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Cakewalk Sonar

BandLab's Windows DAW and successor to Cakewalk by BandLab, free to evaluate with a paid membership.

Free plan + paidAudio editors and DAWs
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About Cakewalk Sonar

Cakewalk Sonar is the current version of the long-running Windows DAW that started as Cakewalk's Sonar, was bought by BandLab in 2018 and given away free for years as Cakewalk by BandLab. In 2024 BandLab relaunched it as Sonar, a reworked DAW with a new interface, alongside Cakewalk Next, a simpler and more modern music app. Sonar keeps what made Cakewalk popular: unlimited audio and MIDI tracks, a console-style mixer, ProChannel strips, comping, step sequencing and solid MIDI tools. It remains fully functional for free in evaluation mode, while a paid Membership unlocks all features, customisation and premium plugins. Long-time users have mixed feelings about the shift from free to membership, and the older Cakewalk by BandLab is no longer developed. Sonar runs on Windows only and recommends Windows 11 and a fairly modern machine. It suits Windows users who want a traditional recording-studio style DAW at little or no cost.

Best for: Windows users who want a traditional recording and mixing DAW without paying up front.

Pros and cons

What works

  • Fully functional free evaluation mode
  • Console-style mixer with ProChannel strips
  • Mature MIDI and comping tools

Why people leave

  • Windows only
  • Best features now require a paid membership
  • Transition from Cakewalk by BandLab confused long-time users

Top Cakewalk Sonar alternatives

See all 6
  1. 1Re
    REAPER

    Low-cost perpetual licence and also runs on macOS and Linux.

    66.5
  2. 2Tracktion Waveform logo
    Tracktion Waveform

    Free unlimited DAW for Windows, Mac and Linux.

    62.6
  3. 3Mixcraft logo
    Mixcraft

    Another Windows DAW with an approachable workflow and one-off pricing.

    59.6
  4. 4BandLab logo
    BandLab

    Same company's free browser and mobile studio for quick ideas.

    55.3
  5. 5Ardour logo
    Ardour

    Open-source multitrack DAW for those who want free software.

    53.6

Why people left Cakewalk Sonar

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

No switching stories yet. If you moved away from Cakewalk Sonar, review the app you switched to and tell us why.

Reviews

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Cakewalk Sonar: common questions

Is Cakewalk Sonar free?

Cakewalk Sonar has a free plan and paid plans. Free tier: Fully functional evaluation mode (checked on Cakewalk Sonar's own site).

Is Cakewalk Sonar open source?

No, Cakewalk Sonar is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Ardour.

What platforms does Cakewalk Sonar run on?

Cakewalk Sonar is available for Windows.

What are the best alternatives to Cakewalk Sonar?

The highest-ranked Cakewalk Sonar alternatives right now are REAPER, Tracktion Waveform and Mixcraft. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 6 Cakewalk Sonar alternatives