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Music · head to head

LANDR vs REAPER

LANDR logo

LANDR

Music

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

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
REAPER logo

REAPER

Music

Full digital audio workstation with a 60 day evaluation and a USD 60 personal licence

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only REAPER has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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.; REAPER the USD 60 discounted licence requires that yearly gross revenue does not exceed USD 20,000, above which the commercial licence at USD 225 applies
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which LANDR and REAPER actually diverge.

Attributes where LANDR and REAPER differ
AttributeLANDRREAPER
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer user per month, separate mastering and distribution subscriptionsone-time
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWindows, macOS, Linux

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 LANDR

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

Only in REAPER

Nothing recorded that LANDR does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

LANDR

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

REAPER

  • Music productionnot LANDR
  • Audio recordingnot LANDR
  • Audio editingnot LANDR
  • Post productionnot LANDR
  • Podcast editingnot LANDR

Where each one falls short

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

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.

REAPER

  • The USD 60 discounted licence requires that yearly gross revenue does not exceed USD 20,000, above which the commercial licence at USD 225 applies
  • The commercial licence at USD 225 is nearly four times the discounted one for identical software, since the price is set by who is using it rather than by what it does
  • The evaluation lasts 60 days, after which continued use requires a purchased licence
  • Sold as a paid licence with no free tier beyond the evaluation period

Pricing, plan by plan

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

REAPER

Free
  • Discounted License$60/one-time
    • For individuals using REAPER personally
    • For businesses with yearly gross revenue under 20000 USD
    • For educational and non-profit organizations
  • Commercial License$225/one-time
    • For commercial use by businesses exceeding revenue threshold
    • Includes free upgrades through REAPER version 8.99

Which should you pick?

Choose LANDR if

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

Choose REAPER if

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

Questions people ask

Is LANDR or REAPER better?
Neither clearly leads. LANDR starts at On request and REAPER at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, LANDR or REAPER?
REAPER has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for LANDR and Free for REAPER.
Does LANDR or REAPER run on more platforms?
LANDR runs on Web. REAPER runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use REAPER for free?
Yes. REAPER has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. LANDR starts at On request.
What is LANDR best used for?
LANDR is most often used for an independent producer wanting fast, low-cost mastering for demos or lower-stakes releases, a self-releasing artist who wants distribution to spotify and apple music without a label or aggregator contract, a producer wanting to pay for a single mastered track without committing to a subscription, an artist who wants sample packs, mastering and distribution bundled together under one studio plan. Of those, an independent producer wanting fast, low-cost mastering for demos or lower-stakes releases and a self-releasing artist who wants distribution to spotify and apple music without a label or aggregator contract are not what REAPER is typically brought in for.
What can LANDR do that REAPER cannot?
LANDR covers AI mastering, Digital distribution, 100 percent royalty retention, Pay-per-track mastering.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

REAPER: How much does REAPER cost?

REAPER costs 60 USD for a discounted license (individuals, non-profits, organizations under 20000 USD annual revenue) or 225 USD for commercial use. All licenses include free updates through version 8.99.

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

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

REAPER: Can I try REAPER before buying?

Yes, REAPER offers a 60-day full evaluation period with no artificial feature limitations, allowing you to test all capabilities before purchasing.

Source
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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