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Helio

Free, open-source music sequencer for desktop and mobile with microtonal support.

Open sourceAudio editors and DAWs
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About Helio

Helio is a free music sequencer focused on composing rather than mixing or recording audio. You write music in a piano-roll and pattern view, arrange it, and play it back through built-in or plugin instruments (VST and other formats on desktop). Its interface is deliberately minimal and keyboard-driven, with tools for refactoring phrases, arpeggiators and quick transformations. Two things set it apart: it treats exotic scales and microtonal temperaments as first-class features, which few sequencers do, and it has built-in version control, so you can commit, compare and revert versions of a project much like code. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS from one codebase, and the download is tiny, under 10 MB, with portable builds that need no install. Helio is licensed under the GPL-3.0 and developed largely by one person. It doesn't record audio, so pair it with a DAW if you need vocals or live instruments.

Best for: Composers who want a lightweight sequencer, especially for microtonal music, on any device.

Pros and cons

What works

  • First-class support for microtonal temperaments and exotic scales
  • Built-in version control for projects
  • Runs on desktop and mobile, under 10 MB
  • Free and open source

Why people leave

  • No audio recording; MIDI-style sequencing only
  • Mixing and effects are basic compared with a full DAW
  • Mostly developed by a single maintainer

Top Helio alternatives

See all 6
  1. 1LMMS logo
    LMMS

    Free and open source with built-in synths and a beat editor, for electronic music production.

    68.8
  2. 2Zrythm logo
    Zrythm

    An open-source DAW that adds audio recording and mixing on top of MIDI composition.

    64.8
  3. 3Re
    REAPER

    Cheap, very flexible full DAW with strong MIDI editing and audio recording.

    61.8
  4. 4Bitwig Studio logo
    Bitwig Studio

    Paid DAW with deep modulation and good microtuning support for experimental composers.

    59.4
  5. 5FL Studio logo
    FL Studio

    Popular paid DAW known for its fast piano roll and pattern-based workflow.

    57.5

Why people left Helio

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Helio: common questions

Is Helio free?

Yes. Helio is free, open-source software.

Is Helio open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at helio-fm/helio-sequencer.

What platforms does Helio run on?

Helio is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.

What are the best alternatives to Helio?

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

See all 6 Helio alternatives