The 5 Best FREE Garageband Alternatives for Windows (2022)
“Can I download Garageband for Windows?”
Garageband is an incredibly popular choice for beginners to music production, and is capable of a wide range of beatmaking and audio editing techniques.
Years ago, Garageband functionality was so basic it was never taken seriously as a music creation tool. In 2022 however, Garageband is a complete, fully-equipped virtual studio that includes instruments, effects and a plethora of session drummers and other instrument presets.
Not only that, but it’s completely free.
Garageband for Windows
Sadly for Windows user, Garageband is developed by Apple, so don’t expect a Windows version any time soon.
There are certain sites out there that offer “Garageband for Windows”, but I guarantee the downloaded files either require a Apple Mac emulator (which are incredibly slow and a pain to set up) or just don’t work at all. Trust me when I say this, don’t even waste your time.
Thankfully, there are plenty of FREE Garageband for Windows alternatives that offer a similar level of creative versatility (and sometimes even more).
When creating this list, I’ve considered the fundamental aspects of what makes Garageband such a powerful piece of software, namely the audio recording capabilities and the highly intuitive, adaptable pattern arrangement tools. I’ve also personally tried and tested all these products, so I know which are fantastic alternative options, and which just aren’t worth your time.
So without further ado, let’s take a look at the best Garageband for Windows alternatives in 2022.
1. Cakewalk
✓ Audio Recording | ✓ MIDI capability | ✓ Instruments/Effects | ✓ Third party Plugins
Cakewalk by Bandlab is a stunning, immensely powerful Garageband for Windows alternative, and is currently available as a free download.
Funnily enough, Cakewalk used to cost anywhere between $200-$300, but in early 2018, the music creation software was aquired by Bandlab, who generously re-released it completely for free!
The Cakewalk GUI is sleek, professional and packed with various production modules to sink your teeth into. It offers all the functionality that makes Garageband so powerful, such as audio recording, full MIDI capabilities, an array of bundled instruments / effects and even third-party plugin support.
Cakewalk’s interface is organised into the timeline module, the console, and the folder browser. This design style is actually closer to DAW powerhouses such as Logic or Ableton, making this one the most compelling Garageband for Windows options out there.
Furthermore, both Garageband and Cakewalk let you import video files, allowing you to edit the audio, while the video plays in a separate window. This is an essential feature for users looking to experiment with film / TV composition. Cakewalk even allows you to export the video file to various formats such as H. 264, WMV, MPEG-4.
The downside? Due to the sheer amount of creative options, Cakewalk can often feel a little overwhelming to beginners. There are definitely options on this list that are more immediately intuitive, but if you’re up for a challenge, Cakewalk is easily the most powerful free Garageband for Windows alternative in 2022.
Click here for your free download (Windows only)
Features
Ease of Use
Instruments/Effects
2. MPC Beats
✓ Audio Recording | ✓ MIDI capability | ✓ Instruments/Effects | ✓ Third party Plugins
Another fully-featured, highly capable Garageband alternative is Akai’s MPC Beats.
As the name suggests, MPC Beats is primarily designed for beat-making and loop arrangement. This fantastic piece of software is heavily focused on hip hop-esque styles of production and MIDI controller synchronicity.
For example, Akai are best known for their MIDI keyboards and drum pad hardware, so naturally these products (and others for that matter) work flawlessly with MPC Beats.
This free Garageband for Windows alternative comes packaged with 2GB worth of content, including samples, loops, and built-in virtual instrument plugins to get you started. It also offers a whopping 80 audio FX plugins to edit, manipulate and transform your MIDI and audio in any way you can imagine.
On top of this, MPC Beats offers full third-party VST support.
Cakewalk vs MPC Beats
So how does MPC Beats compare with Cakewalk? In all honesty, I’d say Cakewalk has more additional parameters and controls, particularly with automation and audio editing. This extra level of functionality can lead to a lot more creative possibilities, and I’d definitely consider Cakewalk a more “complete” DAW option.
On the other hand, MPC Beats is undoubtedly more intuitive, and is designed to be much more forgiving for beginners. So if you want a Garageband alternative with a relatively low learning curve, but still brimming with extra features, MPC Beats should definitely be on your radar.
Click here for your free download (Windows/Mac)
Features
Ease of Use
Instruments/Effects
3. Tracktion Waveform Free
✓ Audio Recording | ✓ MIDI capability | ✓ Instruments/Effects | ✓ Third party Plugins
In 2020, Tracktion released a free version of their commercial flagship DAW Waveform, containing all the fundamental aspects of the full Waveform Pro 11. Obviously, you don’t get every feature of the full product, but the freeware version includes everything required for beginner / intermediate music production.
