Best music software for Mac

Features: While GarageBand’s nature as a pack-in may dissuade you from considering it as a professional audio suite, we’d recommend giving it a try. Not only has Apple’s free option grown into an excellent DAW, it’s got a surprising amount of depth and utility, allowing for up to 256 tracks.

It also offers a sound library featuring a huge variety of software instruments and pre-made packs from the likes of Mark Ronson, as well as iOS and iPadOS companion apps that add to the ways you can create.

Ease of use: All of Garageband’s features are readily accessible from the get-go, and you can find even more if you dig just beneath the surface.

There’s even a suite of music lessons, both for guitar and piano, and artist lessons that feature the likes of Rush and Fall Out Boy that’ll have you playing (and recording) megahits in no time.

Mixing, however, remains a weak spot, with no traditional mixing console view that can make setting levels a little slower than you’d find in the likes of Logic.

Supported formats: AIFF, CAF, WAV, AAC (except protected AAC files), Apple Lossless, MIDI and MP3. 64-bit.

Supported third-party plugins: Audio Units.

Supported third-party hardware: Core-Audio devices and MIDI controllers.

Notation feature: Yes.

Read more: GarageBand for iPad & iPhone review

Features: Logic is Apple’s premiere music creation tool, and for good reason. It offers a huge number of pro features that you won’t find in GarageBand, including components like Live Loops and a Step Sequencer.

It can hold one thousand tracks per project, too, meaning if your Mac has the memory, the sky really is the limit. For those with cinematic aspirations, the move to Apple Silicon has meant that users can create dynamic Spatial Audio mixes within Logic, even on a laptop like the new MacBook Pros.

Whichever Mac you’re using, you’ll gain access to Flex Pitch for tweaking pitch, Smart Tempo for keeping your software instruments in lock step with each other, and Sampler can turn your MIDI keyboard into, well, a fully-fledged sampler.

The Step Sequencer is likely the most ‘fun’ way to create music in Logic, though, letting users turn pre-programmed beats and sounds on and off with a click, and the “old school” Piano Roll functionality is rolled into it, too. It’s a breath of fresh air for long-time users

Ease of use: GarageBand and Logic share a very similar, elegant layout, so if you like the way the free version works then you’ll be right at home with its bigger brother. Some of the advanced features are initially hidden, but it only takes a couple of clicks to get them up and running.

Owners of the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar will find Touch Bar support welcome, bringing the ability to control various aspects of editing as well as using it to play certain virtual instruments, but now that the Touch Bar has effectively been discontinued by Apple it’s going to be a feature only users of older Mac laptops can enjoy.

The real draw now is Apple Silicon support. If you’re using a Mac with an M1 chip, you’ll find performance is slicker than ever before, plus you’ll have access to the Spatial Audio mixing we mentioned earlier. You’ll also find you can edit more before needing to reach a charging point, too.

Logic is one of the friendliest powerhouses around, and you can also use an iPad as an additional control surface via the Logic Remote app. Plus, Apple offers the option for iPad and iPhone users to upload Logic files to iCloud and then add to them when they’re out and about via the iOS version of GarageBand.

Supported formats: AAF, OMF, Open TL, and XML (Final Cut Pro) projects. Plus AIFF, WAV (BMF), CAF, SDII, ReWire, MP3, MP4 and MIDI output options.

Supported third-party plugins: Yes, although they need to be 64-bit.

Supported third-party hardware: Core-Audio devices are compatible, as are MIDI controllers and various control surfaces.

Notation feature: Yes.

Read more: Logic Pro vs GarageBand.

Features: It’s been all change for Reason users since we last put together this list, and the cheaper, more GarageBand-adjacent Reason 11 Intro has been put out to pasture.

In its place stands two purchasing options, each targeting different crowds. Reason 12, the full-fat, more Logic-style DAW builds on the excellent version 11 with a crisper look that’s ideal for larger screens, and brings the long-running application into the 21st century visuals-wise – even in the third-party extensions.

There’s also a new Mimic sampler, while there’s also a new Combinator that lets users create even more patches than ever before.

