20 Best FREE DAW Software for Windows & Mac in 2021

Alyssa WalkerByAlyssa Walker Hours Updated

DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) is an application or electronic device used for recording, editing, and producing audio. These tools provide real time preview with different sound effects. Free music making software allows working with MIDI files with a wide range of music effects and high-resolution themes.

Following is a handpicked list of Top Free DAW Software, with their popular features and website links. The list contains both open source (free) and commercial (paid) software.

BEST Free Digital Audio Station (DAW ) Software

Name Tracks Record Tracks Playback Supported Platforms Link
Adobe Audition One or more tracks for recording. Unlimited Windows and Mac. Learn More
Pro Tools First Unlimited Unlimited macOS, Windows, Android, and iOS Learn More
Soundop Unlimited Unlimited Windows 10, 8, 7. Learn More

1) Adobe Audition

Adobe Audition is one of the best DAW software that includes waveform and multi-track display to create, mix, edit, and restore audio content. This workstation is designed to accelerate video production workflows and audio.

Features:

  • The audio break can be repaired with perfection.
  • You can record, edit, and integrate music clips with ease.
  • It allows you to mix audio content for the podcast.
  • The essential sound panel has been integrated with the program to get the best oomph effect to the audio.
  • This platform can be used to create podcasts.
  • The music clips can be integrated within the audio recording to make it sound professional.
  • This music recording software can import and export multiple audio formats.
  • Supported Platforms: Windows and Mac.

2) Pro Tools First

Avid Pro Tools First is DAW software that offers a wide variety of sound editing toolset. It enables you to manipulate audio and MIDI tracks. This free DAW app supports drag and drops features.

Features:

  • The program includes more than 23 plugins.
  • It is one of the best free DAW software for beginners that supports effects like solo and mute.
  • This application allows you to edit MIDI files.
  • It offers cloud collaboration.
  • Nondestructive editing (make changes to audio without overwriting the original file) is possible.

3) Soundop

Soundop is a professional audio editor software that offers a seamless audio production workflow. It helps you to edit metadata across formats. IThis program also offers support for multitrack recording and mixing.

Features:

  • ASIO and WASAPI devices support
  • Offers high DPI display support
  • Burning audio tracks to CD
  • Support for waveform and spectral Editing
  • Batch processing audio files

4) Audacity

Audacity is one of the best open source DAW (Digital Audio Workstation software). It uses a multi-track editor that helps you to edit any sound easily. This app enables you to import or export various files like MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC, and more.

Features:

  • Supported sound qualities are: 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit.
  • Editing is easy using the cut, copy, paste, and delete facility.
  • Provides real-time preview that shows sound effects.
  • It can be fully manipulated using a keyboard.
  • You can visualize the selected frequency.
  • This application supports numerous plugins.

Link:https://www.audacityteam.org/

5) Reason

Reason is a virtual studio rack that enables you to craft sounds for your music. It offers numerous effects, instruments, and Synthesizers, and more. This application supports all major file formats, including WAVE, AIFF, mp3, and more.

Features:

  • Supports (Virtual Studio Technology) VST plugin.
  • Offers unlimited audio recording and instrument channels.
  • High-quality real time audio transpose facility.
  • The full version of this application provides pitch editing to vocal recordings.
  • You can export channels, including tempo track and effects.

6) Waveform

Waveform is one of the best free DAW tools that allows unlimited audio and MIDI tracks to make professional songs. It enables you to generate patterns and detailed automation.

Features:

  • It is one of the best free music making software which enables you to apply effects to individual audio clips.
  • Supports VST (Virtual Studio Technology) plugin.
  • This free DAW for Windows allows you to record band and podcast music.
  • You can play a virtual drum.

Link:https://www.tracktion.com/products/waveform-free

7) SoundBridge

SoundBridge is a free digital audio workstation that allows you to edit songs with other musicians. This application offers complete third-party driver support.

