10 Best Free Music Making Software for Beginners and Pros

Producing music has never been more accessible than it is now, thanks to some incredible music-making software, with those that are either free or nearly free, for PC or Mac. If you are a novice producer, a beginner looking for resources, or a professional needing new tools, you’ll find a ton of music production or beat-making software. These will allow you to produce music at either a really low cost or no cost. 

In this article, we will discuss the 10 best free music-making software for 2025. We’ll also touch on the features of the software, outline the pros and cons of each, and highlight which type of music creators each one may best fit. 

What is Music Making Software?

Digital audio workstation (DAW) software, commonly referred to as music-making software, enables you to create and edit music in a digital workspace.

Here are two types of music-making software:

• Full DAWs – fully-featured platforms that allow for multi-track recording, MIDI instruments, mixing, and mastering.
• Beat-Making Software – lightweight software that allows for rapid beats, loops, or electronic music creation.

For beginners, free software is a great way to learn about music production without any investment. For professionals, this is also a great option, either for backup selection or low-impact options.

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10 Best Free Music Making Software in 2025

Now, it’s time to top 10 best music-making software in 2025. 

1. GarageBand (for Mac and iOS)

GarageBand is called the best free music-making software for beginners. It comes pre-installed on Mac devices, and users take advantage of it. The software offers an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, pre-recording loops, and a wide range of virtual instruments for musicians to try and incorporate. 

As a composer, you will find this software easy to work with. It allows you to take your music anywhere you go. 

Best For: Beginners, Mac users.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Easy to use	Not available on Windows
High-quality sounds
Seamless with Logic Pro

2. Cakewalk (for Mac)

Cakewalk may be a familiar name for master music producers, as it was one of the first ever DAWs. It originally began as paid software, but was made available for free later. It is the complete music mixing software that offers everything you need to make music. It has strong songwriting tools and instruments, advanced mixing and mastering tools, and unlimited MIDI and audio tracks for your recordings. 

Best For: Professional-level production on Windows.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Unlimited tracks	Windows only
Advanced features
VST support

3. LMMS (Windows, Mac, Linux)

LLMS has proven to be an amazing software for making music since its introduction. The open-source software comes with many pro features that you would find in only paid tools. With this, composers can create the entire song without breaking a sweat. 

It is one of the best beat-making software programs available in the market. It is ideal for electronic music producers seeking MIDI support and a diverse range of synthesizers. 

Best For: EDM, hip-hop, and electronic music.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Free of cost	Slight learning curve
Customizable
Plugin support

4. Waveform Free (for Windows, macOS, Ubuntu)

Waveform Free is the best software to make music for overall production. It is based on the paid software by Tracktion. It is available for Mac, PC, and Linux, and offers unlimited tracks with no restrictions on use. 

The free version of the professional DAW from Tracktion offers modern features with plugin support. It is a solid tool for beginners and pros. 

Best For: Full DAW experience without cost.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
No track limits	It can feel overwhelming to beginners
Pro-level tools

5. Audacity (Windows, Mac, Linux)

If you are in the market for free music-making software for PC, then there is no need to look beyond Audacity. This open-source tool is one of the most popular music production apps available. It is an all-rounder that is perfect for PCs of all operating systems. It has several features that might attract beginner and pro music producers. Thanks to its amazing features and editing tools, you can make quality music. However, it lacks MIDI support. 

Best For: Simple recording and editing.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Lightweight	Not ideal for full music production
Free
Multi-platform

6. SoundBridge (Windows and Mac)

If you are a fan of a simple interface with capable tools, then SoundBridge is the software to look at. The developers of SoundBridge designed it to be as simple as possible. It comes with all the essential tools for recording and mixing music. It is great for beginners looking for modern software for making music. 

Best For: Beginners wanting a simple DAW.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Easy UI	Limited advanced features
Includes drum machines

7. Ardour (Windows, Mac, Linux)

This free music software for Windows, Mac, and Linux is a fully featured open-source tool popular with professionals. It can perform all: recording, cutting, editing, and mixing. It supports multi-track recording, mixing, and plugin integration. It feels like some of the top-tier paid DAWs like Apple’s Logic, Nuendo, and ProTools. 

