--- title: Waveform canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/waveform/ category: Digital Audio Workstations points: 85 rank: 1 of 8 facts_checked: 2026-10-09 --- # Waveform Cross-platform music-production program with a free edition that has no track limit and a one-time-price Pro edition. 85 points out of 100. #1 of 8 digital audio workstations. Vendor: Tracktion. Website: https://www.tracktion.com/ - Waveform Free has no limit on the number of tracks and loads third-party plugins like Pro does [3]. - Waveform Pro costs $249 as a one-time payment; upgrading from the previous version costs $149 [1]. - Pro offers a free 30-day trial [10]. - It runs on Windows 10 and 11, macOS 13 or later, and Linux [9][10]. - The Free edition loads VST, VST3 and AU plugins; CLAP is not mentioned [9][11]. Verdict: Waveform suits people who want a DAW with no track cap at no cost, and who can pay later for the extra instruments, effects and video tools in Pro [3][2][12]. Pro is sold for a one-time $249, and the next major version has an upgrade fee [1]. The catch: the vendor pages do not mention CLAP or offline activation [9][11]. Best for: Producers who want a free DAW on Windows, macOS and Linux with a paid upgrade path. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Recording and editing | 100 or more tracks | Yes | 10/10 | The manual says the Free edition has no limitation on the number of tracks [3]. | | Recording and editing | Take comping | Yes | 5/5 | The manual builds a composite take from several takes recorded in Loop mode [4]. | | Recording and editing | Built-in time-stretch | Yes | 5/5 | With Auto-Tempo on, the manual stretches an audio clip to the song tempo using Elastique [13]. | | Recording and editing | Audio to MIDI | Yes | 4/4 | With an ARA plugin, a button converts an audio clip to a MIDI clip; Melodyne Essential comes with Waveform [6]. | | Recording and editing | Video track | Yes | 4/4 | Video import and playback window are in Free, OEM and Pro; the manual covers scoring to picture [12]. | | Mixing and control | Surround mixing | Yes | 5/5 | Multi-channel audio with 5.1 and 7.1 tracks is marked Waveform Pro, and the mixdown renders to 5.1 or 7.1 [5][14]. | | Mixing and control | MPE support | Yes | 4/4 | Settings record MPE as per-note expression, and the 4OSC synth supports MPE controllers [11][7]. | | Mixing and control | Scripting or extension API | Yes | 4/4 | The manual documents JavaScript macros for Waveform actions [8]. | | Plugins | VST3 plugins | Yes | 8/8 | The Free page and the manual list VST3 plugin support on this edition and its settings [9][11]. | | Plugins | CLAP plugins | Not published | 0/3 | Not published on the vendor's plugin pages or manual [9][11]. | | Systems | Other desktop systems | macOS, Linux | 6/6 | Download pages list macOS 13 or later and Linux (Ubuntu 24.04 listed) [10][9]. | | Licence and updates | Buy once, keep forever | Yes | 6/6 | Waveform Pro is priced as a one-time payment of $249 [1]. | | Licence and updates | Update policy | paid | 1/6 | A new major version needs a $149 upgrade from the previous one; no free-update policy is stated [1]. | | Licence and updates | Open source | Not published | 0/4 | Tracktion offers Tracktion Engine as open source, but not the Waveform program [10]. | | Licence and updates | Works offline after activation | Not published | 0/3 | Not published on the vendor's purchase and download pages [1][10]. | | Licence and updates | Free trial of a paid edition | Yes | 3/3 | Waveform Pro has a free 30-day trial [10]. | | Price | Free edition | Yes | 8/8 | Waveform Free is a free download with multitrack recording and no track limit [9][3]. | | Price | Cheapest edition with no track limit | $0 | 12/12 | Waveform Free meets the no-track-limit line at no cost [3]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Waveform Free | Free [3][2] | $0 | | Waveform Pro | $249 one-time [1][10] | - | Waveform Pro is $249 for a new licence and $149 as an upgrade from Waveform 13; larger bundles cost $349 to $999 [1]. ## Strengths - Free edition has no limit on tracks and takes third-party plugins [3]. - The manual documents take comping and recording MPE as per-note expression [4][11]. - Pro is a one-time purchase, not a subscription [1]. - Video playback in every edition and a JavaScript macro system are documented [12][8]. - Windows, macOS and Linux versions are available [9][10]. ## Limits - Pro upgrades to a new major version cost $149 from the previous version [1]. - Multi-channel 5.1 and 7.1 mixing is a Pro feature [5]. - Video export, multiple video clips and image sequences are Pro only [12]. - Support for CLAP plugins is not mentioned on the vendor pages [9][11]. ## Vendor claims (not scored) - Tracktion says Waveform Free is a fully featured, completely unlimited free DAW [9]. ## Sources 1. [Waveform Pro, Buy & Upgrade](https://www.tracktion.com/products/waveform-pro-buy), Tracktion, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Waveform edition comparison](https://www.tracktion.com/products/waveform-compare-versions), Tracktion, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [Waveform User Manual: Introduction](https://tracktion.github.io/waveform_manual/introduction/), Tracktion, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Waveform User Manual: Comping](https://tracktion.github.io/waveform_manual/comping/), Tracktion, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [Waveform User Manual: What's New](https://tracktion.github.io/waveform_manual/whats-new/), Tracktion, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Waveform User Manual: Audio Clips and Editing Audio](https://tracktion.github.io/waveform_manual/audio-clips-and-editing-audio/), Tracktion, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [Waveform User Manual: 4OSC Synthesizer](https://tracktion.github.io/waveform_manual/4osc/), Tracktion, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [Waveform User Manual: Macros](https://tracktion.github.io/waveform_manual/macros/), Tracktion, accessed 2026-10-08 9. [Waveform Free](https://www.tracktion.com/products/waveform-free), Tracktion, accessed 2026-10-08 10. [Waveform Pro](https://www.tracktion.com/products/waveform-pro), Tracktion, accessed 2026-10-08 11. [Waveform User Manual: Reference Settings](https://tracktion.github.io/waveform_manual/reference-settings/), Tracktion, accessed 2026-10-08 12. [Waveform User Manual: Working With Video](https://tracktion.github.io/waveform_manual/working-with-video/), Tracktion, accessed 2026-10-08 13. [Waveform User Manual: Working With Loops](https://tracktion.github.io/waveform_manual/working-with-loops/), Tracktion, accessed 2026-10-09 14. [Waveform User Manual: Mixing Down](https://tracktion.github.io/waveform_manual/mixing-down/), Tracktion, accessed 2026-10-09