We reviewed the best free music-making software to find out which apps will help you create the most professional music production process completely for free.
For most people, Waveform Free is easily the best pick around. After trying out this app, we found a super-capable digital audio workstation (DAW) that's ideal for crafting professional-grade audio.
Top free alternatives include the excellent Apple Garageband and the beginner-friendly but surprisingly well-rounded SyndtSphere. You can check out our full thoughts below on these and more.
These free music-maker apps differ from the best audio editors, the best free audio editors, and the best Adobe Audition alternatives we've tested, and come loaded with tools specifically designed for laying down tracks and streamlining the creation process.
Best free music-making software overall
Waveform Free is the best free music-making software overall, in part because it's based on Traction’s paid-for version, Waveform Pro. It’s available for Mac, PC, Linux and Raspberry Pi machines.
Waveform Free offers unlimited tracks and no restrictions on use. What separates it from the Pro version are additional features, including more instruments, effects and workflow tools, however the core engine remains the same between the two versions.
The interface allows you to scale every section. You can adjust it to suit your workflow, and the bottom panel changes to display whichever parameters you've selected elsewhere on the screen. Waveform Free features an unlimited number of audio and MIDI tracks, all depending on your hardware capabilities of course. It's also able to host multiple plugin formats including VST and Audio Units.
If you’re interested in checking it out (and frankly, why wouldn’t you), be aware that you must register with Tracktion and set up an account with them first. Don’t worry, it’s all free and easy, but if you don't like sharing your email with companies, that will be an issue.
Best free music-making software for Mac
Apple GarageBand is easily the best free music-making software for Mac users. It’s powerful enough that, were it available outside the Apple ecosphere, it would take the number one slot.
Apple’s long-standing digital audio workstation has come a long way since we first saw it in 2004. Although it still lacks a couple of key features (such as MIDI export and the ability to control external hardware via MIDI), GarageBand offers more than enough to get you going.
Apple has done a very good job at creating the perfect gateway into free music production, while offering a clear path towards Apple's fully-functional, pro-level audio editor, Logic Pro. We found the interface, which apes Logic’s, really helped GarageBand ease the transition to Apple's premium audio tool - when you're ready for it.
Shared features include Drummer, a seriously easy to use groove-maker that includes multiple genres styles, easy controls and a ton of pattern and fill variations. You’re also treated to content from the Apple Loops sound library.
Although limited to 255 tracks per song, GarageBand is immensely powerful and easy to use, making it the best free software for music creation on Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
Read our full Apple GarageBand review
Best free music-making software for guitarists
IK Multimedia’s AmpliTube Custom Shop (also known as AmpliTube CS), is a cut-down version of the premium AmpliTube. It offers the best free software to make music if you're a guitarist. After all, this is a fully functional guitar rig modelling app for Windows and Macs.
The free version includes 24 models, including a digital chromatic tuner, nine stompboxes, four amps, five cabs, three mics and two rack effects.
There’s plenty to keep any guitarist happy when recording directly into their laptop. Not least the fact IK Multimedia has secured official guitar amp models from such giants as Fender, Ampeg, Orange, Mesa Boogie, and many more.
We found AmpliTube's tones to be authentic, with an impressive level of customization available. This even includes a choice of microphone and mic placement.
The Custom Shop feature is a nice addition, offering gaming-style add-ons to expand your collection of amp models, stompboxes and cab sims. However, at this stage, the music-making software stops being free - although there is a 'try before you buy' preview to soften the blow. And in any case, you don't really need these extra features to use the software to its fullest.
Best free music-making software suite
Cakewalk may be a familiar name to veteran music producers. It was one of the first ever digital audio workstations, but its owner Gibson halted development. Luckily, cloud music creation platform BandLab snapped it up and has made it available to everyone.
Cakewalk comes in two flavours: Sonar, is the rebranded original which has a free section and is only available to Windows users, while Next is a new multiplatform app, with a more modern and intuitive interface.
Cakewalk is a complete music mixing package. It features everything you need to make music for free, with creative song-writing tools and instruments, advanced mixing and mastering tools, unlimited MIDI and audio tracks for your own recordings, and a full suite of editing tools.
That makes it the ideal music-maker app for professional producers, songwriters, and composers looking for advanced tools. The interface is especially clean and zippy and modern. With a little time spent using the software, laying down tracks becomes second nature.
