--- title: REAPER canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/reaper/ category: Digital Audio Workstations points: 71 rank: 3 of 8 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # REAPER DAW for Windows, macOS and Linux with no track limit, a 60-day evaluation and a $60 discounted licence. 71 points out of 100. #3 of 8 digital audio workstations. Vendor: Cockos Incorporated. Website: https://www.reaper.fm/ - The discounted licence costs $60 and the commercial licence $225, before tax [2]. - A new licence includes free upgrades through REAPER version 8.99 [2]. - You can evaluate the full program for 60 days, with no registration [1][2][3]. - Cockos says there are no limits on track counts, sends or effects [1]. - Official builds exist for Windows, macOS and Linux, and it loads VST3 and CLAP plugins [1][3]. Verdict: REAPER suits home producers and small studios who want a $60 one-off licence with no track limit [1][2]. The $60 discounted licence covers personal use and commercial use under $20,000 yearly revenue, and includes upgrades through version 8.99 [2]. The catch: the code is closed and the vendor's pages do not document audio-to-MIDI conversion or MPE recording [4][6]. Best for: Home producers who want a one-off price of $60 and no track limit. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Recording and editing | 100 or more tracks | Yes | 10/10 | Cockos says there are no limits on track counts; the single version has no artificial limitations [1]. | | Recording and editing | Take comping | Yes | 5/5 | Lanes let you pick the best parts of several takes and build one composite take [1]. | | Recording and editing | Built-in time-stretch | Yes | 5/5 | The features page lists real-time pitch shifting and time stretch; release notes describe stretching imported media to project tempo [4][7]. | | Recording and editing | Audio to MIDI | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the vendor's pages [1][4][7]. Dynamic split and pitch detection are listed, but no audio-to-MIDI conversion. | | Recording and editing | Video track | Yes | 4/4 | The home page lists native video support; release notes cover video decoding and encoding with FFmpeg [1][4]. | | Mixing and control | Surround mixing | Yes | 5/5 | Release notes list the ReaSurroundPan panner with a 7.1 layout; the features page lists built-in multichannel/surround panners and surround recording [4][7]. | | Mixing and control | MPE support | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the vendor's pages [1][4][7]. Release notes mention only MIDI editor options that help MPE editing. | | Mixing and control | Scripting or extension API | Yes | 4/4 | ReaScript supports EEL2 and Lua built in, and Python if installed separately [5]. | | Plugins | VST3 plugins | Yes | 8/8 | The home page lists VST3 among supported plugin formats [1]. | | Plugins | CLAP plugins | Yes | 3/3 | The home page states full CLAP support on Windows, macOS and Linux, and does not call it beta [1]. | | Systems | Other desktop systems | macOS, Linux | 6/6 | The download page lists macOS and Linux builds as well as Windows [3]. | | Licence and updates | Buy once, keep forever | Yes | 6/6 | The store shows a single payment per licence with no subscription; the licence covers versions through 8.99 [2][6]. | | Licence and updates | Update policy | period | 3/6 | A new licence includes free upgrades through version 8.99 [2]. | | Licence and updates | Open source | No | 0/4 | The licence calls the code a trade secret; only third-party libraries are open source [6]. | | Licence and updates | Works offline after activation | Not published | 0/3 | Not published on the download, purchase or licence pages, which do not mention activation or offline use [2][3][6]. | | Licence and updates | Free trial of a paid edition | Yes | 3/3 | The full program can be evaluated for 60 days with full functionality [2]. | | Price | Free edition | No | 0/8 | The licence allows free use for 60 days only and requires a purchase after that; there is one version and no free edition [1][6]. | | Price | Cheapest edition with no track limit | $60/yr | 9/12 | Discounted licence, $60 one-time; open to personal use. There is no track limit in any edition [1][2]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Discounted licence | $60 [2] | - | | Commercial licence | $225 [2][6] | - | Prices exclude VAT and local taxes. One licence key can be installed on several computers if only one is in use at a time [2]. ## Strengths - Discounted licence is $60, available for personal use or businesses earning up to $20,000 a year [2]. - Cockos describes a single version with no artificial limits, and no limit on track counts [1]. - Builds for Windows, macOS and Linux, and loads VST3 and CLAP plugins [1][3]. - Scripting in EEL2, Lua and Python comes with the program through ReaScript [5]. - 60-day full evaluation with no registration required [2][3]. ## Limits - There is no free edition; after the 60-day evaluation you must buy a licence [6]. - Upgrades are included only through version 8.99, and the page says nothing about later versions [2]. - The source code is not public; the licence calls it a trade secret [6]. - Cockos's pages do not document audio-to-MIDI conversion or recording of MPE data [1][4]. - All licence purchases are final [2]. ## Vendor claims (not scored) - Cockos says it is a single fully featured version with no artificial limitations [1]. ## Sources 1. [REAPER | Audio Production Without Limits](https://www.reaper.fm/), Cockos, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [REAPER | Purchase](https://www.reaper.fm/purchase.php), Cockos, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [REAPER | Download](https://www.reaper.fm/download.php), Cockos, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [REAPER release notes (whatsnew.txt)](https://www.reaper.fm/whatsnew.txt), Cockos, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [ReaScript documentation](https://www.reaper.fm/sdk/reascript/reascript.php), Cockos, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [REAPER licence agreement](https://www.reaper.fm/license.txt), Cockos, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [REAPER | About](https://www.reaper.fm/about.php), Cockos, accessed 2026-10-08