REAPER
REAPER is a full digital audio workstation by Cockos for multitrack audio and MIDI recording, editing, mixing and mastering on Windows, macOS and Linux, with deep scripting and customization. A discounted or commercial licence follows a 60-day full trial and covers free updates through version 8.99.
#15 in Video & Audio ToolsAudio EditorsNo free plan
Who it's for
Best for
Home and pro engineers who want a full DAW without a subscription
Game audio and voice editors batch-exporting many files
Not for
Beginners who want a guided, ready-made setup
Features
Multitrack audio and MIDI
Full multitrack audio and MIDI recording, editing, processing, mixing and mastering, with no limits on track counts, sends or FX.
Plugin formats
Supports thousands of third-party effects and instruments in VST, VST3, LV2, AU, CLAP, DX and JS formats.
Scripting and customization
Macros, OSC, scripting, control surfaces, custom skins and layouts, plus switchable keyboard and mouse setups.
Track lanes and swipe comping
REAPER 7 adds track lanes for takes and alternate versions, and swipe comping to build one ideal take from many.
Free updates
A new REAPER 7 licence includes unlimited free updates through version 8.99, typically released every few weeks.
What users say
Pros
- Almost everything can be remapped, scripted or turned into a custom action.
- Batch processing and region exports make it a favourite for game audio and voice work.
- A cheap one-time licence and a full, generous trial make it hard to beat on price.
- It stays light and stable on older machines and runs natively on Linux.
Cons
- The learning curve is steep, with an obtuse default interface and complex initial configuration.
- Features other DAWs ship with often need scripts, packages or custom setup.
- Some recent updates crash with popular third-party plugins.
- Menus are dense and some windows feel tiny or clumsy out of the box.
A selection of the review sources we used:
Summarized from public user reviews and community discussions. View details
Global Traffic Rank
Top 500k
Alternatives
Rank#15 in category#1 in category#2 in category#4 in category
Free planNoNoNoYes
ProDeeply customizable, light DAW with a cheap one-time licenceDrummer, plugin bundle, editable event model, fast takesPodcast and radio editing, spectral repair, voiceover recording192 kHz film sessions, AAX mix-chain plugins, tuning plugins
Better forSurgical waveform editing and built-in spectral repair for cleaning up voice tracks
Weaker atMusic production and MIDI editing, lacking virtual instruments and a piano roll