Once you've crafted your musical masterpiece, you can save your project to your computer, as well as publishing it directly to SoundCloud. The only downside we could find is that you must create a free account with BandLab, and make sure you register your software through it, as many features will be unavailable until you do.
Best free music-making software for beginners
SyndtSphere is a creative take on free music production software for Mac, Windows and iOS. A beginner-friendly, polyphonic synthesizer tool that lets musicians 'surf' between presets, and as such, it's just a bit different to what most are used to.
As one of the best free music-making software tools around, SyndtSphere comes loaded with over 70 presets. The big fun here is the way you can morph between sounds using a nifty sphere-like object at the centre of the music-maker app. It's like a spider-web of musical creation as you connect and move beats to produce sounds as unique as SyndtSphere itself. But then, developer Klevgrand has certainly carved a name for itself with a slew of fine-sounding instruments featuring some rather esoteric interfaces.
Despite the unfamiliar look and feel, the audio tool is incredibly accessible. In fact, we'd say it's probably one of the best free music-making software for beginners. Seasoned music producers needn't be put off by its beginner-friendly feel: SyndtSphere has an impressive array of sounds lurking within. The unique morphing function allows for some rock-solid sound design, and you may find yourself enjoying playing around with it a little too much.
Best free music making software: FAQs
Which music app is best for me?
When deciding which music-making software is best for you, you’ll want to focus on three core areas: use, platform, and skill-level.
Use
All of the best free music-making software in our review round-up will help you achieve professional audio results. However, your mileage will vary depending on what music you’re producing and how you’ll use that music. For example, AmpliTube Custom Shop is entirely centred around guitarists, while SyndtSphere is for synth creations.
Platform
Most of the top apps for making music are available on Windows and Mac - although GarageBand is an Apple-only product. On the other hand, that means you can use a version of it on your iPad. Android music-making apps from the best developers are less popular.
Skill
Before selecting software for making music, assess your current skill level. More advanced tools like Cakewalk Next won’t ease you into music creation and production as gently as a program like GarageBand or Waveform Free. Professional artists and composers looking for fully featured beat-making software, meanwhile, should consider long-term needs. In other words, how quickly will you outgrow the tool?
Most importantly, choose the best free music-making software based on your own creative flow. Pick the tool that matches your unique workflow.
Are there any free music making apps for my tablet?
The fact GarageBand is only available for Macs is a great disservice to this impressive piece of software. However on the flip side, it means there’s an excellent version of it for your iPad or iPhone, should you need a truly portable music making experience.
SyndtSphere is also available for iOS (for either an iPhone or iPad), the only downside is, it’s not free, although you can try it for 14 days to check it’s right for you before handing over your hard earned cash.
Regretfully, Android music-making apps from the best developers are less popular.
Which free music-making app is best for a beginner?
Before selecting software for making music, assess your current skill level. More advanced tools like Cakewalk won’t ease you into music creation and production as gently as programs like GarageBand or Waveform Free will.
Professional artists and composers looking for full-featured beat-making software, should consider long-term needs. In other words, how quickly will you outgrow the tool?
Most importantly, choose the best free music-making software based on your own creative flow. Since all the ones in this list are free, we’d advise you to download them all in order to find the one that best matches your unique workflow.
How we test the best free music making software
Our team of expert reviewers have a long history of testing audio production tools, from software to hardware like the best laptop for music production and best audio PCs.
We evaluate the best free music-making software against the same criteria that matters to our readers: audience, performance, features, extras, and the overall experience of using the app.
Not every free DAW is designed to help produce multi-million dollar albums. We test how well the software meets the needs of its intended users. So, a product for beginners should be easy to navigate and use; an industry-grade program needs to offer tools appropriate for pros.
Performance is paramount in musical production, and the top software for making music should produce results that match what you had in your head (and what you laid down in the software).
Related to that is the user experience. Navigating the app needs to be intuitive, seamless - with even advanced tools like Cakewalk delivering an experience that’s accessible to everyone - even if it takes time to learn how to master the software.
Finally, we make sure that free means free. No hidden costs, credit card details, or secret subscriptions. Where a music-making app offers optional fees, we expect these to be clearly sign-posted for the user.
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