Every producer asks the same questions: Which DAW should I choose, and should I switch DAWs?
Before you choose or switch, it helps to understand what different DAWs are good at and why so many great artists make incredible music in completely different setups.
Pros and cons of different DAWs
FL Studio
• Extremely fast idea capture
• Pattern-based workflow encourages creativity
– Large sessions can become cluttered
Ableton Live
• Fast, experimental workflow
• Perfect for electronic music and live performance
– Linear arranging can feel less traditional
Pro Tools
• Industry-standard for recording and mixing
• Excellent audio editing and session compatibility
– Slower for beat-making and composition
Reaper
• Lightweight, highly customizable, very affordable
• Great performance on modest systems
– Less polished out of the box
Logic Pro
• Clean interface and excellent stock plugins
• Great value for Mac users
– Mac-only, limited live-performance tools
Cubase
• Powerful MIDI, audio editing, and scoring tools
• Preferred for large compositions
– Steeper learning curve
Which DAW should I choose in 2026?
The honest answer is that it depends on how you work.
If speed matters most and you want to get ideas down as fast as possible, FL Studio is often a natural fit.
If you have been producing music for a while and want to bring your tracks to a live performance setting, Ableton Live often makes that transition easier.
If your goal is to record vocals or instruments and collaborate with professional studios, Pro Tools is still the standard in many environments.
The best DAW is the one that supports your habits and helps you finish music.
A few famous artists and their DAWs
• FL Studio: Tyler, the Creator, Afrojack, Metro Boomin, Southside, Avicii
• Ableton Live: Deadmau5, Skrillex, Diplo, Four Tet, Porter Robinson
• Pro Tools: Pharrell, Dr. Dre, Andrew Scheps, Mike Dean
• Reaper: Glenn Fricker, Ola Englund, Devin Townsend
• Logic Pro: Billie Eilish, Eric Prydz, Finneas, Calvin Harris
• Cubase: Hans Zimmer, Zedd, Junkie XL
Different genres. Different workflows. Same result: great music.
The truth: the DAW does not matter
Amazing music is made in every DAW.
Your ideas, taste, and persistence matter far more than the software you choose.
People made timeless music 20 years ago with DAWs far simpler than today.
What matters is not which DAW you use, but who is using it and how.
There is no best DAW. Only the one that helps you finish music.
Why switching DAWs can still help
Even though the DAW does not matter, switching can unlock new creative insights:
• You approach ideas differently
• New shortcuts change your flow
• Fresh tools break old habits
Sometimes a new environment is all it takes to hear your own music in a new way.
Curious about another DAW?
Load your own song into a different DAW using our converter.
No rebuilding. No lost ideas. Just instant exploration.
This is the easiest way to explore a new DAW while continuing to work on a song you already know. Try a new workflow and keep your creativity moving.
Try our DAW converter →