Music · head to head
Cubase vs Logic Pro
Cubase
Music
Steinberg workstation with the strongest score editor of any DAW, now licensed without a USB dongle
- From
- $99.99/one-time
- Rated
- -
Logic Pro
Music
Apple's digital audio workstation, sold outright on Mac and by subscription on iPad
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Logic Pro has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: 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.; Logic Pro requires macOS 15.6 or later and a Mac with Apple silicon, so it will not run on an Intel Mac or on Windows at all
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Cubase and Logic Pro actually diverge.
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 Cubase
- Score editor
- Expression maps
- VariAudio
- Chord Track and Chord Pads
- Logical Editor
- Video track
- Steinberg Licensing
- MixConsole
Only in Logic Pro
Nothing recorded that Cubase does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
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 Logic Pro
- Driving large orchestral sample libraries, where expression maps turn articulation switching into notation instead of hidden keyswitch lanesnot Logic Pro
- Studios standardised on Steinberg or Yamaha hardware, where control surface integration is already builtnot Logic Pro
- Replacing a dongle based Cubase installation, where the reason to upgrade is removing the USB key as a single point of failurenot Logic Pro
Logic Pro
- Music productionnot Cubase
- Audio recordingnot Cubase
- Mixing and masteringnot Cubase
- Scoringnot Cubase
- Sound designnot Cubase
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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.
Logic Pro
- Requires macOS 15.6 or later and a Mac with Apple silicon, so it will not run on an Intel Mac or on Windows at all
- On iPad it is not available as a one-time purchase, only through Apple Creator Studio at $12.99/month or $129/year
- The iPad version requires iPadOS 26 or later and an iPad with an A12 Bionic chip or later
- The standalone Mac app is $199.99, paid before any evaluation beyond the 30 day Apple Creator Studio trial
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Logic Pro
Free- Apple Creator Studio (Subscription)$12.99/month
- Logic Pro for Mac and iPad
- Final Cut Pro
- Motion
- Apple Creator Studio (Annual)$129/year
- All monthly plan features
- Logic Pro (Standalone Mac)$199.99/one-time
- Student/Educator Subscription (Monthly)$2.99/month
- All subscription features at reduced rate
Which should you pick?
Choose Cubase if
- You need score editor.
- You work on Windows, macOS.
- You also want expression maps.
Questions people ask
- Is Cubase or Logic Pro better?
- Neither clearly leads. Cubase starts at $99.99/one-time and Logic Pro at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Cubase or Logic Pro?
- Logic Pro has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99.99/one-time for Cubase and Free for Logic Pro.
- Does Cubase or Logic Pro run on more platforms?
- Cubase runs on Windows, macOS. Logic Pro runs on macOS, iPadOS.
- Can I use Logic Pro for free?
- Yes. Logic Pro has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Cubase starts at $99.99/one-time.
- What is Cubase best used for?
- Cubase is most often used for 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 export, driving large orchestral sample libraries, where expression maps turn articulation switching into notation instead of hidden keyswitch lanes, studios standardised on steinberg or yamaha hardware, where control surface integration is already built, replacing a dongle based cubase installation, where the reason to upgrade is removing the usb key as a single point of failure. Of those, 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 export and driving large orchestral sample libraries, where expression maps turn articulation switching into notation instead of hidden keyswitch lanes are not what Logic Pro is typically brought in for.
- What can Cubase do that Logic Pro cannot?
- Cubase covers Score editor, Expression maps, VariAudio, Chord Track and Chord Pads.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
Logic Pro: How much does Logic Pro cost?
Logic Pro is available through Apple Creator Studio at $12.99/month or $129/year (annual subscription saves $25.88 versus monthly). Alternatively, Logic Pro for Mac can be purchased as a one-time $199.99 standalone license on the App Store. Students and educators receive discounted pricing at $2.99/month or $29.99/year.
SourceCubase: 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.
Logic Pro: Does Logic Pro offer a free trial?
Yes, Apple Creator Studio (which includes Logic Pro) offers a 30-day free trial, allowing users to test all bundled apps including Final Cut Pro, Motion, and Compressor before committing to payment.
SourceCubase: Is Cubase a subscription?
No. Editions are bought outright and keep working. Steinberg charges separately for version upgrades, which appear roughly once a year.
Logic Pro: What is the difference between Logic Pro subscription and one-time purchase?
The Apple Creator Studio subscription at $12.99/month includes Logic Pro for Mac and iPad plus Final Cut Pro, Motion, Compressor, and other apps. The $199.99 one-time purchase for Logic Pro for Mac standalone provides only Logic Pro without bundled applications.
SourceCubase: 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.
Related pages
Other head to heads
- Cubase vs REAPER
- Cubase vs Ableton Live
- Cubase vs Pro Tools
- Cubase vs Studio One
- Cubase vs Soundtrap
- Cubase vs BandLab
- Cubase vs Ardour
- Cubase vs Bitwig Studio
- Cubase vs Splice
- Cubase vs Serato DJ
- Cubase vs Traktor Pro
- Cubase vs Amazon Music
- Cubase vs LANDR
- Cubase vs GarageBand
- Cubase vs Sibelius
- Cubase vs Shazam
- Cubase vs FL Studio
- Cubase vs Suno
- Cubase vs Bandcamp
- Cubase vs Deezer
- Cubase vs iHeartRadio
- Cubase vs Mixcloud
- Cubase vs Pandora
- Cubase vs Tidal
- Cubase vs Udio
- Cubase vs YouTube Music
- Logic Pro vs REAPER
- Logic Pro vs Ableton Live
- Logic Pro vs Pro Tools
- Logic Pro vs Studio One
- Logic Pro vs Soundtrap
- Logic Pro vs BandLab
- Logic Pro vs Ardour
- Logic Pro vs Bitwig Studio
- Logic Pro vs Splice
- Logic Pro vs Serato DJ
- Logic Pro vs Traktor Pro
- Logic Pro vs Amazon Music
- Logic Pro vs LANDR
- Logic Pro vs GarageBand
- Logic Pro vs Sibelius
- Logic Pro vs Shazam
- Logic Pro vs FL Studio
- Logic Pro vs Suno
- Logic Pro vs Bandcamp
- Logic Pro vs Deezer
- Logic Pro vs iHeartRadio
- Logic Pro vs Mixcloud
- Logic Pro vs Pandora
- Logic Pro vs Tidal
- Logic Pro vs Udio
- Logic Pro vs YouTube Music