The other side of the coin is, as you may expect in 2022, a subscription service called Reason+. Not only does the £19.99/$19.99 per month service give users unlimited access to Reason 12, but it’s also full of additional goodies like new sound libraries.

That can, however, make it feel like you need both to get the total package, depending on what you’re using it for.

Ease of use: As with Reason 11, Reason 12 requires a fair amount of practice and tweaking. In truth, you’ll get a lot more wrong than you do right, at least in the early stages but it’s fun to learn.

Reason also maintains a dedicated community, too, but we’d recommend investing in a MIDI Controller to get as much functionality out of it as possible.

Supported formats: AIFF, WAV, REX.

Supported third-party plugins: Reason Rack Extensions, VST

Supported third-party hardware: Pretty much any MIDI controller.

Notation: No.

Features: Ableton is, in some ways, two apps in one. It’s a buttoned-up DAW that records in sequence, with multiple tracks, but switch it to Session mode and it’s a solo artist’s dream.

Layer individual Clips, then trigger them like the world’s most powerful sample pad. It rewards experimentation but just being so fun to use, and Ableton Live 11 adds a host of new features, too, including Comping, MIDI Polyphonic Expression, and Tempo Following.

Comping condenses your multiple takes into one perfect one, while MIDI Polyphonic Expression makes each individual note feel unique by bending and changing the pressure. Finally, Tempo Following will adjust the tempo based on incoming audio, meaning playing along with a drummer becomes much more of a measured “push and pull”.

Ease of use: Expect to make some wild music from Session mode, but it’ll take time. Timing is everything, and accounting for input delays and the creation of Clips in the first place can mean it’ll be a while before everything becomes second nature.

Once it does though, there’s nothing quite like it, and it’s exactly the kind of thing that can wow an audience, or just impress your friends.

Supported formats: WAV, AIFF, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC.

Supported third-party plugins: VST2, VST3, Audio Units, ReWire.

Supported third-party hardware: Various MIDI controllers, plus a bespoke Ableton control surface (Push) that starts at £599/$799 bundled with the Intro version.

Notation: No.

Features: While GarageBand has one of the richest companies in the world backing it, another free option is Audacity, which is an open source project built and maintained by volunteers.

At first this might seem like a basic, no frills product, but in fact Audacity is a very capable system that can achieve impressive results. Alongside the general recording and editing functions that you would expect, there are also the options to record multiple channels at once, add cross fades, and even overdub an existing track – say for clever vocal harmonies or Queen-style multi-octave solos.

Advanced tools such a noise elimination feature also allows you to sample any background hums and rattles then apply filters to a track. It might not eradicate everything, but its still a great improvement. Another interesting tool is the ability to change the pitch of a track without altering the tempo (and vice versa), plus a decent amount of built-in effects that can be applied to recordings.

Audacity 3.1, the current major release, lets users resize clips in a non-destructive way so you don’t have to worry about losing the originals, and introduces playback looping among other things.

The latest patch, 3.1.3, improves performance by up to fifty times the 3.1 version while adding additional keyboard shortcuts.

Ease of use: Audacity is powerful, but it certainly isn’t pretty. The user interface is probably the biggest problem with the software. Whereas GarageBand is neat, tidy, and sports a modern design, Audacity feels very much like a program built by engineers. Menus and buttons are somewhat colourless, with an initial impression that can be a bit intimidating. Once you get used to the perfunctory nature of it though, things make sense and you can produce complex projects in relative comfort.

Recent updates have introduced navigational improvements, refinements to the light and dark themes, plus a built-in LAME mp3 encoder, which all shows that the enthusiastic developer base is as dedicated as ever.

Supported formats: WAV, AIFF, AU, FLAC and Ogg Vorbis. MP3, AC3, AAC, and MP4 are also available via free downloadable add-ons.

Supported third-party plugins: LADSPA, Nyquist, VST, and Audio Unit.

Supported third-party hardware: No official list, but many USB devices and microphones are known to work, with a user-created list kept here.

Notation: No.

Features: The Studio One range has built an impressive reputation as a solid, capable, and well thought out DAW. Now in its fourth major iteration Studio One is available in three tiers: Prime, Artist, and Professional.