Features:

  • Allows you to edit audio with ease.
  • Enables you to collaborate with other people.
  • This is one of the best DAW software that has a touch interface.
  • Offers high-resolution themes.
  • Provides a wide range of freeware effects.
  • This free music making software allows MIDI mapping.

Link:https://soundbridge.io/

8) Reaper

Reaper is one of the best free DAW software for Windows that can be run from a network drive. It offers many plugins for adding effects and virtual instruments. This free digital audio workstation supports 64-bit internal audio processing.

Features:

  • You can record needed audio in any format.
  • Drag and drop files to import, arrange, and render.
  • You can easily move, split, resize, and loop any audio.
  • It is one of the best free DAW software that supports more than 64 routable channels.
  • You can apply effects in real-time.
  • This free DAW software helps you to customize colors, toolbars, layouts, and icons the way you like.
  • The tempo can be managed without any hassle.

Link:https://www.reaper.fm/

9) Zenbeats

Zenbeats is one of the best DAW software that offers virtual instruments like electro guitar, synth, organ, bass, and more. This app can be easily used for electronic music production.

Features:

  • Offers a touch-based interface.
  • It provides more than 90 built-in MFX effects.
  • Covers a wide of instruments, including acoustic, electronic, and ethnic.
  • Allows you to loop sound.
  • Enables you to integrate with Google Drive and OneDrive.

Link:https://www.roland.com/us/products/zenbeats/

10) Garageband

Garageband is one of the best free DAW software for Mac that provides a sound library that includes guitar, drum, and many more. It enables you to share the track via social network or email.

Features:

  • It offers an easy and fast way to create and share music.
  • You can make professional sound without any instruments.
  • This free music production software enables you to create a virtual session of a drummer.
  • This free digital audio workstation has built-in learning lessons.
  • You can save the track as a ringtone.
  • Garageband allows you to create and mix more than 255 audio tracks.

Link:https://www.apple.com/in/mac/garageband/

11) Podium Free

Podium Free is a tool that helps you to mix and edit MIDI audio files. It is one of the best free DAWs that allows you to work on multiple projects with ease. This app enables you to add sound effects to audio files or change sample rate, channel, pitch bend, and more.

Features:

  • It allows you to build your own plugin.
  • Offers a customizable user interface.
  • You will get a VST (Virtual Studio Technology).
  • Provides multi-channel audio.
  • This is one of the best DAW software that can be used for commercial purposes.
  • You can use it without installation.

Link:https://zynewave.com/podium-free/

12) VCV Rack

VCV Rack is a modular synthesizer that helps you to perform various audio processes. It enables you to connect multiple modules to synthesize sound.

Features:

  • It is open source.
  • Offers numerous plugins.
  • Provides virtual 3D rooms with virtual speakers and microphones.
  • You can easily switch between input signals.
  • Work with stereo parametric equalizer.
  • This tool enables you to edit scales with up to 24 tones.
  • It allows you to expand a single pitch into 4 notes cord.

Link:https://vcvrack.com/

13) Cakewalk by Bandlab

Cakewalk by Bandlab is one of the best free DAW software for Windows that enables you to work with unlimited MIDI and audio tracks. It enables you to quickly add drum sound to your music. This free digital audio workstation allows you to mix sounds with clarity.

Features:

  • You can publish your songs directly to Facebook, SoundCloud, YouTube, and more.
  • It allows you to polish your finished mixes.
  • This free DAW software enables you to easily compose songs and performances with creative songwriting tools.
  • Provides studio-quality effects.

Link:https://www.bandlab.com/products/cakewalk

14) Ableton Live

Ableton Live is a DAW software that enables you to record and edit music with less effort. It allows you to add instruments and sound effects you require to start songs.

Features:

  • Offers a wide range of sound effects, including echo and bass.
  • It allows you to pitch shift and sequence melodies and delays.
  • This is one of the best recording software that supports multiple MIDI editing.
  • Create and arrange music with ease.

Link:https://www.ableton.com/en/products/live-lite/

15) Ardour

Ardour is one of the best free DAW programs for Linux that lets you record, edit, and mix audio with ease. This digital audio workstation enables you to plug in a microphone or keyboard. It allows you to import MIDI from your computer.

