REAPER vs Ableton Live

REAPER9.3Visit Ableton Live9.0Visit

Higher score REAPER #2 in Audio Editing Software 9.3/10 60-day trial Free trial✓ 5 of 6 features Visit REAPER

vs

Ableton Live #5 in Audio Editing Software 9.0/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 5 of 6 features Visit Ableton Live

• REAPER fits best

  Affordable, flexible desktop production

• Ableton Live fits best

  Live performers and electronic producers

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature	REAPER 9.3/10 Visit ↗	Ableton Live 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	9.0
Ranking	#2 in Audio Editing Software	#5 in Audio Editing Software
Best for	Affordable, flexible desktop production	Live performers and electronic producers
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	$60 one-time	$31.21/mo
Free plan	—	—
Free trial	60 days	30 days
Free trial length	60 days	30 days
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS
Support	Email, Community, Docs	Tickets, Docs
Integrations	10 integrations	4 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market	Solo, Small business, Mid-market
Features REAPER 5/6 · Ableton Live 5/6
Multitrack editing	✓	✓
MIDI sequencing	✓	✓
Third-party plugins	✓	✓
Noise reduction	✓	✓
Video synchronization	✓	✓
Cloud collaboration	Not checked yet	—
Specs
Supported platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS
Our review
Pros	Records, edits, mixes, and masters multitrack audio and MIDI Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux Supports broad plug-in formats, scripting, and video processing	Combines Session View clips with Arrangement View timeline editing Supports multitrack audio, MIDI, warping, video, and third-party plug-ins Suite includes Max for Live and a complete instrument and effect collection
Cons	The $60 license is limited to eligible users Commercial users who do not qualify pay $225 Desktop-only workflow; no recurring subscription option	No free plan; access is limited to a 30-day trial Intro limits projects to 16 audio and MIDI tracks Runs only on macOS and Windows
Our verdict	REAPER is a desktop digital audio workstation for recording, editing, processing, mixing, and mastering audio and MIDI. It suits home producers, professional studios, broadcast and location recording, education, sound design, game… Read the review →	Ableton Live is a digital audio workstation for musicians, producers, performers, and sound designers. Its defining structure pairs Session View for clip-based composition and performance with Arrangement View for timeline-based editing.… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• REAPER — where it wins

  • Records, edits, mixes, and masters multitrack audio and MIDI
  • Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Supports broad plug-in formats, scripting, and video processing

  Where it doesn't

  • The $60 license is limited to eligible users
  • Commercial users who do not qualify pay $225
  • Desktop-only workflow; no recurring subscription option

• Ableton Live — where it wins

  • Combines Session View clips with Arrangement View timeline editing
  • Supports multitrack audio, MIDI, warping, video, and third-party plug-ins
  • Suite includes Max for Live and a complete instrument and effect collection

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan; access is limited to a 30-day trial
  • Intro limits projects to 16 audio and MIDI tracks
  • Runs only on macOS and Windows

• REAPER9.3/10 · 60-day trial

  A flexible desktop DAW with broad audio and MIDI tools and a one-time license from $60.

  Visit REAPERFull verdict →
• Ableton Live9.0/10 · 30-day trial

  A deep DAW for performers and producers who need clip-based and timeline workflows.

  Visit Ableton LiveFull verdict →