Best Beat Making Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Koala Sampler is ranked #1 of 32 as of 3 October 2026, ahead of Serato Studio and DAWG. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Serato Studio. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Serato Studio at $9.99/mo.
Beat making software supports building tracks from samples, MIDI, and other musical material. Compared on sample import, MIDI support, audio export, and plugin support, the entries let you consider how you bring sounds in and prepare a finished track. Track limits and platforms may also shape the fit for your production setup. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing as you compare. Koala Sampler, Serato Studio, and DAWG are among the options to look at. Focus on the listed workflow details that match how you create, arrange, and export music, rather than assuming every tool supports the same approach.
32 beat making software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
#1 Koala Sampler Top pick · 8.1 Free plan · Free
#2 Serato Studio Runner-up · 7.8 Free plan · $9.99/mo
#3 DAWG Also great · 7.2 
- Free planFree trial AndroidiOSLinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- cross_platform
- Plugin support
- Yes
- MIDI support
- Yes
- Sample import
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free planFree trial macOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 9.99 /mo
- Platforms
- desktop
- Plugin support
- Yes
- MIDI support
- Yes
- Sample import
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$9.99/mofirst paid tier About Serato StudioVisit site - Free trial AndroidLinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- cross_platform
- Plugin support
- No
- MIDI support
- Yes
- Sample import
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan macOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- desktop
- Plugin support
- Yes
- MIDI support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free trial iOSmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- mobile
- Plugin support
- Yes
- MIDI support
- Yes
- Sample import
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - macOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- mobile
- Plugin support
- No
- MIDI support
- Yes
- Sample import
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$31.21/mofirst paid tier About Ableton LiveVisit site - macOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- desktop
- Plugin support
- Yes
- MIDI support
- Yes
- Sample import
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$39/mofirst paid tier About MASCHINEVisit site - macOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$99/mofirst paid tier About FL StudioVisit site - LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - macOSiOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- cross_platform
- MIDI support
- Yes
- Sample import
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Platforms
- cross_platform
- Plugin support
- Yes
- MIDI support
- Yes
- Sample import
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - macOSiOSAndroid
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- cross_platform
- MIDI support
- Yes
- Sample import
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - iOSAndroid
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- mobile
- MIDI support
- Yes
- Sample import
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - WindowsmacOSiOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- cross_platform
- MIDI support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - iOS
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- mobile
- Plugin support
- Yes
- MIDI support
- Yes
- Sample import
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - iOSmacOS
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- cross_platform
- Plugin support
- Yes
- MIDI support
- Yes
- Sample import
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - iOSAndroid
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- mobile
- Plugin support
- Yes
- MIDI support
- Yes
- Sample import
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - iOSAndroid
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- mobile
- MIDI support
- Yes
- Sample import
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - iOSmacOS
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- cross_platform
- Plugin support
- Yes
- MIDI support
- Yes
- Sample import
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - iOSAndroid
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- mobile
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - iOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- mobile
- Sample import
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - iOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- mobile
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - iOSAndroid
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- mobile
- MIDI support
- Yes
- Sample import
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - iOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- mobile
- MIDI support
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - iOSAndroid
- Free plan
- Yes
- Platforms
- mobile
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which beat making software is ranked first on The Geeks Club?
Koala Sampler is ranked #1 of 32 with a score of 8.1. Serato Studio is second and DAWG third.
How many of these have a free plan?
4 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Serato Studio has the lowest first paid tier we found: $9.99/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.