Cakewalk AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Digital Audio Workstations

The best Digital Audio Workstation alternative to Cakewalk is LMMS, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Cakewalk and loads of them are Digital Audio Workstations so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Digital Audio Workstation alternatives to Cakewalk are REAPER, FL Studio, Ardour and Ableton Live.

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Cakewalk alternatives are mainly Digital Audio Workstations, but if you're looking for Music Production Apps or Audio Editors you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Android, Linux, iPad, Mac and Free. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Cakewalk.
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Alternatives list

  1. LMMS icon

    LMMS

     633 likes

    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

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    • Flatpak
    LMMS screenshot 1
     
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    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.
    LMMS 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
  2. REAPER icon

    REAPER

     254 likes

    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

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Default theme
     
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    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.
    REAPER icon
    REAPER icon

    • Most users think REAPER is a great Cakewalk alternative.

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

    FL Studio

     494 likes

    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

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad
    FL Studio screenshot 1
     
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    7
  5. Ad
    Screenshot
    FL Studio icon
    FL Studio

    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 vide...

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    Learn More
  6. Ardour icon

    Ardour

     240 likes

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

    92 Ardour alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Ardour 6
     
  7. Ableton Live icon

    Ableton Live

     212 likes

    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

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Ableton Live screenshot 1
     
  8. GarageBand icon

    GarageBand

     268 likes

    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 type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    iPad Version: Tracks
     
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    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.
    GarageBand 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
  10. Bitwig Studio icon

    Bitwig Studio

     94 likes

    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.

    53 Bitwig Studio alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Bitwig Studio screenshot 1
     
  11. Logic Pro icon

    Logic Pro

     120 likes

    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

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPad
    Logic Pro screenshot 1
     
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    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.
    Logic Pro 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. Zrythm icon

    Zrythm

     35 likes

    Zrythm is a digital audio workstation designed to be featureful and easy to use.

    93 Zrythm alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Zrythm screenshot 1
     
  14. Cubase icon

    Cubase

     86 likes

    Definitive desktop DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) for professional mixing, mastering, music production and sound design.

    77 Cubase alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Cubase screenshot 1
     
  15. Qtractor icon

    Qtractor

     52 likes

    Qtractor is an Audio/MIDI multi-track sequencer application written in C++ with the Qt framework. Target platform is GNU/Linux, where the Jack Audio Connection Kit (JACK) for audio, and the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA) for MIDI, are the main infrastructures for...

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Qtractor screenshot 1
     
12 of 62 Cakewalk alternatives