Logic Pro is a popular Mac software for songwriters and music producers. You can compose songs, mix beats, edit tracks, and more — it even integrates with Dolby Atmos tools, allowing you to create immersive audio. With a wide range of plugins supported, there’s a lot you can do with Logic Pro.
The only downside is it’s not available for Windows. While Logic Pro is available for iPads and iPhones, if you’ve got a Windows desktop, you’re going to need to search for other options.
Fortunately, there are tons of fantastic choices available, whether you have to work with spatial audio or just want to edit and create songs. Some of the top alternatives to Logic Pro include Cubase, Steinberg Nuendo, Ableton Live and others. However the best Logic Pro alternative for Windows is Pro Tools which is free and offers great features that help you get started quickly.
Let’s take a look at these Logic Pro alternatives for Windows in detail. Some of them are free, and some are not; but regardless of your needs, you’ll find a Logic Pro alternative that meets them.
Best Logic Pro Alternative For Windows
1. Pro Tools
Avid Pro Tools is one of the most advanced digital audio workstations on the market. Pro Tools Ultimate supports native Dolby Atmos workflows (unlike Logic Pro, which requires the Dolby Atmos plugin).
Pro Tools has three versions: Pro Tools First, Pro Tools (standard), and Pro Tools Ultimate. Pro Tools First is the version you will want if you are looking for a free Logic Pro alternative — it doesn’t cost any money whatsoever, but it is somewhat limited (for example, it only allows for 23 plugins).
On the other hand, if you need a tool that is compatible with Dolby Atmos, Pro Tools Ultimate is the one to go for. However, Pro Tools does not limit you to Dolby Atmos for immersive audio; you can also use Ambisonics and other 3D sound systems.
With a customizable interface and over 60 virtual instruments to choose from, creating music with Pro Tools is a pleasure. You can record music as it comes to your mind, you can edit existing music, or you can mix music.
Avid Cloud Collaboration allows you to work on projects in the cloud with team members.
Also, Pro Tools has advanced audio post-production capabilities, making it a good choice if you need to produce and edit music for your videos, films, shows, pre-recorded webinars, movies, and the like.
In fact, Pro Tools is part of the Netflix Production Technology Alliance. That means that when you work on audio post-production for an upcoming show you will be releasing on Netflix, you can be sure you are complying with Netflix’s technical requirements.
With its advanced automation capabilities, you can get a lot of tasks done quickly, save time, and be more productive. You can also export your stems in a single WAV file and share it with others working on the audio post-production project.
Avid Pro Tools isn’t just a suite of software, however. Indeed, Pro Tools is a combination of software and hardware, merging the two to give you the most powerful music editing features.
Of course, the hardware is optional — most people are fine with the digital audio workstation on their Windows computers. Nevertheless, it’s something worth considering.
With the Avid Control app for your Android phone, you can use the hardware consoles to mix and create music much faster than you might be able to do on your desktop.
You’ll be glad to learn that if you are creating music with Avid, you can easily share and distribute your music on platforms like Spotify, Deezer, SoundCloud, and many others with AvidPlay.
2. Cubase
Are you looking for a Logic Pro alternative for Windows that is both affordable and easy to work with? Cubase might be the solution.
Cubase has both a basic and an advanced channel strip. In both, you can assign modules directly to the channel; however, you will get more effects in the advanced version.
Mixing is great on Cubase, as you can use the MixConsole, which is designed to work without your mouse — just use your keyboard. Not only that, but it has a screen reader, so you can use it even if you are visually impaired.
You can customize your workspaces and colorize your channels.
All in all, Cubase is a worthy alternative to Logic Pro, and it’s just a bit better when it comes to MIDI support and mixing.
3. Steinberg Nuendo
Nuendo is a digital audio workstation developed and sold by Steinberg, the same maker of Cubase. Steinberg Nuendo includes support for native Dolby Atmos workflows, making it super easy to work with immersive audio (with Logic Pro, you need to use the Dolby Atmos plugin).
Steinberg Nuendo is often used by top production teams not only for music but for television, films, movies, and more. Learn more here about its Dolby Atmos features.
Nuendo is great if you require an advanced tool for Dolby Atmos mixing and for music production for shows, films, and the like.
For regular audio creation, Nuendo is still great, with an advanced audio engine and support for up to 256 audio inputs.
4. Ableton Live
A great alternative to Logic Pro is Ableton Live, a fantastic digital audio workstation that is a favorite of many musicians and producers. With an interface that is incredibly easy to work with, many find it more intuitive than Logic Pro.
You can define ranges for velocity probability and set the probability that you will hit a certain note to create variations to your patterns. There are tons of virtual instruments to work with, as well as new instrument packs.
For example, you might like the Inspired By Nature pack, which includes six instruments that take inspiration from nature. Or, you can try the Spectral Resonator or Spectral Time packs for some interesting results.
