Every tool starts at zero and earns points for what it does and what it costs. Here is exactly what earns them.
The short version
These tools do different jobs, so each kind has its own checklist: audio editors on 4 things and music production apps (DAWs) on 4 things. Each checklist is worth 100 points, and a tool is only ranked against its own kind.
The final score is those points out of 10. A tool with 84 points scores 8.4.
Everything comes from the tool's own website. We don't take payment for points.
Audio editors
What it adds beyond the basicsWorkflow and outputPricingPrivacy and trust
What earns points
1. What it adds beyond the basics
35 of 100 pointsNoise reduction, loudness metering, batch work and plugins are in every audio editor here, so they earn nothing. What counts is editing several tracks at once, AI repair or dialogue isolation, spectral editing, working against video, and surround or Atmos mixing.
Edits several tracks at onceup to 2.3
AI repair or dialogue isolationup to 2.3
Spectral editingup to 2.1
Edits audio against videoup to 1.65
Surround or Atmos mixingup to 1.65
Each section adds up to 10, then counts for 35 of the 100.
2. Workflow and output
22 of 100 pointsThe audio formats it exports, where it runs, third-party plugins and a scripting API.
Audio formats it exportsup to 3
| 2 export formats | +1 |
| 3 to 4 export formats | +2 |
| 5 to 6 export formats | +2.5 |
| 7 export formats or more | +3 |
Where it runsup to 3
| 1 platform | +0.5 |
| 2 platforms | +1.5 |
| 3 platforms | +2.5 |
| 4 platforms or more | +3 |
Third-party pluginsup to 2
Scripting or developer APIup to 2
Each section adds up to 10, then counts for 22 of the 100.
3. Pricing
25 of 100 pointsWhat the cheapest plan you can edit in costs each month, whether anyone will sell you a licence you own outright, and whether there is a free plan. Free software scores the top of the band.
Cheapest plan you can edit in, monthlyup to 7
| Up to $10 | +7 |
| Up to $15 | +5.5 |
| Up to $25 | +4 |
| Up to $40 | +2.5 |
| Over $40 | +1 |
Sells a licence you own outrightup to 2.5
Each section adds up to 10, then counts for 25 of the 100.
4. Privacy and trust
18 of 100 pointsIs the source published under an open licence, and how many ways are there to reach support? Software you install and run yourself is not asked about AI training, SOC 2 or GDPR.
Does not train AI on what you uploadup to 3.5
| Yes | +3.5 |
| Only if you opt out | +1.8 |
| No | 0 |
Source published under an open licenceup to 2
Ways to reach supportup to 2
| 1 support channel | +0.5 |
| 2 support channels | +1 |
| 3 support channels or more | +2 |
Each section adds up to 10, then counts for 18 of the 100.
A real example: Audacity
Here is how Audacity got its 8.5.
| Section | Points |
|---|
| What it adds beyond the basics | 23.4 of 35 |
| Workflow and output | 18.7 of 22 |
| Pricing | 25 of 25 |
| Privacy and trust | 18 of 18 |
| Total | 85.1 of 100 = 8.5 out of 10 |
See every fact behind Audacity's score.
Music production apps (DAWs)
What it adds beyond the basicsWorkflow and outputPricingPrivacy and trust
What earns points
1. What it adds beyond the basics
35 of 100 pointsMIDI editing, virtual instruments, third-party plugins and pitch correction are in every music production app here, so they earn nothing. What counts is splitting a song into stems with AI, an AI session player that writes parts, surround or Atmos mixing, a score view and a loop library.
Splits a song into stems with AIup to 2.5
AI session player writes partsup to 2.5
Surround or Atmos mixingup to 2
Score (notation) viewup to 1.5
Built-in loop libraryup to 1.5
Each section adds up to 10, then counts for 35 of the 100.
2. Workflow and output
22 of 100 pointsThe audio formats it exports, where it runs, the hardware and apps it connects to, and a scripting API.
Audio formats it exportsup to 3
| 2 export formats | +1 |
| 3 to 4 export formats | +2 |
| 5 to 6 export formats | +2.5 |
| 7 export formats or more | +3 |
Where it runsup to 3
| 1 platform | +0.5 |
| 2 platforms | +1.5 |
| 3 platforms | +2.5 |
| 4 platforms or more | +3 |
Hardware and apps it connects toup to 2
| None | 0 |
| 1 to 3 integrations | +1 |
| 4 to 8 integrations | +1.5 |
| 9 integrations or more | +2 |
Scripting or developer APIup to 2
Each section adds up to 10, then counts for 22 of the 100.
3. Pricing
25 of 100 pointsWhat the cheapest way to make music in it costs each month, whether you can buy a licence you own outright, and whether there is a free edition.
Cheapest plan you can make music in, monthlyup to 7
| Up to $10 | +7 |
| Up to $15 | +5.5 |
| Up to $25 | +4 |
| Up to $40 | +2.5 |
| Over $40 | +1 |
Sells a licence you own outrightup to 2.5
Each section adds up to 10, then counts for 25 of the 100.
4. Privacy and trust
18 of 100 pointsIs the source published under an open licence, and how many ways are there to reach support? Software you install and run yourself is not asked about AI training, SOC 2 or GDPR.
Does not train AI on what you uploadup to 3.5
| Yes | +3.5 |
| Only if you opt out | +1.8 |
| No | 0 |
Source published under an open licenceup to 2
Ways to reach supportup to 2
| 1 support channel | +0.5 |
| 2 support channels | +1 |
| 3 support channels or more | +2 |
Each section adds up to 10, then counts for 18 of the 100.
A real example: Logic Pro
Here is how Logic Pro got its 7.4.
| Section | Points |
|---|
| What it adds beyond the basics | 35 of 35 |
| Workflow and output | 9.9 of 22 |
| Pricing | 20 of 25 |
| Privacy and trust | 9 of 18 |
| Total | 73.9 of 100 = 7.4 out of 10 |
See every fact behind Logic Pro's score.
When a tool doesn't say
If a tool's website doesn't answer a yes-or-no question, it gets half the points for that item. Not zero, because a missing answer isn't the same as a no, and not full marks, because silence shouldn't beat a vendor who answers honestly. For a number, like a price, it gets the typical value of the tools that do publish one. Every item scored this way is marked on the tool's scorecard.
If a tool leaves out more than a third of what we check, we don't show a score for it at all. A number built mostly on guesses wouldn't be fair to you or to the tool. Right now 9 of the 9 tools we checked have enough information to be scored.
What the score doesn't tell you
We score what a tool offers and what it costs, as its own website describes it. That's not a hands-on test. The score can't tell you whether a tool is easy to use, whether its data is accurate, or whether support answers quickly. The review covers that.
See the audio software ranked or read how we review tools in general.