Want to jump straight to the answer? Our choice for the Best Logic Alternative is definitely Soundtrap by Spotify!
Logic Pro X is often referred to as the professional version of Garage Band and for Mac users its a common DAW choice. With a price point of $199 and limited OS support, you can find a number of comparable options that are more affordable and Windows-friendly — while still including all of the features that make Logic great.
Top Logic Pro X Alternatives For Windows
- Soundtrap – Best Overall For Online Compatibility & Autotune
- Reason – Best For Complex Work
- Pro Tools – Best for Industry Standard
- PreSonus Studio One – Best For Windows Users
- ACID Pro – Best For Loop or Sample Based Production
- FL Studio 20 – Best For Lifetime Pricing
- Sound Forge Pro – Best For Professional Windows Music Production
- Cakewalk – Best For Community
How To Compare To Logic Pro
Before choosing an alternative, there are some comparable features you would want to look for that Logic offers.
Built-In Plugins
Logic has a myriad of reliably built plugins that it comes with, including their vocal compressor, and their amp designer is capable of endless guitar altering configurations.
You may need to bring in 3rd party plugins at some point, but Logic starts you off on the right track. Finding a comparable product you will want to look for similar plugin features, built right into your DAW.
Usability
If you’re familiar with Logic chances are you have a Mac or have had a Mac. Users are willing to pay a premium for Mac products largely due to their product design.
Logic Pro, being a Mac-based software follows suit with quality aesthetics and is intuitively easy to use. A good alternative to Logic should share that aspect.
Community
Whenever you’re working in a new DAW, you won’t instantly master all of the functionality, keyboard shortcuts, and advanced features overnight. A strong community to learn how to utilize certain aspects is almost as important as the software itself.
Choosing a DAW comparable to Logic should have a strong community to tap into or a library of online tutorials.
Price Point
At just around $200, Logic definitely isn’t free but when it stacks up to Pro Tools or Ableton Live, it’s pretty affordable.
We took a look at alternatives that are just as affordable from a price point, including the value you can get out of it.
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The 8 Best Logic Pro X Alternatives
Here are the top Logic Pro X alternatives with details on pricing, platform support, features, and more. We looked for support on Windows machines as a necessary component as Logic is only available on Mac.
1. Soundtrap
- Platform Support: Any Browser
- Price: $13/month – 30 Day Free Trial
- Key Features: Store projects in the cloud and collaborate with others, Antares Autotune included.
Soundtrap is a completely online DAW acquired by Spotify in 2018. Above all, the learning curve to accomplish recording a song is made easy with Soundtrap.
You do not need to worry about compatibility with your computer, as it runs in the browser independently, while still operating as professionally built DAW.
One of the more exciting features of Soundtrap is its online collaboration tools. You can easily sync up and work with your producer of band members, as well as find new talent easily by searching.
2. Reason
- Platform Support: Windows & macOS
- Price:
- Total – $399
- Subscription – $19.99/month (cancel anytime)
- Key Features: Has one of the most unique and realistic patching systems as well as rack capabilities.
Reason is a DAW that many others have used as a basis for new ideas and creativity. With their unique rack and patching system, you are able to work with synths and other outboard style gear virtually like it was the real thing!
Although it is a fully functional DAW on its own, you can use it as a rack plugin in your other favorite DAWs. Take the way you like to approach effects routing to Pro Tools or Logic with ease!
3. Pro Tools
- Platform Support: Windows & macOS
- Price:
- Subscription – $29.99 – $34.99
- Total – $599
- Key Features: Comes with Melodyne Autotune, Industry Standard for Mixing
If you want a powerful DAW that has everything you could need, it’s Pro Tools. There are countless ways to learn how Pro Tools works and is a great option for a home studio or professional studio.
The Pro Tools 2020 update brought a multitude of new functions to the DAW. You can learn about these here! If you are on the fence there is always Pro Tools First which has the base functions of Pro Tools to learn on and is a great FREE way to become comfortable with the DAW.