Ableton Live is constantly adding new features and improvements. So, even if you tried it in the past and didn’t like the previous versions, you may enjoy the updated version.
With MPE compatibility, you can add bends, slides, and pressure to each note in a chord. Tempo Following in Ableton Live means the software will follow incoming audio and adjust the tempo accordingly; you no longer have to use it as your source of tempo.
Overall, Ableton Live is excellent for creating and editing music (you can now edit loops from multiple clips at once).
5. Pyramix
Pyramix, by Merging Technologies, is another good alternative to Logic Pro for Windows. Like Logic Pro, it supports Dolby Atmos music, but it includes support for native workflows as opposed to requiring you to use a plugin.
Pyramix is known for being a unique analog-like digital audio workstation. It claims that it is the only digital audio workstation that allows you to create music that sounds analog to humans.
You can edit recordings with multiple tracks quickly as if it were one track. Using the Reference Mastering tool, you can master all types of audio, including Dolby Atmos audio, and make them worthy for release and distribution.
Pyramix is also one of the best digital audio workstations for live recording. It allows you to record concerts and other events without any loss; it’s been used at many events.
6. Reaper
Reaper.fm is definitely one of the more popular digital audio workstations on Windows, for good reason. It makes for a great Logic Pro alternative because it is incredibly affordable, and it is very easy to use.
With a 60-day free trial, you can get a taste of Reaper without committing to anything. Afterward, a license is pretty affordable and lasts you for life.
It will cost you a bit more if you need the commercial license, but if you are an individual using the software for your personal use, you can buy the discounted license. In fact, you can even use the discounted license if you are a business or individual using it for commercial purposes, but you make less than $20,000 from your music business.
The discounted license costs just $60 (that’s a one-time fee), making it a lot more affordable than Logic Pro, while the commercial license costs $225. It’s worth checking this page for updated pricing information and guidelines for using the discounted license.
With full-on MIDI hardware and software support, Reaper is an excellent choice for creating music.
7. PreSonus Studio One
Many people switching from Mac to Windows have found that PreSonus Studio One works as an excellent Logic Pro alternative. It has a clean and intuitive interface and is easy to work with overall, like Logic Pro.
Drag and drop is what Studio One is famous for — it is integrated into every aspect of the interface. From converting audio to MIDI and vice versa to uploading and downloading files, you can do it all with drag and drop.
Not only does Studio One have awesome virtual instruments, but it also provides multi instruments. The multi instruments basically allow you to stack multiple instruments on top of each other to produce even richer effects.
With eight knobs and two pads, you can control any parameter of a multi instrument and customize the sound even further.
The Plugin Manager makes it easy to manage your plugins, hide duplicates, remove plugins, and more.
Studio One isn’t just good for music producers, however. You can also use it for voice overs and podcast production — you might want to check out the Podcast Production Template.
When your music is ready for distribution, you can publish it directly to SoundCloud or use one of the many other options available: CD burning, DDP export, and other digital release formats.
There is so much more that goes into Studio One, and there are a lot of features and tools that are just beyond the scope of this article. Check out the features page if you’d like to explore this super Logic Pro alternative for Windows in further depth.
Overall, most people find Studio One easier to work with than Logic Pro. It doesn’t get in your face as much, and the drag and drop features help you get a lot more done, with less hassle.
8. Sound Forge Pro
Sound Forge Pro, available from Magix, is another good alternative to Logic Pro for Windows. With a free trial and a plugin for Dolby immersive music support, you can do a lot with this versatile digital audio workstation.
There are a number of recording options (such as timestamp and threshold), and you can record up to 32 tracks at the same time. There are also advanced sound design features for music editing, and there are many plugins for audio editing and audio post-production.
The waveform display allows you to quickly find your way around longer tracks and select certain parts of it, and you can use the magnify feature to zoom into a region. The built-in pencil allows you to draw over the waveforms for editing.
All in all, the workflow when using Sound Forge Pro is very intuitive. When you are ready for distribution, you can use its advanced mastering features to get your music ready.
In particular, you might find yourself more productive using Sound Forge Pro than when using Logic Pro when you’re editing long tracks of audios, such as long interviews and podcasts.
Sound Forge Pro has been around for 30 years — three decades is a long time, and the fact that it managed to stay around for so long attests to Sound Forge Pro’s reliability and popularity.
9. FL Studio
FL Studio is another good alternative to Logic Pro if you need a digital audio workstation on Windows. You can try it for free or buy the license — it comes with lifetime free updates, which FL Studio has been providing its users for over two decades.
Although you will probably be using FL Studio on Windows (if you are reading this article), you can also download the app to get more done on the go, from your phone.
