Best REAPER Alternatives 2026

Explore REAPER, the affordable and customizable DAW. Its flexible interface and powerful features make it a great choice for any musician or audio engineer. Download a free, fully functional trial to see for yourself.

This platform supports a vast range of plugins and hardware. With its scripting capabilities, it allows for deep customization and advanced workflows. Its efficiency makes it a great option for users on less powerful computers, yet still has power and features to accomplish pro workflows.

1
Top Alternatives
4
User Reviews
4.4
Avg. Rating

Recent Reviews

BM
Beatrix Moreau
Sound Designer

"REAPER has been a game-changer for my sound design work! The customization options are unparalleled, and I love how ligh..."

SL
Silas Lancaster
Home Studio Musician

"As a hobbyist, REAPER initially felt intimidating, but the learning curve is worth it. The routing capabilities are insa..."

VK
Vivek Kapoor
Post-Production Engineer

"REAPER is a decent DAW and very customizable, but I have experienced stability issues with certain plugins. It excels in..."

REAPER

reaper.fm

REAPER is a digital audio workstation that offers a flexible and customizable environment. Known for efficiency, it provides music recording, editing, mixing, and mastering.

Platform Highlights

  • Highly customizable
  • Affordable pricing
  • Cross-platform support
  • Interface can be intimidating
  • Requires scripting knowledge for customization
Global Rank
#1200
Monthly Users
300K+
Founded
2004
Model
Paid
Revenue Share
N/A
Content Policy
Standard
Creator Satisfaction 87%

Based on 9,000+ creator reviews

REAPER Alternatives

Compare top audio editing platforms with detailed reviews and ratings

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1

Audacity

Recommended Free

Audacity is a free, open-source audio editor and recorder. It offers a wide range of features for editing audio files, including recording, mixing, and effects processing.

Windows, macOS, Linux
Free Option
audacityteam.org
4.3 (0 reviews)
85% recommend
IB
Ingrid Bergman
Voiceover Artist

"As a voiceover artist, I rely on Audacity daily. The multi-track editing is essential for layering tracks and creating p..."

Match Score
60%
User Reviews

What users say about REAPER

Real experiences from our community of users who have tried REAPER and its alternatives.

4.4
Average Rating
4
Total Reviews
87%
Would Recommend
BM
Beatrix Moreau
Sound Designer • 1 month ago
Verified User

REAPER has been a game-changer for my sound design work! The customization options are unparalleled, and I love how lightweight it is. I can run tons of plugins without any performance issues. The scripting capabilities are incredibly powerful for automating repetitive tasks. An absolute must-have for serious audio professionals.

Verified Purchase
SL
Silas Lancaster
Home Studio Musician • 1 month ago
User

As a hobbyist, REAPER initially felt intimidating, but the learning curve is worth it. The routing capabilities are insane; I can do things I never thought possible in my little home studio. The price is unbeatable for what you get, and the nag screen doesn't bother me at all. Highly recommended for any budget-conscious musician!

VK
Vivek Kapoor
Post-Production Engineer • 1 month ago
Verified User

REAPER is a decent DAW and very customizable, but I have experienced stability issues with certain plugins. It excels in flexibility and scripting but can be overwhelming for newcomers. The user interface could use some modernization. It's a powerful tool, but requires a dedicated user to get the most out of it. The project file management is also a bit clunky at times.

Verified Purchase
IN
Isabelle Nguyen
Audiobook Narrator • 1 month ago
User

REAPER's audio editing tools are incredibly precise, making it perfect for audiobook narration. I love the ease of use when cleaning up breaths and unwanted noises. Batch processing has saved me hours of work. It is very stable and the low CPU usage is appreciated when recording long sessions. Amazing value!