Ardour is an open-source digital audio workstation for recording, editing, and mixing on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Free source, paid binaries from $1/mo.
Category
Media & Audio/Video Tools
Pricing
Free (open source) + pay-what-you-want subscription for binaries, from Free (source code); prebuilt binaries via subscription from $1/month
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 18, 2026
Founded
1999
WindowsFree TrialOpen SourceFreemiumMac
Overview
Ardour is a free, open-source digital audio workstation started by Paul Davis in late 1999, with its first public release in 2001. It's licensed under the GNU General Public License v2 and runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
It was built as a professional-grade alternative to commercial DAWs like Pro Tools, and its source code has always been free to download and compile.
Key Features
Ardour supports AudioUnit, LV2, VST2, VST3, and LADSPA plugin formats, offers anywhere-to-anywhere signal routing, unlimited undo/redo, and video timeline integration for soundtrack work.
It includes sample-accurate sync to MIDI timecode and LTC, support for external control surfaces (Mackie Control, OSC, MIDI Learn), and the ability to import sounds directly from the Freesound database.
Pricing
Ardour's source code is always free to download and compile. For those who don't want to compile it themselves, Ardour offers a pay-what-you-want subscription ($1, $4, or $10 per month) for prebuilt binaries and updates, or a free demo binary that periodically interrupts playback until purchased or subscribed. Some Linux distributions also ship free, unrestricted prebuilt packages.
Key Features
Multi-track audio & MIDI recording — Record and edit audio and MIDI with unlimited undo/redo.
Broad plugin format support — Compatible with AudioUnit, LV2, VST2, VST3, and LADSPA plugins.
Anywhere-to-anywhere signal routing — Flexible routing for complex mixing and bus configurations.
Video timeline integration — Sync audio work to a video timeline for scoring and soundtrack production.
Professional sync support — Sample-accurate sync to MIDI timecode and LTC.
Control surface support — Works with Mackie Control, OSC, and MIDI Learn-enabled hardware.
Freesound import — Import sounds directly from the Freesound database.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Fully open-source with free access to the complete source code
Runs natively on Linux, macOS, and Windows
Professional-grade routing, plugin support, and sync capabilities
Low-cost, pay-what-you-want pricing for prebuilt binaries
Cons
Free demo binaries periodically interrupt playback until purchased or subscribed
Steeper learning curve typical of professional-grade DAWs
Linux-first heritage means some workflows may feel less polished than DAWs built natively for macOS/Windows
Pricing
Source Code Free n/a
Demo Binary Free n/a
Subscription $1–$10/month (pay what you want) monthly
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ardour free?
The source code is always free to compile yourself. Ready-to-run binaries are funded via pay-what-you-want subscriptions starting at $1/month, or a free time-limited demo binary.
What platforms does Ardour run on?
Linux, macOS, and Windows.
What plugin formats does Ardour support?
AudioUnit, LV2, VST2, VST3, and LADSPA.
Who created Ardour?
Developer Paul Davis started Ardour in 1999, with its first public release in 2001.