Cubase isn’t free. If you want full access to Steinberg’s powerhouse DAW, you’re gonna have to fork out some cash.
Or, if you don’t want to do that use Reaper – it’s basically free (and just as good). This is what I use in my Mastering Music 101 Course.
BUT if you do wanna get on the Steinberg train, there is a way to dip your toes in for free (kinda).
Let’s break it all down.
🧠 TL;DR — What You’ll Learn:
- 🎁 What you can get for free from Cubase
- 💸 Full pricing breakdown of Cubase Elements, Artist & Pro
- 🎛️ Why DAWs like Cubase aren’t free (spoiler: it’s not greed)
- 🧠 Who uses Cubase? (Hint: Hans Zimmer and Meshuggah aren’t nobodies)
IS ANY VERSION OF CUBASE FREE?
Technically? Yes — kind of.
Steinberg offers Cubase AI, a stripped-down version you can get for free, but only if you buy specific hardware (like an audio interface or controller) that bundles it in.
Think of it as your “welcome drink” into the world of Cubase.
Otherwise? You’ll need to pay up. The good news is there’s a version for almost every budget and skill level.
CUBASE PRICING: WHICH FLAVOR FITS YOUR BUDGET?
🎛️ Cubase Editions Comparison
| Feature | 🥉 Cubase Elements | 🥈 Cubase Artist | 🥇 Cubase Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audio Tracks | 48 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| MIDI Tracks | 64 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Instrument Tracks (VSTi) | 24 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Instrument Sounds | 1,000+ | 2,600+ | 3,000+ |
| Plugins | 45 | 77 | 99 |
| Audio I/O Support | 24 | 32 | 256 |
| VCA Fader Tracks | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ (256) |
| Score Editor | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Control Room | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Audio Engine | 32-bit float | 32-bit float | 64-bit float |
🥉 Cubase Elements
Perfect for: Beginners & home studio hobbyists
- 🎚️ 48 audio tracks, 64 MIDI tracks, 24 VSTi tracks
- 🎹 1000+ instrument sounds
- 🧩 45 built-in plugins
- 🔌 24 inputs/outputs supported
💬 Solid bang for your buck. A killer starter setup with room to grow.
🥈 Cubase Artist (Best For Most Just Getting Started)
Perfect for: Intermediate producers ready to level up; if you’re looking for something that’ll grow with you as you learn, Artist is a brilliant base to work up from.
- 🎚️ Unlimited audio, MIDI & instrument tracks
- 🎹 2600+ instrument sounds
- 🧩 77 total plugins (62 audio, 15 MIDI)
- 🔌 32 I/O support
💬 No VCA tracks yet, but you’re seriously expanding your sonic playground here.
🥇 Cubase Pro
Perfect for: Pros, studios, and serious audio nerds
- 🎚️ Unlimited everything
- 🎹 3000+ instrument sounds
- 🧩 99 total plugins (including advanced mastering & surround tools)
- 🔌 256 I/O + 256 VCA tracks
- 🧠 Includes Score Editor, Control Room, and a 64-bit audio engine
💬 If you’re recording albums or running a full studio, this is the real deal
🤔 WHY ISN’T CUBASE FREE, ANYWAY?
Let’s be real — building a top-tier DAW is no joke.
Here’s why that price tag exists:
- 🧱 Design & Planning: Months (or years!) of mapping workflows, features, UI, and compatibility
- 👨💻 Development: Complex audio engines, MIDI tools, sequencers, plugin integration — all built from scratch
- 🐛 Testing & Debugging: Hours of bug squashing and stress-testing to keep it stable
- 🔄 Ongoing Updates: New features, compatibility fixes, and user support = continuous costs
So yeah — it costs money because it’s worth money.
WHO’S USING CUBASE?
🎬 If you’re worried about throwing cash at Cubase…
Just remember — you’re not buying into hype; you’re investing in a DAW that’s shaped the sound of film scores, chart-topping albums, and cutting-edge productions for decades.
Hans Zimmer, the legendary film composer behind blockbusters like Inception and Dune, has relied on Cubase for years to sculpt his cinematic soundscapes. Metal pioneers Meshuggah use it to craft their ultra-precise, polyrhythmic madness.
From EDM titans to orchestral masterminds, a boatload of pro producers, engineers, and composers swear by Cubase because it delivers unmatched MIDI capability, pristine audio quality, and a workflow that’s flexible enough for any genre.
It’s not just popular — it’s an industry staple, battle-tested in studios around the world.
Whether you’re scoring a Netflix series, tracking a full band, or layering synths in your bedroom, Cubase has the depth, stability, and sonic tools to take your production to a professional level.
WRAPPING IT UP…
Is Cubase free? No. But it’s damn good value. Reaper is cheaper to run – think of it a bit like open source software. There’s loads of free plugins and it can do pretty everything but it is a little trickier to learn.
As Deadmou5 famously said: if you can work with Reaper, you can work with anything.
Cubase is great. We rate it highly (I much prefer it to Ableton, for instance) and at the Artists package gives you everything you need to get started. Side bonus: it’s more advanced than the basic version, so you’ll grow into it over time.
My advice? Go with the Artist package, get stuck in and learn how to use it. Once you’ve mastered this version, you’ll probably find that it is all you need. If not, there’s always the option to upgrade to Pro.
