Best Digital Audio Workstations in 2026
Updated
In short: n-Track Studio is ranked #1 of 38 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Pro Tools and Tracktion Waveform. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Pro Tools. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Ardour at $1/mo.
A digital audio workstation can bring recording, editing, and music production into one workspace. Compare audio warping and VST3 support, along with the maximum audio and MIDI tracks, to see which capabilities fit your projects. A score editor or video timeline may also matter, depending on how you work. Check supported operating systems and whether there is a free plan; paid-from pricing offers another point of comparison. n-Track Studio, Pro Tools, and Tracktion Waveform are among the names here, alongside GarageBand and LUNA. Weigh the listed track limits and editing features against your platform and budget needs.
38 digital audio workstations ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
12 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | n-Track StudioWindows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 5 of 6 | $5.42/mo | 6.7 | |
| 2 | Pro ToolsWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 3 | Tracktion WaveformWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 4 | Cakewalk NextWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 5 | GarageBandMac · iPhone | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 6 | LUNAWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | $12.42/mo | 6.4 | |
| 7 | ReasonWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 8 | LMMSWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 9 | MAGIX Music MakerWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $59.99/mo | 6.3 | |
| 10 | SoundBridgeWindows · Mac | One bar | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 11 | Cakewalk SonarWindows | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.2 | |
| 12 | SADiEWindows | One bar | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.2 | |
| 13 | ArdourWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $1/mo | 5.5 |
| 14 | SunVoxWindows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 5 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 15 | MuLabWindows · Mac | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | €28/mo | 5.4 |
| 16 | ZrythmWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 17 | OpenMPTWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 18 | RadiumWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 19 | PodiumWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | $50/mo | 5.2 |
| 20 | Bitwig StudioWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $99/mo | 5.1 |
| 21 | QtractorLinux | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 22 | SoundationWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 23 | Ableton LiveWindows · Mac | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | $31.21/mo | 5.0 |
| 24 | Harrison MixbusWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $49.99/mo | 5.0 |
| 25 | Logic ProMac · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | $2.50/mo | 5.0 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which digital audio workstation is ranked first on Freedom251?
n-Track Studio is ranked #1 of 38 with a score of 6.7. Pro Tools is second and Tracktion Waveform third.
How many of these have a free plan?
12 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Ardour has the lowest first paid tier we found: $1/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.