Best For: Advanced users who want open-source flexibility.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Powerful editing tools	Can be complex for beginners
flexible

8. DarkWave Studio (Windows only)

This Windows-only software packs a lot of professional music production features, which can be intimidating for beginners. However, it gets easier once you are in the thick of it. The open-source app comes with several plugins and features that give it the title of best beat-making software. The features include a sequence editor, a multitrack hard disk recorder, a virtual studio, a pattern editor, and more. 

Best For: Beginners and users with limited system resources.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Free and lightweight	Windows only
Modular interface	Limited saving options
VST support

9. Hydrogen (Windows, Mac, and Linux)

Hydrogen is a free and open-source drum machine and sequencer based on patterns, which runs on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux operating systems.  It enables the creation and arrangement of drum beats by combining patterns. The resulting beats may be exported as audio or MIDI files to be used in other music production software. It has top-notch mixer features and line sequencers. 

Best For: Beginners requiring a pattern-based drum machine

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
User-friendly interface	Limited to Drums
Extensive drum sample support	No VST
Flexible export options
Free and open-source

10. Mixxx (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Mixxx runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it a cross-platform choice for DJs on multiple systems. It is free and open-source and has powerful features for creative live mixes, including DJ controller support, effects, recording, live broadcasting, BPM and key detection, and vinyl control. With this, you can add up to 64 unique sample decks to mix, add custom audio effects, and integrate your own music database. It is a fully customizable music-making software. 

Best For: Live DJ mixing of all levels

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Free and open-source	User interface
Cross-platform compatibility	minimal help
Live streaming and recording

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Comparison Table: Best Free Music Making Software (2025)

Software	Platform	Best For	Pros	Cons
GarageBand	Mac, iOS	Beginners	Easy, instruments, loops	Mac-only
Cakewalk by BandLab	Windows	Professional production	Unlimited tracks, VST support	Windows-only
LMMS	Win/Mac/Linux	EDM & beat making	Free, plugin support	Learning curve
Waveform Free	Win/Mac/Linux	Full DAW experience	Unlimited tracks, pro tools	Overwhelming for newbies
Audacity	Win/Mac/Linux	Recording & editing	Lightweight, free	No advanced MIDI
SoundBridge	Win/Mac	Beginners	Easy UI, drum machines	Limited features
Ardour	Win/Mac/Linux	Professionals	Open-source, powerful tools	Steep learning curve
DarkWave Studio	Windows	Beginners	Free, VST Support	Windows-only
Hydrogen	Win/Mac/Linux	Beginners	Good UI, Free	Limited to drums
Mixxx	Win/Mac/Linux	DJ mixing	Cross-platform, live streaming	UI

Key Features to Look for in Free Music Making Software

When choosing the best software for making music, there are a few things one needs to consider. Here is the list of key features you should look for. 

• Ease of Use: Should have a beginner-friendly interface with tutorials. 
• Compatibility: Should be compatible with most modern operating systems, like Windows, Linux, or Mac. 
• Recording Tools: Ability to record instruments or vocals. 
• Editing and Mixing: Must have features like multi-track editing, EQ, effects, and automation. 
• Plugins: Must have support for VST/AU plugins. 
• Export Options: Ability to save your music in formats like MP3, WAV, or FLAC. 

How to Choose the Right Free Music Making Software

Have a look at which software you should use. 

• Beginners: Start with GarageBand (Mac) or Cakewalk (Windows).
• Beat Makers: Try LMMS or Magix Music Maker Free.
• Advanced Users: Explore Ardour or Waveform Free.
• Collaborators: Hydrogen and MIxxx.

Conclusion

In 2025, the world of free music-making software for PC and Mac is as rich as it has ever been. In fact, you can get started creating great music without spending any money on music-making software – whether it’s simplified tools like GarageBand, or full-featured DAWs like Cakewalk and Ardour, you can do anything you want.

When you’re starting out, choose something easy and beginner-friendly. As you get better, you can use more advanced software or upgrade to paid versions. The point is that you should get started creating. The best music-making software is the one that you feel inspired to make more music. With these options, you should be able to create music with great quality and at low to no cost.

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