Features:

  • You can cut, move, stretch, and copy-paste audio.
  • This is one of the best free DAW software that supports drag and drop functionality.
  • You can add a solo, fade, and mute effects.
  • Compose sound using MIDI.
  • Ardour enables you to perform multitrack recording as well as editing.
  • This free DAW Supports many plugins.

Link:https://ardour.org/

16) Soundtrap

Soundtrap is one of the best DAW software that enables you to quickly create a song. This application offers an extensive collection of loops, beats, and instruments. It allows you to record and edit songs on any device.

Features:

  • Enables you to collaborate with others.
  • You can create professional sounds.
  • Offers more than 4000 high-quality beats.
  • It enables you to connect your microphone, guitar, or any other instruments.
  • You can modify your voice with ease.

17) PreSonus Studio One

PreSonus Studio One is a software that provides various sound editing tools, unlimited tracks, and virtual instruments. It helps you to manage the speed of the music track. This application helps you to reduce the repeated task of creating music.

Features:

  • It provides printable notations.
  • The file can be saved in AAF (Advanced Authoring Format).
  • It offers keyboard shortcuts for ease of convenience.
  • You can build a combination and sequence of keystrokes
  • PreSonus studio one application allows you to edit music harmony.

Link: https://shop.presonus.com/Studio-One-5-Professional

18) LMMS

LMMS is a software that helps you to produce music with your PC. It enables you to create melodies and beats with ease. This is a user-friendly application which offers a typing or MIDI keyboard.

Features:

  • Supports numerous effect plugins and instruments.
  • Offers track-based automation.
  • Allows you to sequence, compose, and mix song.
  • Offer piano editor to fine-tune patterns, notes, and chords.
  • Enables you to import MIDI files.

Link:https://lmms.io/

19) MPC Beats

MPC Beats is one of the best free DAW for Windows that helps you to record MIDI notes. It allows you to cut and edit the music in fewer efforts. This application enables you to search and select sound quickly.

Features:

  • You can remix songs.
  • Offers templates like dance, trap, pop, and more.
  • Provides Plug and play compatibility with the USB controller.
  • This is one of the best recording software that has built-in virtual instrument plugins.
  • You can make sounding beats.

Link:https://www.akaipro.com/mpc-beats

20) Audiotool

The audio tool is software that helps you to produce music online. It has a library of 250,000 samples. You can route, split, and merge various outputs.

Features:

  • You can load the MIDI file into this software.
  • This free online DAW software enables you to invite others to your project.
  • Provide shortcuts for fast operations
  • Track with notes in your MIDI file.

Link:https://www.audiotool.com/

21) Cherry Audio Voltage Modular Nucleus

Cherry Audio Voltage Modular Nucleus is a tool that enables you to use unlimited cables per jack. It offers custom module categories that allow you to find terms with ease.

Features:

  • Offers more than 551 presets.
  • This simple and easy to use tool comes with 15+ audio electro drums.
  • It has a clean virtual modular interface.

Link:https://cherryaudio.com/free

22) Logic Pro X

Logic Pro is a tool that can turn your Mac PC into a professional recording studio. The software offers DJ style effects and transactions for tracks. It enables you to mix your music collection with ease.

Features:

  • You can control live loops from iPhone or iPad.
  • It allows you to quickly build drumbeats, melodic parts, bass lines, and more.
  • You can play varieties of onscreen instruments like guitars, drum pads, and keyboards.
  • Logic Pro allows you to create audio tracks with more than 1000 software tracks.
  • This browser DAW software helps you to record, edit, and manipulate MIDI performance.

Link: https://www.apple.com/in/logic-pro/

23) Rosegarden

Rosegarden is one of the best DAW software that enables you to add MIDI and recordings with ease. It allows you to quickly mix music together. This free music making software is available in German, Spanish, Russian, Welsh, Italian, Swedish, Japanese, and more languages.

