Alternatives to LMMS

A free digital audio workstation with a piano roll, beat sequencer and a pile of built-in synths. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as LMMS.

  • FL Studio

    Beat-making focused DAW known for its lifetime free update policy.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    FL Studio is a paid, closed-source beat-making DAW for Windows and macOS with lifetime free updates, a similar pattern workflow and audio recording that LMMS lacks.

  • REAPER

    Full digital audio workstation for multitrack recording, editing, mixing and MIDI.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinux

    REAPER is paid commercial software with an unlimited evaluation period, runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and adds multitrack audio recording and deep scripting customisation.

  • Ardour

    A full digital audio workstation for recording, editing and mixing, with no subscription and no dongle.

    FreemiumOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    Ardour stays open source on Windows, macOS and Linux and adds audio recording and a flexible mixer, though official binaries are paid and bundled instruments are fewer.

  • Ableton Live

    Performance-oriented DAW built around clip launching for electronic music.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    Ableton Live is paid, closed-source and limited to Windows and macOS, built around Session View clip launching for electronic music and live performance.

  • Tracktion Waveform Free

    Free full-featured DAW with no track limit for music production.

    FreeProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinux

    Tracktion Waveform Free is a free but closed-source DAW with no track limit and native Linux support, adding audio recording that LMMS cannot do.

  • GarageBand

    Apple's free music creation studio for recording, playing and mixing songs and podcasts on a Mac.

    FreeProprietarymacOSiOS

    GarageBand is free but only runs on macOS and iOS, offering a large loop library, virtual drummers and audio recording in a beginner-friendly interface.

  • Cakewalk Sonar

    Windows DAW with a free tier, successor to the discontinued Cakewalk by BandLab.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindows

    Cakewalk Sonar is a Windows-only, closed-source DAW with a free tier, while the full feature set requires a paid membership.

  • Reason

    Modular rack-style DAW with classic virtual synths and samplers.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    Reason is a paid rack-style DAW for Windows and macOS with a large library of built-in instruments and visual cable routing, and it is not open source.

Also worth comparing

These listings name LMMS as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • Hydrogen

    Program drum patterns with a desktop sequencer and drum machine.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    LMMS is also free and open source on Windows, macOS and Linux, adding a piano roll, song editor, mixer and over fifteen instruments beyond drum pattern sequencing.

  • Rosegarden

    A Linux MIDI sequencer and music notation editor with basic digital audio support.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    LMMS offers a free piano roll, beat sequencer and built-in synths on Windows, macOS and Linux, but it cannot record audio and has no notation view.

  • Zrythm

    An open-source digital audio workstation with extensive automation, chord tools and broad plugin support.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    LMMS is a free, open-source workstation with a piano roll, beat sequencer and over fifteen instruments, but it cannot record audio, so vocals need another program.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.