4. PreSonus Studio One
- Platform Support: Windows & macOS
- Price: $16.99/mo — 14-day free trial
- Key Features: Built-in Melodyne Autotune, Intuitive platform
PreSonus is another brilliantly designed platform that reduces the learning curve when new to music production or starting with a new DAW.
Studio One, now with the benefit of being offered through Splice allows for simple affordable pricing at $16.99 per month. Additionally, the community you can tap into for inspiration, collaboration, and general support is now extensive.
User reviews have reported transition from Logic to Studio One as an alternative easier than you might expect.
Another great feature with Studio One is the 40GBs of samples, loops, and one-shots that it comes with by default.
5. ACID Pro
- Platform Support: Windows
- Price: $199 or $9.99 per month
- Key Features: Designed for loop and sample-based music production. Built for speed.
ACID Pro has a dedicated user base, some who wish it was available on a Mac. As a Windows-based Logic alternative, ACID Pro fits the bill for everything you would want in a DAW.
It’s competitively priced. You can either buy it outright for $199 or choose a monthly payment plan or $9.99 per month.
Out of the box it’s packed with excellent plugins, like Xfer Serum, an intuitive and powerful synth VST, Melodyne Autotune, and many more.
6. FL Studio 20
- Platform Support: Windows & macOS
- Price: $199
- Key Features: Excellent support, Lifetime free updates
FL Studio has grown in popularity and some well-known producers have adopted and promoted the DAW, like Murda Beatz and the late Avicii.
Moving on to the price, it’s the same as Logic assuming you aren’t attaching any plugin bundles with your purchase. What’s key is the free lifetime updates when you purchase a license. Many other DAWs require annual upgrade purchases.
They have a very active community on their forum, and FL studio has some of the most tutorials and courses online.
7. Sound Forge Pro
- Platform Support: Windows
- Price: $399 or $14.99 per month
- Key Features: Melodyne Included, Intuitive shortcuts with Instant Action, built for editing and mastering
Sound Forge is the sibling of ACID Pro and another software product of MAGIX. Sound Forge is focused on the mastering aspects of the production process.
With Sound Forge, you should be able to achieve commercial standard volume in your mastering process, while also reducing noise.
Although mastering is Sound Forge’s main marketing message, is still has comparable aspects to Logic with built-in plugins, affordable monthly pricing, and intuitive usability.
9. Cakewalk
- Platform Support: Windows
- Price: Free
- Key Features: Incredible community through Bandlab
Cakewalk is a completely free DAW available to Windows users through the company Bandlab.
Outside of being a free DAW desktop platform, their community is essentially a social network for musicians, producers, and music fans that help you collaborate and make money off of your music.
In addition to Cakewalk, Bandlab has an online mix editor to start making beats, recording audio, and much more.
Read our review of Cakewalk here.
Plugin | Company | Price | Free Trial |
Soundtrap | Spotify | $8/month | Yes: 30 Days |
Reason | Reason Studios | $399 or 9.99/month | Yes |
Pro Tools | Avid | $599 or $29.99-$34.99/month | Yes |
PreSonus Studio One | PreSonus | $16.99/month | Yes: 14 Days |
ACID Pro 10 | MAGIX | $199 or $9.99/month | Yes |
FL Studio 20 | Image-Line | $199 | Trial Version |
Sound Forge Pro | MAGIX | $399 or $14.99/month | Yes |
Cakewalk | Bandlab | Free | N/A |
Compare Logic Pro X Alternatives
Can You Run Logic Pro On Windows?
Even then, you for the purposes of having a quality DAW, you are more likely to be satisfied with a quality alternative to Logic, like Soundtrap.
Are There Free Logic Pro Alternatives Available?
Thomas began helping out back in 2010 with the first few iterations of the website. He has helped to produce much of the content, formed partnerships with Audio Engineering institutions, and created the latest version of the website. Thomas handles many of the artist interviews as well as guitar content.