Prime is free, and while it doesn’t have the full toolset of its more powerful stablemates, it remains a fully functional package that offers unlimited audio tracks, MIDI tracks and FX channels. These are aided by a plethora of effects, loops and samples, alongside the Instrument and Drum editor, plus the recently overhauled Ampire selection of guitar amps, cabs and effects.

The paid versions add a raft of more advanced options and content, including the Chord detector, and the powerful Sample One XT sampler. But as an alternative to the free GarageBand, Studio One Prime is a great starting point in the PreSonus world.

One drawback of the free version is that is doesn’t support third-party plugins such as AU, VST2, VST3 and Rewire, which does limit your options somewhat.

But if you’re willing to move up to the paid tiers then you’ll find a hugely powerful and modern production suite that can match most of the features found in its rivals.

New features with the latest version of Studio One 5 include Project Page Automation to automate track and master volume, while also adding the option to monitor through a separate output without changing the master output.

PreSonus also offers a monthly membership option called Sphere, which offers unlimited access to the company’s array of plug-ins, add-ons, and Notion notation software. It starts at £14.11/$14.95 per month – more details here.

Ease of use: The layout and general design of Studio One is modern, clean, and very easy on the eye. It bears a passing resemblance to Logic and GarageBand with its darker palette, and shares a number of similar functions. Everything is intended to work on the one main screen, so no popup windows hiding behind each other to confuse, and while this keeps things simple it does mean that the software works better on larger displays.

Supported formats: A wide range, with MP3 encoding/decoding now standard on all versions.

Supported third-party plugins: Not on the Prime edition.

Supported third-party hardware: Core Audio compliant audio interfaces, Mackie interfaces, and MIDI controllers.

Notation feature: No.

Features: Reaper is the linguistically gymnastic acronym of Rapid Environment for Audio Production, Engineering and Recording. With the amount of thought that went into the name alone you know this is going to be something good.

The program itself boasts an extensive list of features with which you can create entire albums from scratch. Multi-track recording for live audio or MIDI, layering takes, deep editing functions, the ability to embed FX plug-ins into track controls, time-stretching to lock in parts, and even pitch correction software come included in the price. Reaper is also very customisable, with various GUI elements being available for the user to alter with new skins.

Ease of use: The clean layout and customisable nature means that Reaper can quickly become a very familiar environment. It is a hugely detailed program though, so expect to spend more time working things out than you would with GarageBand, but conversely this also means that you can achieve a great deal more once you’ve mastered the environment.

The Reaper forums are also well populated by friendly and wise users who can help you learn, many of whom also create new plugins for the platform.

Supported formats: Pretty much everything, and even a few we hadn’t heard of.

Supported third-party plugins: VST3, DX, AU, ReWire, JS (user scriptable plug-ins), and others.

Supported third-party hardware: Reaper’s creators claim compatibility with “almost any audio or MIDI sound card or interface”.

Notation: Yes.

Features: This production suite is another complete studio that can handle recording, editing and mixing. It comes from a good pedigree too, as the designer was responsible for the free CMusic sequencer that used to arrive with copies of Computer Music Magazine.

Now on its ninth major version, Mulab’s tagline of ‘enjoy making music’ has never been more applicable. The app has now combined both the core composer and MUX Modular Plugin so you can use Mulab as a standalone synth if you choose. It’s still geared toward relative newcomers, but it’s still plenty powerful thanks to granular editing controls.

A free trial allows you to sample the joys of MuLab, but after that you’ll need to upgrade to the full version for £61/$78/€69.

Ease of use: The MuLab interface has received some very contradictory reviews, with many saying that the UI is easy to get to grips with due to its basic layout, and the use of menus and pop up boxes means that they know what’s happening all the time. The other school of thought is that things are more cumbersome than they need be for precisely the same reasons. Thankfully the trial allows you to decide for yourself.

Supported formats: Not listed.

Supported third-party plugins: VST, ReWire.

Supported third-party hardware: Not listed.

Notation: No.

