Softwr

Music · head to head

Cubase vs Udio

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
Udio logo

Udio

Music

AI music generation platform for creating songs from text prompts

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Udio 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.; Udio ongoing litigation with Sony Music and Warner Music creates uncertainty about catalog-adjacent output and future platform terms.
  • They diverge on capability: Cubase covers Score editor, Udio covers Text-to-song generation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cubase and Udio actually diverge.

Attributes where Cubase and Udio differ
AttributeCubaseUdio
Starting price$99.99/one-timeFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchasefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOSweb

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 Udio

  • Text-to-song generation
  • Content identification
  • Credit-based generation
  • Free daily credits
  • Song trimming
  • Subscription trial

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 Udio
  • Driving large orchestral sample libraries, where expression maps turn articulation switching into notation instead of hidden keyswitch lanesnot Udio
  • Studios standardised on Steinberg or Yamaha hardware, where control surface integration is already builtnot Udio
  • Replacing a dongle based Cubase installation, where the reason to upgrade is removing the USB key as a single point of failurenot Udio

Udio

  • Generating original songs from text descriptionsnot Cubase
  • Creating instrumental backing tracksnot Cubase
  • Songwriting experimentation and demoingnot Cubase
  • Producing commercially licensed tracks under a paid subscription tiernot 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.

Udio

  • Ongoing litigation with Sony Music and Warner Music creates uncertainty about catalog-adjacent output and future platform terms.
  • Detailed subscription pricing was not published on the site's pricing page at the time of research.
  • Under the UMG settlement, the service is moving toward a walled-garden model restricting downloads and off-platform posting.

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

Udio

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 10 credits per day plus 100 monthly credits
    • Up to 3 130-second songs per day
    • No credit rollover
  • Standard$10/month
    • Up to 2,400 credits per month
    • Commercial usage rights
    • Annual billing available at $8/month
  • Pro$30/month
    • Up to 6,000 credits per month
    • Higher-volume generation
    • Annual billing available at $24/month

Which should you pick?

Choose Cubase if

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

Choose Udio if

  • You need text-to-song generation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web.
  • You also want content identification.
Udio review

Questions people ask

Is Cubase or Udio better?
Neither clearly leads. Cubase starts at $99.99/one-time and Udio at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cubase or Udio?
Udio has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99.99/one-time for Cubase and Free for Udio.
Does Cubase or Udio run on more platforms?
Cubase runs on Windows, macOS. Udio runs on web.
Can I use Udio for free?
Yes. Udio 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 Udio is typically brought in for.
What can Cubase do that Udio cannot?
Cubase covers Score editor, Expression maps, VariAudio, Chord Track and Chord Pads. Udio covers Text-to-song generation, Content identification, Credit-based generation, Free daily credits.

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.

Udio: What are Udio's subscription prices?

Standard is $10/month ($8/month billed annually) and Pro is $30/month ($24/month billed annually); a Free tier and a 7-day subscription trial are also available.

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.

Udio: How many credits does each plan include?

Free accounts get 10 credits per day plus 100 monthly credits; Standard includes up to 2,400 credits per month and Pro includes up to 6,000 credits per month.

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.

Udio: Do unused credits roll over?

No, subscription credits do not carry over between months, and if a subscription ends the account reverts to free-tier credit limits.

Source
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.

Udio: How do I cancel or change my Udio subscription?

Manage or cancel from udio.com/account; upgrades apply immediately with prorated charges, downgrades take effect next billing cycle, and cancellations stay active until the end of the paid period.

Source
Udio: Does the free trial include extra credits?

No, accounts on the 7-day subscription trial keep free-tier credit limits and remain capped at 3 130-second songs per day until they upgrade.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Cubase

More on Udio

Keep looking

Other head to heads