9.0Essential
REAPER by Cockos is a complete digital audio workstation for recording, editing, mixing, and mastering, with a $60 discounted license and full free evaluation.
Plugin comparison
REAPER vs Waveform Free
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which daw to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
Contenders
The side-by-side
8.0Great
Waveform Free (Tracktion) — daw from Tracktion. Score 8.0/10, price Free, formats and comparisons.
Score verdict
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.
Technical matrix
Specs compared
| Signal | REAPER | Waveform Free |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $60 / $225 | Free |
| Dubspot Score | 9.0 | 8.0 |
| Formats | VST, VST3, AU, CLAP, LV2, standalone, macOS, Windows, Linux | VST3, AU, standalone, macOS, Windows |
| Type | Full multitrack DAW (audio, MIDI, video) | — |
| Current version | 7.x (e.g. 7.77 as of July 2026) | — |
| License | $60 discounted / $225 commercial; DRM-free | — |
| 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 | — |
| Product type | — | daw from Tracktion |
| Developer | — | Tracktion |
| Typical price | — | Free |
| Formats | — | VST3, AU, standalone, macOS, Windows |
| Primary job | — | focused daw work in modern sessions |
| Catalog status | — | Current as of 2026 |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.