Fully featured, completely unlimited free DAW for all music creators.
VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXsupported
Checked September 2026
Waveform Free vs Pro Tools (2026)
Waveform Free is best for musicians wanting an unlimited free DAW with no track/time restrictions; Pro Tools is best for professional recording studios and post-production audio. Waveform Free starts at Free and Pro Tools at $9.99/mo (Artist).
Avid
Pro Tools
Professional DAW for recording, editing, and mixing used across the music and post-production industry.
VST3not supportedAUnot supportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported
| Waveform Free | Pro Tools | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | musicians wanting an unlimited free DAW with no track/time restrictions | professional recording studios and post-production audio |
| Starting price | Free | $9.99/mo (Artist) |
| Free version | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Formats | Standalone, VST, VST3, AU | Standalone, AAX |
| OS | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS |
| Key features | Unlimited tracks and audio/MIDI recording, 14 built-in audio effects plus MIDI/utility plugins, 4 built-in instruments including a sampler and rompler, Flexible routing and export, Sample/plugin browser with tagging | Pro Tools Intro free tier for beginners, Tiered subscriptions: Artist, Studio, Ultimate, Industry-standard AAX plugin ecosystem, Advanced post-production/video scoring (Ultimate) |
| Developer | Tracktion | Avid |
Questions people ask
Waveform Free starts at Free; Pro Tools starts at $9.99/mo (Artist).
Unlimited tracks and audio/MIDI recording, 14 built-in audio effects plus MIDI/utility plugins, 4 built-in instruments including a sampler and rompler, Flexible routing and export, Sample/plugin browser with tagging.
Pro Tools Intro free tier for beginners, Tiered subscriptions: Artist, Studio, Ultimate, Industry-standard AAX plugin ecosystem, Advanced post-production/video scoring (Ultimate).