Depending on the version you buy, you will get more than 100 instruments and effects. Lots of plugins are available as well, such as Drumaxx and Gross Beat.
While you have to pay extra for most of these plugins, some are free.
MIDI support comes with all versions, although some features are limited to the basic “Fruity” version. For example, you can drag and drop samples or audio into a playlist for quick song creation in all versions except the Fruity version; also, audio recording is available in all versions except Fruity.
It’s also worth noting that the Fruity version comes with no audio editors.
All versions come with included loops, presets, and other content.
Not only is FL Studio available on Windows, but it supports 32 bit, which Logic Pro does not.
10. Cakewalk
If you need a Logic Pro alternative that is 100 percent free, Cakewalk is a good choice. That’s right — it’s entirely free to use, with no catch, unlike Logic Pro.
With Cakewalk, you can record unlimited audio and MIDI tracks and then edit and mix them. With a powerful audio engine and a huge library of instruments, you can let your creativity run wild.
You can also connect your own instruments in addition to the 200+ virtual instruments included. Or, you can import items from other digital audio workstations you have been working with — you can enjoy a lot of flexibility when using Cakewalk.
Cakewalk is touch-enabled, and with its resampling feature, you will always get the best quality. The Auto Pitch feature ensures you have the right pitch, and when you are satisfied with your work, you can export your music directly to SoundCloud, YouTube, Facebook, and more.
Before doing that, however, it’s worth using Cakewalk’s advanced mastering service, created by artists for other artists (like you!). With four different mastering options to choose from, you can prepare your music for distribution in any genre.
The best part is that it is free, and it is very quick! The best engineers have worked on the mastering service, so you know it will come out good.
There are also advanced collaboration tools allowing you to work with other artists on a project.
Oh wait, there’s more: You can sell your work directly to your fans on BandLab, and you get 100 percent of the proceeds! You can give bonus materials to fans, and there are no storage limits — yep, there is unlimited storage.
You can also allow your fans to give you tips via the “Tip Jar” if they liked a track. The choice is yours — you get full flexibility, and you control the pricing fully.
11. Soundtrap Studio
Soundtrap Studio, by Spotify, is a good alternative to Logic Pro if you don’t have a Mac, especially if you need to create music or podcasts for Spotify. It’s unique — can you guess how?
While most digital audio workstations, like Logic Pro, are software packages, Soundtrap Studio is different. It’s an online digital audio workstation, which means you can create music on any device, from the web, without downloading any software to your computer.
There are pianos, organs, and other instruments built into the online DAW, and you can adjust the treble, reverb, pan, and volume.
However, you are not limited to the loops, beats, and instruments built into Soundtrap Studio (there are over 4,000 loops and presets, by the way). You can also connect your own instruments to your Windows machine and start creating music.
You can also connect your microphone. With Auto Tune, you can ensure your music and vocals come out with the correct pitch.
There’s no denying that Soundtrap Studio is a somewhat simplistic digital audio workstation. After all, how many advanced features can you fit into a tool that is entirely online?
However, the online feature means that collaboration with friends, fellow podcasters, and other musicians and artists is super easy. Also, all of your work will be saved online, in the cloud.
That means you can log in from any other device and pick up what you have been doing. Using the Soundtrap Studio app (now available for iOS and coming soon to Android), you can even do your work on the go.
Running Logic Pro On A Hackintosh
There shouldn’t really be any need to run Logic Pro on a Hackintosh. There are so many fantastic alternatives to Logic Pro on Windows that it is taking it a bit too far, in my opinion.
However, if you love Logic Pro so much, and you are so dedicated to working with that specific digital audio workstation, you can technically go through the hassle of setting up Logic Pro on a Hackintosh.
A Hackintosh is a non-Apple computer that is set up to run macOS. Basically, you take a Windows machine (one that runs on a 64-bit processor and meets other requirements), and you install Mac software on it.
Of course, Apple doesn’t allow you to do this — it is a breach of their contract. However, it’s possible, and many people do it.
There are tons of resources online that will help you build a Hackintosh. Here is a nice guide from Mac World.
You can also check out Hackintosh.com. It’s a website with tons of resources for building a Hackintosh, with videos, a forum, and how-to guides.
Nevertheless, you have to ask yourself whether it is worth it. While you can run Logic Pro on a Hackintosh, a Hackintosh won’t necessarily be very stable.
Indeed, it is common for there to be bugs and glitches, so you might not be able to be as productive as you would on a regular Mac. If you need to make music for your job, then just use a regular Windows alternative.
Wrapping It Up: What Is The Best Logic Pro Alternative On Windows?
I recommend Pro Tools Ultimate as the best Logic Pro alternative, as it has everything you would get from Logic Pro, including Dolby Atmos integration and audio post-production.
If you want something free and have more limited needs, you can use Pro Tools First.
