Cakewalk AlternativesTop Music Production Apps & Digital Audio Workstations like Cakewalk

Cakewalk is described as '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' and is a popular music production app in the audio & music category. There are more than 100 alternatives to Cakewalk for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPad apps. The best Cakewalk alternative is Audacity, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Cakewalk are LMMS, Tenacity, REAPER and FL Studio.

filter to find the best alternatives

Cakewalk alternatives are mainly Music Production Apps, but if you're looking for Digital Audio Workstations or Audio Editors you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Linux, Android, iPad, Mac and Free. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Cakewalk.
More about Cakewalk
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
Cakewalk alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Audacity icon

    Audacity

     2357 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Audacity, a free open-source multi-track editor, enables high-quality audio processing across platforms. Supports diverse formats, plugins, and scripting languages, offering robust features like batching, visual tools, and accessibility.

    125 Audacity alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • AppImageHub
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    Editing Audio
     
    |
    3
    12
    Comments about Audacity as an Alternative to Cakewalk
    Guest
    Negative
    7

    audacity is sound editor, sonar is daw

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    1

    It's not a DAW, but an audio editor

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    sedeti
    Negative
    0

    Audacity is just 'audio editor

    Cakewalk Icon
    Audacity icon

    • Some users think Audacity is a great Cakewalk alternative, some don't.

    • Audacity is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Cakewalk.

    • Audacity is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Cakewalk.

    • Audacity is Free and Open SourceCakewalk is Free Personal and Proprietary
    • Audacity is LightweightCakewalk is not according to our users
  2. LMMS icon

    LMMS

     632 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • Flatpak
    LMMS screenshot 1
     
    |
    2
    9
    Comments about LMMS as an Alternative to Cakewalk
    sedeti
    Negative
    -1

    Miles behind from cakewalk

    Guest
    Negative
    -1

    A long way away from Sonor

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Cakewalk Icon
    LMMS icon

    • Some users think LMMS is a great Cakewalk alternative, some don't.

    • LMMS is Free and Open SourceCakewalk is Free Personal and Proprietary
    • LMMS is Privacy focused and LightweightCakewalk is not according to our users
  4. Tenacity icon

    Tenacity

     108 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Tenacity is an easy-to-use, privacy-friendly, FLOSS, cross-platform multi-track audio editor/recorder for Windows, macOS, Linux and other operating systems.

    87 Tenacity alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • FreeBSD
    • Haiku
    Dark mode
     
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    Soundop icon
    Soundop

    Soundop is a Windows-based audio editing software with features for recording, editing, mastering, and mixing audio. It offers waveform and spectral editing, and supports unlimited audio and bus tracks.

    https://ivosight.com
    Learn More
  6. REAPER icon

    REAPER

     252 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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
     
    |
    1
    15
    Comments about REAPER as an Alternative to Cakewalk
    anakin777
    Positive
    0

    I don't know much about Cakewalk but reaper can be compared to professional DAW like Logic, Cubase or ProTools by its large amount of powerful functionalities : Audio multitrack recording, processing, looping, rewiring, MIDI handling, 32bits and 64bit VST support, interface customization etc. The only drawback I found is the limited MIDI creation, particularly with the quantization and step-by-step event recording

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Cakewalk Icon
    REAPER icon

    • Most users think REAPER is a great Cakewalk alternative.

    • REAPER is the most popular commercial alternative to Cakewalk.

    • REAPER is Paid and ProprietaryCakewalk is Free Personal and Proprietary
    • REAPER is LightweightCakewalk is not according to our users
  7. FL Studio icon

    FL Studio

     494 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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
     
    |
    7

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

    • FL Studio is the most popular Web-based, Android, iPhone, iPad & Android Tablet alternative to Cakewalk.

    • FL Studio is Paid and ProprietaryCakewalk is Free Personal and Proprietary
    • FL Studio is LightweightCakewalk is not according to our users
  10. Ocenaudio icon

    Ocenaudio

     141 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Ocenaudio is a cross-platform, easy to use, fast and functional audio editor. It is the ideal software for people who need to edit and analyze audio files without complications. ocenaudio also has powerful features that will please more advanced users.

    46 Ocenaudio alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Ocenaudio version 3.7.19 running on Windows with an audio file open.
     
    |
    1
    Comments about Ocenaudio as an Alternative to Cakewalk
    sedeti
    Negative
    1

    Oceanaudio is just an audio editor

    Cakewalk Icon
    Ocenaudio icon
    • Ocenaudio is Free and ProprietaryCakewalk is Free Personal and Proprietary
    • Ocenaudio is LightweightCakewalk is not according to our users
  11. Ableton Live icon

    Ableton Live

     212 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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
     
  12. GarageBand icon

    GarageBand

     268 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Experience a rich music creation suite on Mac and iOS with comprehensive sound libraries, virtual session drummers, and user-friendly tools suitable for beginners and pros. Create, edit, and share your music effortlessly through a seamless Apple integration.

    103 GarageBand alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    iPad Version: Tracks
     
    |
    1
    Comments about GarageBand as an Alternative to Cakewalk
    anakin777
    Positive
    0

    A very intuitive/straghtforward tool for music creation, with both MIDI and audio. Supports Virtual instruments and extensions (with Apple format)

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Cakewalk Icon
    GarageBand icon

    • Some users think GarageBand is a great Cakewalk alternative, some don't.

    • GarageBand is Free and ProprietaryCakewalk is Free Personal and Proprietary
  14. Adobe Audition icon

    Adobe Audition

     184 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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
     
  15. Logic Pro icon

    Logic Pro

     120 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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
     
    |
    1
    Comments about Logic Pro as an Alternative to Cakewalk
    anakin777
    Positive
    0

    Logic was my first DAW. Lots of thing has changes since the Atari version but it's still powerful, professional, unlimited

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Cakewalk Icon
    Logic Pro icon

    • Most users think Logic Pro is a great Cakewalk alternative.

    • Logic Pro is Paid and ProprietaryCakewalk is Free Personal and Proprietary
12 of 115 Cakewalk alternatives