Ableton Live 12 vs GarageBand
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which daw to buy.
Which should you buy?
On the Dubspot Score, Ableton Live 12 comes out ahead (9.2). That said, the right pick depends on your workflow and budget — read both reviews before deciding.
Specs compared
| Ableton Live 12 | GarageBand | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | Free |
| Dubspot Score | 9.2 | 8.1 |
| Formats | VST2, VST3, Audio Unit v2 (AU), Audio Unit v3 (AUv3) | standalone, macOS, iOS |
| Editions | Three: Intro, Standard, Suite | — |
| Plugin format support | VST2, VST3, and Audio Unit v2 and v3 | — |
| Audio & MIDI tracks | Intro: 16; Standard & Suite: Unlimited | — |
| Scenes | Intro: 16; Standard & Suite: Unlimited | — |
| Software instruments | Intro: 8; Standard: 12; Suite: 21 | — |
| Audio effects | Intro: 27; Standard: 36; Suite: 59 | — |
| Sound library size | Intro: 5+ GB; Standard: 38+ GB; Suite: 71+ GB | — |
| Max for Live | Included in Suite edition only | — |
| Product type | — | daw from Apple |
| Developer | — | Apple |
| Typical price | — | Free |
| Formats | — | standalone, macOS, iOS |
| Primary job | — | focused daw work in modern sessions |
| Catalog status | — | Current as of 2026 |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.