--- title: Ardour canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/ardour/ category: Digital Audio Workstations points: 75 rank: 2 of 8 facts_checked: 2026-10-09 --- # Ardour Open-source recording and mixing program with no limit on tracks, funded by user subscriptions. 75 points out of 100. #2 of 8 digital audio workstations. Vendor: Ardour. Website: https://ardour.org/ - The specifications list no limit on tracks or busses; disk and CPU are the limits [1]. - Ardour is free and open source under GPL v2, and the source code is free to build yourself [10][11][14]. - Subscriptions cost $1 (developing world), $4 (low cost) or $10 (standard) a month; a one-time download of $45 or more covers the next major version [3][14]. - Ardour loads VST3 plugins, and supports Lua scripts and a video timeline [1][8][6]. - It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux [10]. Verdict: Ardour suits people who want an open-source DAW with no track cap, Lua scripting and video support, and who are happy to pay by subscription or build from source [1][2][3]. The vendor says you are under no obligation to pay [3]. The catch: its surround panner is still marked as in development [7], and pre-built installers are described as paid [2]. Best for: People who want an open-source DAW with Lua scripting and a video timeline. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Recording and editing | 100 or more tracks | Yes | 10/10 | The specifications table lists number of tracks as No Limit [1]. | | Recording and editing | Take comping | Yes | 5/5 | The features page lists playlist-based comping; the manual describes building a composite from takes [1][4]. | | Recording and editing | Built-in time-stretch | Yes | 5/5 | Clips in the Cue window are time-stretched to the session tempo, and regions can be stretched keeping pitch [5][13]. | | Recording and editing | Audio to MIDI | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the vendor's features page or manual pages [1][13]. | | Recording and editing | Video track | Yes | 4/4 | Imports a video and shows a frame-by-frame timeline in sync with the project [6]. | | Mixing and control | Surround mixing | No | 0/5 | The VBAP panner, which handles 5.1 and 7.1 layouts, is described as in development and not for important production work [7]. | | Mixing and control | MPE support | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the vendor's MIDI manual pages [1]. | | Mixing and control | Scripting or extension API | Yes | 4/4 | Lua scripting is documented in the manual [8]. | | Plugins | VST3 plugins | Yes | 8/8 | The features page lists VST3 plugins and the Plugin Manager scans VST3 [1][9]. | | Plugins | CLAP plugins | Not published | 0/3 | Not published on the vendor's plugin pages [1][9]. | | Systems | Other desktop systems | macOS, Linux | 6/6 | Home page: record, edit and mix on Linux, macOS and Windows; Windows supported officially since version 5.0 [10][12]. | | Licence and updates | Buy once, keep forever | Yes | 6/6 | The vendor sells a one-time pre-built download, and Ardour keeps working without a subscription [14][3]. | | Licence and updates | Update policy | period | 3/6 | A one-time download of US$45 or more includes updates to that version and the next major version [14]. | | Licence and updates | Open source | Yes | 4/4 | The home page calls Ardour free and open-source, and it is licensed under GNU GPL v2 [10][11]. | | Licence and updates | Works offline after activation | Not published | 0/3 | Not published on the vendor's download and subscription pages [2][3]. | | Licence and updates | Free trial of a paid edition | No | 0/3 | The FAQ describes a free/demo copy that goes silent after 10 minutes, not a 14-day trial [14]. | | Price | Free edition | Yes | 8/8 | Free to copy and build from source under the GPL; pre-built installers are described as paid [2][3]. | | Price | Cheapest edition with no track limit | $0 | 12/12 | The source build meets the no-track-limit line at no cost; cheapest subscription is $1 a month [1][3]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Build from source | Free [2][3] | $0 | | Pre-built download, one time | $45 or more [14] | - | | Subscription, developing world | $1/month [3] | $1 | | Subscription, low cost | $4/month [3] | $4 | | Subscription, standard | $10/month [3] | $10 | Ardour says a one-year subscription at the standard rate costs US$120 and likely spans two major releases [3]. A one-time download costs from US$1; US$45 or more covers the next major version [14]. ## Strengths - No limit on tracks, busses, sends or plugins per track [1]. - Free and open source under GPL v2 [10][11]. - Lua scripting API is documented [8]. - Video timeline imports one video and shows frames in sync [6]. - Loads VST3 plugins on Windows alongside LV2 and others [1][9]. ## Limits - The VBAP surround panner is in development and the manual advises against relying on it [7]. - Pre-built installers are paid or by subscription; building from source is described as hard on Windows [2][3]. - A subscription gives updates only while you remain a subscriber [3]. - The manual shows only one video can be loaded at a time and no video editing [6]. ## Vendor claims (not scored) - Ardour says a one-year subscription costs US$120 and that comparable proprietary DAWs cost between US$300 and US$1500 [3]. ## Sources 1. [Ardour features](https://ardour.org/features.html), Ardour, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Get Ardour](https://community.ardour.org/download), Ardour, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [Support Ardour Development With A Subscription](https://community.ardour.org/subscribe), Ardour, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Playlist Usecases](https://manual.ardour.org/working-with-playlists/playlist_usecases/), Ardour manual, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [Setting Up Stretch Options](https://manual.ardour.org/cue/setting-up-cues/clip-stretch-options/), Ardour manual, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Video Timeline and Monitoring](https://manual.ardour.org/video-timeline/), Ardour manual, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [VBAP Panner](https://manual.ardour.org/mixing/panning/vbap_panner/), Ardour manual, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [Lua Scripting](https://manual.ardour.org/lua-scripting/), Ardour manual, accessed 2026-10-08 9. [Plugin Manager](https://manual.ardour.org/working-with-plugins/plugin-manager/), Ardour manual, accessed 2026-10-08 10. [Ardour](https://ardour.org/), Ardour, accessed 2026-10-08 11. [Ardour development](https://ardour.org/development.html), Ardour, accessed 2026-10-08 12. [Microsoft Windows](https://manual.ardour.org/setting-up-your-system/platform-specifics/microsoft-windows/), Ardour manual, accessed 2026-10-08 13. [Stretching](https://manual.ardour.org/editing/editing-regions-and-selections/stretching/), Ardour manual, accessed 2026-10-08 14. [Ardour FAQ](https://ardour.org/faq.html), Ardour, accessed 2026-10-09