How Much Does Studio One Cost? Here’s Everything You Need To Know Before You Commit…
TL;DR: Pricing & Best Value
| Plan/Version | Cost (USD) | The Key Takeaway |
| Studio One Artist | $99.99 (One-time) | Cheapest permanent option. Full VST/AU support and unlimited tracks. |
| Studio One Professional | $399.99 (One-time) | AVOID this standalone price. The Hybrid Plan (below) is cheaper and includes a Pro license. |
| Studio One+ Hybrid | $179.99/yr | BEST DEAL. You pay less than the Pro license, get it permanently, and receive all plugins for a year. |
| Studio One+ Monthly | $19.99/mo | Lowest barrier to entry for full features, but you stop owning the Pro license when you stop paying. |
Feature Recommendations (Quick Breakdown)
| Use Case | Recommended Version | Why? |
| Bedroom Producer / Songwriter | Artist ($99.99) | Full recording capability and supports your 3rd party amp sims and synths. |
| Professional Mixing/Mastering | Professional (via Hybrid Plan) | Requires the Project Page, DDP Export, integrated Melodyne, and Dolby Atmos support (Pro features). |
| Scoring Video / Sound Design | Professional (via Hybrid Plan) | Requires the dedicated Video Track and the huge library of Studio One+ instruments/samples. |
Key Pricing Details
- No Free Version: The old “Prime” version is discontinued in the current software generation (Studio One 7).
- The Hybrid Advantage: The $179.99 annual Hybrid Plan is the most cost-effective path to owning the Studio One Professional license outright.
- Subscription Extras: Only the Studio One+ plans grant access to every PreSonus-made plugin, the Notion notation software, and cloud collaboration tools.
How Much Does Studio One Cost?
When it comes to choosing a digital audio workstation (DAW) for your music production needs, PreSonus Studio One has become a popular choice among musicians, producers, and audio engineers. The DAW is slowly working its way into home studios, as well as some professional environments.
However, with multiple software versions available, it’s essential to understand the costs associated with each and the features they offer. In this article, we’ll break down the pricing tiers of PreSonus Studio One and compare the different versions to help you make an informed decision.
Usually, we would have a big graph here explaining every feature that you will get with each addition of the software. But the overall Studio One Cost is easy to understand across the three different versions, as well as a subscription service. Unlike other DAW systems, there are not a ton of options to choose from.
This simplifies the Studio One cost for users, and makes everything crystal clear from the beginning. You can get most of the basic features with the free version, which presents the workflow experience and the intuitive UI of the Studio One ecosystem. Let’s see how the Studio One cost tier works, and which version is right for you!
PreSonus Studio One Versions
PreSonus offers several versions of Studio One, catering to users with varying needs and budgets. There is something here for everyone, from beginner to professional users. As of the last major update in September 2021, here are the primary versions available:
- Studio One Artist – Studio One Artist is the entry-level paid version and offers more features than Prime. It’s suitable for musicians and home studio enthusiasts who want more advanced recording, editing, and mixing capabilities.
- Studio One Professional – Studio One Professional is the most advanced and feature-rich version of Studio One. It’s designed for professional musicians, producers, and engineers and includes a wide range of tools for music production, mixing, mastering, and more.
- Studio One+: This includes the Professional Edition of the DAW, as well as every expansion pack and plugin bundle that PreSonus makes, with regular updates. However, this is a subscription service.
All of these versions have full recording capabilities, but the user experience will be dictated by the included features of each version of the DAW. The main difference between the three versions of PreSonus Studio One comes down to the amount of instruments, samples, and plugins that you get.
Studio one originally had a free option called “Prime”. The recent update to version 6 no longer includes a free option. You may still be able to find a download for Studio One prime, but it will be the 5th edition of the software. PreSonus does offer a free trial of Studio One, but currently no free editions.
Pricing Comparison
PreSonus offers several versions of Studio One, catering to users with varying needs and budgets. The primary versions available are:
- Studio One Artist: The entry-level paid perpetual license is now priced at $99.99 USD. It’s suitable for musicians and home studio enthusiasts, offering unlimited tracks and VST/AU plugin support.
- Studio One Professional: The most advanced perpetual license is priced at $399.99 USD. This version is designed for professionals, including tools for mastering, surround sound mixing, and Melodyne integration.
- Studio One+ Hybrid (Subscription with Perpetual License): This plan costs $179.99 USD per year and is the most cost-effective path to obtaining the Professional license. The annual fee includes access to all Studio One+ plugins and extras, and crucially, awards a permanent, non-updating Studio One Professional Perpetual License at the end of the subscription year.
- Studio One+ Monthly (Subscription Only): This version is available for $19.99 USD per month and grants continuous access to the Professional Edition and all Studio One+ extras, but no permanent license is awarded upon cancellation.
Note on Purchasing: The perpetual licenses (Artist and Professional) are one-time payments. Prices for all versions, especially the perpetual licenses, may be subject to change and are often discounted during holiday promotions. Always check the official PreSonus website for the most current pricing. The free “Prime” edition has been discontinued, though a free trial is available.
