Head-to-head
Ableton Live vs GarageBand
2 tools, 11 differing data points, mostly pricing and positioning.
The verdict
Ableton Live or GarageBand?
Section 01
Pricing, plan by plan
Every plan each vendor publishes, monthly and yearly where both are offered.
AAbleton Live
Live 12 Intro
$99 one-time
Live 12 Standard
$349 one-time
Live 12 Suite
$749 one-time
Adds stem separation and surround
GGarageBand
Free
Free
Free from Apple on Mac, iPhone and iPad
Section 02
Pros and cons
From each tool's full review, written from the same checked facts.
AAbleton Live
Pros
- Sold as three one-time purchase editions rather than a subscription, so you own the software outright.
- Auto Shift gives real-time pitch tracking and correction for vocals, included in every edition.
- Stem Separation isolates vocals, drums and bass from any audio clip in the Suite edition.
- Ableton Link syncs tempo and transport across other devices and apps over a network connection.
Cons
- Stem Separation and the Surround Panner are only available in the Suite edition.
- There is no score or notation view.
- There is no real-time collaboration or shared cloud workspace for a Live project.
GGarageBand
Pros
- Entirely free on Mac, iPhone and iPad, with no paid tier or in-app purchase of any kind.
- Drummer, an AI session drummer, plays along with your song across 28 drummers and three percussionists in six genres.
- A Piano Roll Editor for MIDI, a Score Editor for notation, and pitch correction for audio regions.
- Hosts third-party Audio Unit plugins alongside its built-in Sound Library and Apple Loops.
Cons
- Has no surround or Atmos mixing.
- Has no stem-separation feature.
- Has no real-time collaboration for co-editing a project with other people.
Side by side
| Company | ||
| Founded | 1999 | — |
| HQ | Germany | United States |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac | Mac, iPhone, iPad |
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing model | One-time purchase | — |
| Free plan | No | Yes, the whole app |
| Free trial | Yes, 30 days | No |
| Starting price | $99 one-time (Intro) | Free |
| All plans | Live 12 Intro — $99 one-time Live 12 Standard — $349 one-time Live 12 Suite — $749 one-time | Free — Free |
| Positioning | ||
| Best for | Electronic producers and live performers who build tracks from clips and loops | Beginners on Mac, iPhone or iPad who want to start making music for free |
| Differentiator | Ableton Live is built around clip-based production and live performance, sold in editions you buy once. | GarageBand is Apple's free music studio with an AI session drummer, loops and a score view. |
| Competitors | FL Studio, Logic Pro, Reaper | Logic Pro, FL Studio, Ableton Live |
Section 03
Ableton Live vs GarageBand: common questions
Is Ableton Live or GarageBand cheaper?
Ableton Live's cheapest paid plan is $99 one-time (Intro) and GarageBand's is Free. Compare what each plan includes below before going on price alone.
Keep comparing
More Ableton Live matchups
