LMMS is a free, open-source digital audio workstation for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Read our 2026 review of its features, synths, and alternatives.
LMMS is a free, open-source digital audio workstation that began in 2004 as Linux MultiMedia Studio, created by developers Paul Giblock and Tobias Junghans. It has since expanded to Windows, macOS, OpenBSD, and Haiku, and is maintained entirely by volunteer contributors under the GPL-2.0-or-later license.
The software combines tracker-style pattern sequencing with a traditional song editor, letting users compose, arrange, synthesize, and mix full tracks without paying for software, plugins, or a subscription.
LMMS ships with 16 built-in synthesizers plus the bundled ZynAddSubFx plugin, a piano roll and beat/bassline editor, an FX mixer with built-in compression, reverb, distortion and EQ, and support for SoundFont, GigaSampler, and GUS sample formats.
It accepts input from a computer keyboard, mouse, or external MIDI hardware, and supports third-party VST plugins on relevant platforms, extending its stock library of instruments and effects.
LMMS is entirely free and open source under the GPL-2.0-or-later license. There are no paid tiers, subscriptions, or in-app purchases; the full application and its bundled instruments and effects are available to anyone at no cost.
Yes. LMMS is free and open source under the GPL-2.0-or-later license, with no subscription, license fee, or paywalled features.
LMMS runs natively on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with experimental builds available for OpenBSD and Haiku.
LMMS was created in 2004 by developers Paul Giblock and Tobias Junghans as Linux MultiMedia Studio, and is now maintained by a volunteer open-source community.
Yes, LMMS supports loading third-party VST instruments and effects on supported platforms, in addition to its built-in synths and effects.
Yes, LMMS is commonly recommended as a starting point for new producers because it is free, includes a full built-in instrument and effects library, and supports both tracker-style and traditional sequencing workflows.
LMMS's pattern-based Beat/Bassline editor is visibly inspired by FL Studio's workflow, but LMMS is entirely free while FL Studio is a paid commercial product with a more polished interface and larger plugin ecosystem.