Ranked 4 of 7 in best digital audio workstations
A pattern-based DAW with a strong step sequencer and piano roll, sold in editions with lifetime free updates. It runs only on Windows and macOS.
Best for Beat-making and electronic production
About FL Studio
FL Studio builds songs with a pattern-based step sequencer, a piano roll and an audio recording and editing workflow. The site lists instruments and effects, chord progression generation, stem separation and a loop starter. It also supports hardware controllers and VST plug-ins.
The software is sold in editions that differ in included plug-ins and features, and the vendor advertises lifetime free updates. It is popular with beat makers and electronic music producers. It is available for Windows and macOS only, so Linux users should look at Ardour, REAPER or Bitwig Studio instead.
Key features
- Pattern-based step sequencer
- Piano roll
- Stem separation
- Chord progression generator
- Lifetime free updates
Strengths
- Lifetime free updates on paid editions
- Strong step sequencer and piano roll
Limits
- Windows and macOS only
- Paid editions, with a trial first
Where FL Studio ranks
| List | Rank | Score | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Digital audio workstations | 4 of 7 | 89.0 | Beat-making and electronic production |
Questions about FL Studio
- Is FL Studio free?
- FL Studio is a paid product (paid). Paid editions with lifetime free updates; free trial available.
- Is FL Studio open source?
- No. FL Studio is proprietary software; its source code is not public.
- Which platforms does FL Studio support?
- FL Studio is available on: Windows, macOS.
- What is FL Studio best for?
- Beat-making and electronic production. In our ranking of digital audio workstations it is number 4 of 7 with a score of 89.0.
- What are the best alternatives to FL Studio?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are Ableton Live, Logic Pro, REAPER, Pro Tools.