--- title: Ableton Live canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/ableton-live/ category: Digital Audio Workstations points: 59 rank: 6 of 8 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # Ableton Live Clip-based music production program in three editions, each bought once. 59 points out of 100. #6 of 8 digital audio workstations. Vendor: Ableton AG. Website: https://www.ableton.com/ - Live 12 costs EUR 79 (Intro), EUR 279 (Standard) or EUR 599 (Suite), as one-off purchases [1]. - Intro is limited to 16 audio and MIDI tracks; Standard and Suite have unlimited tracks [1][2]. - The free trial lasts 30 days and covers Suite; afterwards you can no longer save or export [3]. - Suite can be paid for with rent-to-own at EUR 24.96 a month [1]. - Windows and macOS are supported; VST2, VST3 and Audio Unit plugins load, but CLAP is not listed [1][2]. Verdict: Ableton Live suits producers who want unlimited tracks, comping, audio-to-MIDI and MPE in a program bought once [2]. Standard at EUR 279 is the cheapest edition without a track limit [1]. The catch: new versions are paid upgrades, there is no Linux version, no free edition, and CLAP plugins are not listed [1][2]. Best for: Producers who write and perform with clips and want Max for Live. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Recording and editing | 100 or more tracks | Yes | 10/10 | Standard and Suite list unlimited audio and MIDI tracks; Intro has 16 [1][2]. | | Recording and editing | Take comping | Yes | 5/5 | Edition comparison lists comping in all editions; the manual describes combining takes into a composite track [2][4]. | | Recording and editing | Built-in time-stretch | Yes | 5/5 | Warping changes sample playback speed independently of pitch to match the song tempo [4]. | | Recording and editing | Audio to MIDI | Yes | 4/4 | Audio to MIDI conversion is listed for Standard and Suite [2]. | | Recording and editing | Video track | Yes | 4/4 | Video import is listed in all editions; the manual has a Working with Video chapter [2][4]. | | Mixing and control | Surround mixing | Not published | 0/5 | Suite lists a Surround Panner for multichannel speaker setups, but the page names no 5.1 or wider format [2]. | | Mixing and control | MPE support | Yes | 4/4 | MPE support is listed in all editions; the manual has an Editing MPE chapter [2][4]. | | Mixing and control | Scripting or extension API | Yes | 4/4 | Suite includes Max for Live, a platform for building your own instruments and effects [2][5]. | | Plugins | VST3 plugins | Yes | 8/8 | Plugin support is listed as VST2, VST3 and Audio Unit v2 and v3 [2]. | | Plugins | CLAP plugins | Not published | 0/3 | The edition comparison lists VST2, VST3 and Audio Unit support and does not mention CLAP; no page says CLAP is unsupported [2]. | | Systems | Other desktop systems | macOS | 3/6 | The shop lists system requirements for Windows and macOS only [1]. | | Licence and updates | Buy once, keep forever | Yes | 6/6 | Intro, Standard and Suite are sold as one-off purchases; once paid, the licence is yours [1]. | | Licence and updates | Update policy | paid | 1/6 | Upgrade prices for existing licences appear after login, so new versions cost extra [1]. | | Licence and updates | Open source | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the vendor's shop or edition pages [1][2]. | | Licence and updates | Works offline after activation | Not published | 0/3 | Not published on the vendor's pages [1][4]. | | Licence and updates | Free trial of a paid edition | Yes | 3/3 | Free 30-day trial of Live 12 Suite, the full feature set [3]. | | Price | Free edition | No | 0/8 | The shop lists only the paid Intro, Standard and Suite; the trial cannot save or export after 30 days [1][3]. | | Price | Cheapest edition with no track limit | $312.09/yr | 2/12 | Live 12 Standard, EUR 279 one-off; Intro is capped at 16 tracks [1]. Converted at €1 = $1.1186 [6]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Live 12 Intro | EUR 79 one-time [1] | - | | Live 12 Standard | EUR 279 one-time [1][2] | - | | Live 12 Suite | EUR 599 one-time [1][2] | - | The shop showed euro prices only; the score converts at the ECB rate. Rent-to-own is offered for Suite only, and upgrades from older versions are priced after login [1]. ## Strengths - Standard and Suite have no track limit [1]. - Comping, video import and MPE are in every edition [2]. - A 30-day trial of Suite is offered [3]. - Suite includes Max for Live for building your own devices [2][5]. ## Limits - Intro is capped at 16 audio and MIDI tracks [1]. - Audio-to-MIDI conversion needs Standard or Suite [2]. - No Linux version; the shop lists Windows and macOS [1]. - Upgrade prices for new Live versions are shown only after you log in [1]. - The trial cannot save or export after 30 days [3]. ## Sources 1. [Buy Live 12](https://www.ableton.com/en/shop/live/), Ableton, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Compare Live editions](https://www.ableton.com/en/live/compare-editions/), Ableton, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [Try Live free](https://www.ableton.com/en/trial/), Ableton, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Live 12 manual: Live Concepts](https://www.ableton.com/en/live-manual/12/live-concepts/), Ableton, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [Max for Live](https://www.ableton.com/en/live/max-for-live/), Ableton, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Euro foreign exchange reference rates: US dollar](https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/euro_reference_exchange_rates/html/eurofxref-graph-usd.en.html), European Central Bank, accessed 2026-10-08