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Ardour

An open-source DAW for recording, editing and mixing on Linux, macOS and Windows.

Open sourceAudio editors and DAWs
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About Ardour

Ardour is a free-software digital audio workstation led by Paul Davis, one of the original Linux audio developers. It follows a traditional studio model, with unlimited audio and MIDI tracks, non-destructive editing, flexible routing, playlist-based comping, a full mixer with plugin support (LV2, VST and AU depending on platform) and a video timeline for working to picture. Recent versions add a clip-launching cue sequencer and keys-and-scales features. It is the most mature open-source DAW and is the base for commercial products such as Harrison Mixbus. The source code is GPL-licensed and free; ready-made binaries from ardour.org are sold on a pay-what-you-want basis starting at a dollar, or via a subscription, and the free demo build goes silent after a time limit. Linux distributions also package it. The trade-offs are an interface that feels utilitarian, a smaller set of bundled instruments, and fewer tutorials than commercial DAWs. It runs on Linux, macOS and Windows.

Best for: Linux users and free-software fans who want a full recording and mixing DAW.

Pros and cons

What works

  • Free-software DAW with no track limits
  • Mature recording, editing and routing features
  • Runs on Linux, macOS and Windows
  • Official builds cost as little as a dollar

Why people leave

  • Interface feels dated next to commercial DAWs
  • Few bundled instruments and sounds
  • Free demo build goes silent after a time limit

Top Ardour alternatives

See all 6
  1. 1Re
    REAPER

    Commercial but cheap, runs on Linux and has a huge plugin and script community.

    66.5
  2. 2Bitwig Studio logo
    Bitwig Studio

    Polished commercial DAW with native Linux support and clip launching.

    62.6
  3. 3LMMS logo
    LMMS

    Free and open source, better suited to pattern-based electronic music.

    59.6
  4. 4Zrythm logo
    Zrythm

    Another free-software DAW with a more modern take on electronic production.

    57.2
  5. 5Audacity logo
    Audacity

    Simpler free editor when you only need to record and cut audio.

    55.3

Why people left Ardour

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

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Ardour: common questions

Is Ardour free?

Yes. Ardour is free, open-source software.

Is Ardour open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at Ardour/ardour.

What platforms does Ardour run on?

Ardour is available for Linux, macOS and Windows.

What are the best alternatives to Ardour?

The highest-ranked Ardour alternatives right now are REAPER, Bitwig Studio and LMMS. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 6 Ardour alternatives