Cubase 15 vs Logic Pro
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which daw to buy.
Cubase 15 and Logic Pro are the two heavyweight composition DAWs producers compare when they care about MIDI, scoring, and finished-record stock libraries. Logic is Mac-only value; Cubase is cross-platform depth. Both finish professional work without a third-party suite.
The key difference
Logic Pro is the best one-time Mac DAW value: huge stock library, strong instruments, and a polished mixer at a relatively modest price. Cubase is the cross-platform specialist for Expression Maps, advanced MIDI, and Windows/Mac parity. If you are Mac-only and want maximum content per dollar, Logic is hard to beat; if you need Windows or Steinberg’s composition toolset, Cubase is the match.
Which should you buy?
Logic Pro is the smarter buy for most Mac producers on value. Cubase 15 is the better fit for Windows users, dual-platform studios, and composers who specifically want Cubase’s MIDI/scoring stack. Neither is a weak choice.
Specs compared
| Cubase 15 | Logic Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99–$580 | $199.99 |
| Dubspot Score | 8.8 | 8.8 |
| Formats | VST3, standalone, macOS, Windows | Audio Units (AUv2), Audio Unit Extensions (AUv3) |
| Editions | Pro, Artist, Elements (plus AI/LE OEM tiers) | — |
| License | Perpetual download license (no subscription) | — |
| 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) | Built-in instruments and effects plus third-party Audio Units (AU) plug-ins |
| Platforms | — | Mac (Apple silicon, macOS 15.6 or later) and iPad (A12 Bionic or later, iPadOS 26 or later) |
| Spatial Audio | — | Integrated Dolby Atmos tools; exports industry-standard ADM files |
| Cross-platform | — | Round-trip project compatibility between Mac and iPad |
| Mac price | — | $199.99 one-time purchase |
| Subscription price | — | $12.99/month or $129/year (Apple Creator Studio) |
Cubase 15 vs Logic Pro: FAQ
Does Cubase run on Mac and Windows?
Yes. Cubase 15 supports modern Windows and macOS. Logic Pro is Mac-only (including iPad variants of Logic).
Which is better for orchestral MIDI?
Both are strong. Cubase’s Expression Maps and scoring heritage are a classic choice for sample-library orchestral work; Logic’s stock instruments and articulation systems are excellent for many composers on Mac.
Which is better value?
Logic Pro typically wins on content-per-dollar for Mac users. Cubase Pro costs more at full price but remains a perpetual-license alternative to subscription DAWs on both platforms.
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.