice Recording
    5.  Piano Roll
    6.  Synth rack
    7.  MIDI Keyboard Input
    8.  Visualize Music
    9.  Drum matrix editing
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  Live Performance
    12.  Noise Reduction

    FL Studio VS GarageBand

     
    Comments about FL Studio as an Alternative to GarageBand
    Guest
    Positive •Oct 27, 2015
    1

    This is exactly what I've been looking for. The perfect site with just what I need

    GarageBand Icon
    FL Studio icon

    • Most users think FL Studio is a great GarageBand alternative.

    • FL Studio is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & iPhone 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

     605 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

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    LMMS screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Support for VST Plugins
    2.  Digital Audio Workstation
    3.  Piano Roll
    4.  Export to MP3
    5.  Export to MIDI
    6.  MIDI Keyboard Input
    7.  Portable
    8.  Audio Recording
    9.  Music Sequencer
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  Support for MIDI
    12.  No registration required

    LMMS VS GarageBand

     
    Comments about LMMS as an Alternative to GarageBand
    Top Positive Comment
    TheBeast
    Jan 20, 2017
    13

    More of a learning curve but a great program if you can take the time to learn it.

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    Jan 15, 2016
    19

    Incredibly more complex, not recommended for beginners

    Most Recent Comment
    Guest
    Negative •Jan 15, 2025
    0

    it's for electronic music production, not music recording

    Show more comments
    3 of 8 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
  4. REAPER icon

    REAPER

     244 likes
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    REAPER (Rapid Environment for Audio Production, Engineering, and Recording) is a digital audio workstation, MIDI sequencer and video editing software application created by Cockos. The current version is available for Microsoft Windows (XP and newer), macOS (10.5 and newer), and Linux.

    85 REAPER alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Default theme

    Properties

    1.  Customizable
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Audio Recording
    2.  Digital Audio Workstation
    3.  Support for VST Plugins
    4.  Support for scripting
    5.  MultiTrack
    6.  Support for MIDI
    7.  Extensive customisability
    8.  Portable
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Spectral editing
    11.  Multi Channel
    12.  Lossless Audio

    REAPER VS GarageBand

     
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    Adobe Audition icon
    Adobe Audition

    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 recor...

    https://www.adobe.com
    Learn More
  6. Ardour icon

    Ardour

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

    89 Ardour alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Ardour 6

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Multitrack editing
    2.  Audio Recording
    3.  Mix Music
    4.  Digital Audio Workstation
    5.  Non Destructive Editing
    6.  Support for VST Plugins
    7.  Music Sequencer
    8.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    9.  Lossless Audio
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  Ad-free
    12.  Virtual Instrument

    Ardour VS GarageBand

     
  7. Ableton Live icon

    Ableton Live

     203 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.

    83 Ableton Live alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Ableton Live screenshot 1

    Top Ableton Live Features

    1.  Digital Audio Workstation
    2.  Live Performance
    3.  Support for VST Plugins
    4.  Virtual Instrument
    5.  Audio Recording
    6.  Music Sequencer
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  Support for MIDI
    12.  Batch Editing

    Ableton Live VS GarageBand

     
    Comments about Ableton Live as an Alternative to GarageBand
    Guest
    Positive •Mar 18, 2018
    3

    Ableton is a very versatile and powerful alternative.

    Guest
    Negative •Jul 19, 2017
    -6

    Use for live performances, not really to write/create a song

    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

     89 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.

    49 Bitwig Studio alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Bitwig Studio screenshot 1

    Top Bitwig Studio Features

    1.  Live Performance
    2.  Modular System
    3.  Multiplatform
    4.  Digital Audio Workstation
    5.  Grid layout
    6.  Support for VST Plugins
    7.  Piano Roll
    8.  Music Sequencer
    9.  Support for MIDI
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  Music Looper
    12.  Support for scripting

    Bitwig Studio VS GarageBand

     
  10. Cakewalk icon

    Cakewalk

     68 likes
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    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...

    113 Cakewalk alternatives

    License model

    • Free Personal • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • SG flagSingapore

    Platforms

    • Windows
    Cakewalk screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Support for VST Plugins
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Support for MIDI
    4.  Multitrack editing
    5.  Step Sequencer
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Virtual Instrument
    9.  Music Looper
    10.  Lossless Audio
    11.  Music Sequencer
    12.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions

    Cakewalk VS GarageBand

     
  11. Adobe Audition icon

    Adobe Audition

     181 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

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Adobe Audition screenshot 1

    Top Adobe Audition Features

    1.  Spectral editing
    2.  Waveform Seekbar
    3.  Audio restoration
    4.  MultiTrack
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  Support for VST Plugins
    7.  Virtual Instrument
    8.  Music Looper
    9.  Lossless Audio
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  Ad-free
    12.  Multiple metering standards

    Adobe Audition VS GarageBand

     
  12. Bespoke Synth icon

    Bespoke Synth

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

    75 Bespoke Synth alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Bespoke Synth screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Modular connections
    2.  Synthesizer
    3.  Virtual Instrument
    4.  Node Based
    5.  Music Looper
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Music Sequencer
    8.  Support for MIDI
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  Music Recording
    12.  Mix Music

    Bespoke Synth VS GarageBand

     
9 of 56 GarageBand alternatives