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Max vs plugdata: catalog facts
Max	plugdata
Paid A 30-day full-featured trial is available; continued use requires a purchase.	Free Free and open source under the GPL-3.0 licence.
macOS	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS
Visual patching for audio, video, and data Supports MIDI controllers and hardware prototyping	Runs standalone or as a VST3, AU, CLAP or LV2 plugin Bundles ELSE, Cyclone and Gem libraries
Requires a purchase after the 30-day trial A free account is required to start the trial	Visual patching has a learning curve for newcomers to Pure Data Some Pure Data externals may need checking for compatibility
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Closed source	Open source
License not stated	License: GPL-3.0
Account needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 8, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 1, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.