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Music · head to head

BandLab vs LANDR

BandLab logo

BandLab

Music

Free, browser and mobile-based collaborative DAW, with optional Pro and Max membership tiers for sample libraries and extras

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
LANDR logo

LANDR

Music

AI mastering and music distribution, sold as separate mastering, distribution and bundled Studio subscriptions

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only BandLab has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: BandLab mixing and mastering depth is shallower than desktop DAWs like Pro Tools or Ableton Live, so serious production work eventually outgrows it.; LANDR mastering and distribution are separate subscription lines, so a producer wanting both is typically paying for two products, not one, unless they specifically choose the bundled Studio plan.
  • They diverge on capability: BandLab covers Browser-based DAW, LANDR covers AI mastering.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which BandLab and LANDR actually diverge.

Attributes where BandLab and LANDR differ
AttributeBandLabLANDR
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelPer user per yearPer user per month, separate mastering and distribution subscriptions
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, WindowsWeb

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 BandLab

  • Browser-based DAW
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Cloud project storage
  • Sample and loop library
  • Social publishing feed
  • SongStarter AI

Only in LANDR

  • AI mastering
  • Digital distribution
  • 100 percent royalty retention
  • Pay-per-track mastering
  • Sample packs and plugins
  • Collaboration tools

What people use each for

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

BandLab

  • A mobile-first artist who wants to record, edit and publish a track entirely from a phone or tabletnot LANDR
  • A remote collaboration between musicians in different locations working on the same project in real timenot LANDR
  • A beginner who wants a fully functional DAW without buying a computer capable of running Pro Tools or Logic Pronot LANDR
  • A creator using SongStarter to break through writer’s block with an AI-generated starting pointnot LANDR

LANDR

  • An independent producer wanting fast, low-cost mastering for demos or lower-stakes releasesnot BandLab
  • A self-releasing artist who wants distribution to Spotify and Apple Music without a label or aggregator contractnot BandLab
  • A producer wanting to pay for a single mastered track without committing to a subscriptionnot BandLab
  • An artist who wants sample packs, mastering and distribution bundled together under one Studio plannot BandLab

Where each one falls short

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

BandLab

  • Mixing and mastering depth is shallower than desktop DAWs like Pro Tools or Ableton Live, so serious production work eventually outgrows it.
  • Being browser-based, it depends on a stable internet connection for cloud sync and collaboration in a way desktop DAWs do not.
  • Pro and Max pricing steps up sharply after the first-year introductory rate (from $99 to $149, and $199 to $299), which is easy to miss when signing up.
  • Third-party plugin support is far more limited than a native desktop DAW, restricting sound design options for advanced producers.
  • The social publishing feed and artist-services framing mean the product is partly built around community engagement rather than purely production, which is not what every user wants from a DAW.

LANDR

  • Mastering and distribution are separate subscription lines, so a producer wanting both is typically paying for two products, not one, unless they specifically choose the bundled Studio plan.
  • AI mastering is generally regarded by working audio engineers as producing a less considered, more generic result than a human mastering engineer for a release meant to matter to an artist career.
  • The lowest mastering tier caps output at lower-resolution MP3, so getting WAV and HD WAV masters requires the more expensive Pro tier.
  • Distribution plans are billed annually, which is a less flexible commitment than platforms offering month-to-month or per-release distribution pricing.
  • Frequent promotional discounting on LANDR pricing makes the real ongoing renewal price harder to predict from marketing pages alone.

Pricing, plan by plan

BandLab

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full DAW functionality, no track limits
    • 20 sample downloads per month
  • Pro$99/year
    • First-year introductory price, renews at $149/year
    • 100 sample downloads per month
    • Artist services and platform perks
  • Max$199/year
    • First-year introductory price, renews at $299/year
    • 500 sample downloads per month
    • Expanded artist services

LANDR

On request
  • Mastering Basic$4/month
    • Unlimited lower-resolution MP3 masters
    • Digital distribution not included
  • Mastering Pro$25/month
    • Unlimited WAV and HD WAV masters
    • Highest mastering resolution tier
  • Distribution Basic$24/year
    • Distribution to major streaming platforms
    • Billed separately from mastering plans
  • Distribution Pro$45/year
    • Higher-tier distribution features
    • 100 percent royalty retention

Which should you pick?

Choose BandLab if

  • You need browser-based daw.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want real-time collaboration.
BandLab review

Choose LANDR if

  • You need ai mastering.
  • You also want digital distribution.
LANDR review

Questions people ask

Is BandLab or LANDR better?
Neither clearly leads. BandLab starts at Free and LANDR at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, BandLab or LANDR?
BandLab has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for BandLab and On request for LANDR.
Does BandLab or LANDR run on more platforms?
BandLab runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows. LANDR runs on Web.
Can I use BandLab for free?
Yes. BandLab has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. LANDR starts at On request.
What is BandLab best used for?
BandLab is most often used for a mobile-first artist who wants to record, edit and publish a track entirely from a phone or tablet, a remote collaboration between musicians in different locations working on the same project in real time, a beginner who wants a fully functional daw without buying a computer capable of running pro tools or logic pro, a creator using songstarter to break through writer’s block with an ai-generated starting point. Of those, a mobile-first artist who wants to record, edit and publish a track entirely from a phone or tablet and a remote collaboration between musicians in different locations working on the same project in real time are not what LANDR is typically brought in for.
What can BandLab do that LANDR cannot?
BandLab covers Browser-based DAW, Real-time collaboration, Cloud project storage, Sample and loop library. LANDR covers AI mastering, Digital distribution, 100 percent royalty retention, Pay-per-track mastering.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

BandLab: Is BandLab really free with no functionality limits?

Core recording, mixing and publishing are free with no track caps; paid tiers mainly add sample download quotas and artist services.

LANDR: Do mastering and distribution cost the same subscription?

No, they are billed as separate plans; a bundled Studio plan combines them along with sample packs and plugins.

BandLab: What renewal price should I expect on Pro or Max?

Both renew higher than the first-year price: Pro from $99 to $149, Max from $199 to $299.

LANDR: Do I keep 100 percent of royalties through LANDR distribution?

Yes, artists retain full royalties from tracks distributed through LANDR.

BandLab: Can I use BandLab without installing anything?

Yes, it runs fully in a web browser, with mobile and desktop apps also available.

LANDR: Can I master a single track without a subscription?

Yes, a pay-per-track option is available for around 9.99 USD per master.

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