Features: Cubase has been a reliable DAW for years, with the platform going from strength to strength. While the full Cubase 12 application will set you back a few hundred dollars, and the Artist option is a little less, Elements is an ideal starting point that has a lot to offer.

It offers 192kHz output, 64 MIDI tracks, and 48 audio tracks, as well as MixConsole, a Sampler, and plenty more. For a newcomer it’s a great option – while you may need to upgrade to make the most out of the platform, it’s nice to know that Cubase Artist offers a solid middle ground that adds additional features but won’t cost half a grand.

Ease of use: Developer Steinberg still has a wealth of tutorials to help you settle in, but make no mistake – Cubase is powerful, but even the Elements version has a fairly steep learning curve based on the number of options and plug-ins available. Once you’re in, though, you’ll have plenty of power at your fingertips.

Supported formats: WAV, AIFC, AIFF, MP3, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, Wave64.

Supported third-party plugins: VST, ReWire.

Supported third-party hardware: ASIO, MIDI, and Mackie devices.

Notation: Yes.

Features: Ardour is an open-source project that offers a fully featured DAW, allowing recording unlimited tracks, importing files or MIDI, editing features that include crossfade, transpose, quantize, and just about anything you need to put together cool-sounding audio.

Version 6.7 added support for Apple’s M1 architecture via nightly builds, but these are now standard as of 6.9.

Ease of use: If you’ve used any kind of music production software before then Ardour will make you feel right at home. For newcomers it’s no more intimidating than any other capable system, plus the community seems vibrant and helpful if you do run into any problems.

Supported formats: WAV, AIFF, CAF, BWF, FLAC, Ogg/Vorbis

Supported third-party plugins: AU, VST2, VST3, and LV2.

Supported third-party hardware: Various MIDI controllers.

Notation: No.

Features: FL Studio, formerly known as Fruity Loops, has been around for years, and that’s a testament to its ease of access and powerful features. It also offers lifetime upgrades for free, so if you picked it up two decades ago, you’ll be able to grab the latest version right now.

It’s been used by the likes of Afrojack and Martin Garrix, with a focus on building songs quickly with an excellent piano roll. It’s also got support for a huge number of plugins, although most of them are paywalled behind a pricier bundle.

It’s also worth noting that while you can buy a version for around half the price above, this ‘Fruity’ edition won’t let you record audio. Instead, it’s solely a sequencer.

Ease of use: FL Studio 20, the latest version, comes bundled with a demo track that you can tinker with and edit to your heart’s content, and that’s particularly handy because the wealth of options can be a little bit intimidating at first.

Once you get the hang of it, FL Studio is really well versed in communication with any hardware interfaces you may have, making it easy to record songs or sounds straight into the DAW before taking advantage of the huge number of options for manipulating it.

Supported formats: OMF, Open TL. Plus AIFF, WAV (BMF), CAF, SDII, ReWire, MP3, MP4 and MIDI output options.

Supported third-party plugins: Yes, available as part of a bundle.

Supported third-party hardware: MIDI controllers and various control surfaces, as well as almost any audio interface.

Features: Pro Tools developer Avid recently dipped its toes in the ‘free version pool’ but it’s Pro Tools First was short-lived. Instead, you’ll now need to plump for the full version, which is now available on a subscription basis.

While the more advanced version (dubbed ‘Ultimate’) offers a huge range of pro-focused features, the £29.99/$29.99 monthly subscription offers over $2,000 of free plugins, libraries and more.

It’s arguably the closest you’ll get to a full, professional studio in your home, with excellent mixing and multi-track recording support. Sadly, that price is likely to make even the standard version too pricey for some, although there is a discount for students.

Ease of use: While that $2,000 bundle of goodies does include some learning material, Pro Tools is for the most part aimed at experienced studio engineers which means it’s not the best option if you’re new to audio editing.

Supported formats: OMF, Open TL. Plus AIFF, WAV (BMF), CAF, SDII, ReWire, MP3, MP4 and MIDI output options.

Supported third-party plugins: Available as part of a membership.

Supported third-party hardware: MIDI controllers and various control surfaces, as well as almost any audio interface.