REAPER vs Waveform Free

Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which daw to buy.

DAW

REAPER

Cockos · $60 / $225

9.0
Essential
DAW

Waveform Free

Tracktion · Free

8.0
Great

Which should you buy?

On the Dubspot Score, REAPER comes out ahead (9.0). That said, the right pick depends on your workflow and budget — read both reviews before deciding.

Specs compared

REAPERWaveform Free
Price$60 / $225Free
Dubspot Score9.08.0
FormatsVST, VST3, AU, CLAP, LV2, standalone, macOS, Windows, LinuxVST3, AU, standalone, macOS, Windows
TypeFull multitrack DAW (audio, MIDI, video)
Current version7.x (e.g. 7.77 as of July 2026)
License$60 discounted / $225 commercial; DRM-free
Evaluation60-day full-featured evaluation
UpdatesNew v7 license includes free updates through 8.99
Plugin formatsVST, VST3, LV2, AU, CLAP, DX, JS
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux
Notable v7 featuresTrack lanes, swipe comping, FX containers, up to 128 track channels
Product typedaw from Tracktion
DeveloperTracktion
Typical priceFree
FormatsVST3, AU, standalone, macOS, Windows
Primary jobfocused daw work in modern sessions
Catalog statusCurrent as of 2026

See the full plugin database for more comparisons.