PreSonus Studio One +
While most home studio artists might be wary of subscription fees, most pro studios are very accustomed to this practice. Subscription services are usually a very good deal if you have a studio that is being used constantly.
Editor’s Note: Professional Edition/ Studio One+ are what you are looking for when it comes to video editing. It comes with tons of great plugins for video editing. It is great for YouTube, or even Instagram shorts.
PreSonus Studio One+ can be paid for on a yearly of monthly basis, with the yearly fee being the best deal for studios that need all of the tools available, and the list of these tools is vast. So what does the membership offer?
- Exclusive backup, sharing, and collaboration tools built right into Studio One’s Browser.
- Every Studio One add-on and plug-in made by PreSonus, including Audio Batch Converter, Retro Mix Legends, and Deep Flight One.
- Mastering Tools that get your content ready for streaming. This includes plugins for surround sound mixing.
- Exclusive access to video courses and lessons, livestreams, and mix critiques. A rich community experience, to say the least.
- Connect with other Studio One users in the Studio One+ Community. Share your music, favorite presets, tour dates, and more.
Studio One+ monthly membership is $19.99, and annual membership is $179.99. This subscription includes unlimited access to professional software, exclusive content, and an active user base. You can also promote your music, and find other artists to collaborate with on projects.
Studio One+ gives you every plugin available, as well as updates when a new plugin is released. Along with the cloud backup system, this version is by far the best for working studios with clients that need to be able to work within varying genres and styles.
Feature Comparison
Each version has a lot to offer artists that are new to production. Studio One is easy to learn for beginners, and the online community has an active user base that offers a virtual library of information. The in-system tutorials and help sections also guide you along in your journey.
But Studio One will also be familiar to professionals looking for a new ecosystem, with a simplified workflow that many pros appreciate. The DAW has recently started popping up in pro studio environments since the Studio One 6 update, which offers mastering tools.
We are only going to look at the perpetual license versions, since Studio One+ comes with literally every feature. To help you choose the right version of Studio One, let’s compare some of the key features offered by each version:
Studio One Artist:
- Expanded feature set compared to Prime.
- Unlimited audio and instrument tracks.
- Access to more virtual instruments and effects.
- Features like VST and AU plugin support.
- Integration with third-party hardware controllers.
Studio One Professional:
- All features of Studio One Artist.
- Advanced features for mixing and mastering.
- Support for surround sound mixing.
- Extended virtual instrument collection.
- Advanced automation and scripting capabilities.
- Project mastering with DDP export.
Studio One+:
- All features of Studio One Professional, with every plugin and expansion pack that PreSonus offers.
- Full community access, with tutorials and help.
- Mix critiques from the vast Studio One community.
- Subscription-based service, with regular updates.
All three versions work well with 3rd party plugins like amp simulators and mastering tools. But the appeal of Studio One is the full ecosystem that is offered, where you can take a project from scratch track… to fully mixed/mastered songs ready to be published.
Recent 2023 updates allowed for Dolby Atmos and other surround sound mixing options. While the state of these features are still up in the air when it comes to being “industry standard” right now, it is a great feature for video editing.
Which Version is Right for You?
- Studio One Artist: Suited for musicians, songwriters, and home studio enthusiasts who want more advanced features and are willing to invest in their music production setup.
- Studio One Professional: Best for professionals, experienced producers, and engineers who require the full range of tools and features for professional music production, mixing, and mastering.
- Studio One+: Everything that the Professional Edition features, along with every plugin and tool that PreSonus offers, updated regularly. You also get more access to the Studio One Community.
When it comes down to which version is right for you, it really depends on the user and their needs. Many artists just need a DAW at home to get down ideas to make demos. For simple tasks, Studio One Artist is a great choice that gives you a taste of the PreSonus ecosystem. This makes Studio One Artists fantastic for beginners.
However, the Artist Edition also offers quite a bit more for home studio enthusiasts, with more instruments and samples to use while creating. This version is perfect for users that are already familiar with DAWs, and you can implement any 3rd party plugins that you frequently use with your current DAW.
The Professional Edition and Studio One+ are great options for professional producers. You have powerful tools at your fingertips for editing, mastering, mixing, and even performing live. You can use 3rd party plugins, but Studio One Professional comes with everything you need to release tracks ready for streaming or printing.
We recommend the Professional Edition and Studio One+ versions, even if you are a beginner to using DAWs. In fact, as a beginner, Studio One professional has every feature you will need as you learn production. While you may not need all of these features in the beginning, you will need them eventually.
The Professional Edition/Studio One+ versions are also perfect for video editing as well. You may be able to ditch your video software all together in favor of Studio One! Our tests showed that Studio One is a fully-operational video editor, perfect for syncing music to video.
If you are serious about production, PreSonus has a lot to offer with Studio One. The “industry standard” for years was Pro Tools, but we are seeing a massive change of the DAW landscape. Most DAW programs are on equal ground when it comes to quality, so the user experience is what matters.
We honestly believe that Studio One might be the best DAW for beginners. It may not hold your hand completely, but the clean UI and ease of use are undeniable. Choose the version that fits your needs and budget, and start creating!
