15 Alternatives To Pro Tools | Pro Tools is a strong and well used DAW

Pro Tools is a strong and well used DAW (Digital Audio Workbench), but is not the end all #1 music making program. There's many alternatives to Pro Tools, some of which are superior in their own ways. To help you find the perfect match, we've made a list of our favourite alternatives.

1. Soundtrap

Provided by Spotify for $14.00 a month, and a free version is available

If an alternative to Pro Tools is what you're after, Soundtrap, by spotify, is probably what you want to go with.

It's easy to start recording and making music, better yet you can do it all in your browser! The plugins that come with it are killer are highly capable, such as the sequencer! You can collaborate online with other producers or musicians on projects through loopazon and work together on a Soundtrap project simultaneously. 

2. Logic Pro

Provided by Apple for $200 (Compatible with Apple computers only)

Logic Pro is exclusive to Macintosh. Included are very powerful polished tools built for all genres. With the efficient rythym creating features it enables total manipulation of a sample.

3. Ableton Live

Provided by Ableton prices range from $100 to $800 for both Apple computers and PC

Ableton Live is an incredibly powerful altternative. It comes in multiple versions all with theeir own pros and cons. Depending on your needs you might prefer the Suite, Standard, or just the free version.

While the free version's capability is capped, it comes with an impressive 10 Gigabytes of over one thousand audio bits and over 40 effects for guitar, drum, violin, bass, and more. 

Key Feature: Works on both Mac OS and Windows.

4. Acid Pro

Provided by Sony, the price is $150 and is exclusive to the PC

Acid Pro is a very capable Digital Audio Workstation able to make 34 bit professional music. Acid Pro is also proficient in live performance settings, with many features for DJ's. Many professional DJ's use Acid Pro exclusively. For loop making, Acid Pro is really special. It has great support for MIDI patterns and works with plugins.

5. Ardour

Provided by the Ardour community, the price is only one buck (Apple computers only)

Ardour is totally free and open source. In the world of DAW's that's rather rare! For a well deserved donation of one buck you can get it. It's updated constantly and you can have a recurring fee ranging from $5 - $20 a month for auto updates and more. Included is some very capable recording tools along with countless tracks, channels, and material. Not to mention all the VST add ons that are available - the opportunities are endless!

6. Audacity

Provided by the Audacity Team, totally free for all operating systems

Audacity is the most popular open-source DAW on the market today. It is easy to learn and use, includes a multi-track editor/mixer and can record live audio. Some of the files supported by Audacity are WAV, FLAC, MP3, AIFF, and Ogg Vorbis, and sound quality ranges from 16 bits to 32 bits for floating-point samples.

7. Audiotool

Provided completely free via browser

If you're a simple man, like me, perhaps you should give Audiotool a thought. It's free, and open source! As if it couldn't get any better, it does. It works through browser - no download needed! Audiotool has a straitforward efficient layout which enables the user to submit infinite appliances and comes with a "Polyphic Synthesizer", a loop player, and even an automatic beat composer!

8. Adobe Audition CC

Provided by Adobe priced at $20 monthly for all operating systems

Produced by the one and only Adobe, Audition CC is a very capable program that provides an extensive repertoire of powerful tools. It comes part of the 'Adobe Cloud Suite'. Audition CC offers the ability to make, mix, and manipulate samples via the industries best software. The Sound Remover, for example, is worth the price all by itself. If you're a college student they give a good deal, before you buy you should let them know you are in college.

9. Cubase (Steinberg Tech.)

Provided by Steinberg Media Technologies, Price's range from $100 to $589, compatible with Apple computers and PC

Cubase has been around for a long time and it continues to be an incredibly popular Digital Audio Workstation. You can get it in 3 versions, Artists, Elements, and Full.

With Elements you can achieve a lot adjusting the basic parameters it comes with. If you take music making more seriously, the Artists version is definitly worth getting. The Artists version includes a vast array of more features, improved efficiency, and a ton more sound bits and effects.

With the Cubase Full version, you get the cherry on top. Some extra sounds and a few plugins that are very nice. If you do this for a living it's a worthwhile investment for sure.

10. FL Studio (Fruity Loops)

Provided by Image-Line with pricing ranging from $100 to $900

Fl Studio, referred to as Fruity Loops by many, is one of the most popular Digital Audio Workstations available. It was envisioned initially as a video game, but fast forward and it's credited with countless loops and became the most popular music producing softwares in existence. There's a number of versions with FL Studio, the standard version for $200 is all you need. It's packed with amazing plugins and some of the best sound packs. 

Can't say enough about FL Studio, it really is the pinnacle of DAW software.

There is a free version available, while severely limited compared to paid version, it is still powerful and capable in its own right.

11. Frinika

Open source and completely free, works for all operating systems

Frinika is a open source completely free DAW. It works on all operating systems as it works via the browser. One can make great music with the real time effects, synths, and more. The straightforward nature of Frinika stands out. It's not incredibly in depth, but it makes up for it with its simple intuitive design.

12. GarageBand

Provided by Apple exclusive to Apple devices, priced at $15 exclusively on the App store

GarageBand, exclusive to Apple devices, is one of the first digital DAWs. While many talk down on GarageBand, it is very powerful and is credited with a long list of hits in the early 2000's. It boasts an impressive sound library with powerful instrument features. The range of instruments is much more extensive then almost all other DAWs, for this reason it is still relevent and used by many to this day.

GarageBand's been around for a long time, and has stayed around because of the constant updates to features, sounds, and effects. It is highly adaptable and can work with just about any MIDI controller.

13. Mixcraft 9

Provided by Acoustica, priced at $150 for PC only

Mixcraft is a simple and easy to use Digital Audio Workstation that isn't priced too outrageously. This program enables the recording of sounds whilst inputting effects, and sounds.

Moreso it includes multitudes of top tier audio samples and even tools for manipulating videos.

14. Reaper DAW

Provided by Cockos Incorporated, prices range from $60 to $220, available for all operating systems

The Reaper Digital Audio Workstation only has a single version. The price ranges from $60 for individual use to $220 for those using it in a commercial setting (ex. your selling beats). This is professional software used in many studios and has a lengthy learning curve.

15. Reason

Provided by PropellorHead Software, prices range from $100 to $600, compatible with all operating systems

Made my PropellorHead, Reason is a perfect tool for music makers of all genres. It's offered in 3 versions, you can get the Suite for $600, the Essential for $100, and the Full for $400. 

Reason 11 comes with numerous synths, loop tools, and instruments, not to mention all the VST's you can download.