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Stable Audio vs ACE-Step: catalog facts
Stable Audio	ACE-Step
Freemium The research does not detail current pricing; check the site for plans.	Free Free and open source under the MIT license.
Web	Windows, macOS, Linux, Command line
Generates both music and sound effects Models described as commercially safe	Runs locally across Mac, AMD, Intel and CUDA hardware Actively maintained with a 2026 model-series update
Hosted service, not usable offline Pricing and limits not confirmed in the research	Local generation quality and speed depend heavily on the hardware used Best results likely still require a capable GPU despite broader hardware support
Web application	Downloadable app, Self-hosted
Closed source	Open source
License not stated	License: MIT
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Needs internet	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 24, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026

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