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Head-to-head · AI Music Mastering Software

Waves Online Mastering vs MasterForge

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Waves Online Mastering #2 in AI Music Mastering Software 9.1/10 Paid ✓ 2 of 4 features Visit site
MasterForge #9 in AI Music Mastering Software 7.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit MasterForge

Waves Online Mastering leads on 0 checks, MasterForge on 3, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreWaves Online Mastering · 9.1/10
  • Free planonly MasterForge
  • Most featuresMasterForge · 4 of 4

Waves Online Mastering scores higher on our rubric for ai music mastering software: 9.1 against 7.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #9.

MasterForge offers free plan; Waves Online Mastering doesn't. MasterForge offers stem mastering; Waves Online Mastering doesn't. MasterForge offers loudness targets; Waves Online Mastering doesn't.

Waves Online Mastering is the better fit for waves users wanting online mastering. MasterForge is the better fit for independent artists wanting affordable stem mastering.

  • Waves Online Mastering fits best

    Waves users wanting online mastering

  • MasterForge fits best

    Independent artists wanting affordable stem mastering

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 Waves Online Mastering 9.1/10 Visit ↗ MasterForge 7.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.1 7.5
Ranking #2 in AI Music Mastering Software #9 in AI Music Mastering Software
Best for Waves users wanting online mastering Independent artists wanting affordable stem mastering
Pricing model Paid Free plan + paid
Starting price — €4.99/mo
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Support Live chat, Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs Email, Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market Solo, Small business
Features Waves Online Mastering 2/4 · MasterForge 4/4
Reference track matching ✓ ✓
Stem mastering — ✓ (best)
WAV export ✓ ✓
Loudness targets — ✓ (best)
Specs
Monthly masterings 1 tracks/mo Not checked yet
Input formats WAV, AIF, AIFF, MP3 WAV, MP3, FLAC, OGG, M4A/AAC
Supported platforms Web Web
Our review
Pros
  • Reference-track upload and matching with selectable mastering styles
  • 30-second previews plus Presence and Depth tone controls
  • WAV and MP3 downloads with a browser-based master library
  • Free plan includes 5 masters and an unlimited audio analyzer
  • AI artifact suppression, genre presets, and reference-track Match EQ
  • Pro adds stem mixing, platform preview, and 24-bit WAV export
Cons
  • Web-only access limits platform coverage
  • Designed for stereo tracks rather than stem mastering
  • No free plan or published loudness-target controls
  • Web-only access may not suit users seeking a desktop application
  • Stem mixing and platform preview require the Pro plan
  • The Free plan limits mastering to 5 free masters
Our verdict

Waves Online Mastering is a browser-based AI mastering service for musicians, producers, and audio professionals. It accepts WAV, AIF, AIFF, and MP3 uploads for stereo-track mastering, then provides a processed preview before a full-length…

Read the review →

MasterForge is a browser-based audio mastering platform for independent artists and other solo or small teams working with music, podcasts, voice, and video. Its focus is AI-generated music, with tools for AI artifact suppression,…

Read the review →
  1. Waves Online MasteringAI Music Mastering Software 9.1Paid
  2. MasterForgeAI Music Mastering Software 7.5Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Waves Online Mastering — where it wins

    • Reference-track upload and matching with selectable mastering styles
    • 30-second previews plus Presence and Depth tone controls
    • WAV and MP3 downloads with a browser-based master library

    Where it doesn't

    • Web-only access limits platform coverage
    • Designed for stereo tracks rather than stem mastering
    • No free plan or published loudness-target controls
  • MasterForge — where it wins

    • Free plan includes 5 masters and an unlimited audio analyzer
    • AI artifact suppression, genre presets, and reference-track Match EQ
    • Pro adds stem mixing, platform preview, and 24-bit WAV export

    Where it doesn't

    • Web-only access may not suit users seeking a desktop application
    • Stem mixing and platform preview require the Pro plan
    • The Free plan limits mastering to 5 free masters
  • Waves Online Mastering9.1/10 · Paid

    A focused web mastering service with reference matching, previews, and flexible credit plans.

    Visit siteFull verdict →
  • MasterForge7.5/10 · Free plan

    Affordable web mastering with artifact suppression, stem mixing, and reference matching.

    Visit MasterForgeFull verdict →

More comparisons

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update