Features:

  • Supports unlimited tracks.
  • It is one of the best free DAW software for beginners, which has rich music notation editing capabilities.
  • Supports more than 100 MIDI devices.
  • This DAW software has a large database of real-world instruments.
  • It supports DSSI (Disposable Soft Synth Interface).

Link:https://www.rosegardenmusic.com/getting/

24) FL Studio

FL Studio is a music production environment that helps you compose, edit, arrange, record, and mix music. It enables you to quickly create sound patterns and sequencing. You can use this application to add harmonies and melodies to production.

Features:

  • It includes more than 80 plugins.
  • Users can resize the user interface.
  • FL Studio provides support for MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface).
  • Record live moments and make changes to it.
  • Users can receive free updates.
  • This one of the best free DAW software for Windows enables you to render 4K videos.

Buying Guide

❓ What is DAW Software?

DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) is an application or electronic device used for recording, editing, and producing audio. These tools provide real time preview with different sound effects. Free music making software allows working with MIDI files with a wide range of music effects and high-resolution themes.

🚀 How to choose the best DAW Software?

It is difficult to choose the best DAW software as they all have their pros and cons. It is good that you search the DAW software that fits your current situation and your need.

Here are the important things that help you to choose the best DAW software:

  • Your budget: If you have to simply cut or edit music and do not require any advanced features, then consider using an online digital audio workstation or free software. For professional needs, you must purchase powerful software that makes your work easy.
  • Operating system and hardware of your computer: It is useless if your DAW software is not compatible with your current OS and hardware of your computer. Therefore, it is good that you check the compatibility before choosing the right DAW program.
  • Your goal: This is important to choose DAW software. You need to check the features based on your objective of using it.

⭐ What are the applications of DAW Software?

Here are the important applications of DAW software:

  • Record and manage the music: DOW applications are the right choice for the people who want to record album with a live instrument and a virtual orchestra.
  • Reverb: Reverb is important for any music producer. It can liven up the dead recording and help you to play vocal sounds in a natural way.
  • Use Autotune: Autotune is generally used in every major pop song. It is used for fixing up the pitch of vocal and altering the sound of the person.
  • Digital or MIDI keyboard: DAW software comes with a digital or MIDI keyboard that is used to construct the layers of the song with great attention.
  • Remix songs: DAW software is good for mixing multiple songs together. It helps you to make your own DJ like music with no hassle.
  • Perform live set: DAW programs helps you to perform a live set. You can easily use these applications to set up backing tracks to play vocals and piano you like.
  • Practice instrument: DAW applications enable you to learn a new instrument. You can use this software to record yourself playing a keyboard and gives motivation by visible progression.
  • Become a mixing engineer: Mixing is the process of combining multiple songs together. The main goal of DAW software is to arrange the instrument volume withing song and avoid clashes between tracks.

🔒 What are the advantages of DAW Software?

Here are the pros/cons of DAW software:

  • High-quality real-time audio transpose facility.
  • The DAW software has a large database of real-world instruments.
  • The essential sound panel is integrated with the program to get the best oomph effect to the audio.
  • The music clips can be integrated within the audio recording to make it sound professional.
  • DAW software can import and export multiple audio formats.
  • You can play varieties of on-screen instruments like guitars, drum pads, and keyboards.

✅ How to use DAW Software?

Here is a step by step process on how to use DAW software:

  • Step 1) Download any DAW software you like from the above-given list
  • Step 2) Install the DAW software on your system
  • Step 3) Once installed, open the DAW software on your computer
  • Step 4) Go to File>New or press Ctrl+N to create a new project
  • Step 5) Now go to File>Import>Audio to add any audio file to your project
  • Step 6) Apply any effect on the audio using given tools within the DAW software
  • Step 7) Now, go to File>Save or press Ctrl+S to save your project to open and work in future

💻 Which are the Best DAW Software?

Following are some of the best DAW software:

  • Adobe Audition
  • Avid Pro Tools First
  • Audacity
  • Reaper
  • Garageband
  • Logic Pro X
  • FL Studio

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