--- title: Bitwig Studio canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/bitwig-studio/ category: Digital Audio Workstations points: 64 rank: 4 of 8 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # Bitwig Studio Clip-based DAW for Windows, macOS and Linux with unlimited tracks in every edition, from 99 euros. 64 points out of 100. #4 of 8 digital audio workstations. Vendor: Bitwig GmbH. Website: https://www.bitwig.com/ - Essentials costs 99 euros, Producer 199 and Studio 399, and every edition lists unlimited audio, instrument and hybrid tracks [1]. - Each purchase includes 12 months of free updates; the terms grant use for an unlimited period [1][5]. - There is no free edition, but a 30-day trial runs without limitations [4]. - It loads VST3 and CLAP plug-ins and supports MPE in all three editions [2][6]. - Builds exist for Windows, macOS and Linux [4]. Verdict: Bitwig Studio suits producers who want a bought-once DAW with no track cap and plug-in formats such as CLAP and MPE [1][2][6]. Essentials at 99 euros lists no audio comping and only 4/8 audio I/O busses, so most people compare it with Producer at 199 euros [1][2]. The catch: updates are free for only 12 months, and there is no free edition [1][4]. Best for: Producers who want a one-time licence, CLAP and MPE support, and a Linux build. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Recording and editing | 100 or more tracks | Yes | 10/10 | Essentials, Producer and Studio each list unlimited audio, instrument and hybrid tracks [1][3]. | | Recording and editing | Take comping | Yes | 5/5 | Producer and Studio list audio comping in the arranger and Clip Launcher; Essentials does not list it [2]. | | Recording and editing | Built-in time-stretch | Yes | 5/5 | Every edition has audio stretching: 3 algorithms in Essentials, 8 including Elastique in Producer and Studio [2][3]. | | Recording and editing | Audio to MIDI | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the vendor's user guide chapter on notes and audio, which covers bouncing and slicing only [10]. | | Recording and editing | Video track | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the vendor's overview, feature list or project export guide [2][3][9]. | | Mixing and control | Surround mixing | Not published | 0/5 | Not published on the vendor's feature list or mixer routing guide; only multichannel audio interfaces are described [3][11]. | | Mixing and control | MPE support | Yes | 4/4 | All three editions list full MPE support; the feature list names playing, recording and editing [2][3]. | | Mixing and control | Scripting or extension API | Yes | 4/4 | User guide says users can edit or write controller scripts in Java or JavaScript, with API documentation in the Help tab [7]. | | Plugins | VST3 plugins | Yes | 8/8 | The user guide's plug-in settings include a 'Prefer VST 3 over VST 2' option [6]. | | Plugins | CLAP plugins | Yes | 3/3 | All editions list CLAP plug-ins; the user guide names VST and CLAP plug-ins and offers 'Prefer CLAP over VST' [2][6][8]. | | Systems | Other desktop systems | macOS, Linux | 6/6 | System requirements list macOS 12 or later, Windows 10 or 11, and Ubuntu or Flatpak on Linux [4]. | | Licence and updates | Buy once, keep forever | Yes | 6/6 | Editions are listed with a price and no subscription; the terms grant use for an unlimited period [1][5]. | | Licence and updates | Update policy | period | 3/6 | All updates in the 12 months after purchase are free; terms say free functional updates last one year [1][5]. | | Licence and updates | Open source | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the vendor's terms page [5]. | | Licence and updates | Works offline after activation | Not published | 0/3 | Not published on the vendor's terms or download pages, which cover activation only [4][5]. | | Licence and updates | Free trial of a paid edition | Yes | 3/3 | The download page offers 30 days to explore Bitwig Studio without limitations, free [4]. | | Price | Free edition | No | 0/8 | The buy page lists three paid editions and the download page offers only a 30-day trial [1][4]. | | Price | Cheapest edition with no track limit | $110.74/yr | 7/12 | Essentials, 99 euros one-time; it lists unlimited audio tracks. Price page shows euros only [1]. Converted at €1 = $1.1186 [12]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Essentials | €99 [1] | - | | Producer | €199 [1][2] | - | | Studio | €399 [1] | - | Prices are shown in euros. The page lists a 12-month free-update period for all editions and does not list renewal prices [1]. ## Strengths - Every edition lists unlimited audio, instrument and hybrid tracks [1]. - Windows, macOS and Linux builds are all available [4]. - CLAP and VST3 plug-ins are supported, and MPE is in all editions [2][6]. - A 30-day trial has no stated limitations [4]. ## Limits - Free updates last 12 months; the page does not state a later update price [1]. - No free edition is listed [1][4]. - Essentials has 4/8 audio I/O busses and does not list audio comping [1][2]. ## Vendor claims (not scored) - Bitwig says all updates in the 12 months after purchase are free [1]. ## Sources 1. [Buy Bitwig Studio](https://www.bitwig.com/buy/), Bitwig, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Bitwig Studio overview](https://www.bitwig.com/overview/), Bitwig, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [Bitwig Studio feature list](https://www.bitwig.com/feature-list/), Bitwig, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Download Bitwig Studio](https://www.bitwig.com/download/), Bitwig, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [Terms and conditions](https://www.bitwig.com/terms-conditions/), Bitwig, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [The Dashboard, Bitwig Studio user guide](https://www.bitwig.com/userguide/latest/the_dashboard), Bitwig, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [MIDI Controllers, Bitwig Studio user guide](https://www.bitwig.com/userguide/latest/midi_controllers), Bitwig, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [Plug-ins, Bitwig Studio user guide](https://www.bitwig.com/userguide/latest/vst_plug-ins), Bitwig, accessed 2026-10-08 9. [Working with Projects and Exporting, Bitwig Studio user guide](https://www.bitwig.com/userguide/latest/working_with_projects_and_exporting), Bitwig, accessed 2026-10-08 10. [Going Between Notes and Audio, Bitwig Studio user guide](https://www.bitwig.com/userguide/latest/going_between_notes_and_audio), Bitwig, accessed 2026-10-08 11. [Master Track Routing, Bitwig Studio user guide](https://www.bitwig.com/userguide/latest/master_track_routing), Bitwig, accessed 2026-10-08 12. [Euro foreign exchange reference rates: US dollar](https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/euro_reference_exchange_rates/html/eurofxref-graph-usd.en.html), European Central Bank, accessed 2026-10-08