Cubase 15 vs REAPER
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which daw to buy.
Cubase 15 and REAPER both target serious desktop production, but they sell different philosophies. Cubase is a deep, composition-first DAW with decades of MIDI and scoring tools. REAPER is a lightweight, unlimited, hyper-customizable DAW that undercuts every flagship on price. Producers compare them when they want pro results without (or with) a big brand ecosystem.
The key difference
Cubase is opinionated composition software: Expression Maps, advanced MIDI, Melodic Pattern Sequencer, and a mature mixer aimed at songwriters and media composers. REAPER is infrastructure: razor edits, track lanes, FX containers, up to 128 channels per track, and a $60 license with no feature gates. Cubase buys you a finished creative environment; REAPER buys you raw capability you configure yourself.
Which should you buy?
Cubase 15 is the better out-of-box choice for scoring, traditional composition, and users who want Steinberg’s instrument/effects ecosystem. REAPER is the better value and the better blank canvas for engineers who live in routing, scripts, and custom workflows. Neither is “more professional” — Cubase is more guided; REAPER is more open.
Specs compared
| Cubase 15 | REAPER | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99–$580 | $60 / $225 |
| Dubspot Score | 8.8 | 9.0 |
| Formats | VST3, standalone, macOS, Windows | VST, VST3, AU, CLAP, LV2, standalone, macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Editions | Pro, Artist, Elements (plus AI/LE OEM tiers) | — |
| License | Perpetual download license (no subscription) | $60 discounted / $225 commercial; DRM-free |
| Pro street price | About $579.99 USD full version | — |
| Key 15 features | Melodic Pattern Sequencer, AI-powered stem separation, Expression Maps updates, Omnivocal beta improvements | — |
| System | Windows 10 22H2+ / Windows 11 24H2+; macOS Sonoma / Sequoia / Tahoe | — |
| RAM / storage | 8 GB RAM minimum; ~84 GB free storage recommended | — |
| Plugin support | VST3 instruments and effects (plus Steinberg ecosystem) | — |
| Type | — | Full multitrack DAW (audio, MIDI, video) |
| Current version | — | 7.x (e.g. 7.77 as of July 2026) |
| Evaluation | — | 60-day full-featured evaluation |
| Updates | — | New v7 license includes free updates through 8.99 |
| Plugin formats | — | VST, VST3, LV2, AU, CLAP, DX, JS |
| Platforms | — | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Notable v7 features | — | Track lanes, swipe comping, FX containers, up to 128 track channels |
Cubase 15 vs REAPER: FAQ
Is Cubase or REAPER better for film/TV scoring?
Cubase is the stronger default for scoring thanks to Expression Maps, advanced MIDI tools, and a composition-centric design. REAPER can score with third-party tools, but Cubase’s built-in language for orchestral work is deeper.
Which is cheaper long-term, Cubase 15 or REAPER?
REAPER is far cheaper: $60 personal license with free updates through the next major version. Cubase Pro sits near the top of the DAW price ladder, with paid major upgrades.
Do both support VST plugins?
Yes. Cubase is built around VST3 instruments and effects. REAPER supports VST, VST3, AU, CLAP, LV2, and more — often broader format support than Cubase.
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.