As you’d expect, you can record, edit and arrange audio files, record MIDI sequences and arrange your patterns and tracks to create polished, professional-sounding music.
One exceptional feature of this free Garageband alternative is it’s unlimited track count. Most free DAW’s limit the amount of audio / MIDI tracks in a single project, whereas Waveform Free allows you to create and arrange as many tracks as you like. This can be hugely beneficial if you’re working on particularly large projects or recording live band performance with several input channels.
Tracktion’s Waveform Free is also endlessly intuitive, and beginners will have no problem getting to grips with it’s clear, beautifully designed interface.
Unfortunately, this free DAW is a little sparse when it comes to included virtual instruments. But similar to Cakewalk and MPC Beats, Waveform Pro allows you to import third-party instruments and effects, which opens the door to an almost unlimited amount of sonic versatility.
Click here for your free download (Windows/Mac/Linux)
Features
Ease of Use
Instruments/Effects
4. LMMS
✖ Audio Recording | ✓ MIDI capability | ✓ Instruments/Effects | ✓ Third party Plugins
LMMS is definitely one of the more popular free Garageband for Windows alternatives out there in 2022.
This free DAW offers a fantastic range of music creation tools, from a fully-featured MIDI piano roll, to various bundled instruments and effects.
However, you cannot currently record audio in LMMS, which is obviously a huge downside to any producer looking to work with live performances.
The software engine is pretty easy to figure out, and relies on a similar workflow to DAW’s such as Logic or Pro Tools. Due to the high level of customization and the clear, easy-to-understand layout, you’ll be creating melodies and loops in no time. Also, it actually uses most of the same keyboard shortcuts as FL Studio, which can be particularly useful if you have any prior experience with FL Studio.
In terms of included instruments and effects, I wouldn’t say there’s a huge amount of dig your teeth into. One standout plugin is the Roland TB-303 – the classic bass synthesis machine. This virtual instruments allows you to easily create retro sub-bass melodies or modulated acid leads. Thankfully however, third-party VST imports are also supported.
LMMS is also 100% open source, so if that’s your thing, I’d definitely recommend checking out this free DAW.
Click here for your free download (Windows/Mac/Linux)
Features
Ease of Use
Instruments/Effects
5. Studio One 5 Prime
✓ Audio Recording | ✓ MIDI capability | ✓ Instruments/Effects | ✖ Third party Plugins
Similar to Tracktion Waveform Free, Studio One 5 Prime is the freeware version of a full, commercial product.
Let’s first address the elephant in the room, this Garageband alternative does not offer third-party plugin support. I completely understand how this is probably a deal-breaker for most producers, and if it was supported this free DAW would be much higher on this list.
However, Studio One 5 Prime still has a lot going for it.
Firstly, the software offers a tantalising collection of native effects, instruments and loops, which is more than enough to tip your toes in the water. You can also create unlimited audio / MIDI tracks, giving you a huge amount of creative flexibility within the DAW.
Overall, this is good choice for a free beginner DAW, but producers looking for more functionality and production tools should probably look elsewhere.
Click here for your free download (Windows/Mac/Linux)
Features
Ease of Use
Instruments/Effects
Are there any other FREE Garageband for Windows Alternatives?
There are several other alternatives out there that work perfectly on a Windows OS, however the 5 DAWs listed above are easily the most comprehensive, powerful choices out there in 2022.
Another alternative is to utilise free trials of commercial flagship DAWs such as FL Studio or Ableton. Usually these last for a 30 day or 90 day period, but they give you a valuable opportunity to experiment with a full, heavyweight music creation tool.
If you’re thinking of purchasing a commercial DAW, but not sure which one to go for, these free trials are definitely worth checking out:
• FL Studio (Free Trial) – Unlimited time / cannot reload project files once saved • Ableton (Free Trial) – All features included / 90 day period • Logic (Free Trial) – All features included / 90 day period • Pro Tools (Free Trial) – All features included / 30 day period • Reason (Free Trial) – All features included / 30 day period |
The Best FREE Garageband for Windows Alternatives (2022): Similar Articles
Which DAW should I use? | 2022 Comparison Guide for Beginners
Ableton vs FL Studio | Which is right for YOU? (2022 Comparison)
What is a DAW? (Definition and Guide for Beginners)
How to make a beat in Ableton Live 10 | Step by Step Tutorial (2022)
