Waveform Free is a DAW from Tracktion with unlimited tracks, VST3 plugin support, 4 instruments and 14 audio effects. Pros, cons and official download page.
Image-Line · Shareware · image-line.com Download Review
LMMS developers (community project) · Open source · lmms.io Download Review
Cakewalk (BandLab Technologies) · Freeware · cakewalk.com Download Review
Downloading it requires a free Tracktion account, and extra tools are sold as expansion packs.
Reason Studios (part of LANDR) · Free trial · reasonstudios.com Download Review
Create a free Tracktion account on the download page, then download the 64-bit Windows installer.
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (PreSonus) · Free trial · fender.com Download Review
Cockos Incorporated · Shareware · reaper.fm Download Review
Ableton AG · Free trial · ableton.com Download Review
Steinberg Media Technologies · Free trial · steinberg.net Download Review (ExeDepot’s page on Waveform Free ).
FL Studio Digital Audio Workstation Pattern-based music studio for beats and full songs; the free trial never expires but can’t reopen projects.
People who do not want to register an account, or who expect the layout of classic DAWs such as Cubase.
Expansion packs and Waveform Pro are optional paid upgrades
LMMS Music Production App Music production app with a piano roll, beat editor, built-in synths and VST support.
Recovers MIDI you played even when recording was not armed.
Ableton Live Digital Audio Workstation Music production and live performance DAW with clip-based Session View; 30-day trial of Live Suite.
Some of these can be bought individually as expansion packs for Waveform Free.
It records and edits audio and MIDI on unlimited tracks, hosts VST and VST3 plugins (plus AU on macOS) and includes a rack environment for building custom effect and instrument chains.
REAPER Digital Audio Workstation Lightweight full DAW for recording, editing and mixing, with a 60-day trial and a $60 personal license.
Program drums and generate chords, basslines and melodies.
Waveform Free is a real DAW with no track limits, plugin support and enough built-in instruments to make complete songs.
Loads VST and VST3 instruments and effects, with a rack for complex chains.
Record and arrange as many audio and MIDI tracks as your PC can handle.
Pro adds more instruments, effects and features such as multi-channel audio and advanced MIDI tools.
It hosts VST and VST3 plugins on Windows, and AU plugins on macOS.
Cubase Digital Audio Workstation Long-established DAW for composing, recording and mixing; 60-day free trial, editions from $99.99.
The free version ships with 4 instruments (the 4OSC synth, Micro Drum Sampler, Micro Sampler and a Rompler), 14 audio effects, 8 MIDI effects and 11 utility plugins.
Home producers, podcasters and songwriters who want a complete DAW without a track limit or price.
Reason Digital Audio Workstation DAW built around a virtual rack of instruments and effects, also usable as a plugin; 7-day Reason+ trial.
Cakewalk Sonar Digital Audio Workstation Full Windows DAW from BandLab, the successor to Cakewalk by BandLab, with a free tier.
Paid expansion packs add features such as multi-channel audio, a clip launcher and more MIDI tools; on Linux the Pro features are unlocked automatically.
Fender Studio Pro (Studio One) Digital Audio Workstation Drag-and-drop DAW formerly called Studio One Pro, now Fender Studio Pro; 30-day demo, $199.99 license.
On first launch, pick your audio device and enable ASIO if your interface supports it, then let Waveform scan your plugin folders.
Useful set of built-in instruments and effects
Several features are sold separately as expansion packs
4OSC synth, drum sampler, sampler and a Rompler are included.