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Music · head to head

Audacity vs Cubase

Audacity logo

Audacity

Music

Free and open-source multi-track audio editor and recorder

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Cubase logo

Cubase

Music

Steinberg workstation with the strongest score editor of any DAW, now licensed without a USB dongle

From
$99.99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Audacity has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Audacity no real-time multi-user collaboration; remote teams cannot edit the same project simultaneously; Cubase steinberg Licensing ties activations to an account across up to three machines, so an isolated or air-gapped studio computer needs the offline activation procedure rather than a carried dongle, and that procedure must be repeated whenever the hardware is rebuilt.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Audacity and Cubase actually diverge.

Attributes where Audacity and Cubase differ
AttributeAudacityCubase
Starting priceFree$99.99/one-time
Pricing modelopen-sourceOne-time purchase
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWindows, macOS

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Music).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Audacity

Nothing recorded that Cubase does not also cover.

Only in Cubase

  • Score editor
  • Expression maps
  • VariAudio
  • Chord Track and Chord Pads
  • Logical Editor
  • Video track
  • Steinberg Licensing
  • MixConsole

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Audacity

  • Podcast recording, editing, and production without subscriptionsnot Cubase
  • Audiobook narration and audio engineeringnot Cubase
  • Music production and remix creationnot Cubase
  • Audio restoration (removing clicks, hums, background noise)not Cubase
  • Interview recording and transcription supportnot Cubase
  • Educational audio labs and sound design coursesnot Cubase

Cubase

  • Writing to picture where the deliverable includes printed parts as well as a mix, because the score comes from the same project rather than a MIDI exportnot Audacity
  • Driving large orchestral sample libraries, where expression maps turn articulation switching into notation instead of hidden keyswitch lanesnot Audacity
  • Studios standardised on Steinberg or Yamaha hardware, where control surface integration is already builtnot Audacity
  • Replacing a dongle based Cubase installation, where the reason to upgrade is removing the USB key as a single point of failurenot Audacity

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Audacity

  • No real-time multi-user collaboration; remote teams cannot edit the same project simultaneously
  • Limited MIDI support; not suitable for music composition or virtual instrument arrangement
  • No built-in content library; users must source background music, sound effects, and transitions externally
  • Version 4 GUI redesign not yet stable; production users should remain on 3.x branch, delaying access to new features

Cubase

  • Steinberg Licensing ties activations to an account across up to three machines, so an isolated or air-gapped studio computer needs the offline activation procedure rather than a carried dongle, and that procedure must be repeated whenever the hardware is rebuilt.
  • Elements and Artist withhold features most buyers eventually need, including the top VariAudio tier and full surround work, so the realistic price is the Pro edition rather than the entry figure.
  • Projects saved in a newer version cannot be opened in an older one, so studios collaborating with clients on mixed versions have to standardise, and paid upgrades arrive roughly once a year.
  • There is no Linux build and no stated plan for one, so the platform choice is Windows or macOS only and a Linux studio is excluded outright.
  • The interface carries three decades of accumulated windows and dialogs spread across the Project window, MixConsole, Key Editor and Score Editor, so the learning curve is considerably longer than Live or Logic for a new user.

Pricing, plan by plan

Audacity

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Audacity review.

Cubase

$99.99/one-time
  • Cubase Elements$99.99/one-time
    • Perpetual licence
    • Capped audio, MIDI and instrument track counts
    • Reduced editing and mixing tool set
  • Cubase Artist$329.99/one-time
    • Perpetual licence
    • Higher track limits than Elements
    • Score editor included
  • Cubase Pro$579.99/one-time
    • Perpetual licence
    • Unlimited tracks
    • Full score editor, expression maps and surround

Which should you pick?

Choose Audacity if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Audacity review

Choose Cubase if

  • You need score editor.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want expression maps.
Cubase review

Questions people ask

Is Audacity or Cubase better?
Neither clearly leads. Audacity starts at Free and Cubase at $99.99/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Audacity or Cubase?
Audacity has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Audacity and $99.99/one-time for Cubase.
Does Audacity or Cubase run on more platforms?
Audacity runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Cubase runs on Windows, macOS.
Can I use Audacity for free?
Yes. Audacity has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Cubase starts at $99.99/one-time.
What is Audacity best used for?
Audacity is most often used for podcast recording, editing, and production without subscriptions, audiobook narration and audio engineering, music production and remix creation, audio restoration (removing clicks, hums, background noise). Of those, podcast recording, editing, and production without subscriptions and audiobook narration and audio engineering are not what Cubase is typically brought in for.
What can Audacity do that Cubase cannot?
Cubase covers Score editor, Expression maps, VariAudio, Chord Track and Chord Pads.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Audacity: Is Audacity free?

Yes. Audacity is free and open-source under the GPLv3 licence. There are no licensing fees, subscriptions, or restrictions for commercial or educational use.

Source
Cubase: Does Cubase still need a USB dongle?

No. From Cubase 12 onwards Steinberg Licensing replaced the eLicenser. Activation runs through the Steinberg Activation Manager on up to three computers.

Audacity: What audio formats can I export from Audacity?

Audacity supports WAV, MP3, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, and AIFF export. FLAC and Ogg are lossless and space-efficient for archival; MP3 is widely compatible for playback devices.

Source
Cubase: Can I run Cubase on a computer with no internet access?

Yes, but through the offline activation path in the Activation Manager rather than a normal sign in, and you repeat it if the machine is rebuilt. Test it before committing an isolated scoring rig.

Audacity: Can I use Audacity for podcast production?

Yes. Audacity provides multi-track recording, noise reduction, equalisation, and export to MP3. It lacks real-time collaboration, so team workflows require manual file exchange.

Source
Cubase: Is Cubase a subscription?

No. Editions are bought outright and keep working. Steinberg charges separately for version upgrades, which appear roughly once a year.

Cubase: Which edition do I need for scoring work?

Pro. Artist includes a score editor, but Pro is the edition with the full engraving, expression map and surround feature set that media work assumes.

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