The Best Free Music-Making Apps

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The best free music making apps let you record, sequence, mix and export complete tracks without spending a thing. On iOS, GarageBand is the standout; across iOS and Android, BandLab leads. Below is how to choose a free app worth your time, then the best options on each platform and what each does well.

Quick answer

• Best free on iOS: GarageBand
• Best free cross-platform: BandLab
• Best free for electronic music: Caustic (free version)
• Best free for quick beats: Groovepad
• Best free synth (iOS): Moog Model 15 and other periodically-free synth apps

How to choose a free music app

• Platform. GarageBand is iOS only; BandLab, Caustic and Groovepad run on Android too. Confirm the app exists on your device before getting attached.
• Truly free vs free-to-start. Some apps are fully free; others are free with optional in-app purchases for extra sounds or features. Both are fine — just know which you’re using.
• What you make. Beat-driven music suits BandLab and Groovepad; songs with live instruments suit GarageBand and BandLab’s multitrack editor; electronic music suits Caustic.
• Export. Make sure you can get a clean mixdown out — see how to export a song from a music app.

For absolute beginners, our best music apps for beginners guide pairs nicely with this one.

GarageBand (iOS / iPadOS) — free

The best free music app, full stop, if you’re on Apple. It records audio and MIDI across many tracks, includes a deep loop and instrument library, and its Smart Instruments let you play convincing parts with no theory. The only catch is platform — it’s iOS only. More in is GarageBand good for making music?

Best for: iPhone and iPad owners who want the most capable free option, with no upgrade nag and no cost ever.

BandLab (iOS and Android) — free

Free, cross-platform and cloud-based. BandLab offers a real multitrack editor, drum machines, loops, effects and mastering tools, plus a community for collaboration. It’s the best free option for Android users and anyone who switches devices. Compare it directly in GarageBand vs BandLab, and learn it in how to use BandLab to make music.

Best for: Android users, and anyone who wants a completely free DAW that syncs across devices. It even includes free AI mastering, so you can release a track end to end at no cost.

Caustic (Android and iOS) — free version

Caustic gives you a rack of synths, drum machines and samplers in one app. The free demo lets you explore the whole app, and it’s a particularly strong pick on Android, where deep free music apps are scarcer. Great for electronic and beat-based music.

Best for: Android producers making electronic or beat-based music who want a deep, modular studio to learn on, with a one-off unlock if you stick with it.

Koala Sampler — affordable, often the cost of a coffee

Not free, but so cheap and so good at sampling and chopping that it belongs in any budget setup. Record anything, slice it to pads and build beats fast. If your style is sample-based, it’s worth the small outlay — see how to use Koala Sampler.

Best for: budget producers on iOS or Android whose music is sample-based — the one paid app here that’s worth breaking a free-only setup for.

Groovepad (iOS and Android) — free

Loop-launch style: tap pads to trigger loops and layer them into a track. It’s the quickest way for a complete beginner to make something that sounds good, with paid packs for more sounds. Less control than a full DAW, but a fun, free entry point.

Best for: absolute beginners on iOS or Android who want an instant, free win before learning a full DAW.

Free synth and instrument apps (iOS)

On iOS, several excellent instruments are free or periodically free, including Moog’s Model 15 and various Korg apps. Loaded as standalone apps or AUv3 plugins, they massively expand a free setup. Browse the best synth apps for iOS for more.

Best for: iOS users who want a serious free synth — AudioKit Synth One is fully free and open-source, while KORG Gadget Le and Roland Zenbeats both offer capable free tiers to build on.

What you can do with only free apps

Plenty. With GarageBand or BandLab alone you can write, record, mix and export a release-ready song. Add a free synth or two and a cheap sampler and you’ve got a real studio. The free tier is no longer a toy — see can you make professional music on a phone? for how far it goes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best completely free music app?

GarageBand on iOS and BandLab across both platforms. Both are genuinely free and capable of full, exportable tracks.

Are free music apps good enough to release music?

Yes. The limitation is your skill and monitoring, not the free apps. Many releases have been made entirely in free tools.

Is there a free GarageBand for Android?

GarageBand itself is iOS only, but BandLab is the best free Android equivalent, covering most of the same ground. See how to make music on Android.