The best free DAW depends on your computer. On a Mac, start with GarageBand. On Windows or Linux, Tracktion’s Waveform Free is the most complete free option, and LMMS is good for making beats. If you only want to record and edit audio, Audacity is free on every system. BandLab runs on your phone and in a web browser, so it works on almost anything.
Not sure what a DAW is? Read what is a DAW first.
Everything below comes from each maker’s own website or app store listing, linked in each section.
Free DAWs compared
| Software | Runs on | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| GarageBand | Mac, iPhone, iPad | Beginners on Apple devices |
| Waveform Free | Windows, Mac, Linux | A full free DAW on any computer |
| BandLab | Web browser, iPhone, Android | Starting without installing anything |
| LMMS | Windows, Mac, Linux | Making beats with patterns and a piano roll |
| Audacity | Windows, Mac, Linux | Recording and editing audio, podcasts |
GarageBand (Mac, iPhone, iPad)
GarageBand is listed as free on the Mac App Store. The current version needs macOS 15.6 or later. It records audio, has virtual instruments and drummers, and shares projects between Mac, iPhone and iPad through iCloud. There is no Windows version (see GarageBand for Windows for what to use instead).
When you outgrow it, the step up is Logic Pro, which is $199.99 on the Mac according to Apple.
Waveform Free by Tracktion (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Tracktion calls Waveform Free a “completely unlimited free DAW”. It runs on 64-bit Windows 10 and 11, macOS 13 or later, and Linux. It does multitrack recording and loads third-party VST, VST3 and AU plugins, which many free DAWs do not. Some extra features, such as the clip launcher and MIDI Producer, are paid add-ons starting at $30.
Pick it if you are on Windows and want something that works like a paid DAW without paying.
BandLab (browser and phone)
BandLab is a free app on the App Store and Android, and it also runs in a web browser. Projects are saved online, so you can start an idea on your phone and finish it on a laptop. It is the quickest way to try making music, because there is nothing to install.
The trade-off is that browser and phone apps have fewer tracks and effects than desktop DAWs, and you need an internet connection to work on saved projects.
LMMS (Windows, Mac, Linux)
LMMS describes itself as a “100% free, open source, community-driven project” and runs on Linux, Windows and macOS. It is built around a pattern editor and piano roll, much like FL Studio, so it suits electronic music and beat making. It is less suited to recording vocals or a band.
Audacity (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Audacity is a free, open source “audio editor and recorder” for Windows, macOS and Linux. It is good for recording a vocal, cutting a podcast or cleaning up a sample. It is not a full DAW: there are no virtual instruments or beat-making tools, so pair it with one of the options above if you want to make songs.
Free trials of paid DAWs
Two paid DAWs are worth knowing about if you are comparing free options:
- REAPER gives you 60 days of evaluation with full features, then asks for a $60 personal licence (reaper.fm).
- FL Studio has a free trial, but trial projects cannot be reopened after you close the program until you buy an edition. Full details are in our FL Studio price guide.
Older lists often recommend Cakewalk by BandLab. BandLab has since discontinued that free version and replaced it with a new Cakewalk Sonar, so check the current terms before you download it.
Which free DAW should you use?
- You have a Mac: GarageBand.
- You have a Windows PC and want a full DAW: Waveform Free.
- You mostly make beats: LMMS, or BandLab if you want to start on your phone.
- You only record and edit audio: Audacity.
- You have a Chromebook or a school laptop where you cannot install software: BandLab in the browser.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a completely free DAW?
Yes. GarageBand, Waveform Free, LMMS, Audacity and BandLab all cost nothing to download and keep using. GarageBand only runs on Apple devices.
What is the best free DAW for Windows?
Waveform Free by Tracktion is the most complete free DAW on Windows: it records audio, has no stated track limit and loads VST plugins. LMMS is a good second choice for beat making.
Can you make professional music with a free DAW?
Yes. A free DAW records, edits and mixes the same audio a paid one does. Paid DAWs mostly add more instruments, effects and editing shortcuts, which save time as your projects grow.
Is Audacity a DAW?
Audacity calls itself an audio editor and recorder. It handles recording and editing well, but it does not have the virtual instruments and beat tools that DAWs like GarageBand or LMMS include.
Whichever you pick, our free tools work alongside it: set your project tempo with the BPM Tapper, keep time with the online metronome and find the chords for your song in the chord library.
