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Music · head to head

Cubase vs GarageBand

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
GarageBand logo

GarageBand

Music

Free digital audio workstation bundled with macOS and iOS, with no paid tier or upgrade path of its own

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only GarageBand 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.; GarageBand it only runs on macOS and iOS, so it is entirely unavailable to Windows and Android users, unlike BandLab or Soundtrap.
  • They diverge on capability: Cubase covers Score editor, GarageBand covers Multitrack recording.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cubase and GarageBand actually diverge.

Attributes where Cubase and GarageBand differ
AttributeCubaseGarageBand
Starting price$99.99/one-timeFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchaseOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOSmacOS, iOS

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 GarageBand

  • Multitrack recording
  • Virtual instrument library
  • Guitar and bass amp modelling
  • Logic Pro project compatibility
  • Live Loops
  • iOS and Mac parity

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

GarageBand

  • A beginner learning to record and produce music without paying for softwarenot Cubase
  • A songwriter sketching ideas on an iPhone and continuing them on a Mac the same daynot Cubase
  • A podcaster or hobbyist needing basic multitrack recording without a subscriptionnot Cubase
  • A Logic Pro user creating quick voice memos or loop ideas on iOS before opening the full project on desktopnot 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.

GarageBand

  • It only runs on macOS and iOS, so it is entirely unavailable to Windows and Android users, unlike BandLab or Soundtrap.
  • Third-party plugin support is far more limited than Logic Pro or Pro Tools, which constrains serious production work.
  • There is no path to more tracks or advanced mixing automation within GarageBand itself; growing past it means buying different software entirely.
  • Because it has no paid tier, Apple has no commercial incentive to add professional features, and its capability gap versus Logic Pro has stayed wide for years.
  • Collaboration and cloud project sharing are weaker than browser-based tools like BandLab or Soundtrap, which are built for multi-user sessions from the start.

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

GarageBand

Free
  • GarageBandFree
    • Full application, no tiers or paid upgrades
    • Bundled with macOS and iOS
    • No subscription or in-app purchases for core functionality

Which should you pick?

Choose Cubase if

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

Choose GarageBand if

  • You need multitrack recording.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, iOS.
  • You also want virtual instrument library.
GarageBand review

Questions people ask

Is Cubase or GarageBand better?
Neither clearly leads. Cubase starts at $99.99/one-time and GarageBand at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cubase or GarageBand?
GarageBand has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99.99/one-time for Cubase and Free for GarageBand.
Does Cubase or GarageBand run on more platforms?
Cubase runs on Windows, macOS. GarageBand runs on macOS, iOS.
Can I use GarageBand for free?
Yes. GarageBand 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 GarageBand is typically brought in for.
What can Cubase do that GarageBand cannot?
Cubase covers Score editor, Expression maps, VariAudio, Chord Track and Chord Pads. GarageBand covers Multitrack recording, Virtual instrument library, Guitar and bass amp modelling, Logic Pro project compatibility.

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.

GarageBand: Is GarageBand really free with no catch?

Yes. It has no subscription, trial limits or paid tier; it is bundled with macOS and iOS at no additional cost.

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.

GarageBand: What happens when I outgrow it?

The natural upgrade is Logic Pro, a separate one-time-purchase product from Apple; GarageBand projects open in Logic Pro without conversion issues.

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.

GarageBand: Does it run on Windows?

No. It is exclusive to macOS and iOS; Windows users need an alternative such as BandLab or a paid DAW.

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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