Side by side

Csound vs Pure Data

Both stand on sound design software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

Csound

Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+5

Csound combines a large programming environment with browser use and interfaces for several development environments. Users should note that frontends are maintained separately and that platform trust warnings may appear.

Visit Csound

Pure Data

Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+4

Pure Data offers a free, patch-based environment for real-time media work across three desktop systems. Users should check package architecture availability and Deken compatibility when choosing external libraries.

Visit Pure Data

The facts

	Csound	Pure Data
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Yes	Yes
Runs on	Android, API, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows	Android, API, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows
Lowest paid plan	Free or on request	Free or on request
Plans published	1	2
Maker	Not published	Not published
Website	csound.com	puredata.info
On sound design software	#1 of 32	#2 of 32

Csound: what it does well

More than 1,500 opcodes.
Supports traditional and functional syntax.
Browser use is available without installing Csound.
Interfaces include JavaScript, Python, and Unity.
Free and available across desktop, mobile, and web.

What to know first

Frontends are developed by their own teams.
The download page identifies iOS SDK and beta installers, not a general iOS release.
Apple or Windows may warn that Csound is not trusted.

Pure Data: what it does well

Free software runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Supports real-time audio and graphical media processing.
Deken can install external libraries.
Can control hardware and electronics.

What to know first

Some Deken packages are limited to specific architectures.
Deken is mainly targeted at Pd vanilla.
No paid tiers or usage limits are stated.

Alternatives to Csound Alternatives to Pure Data The whole list