REAPER 2026: Benefits, Features & Pricing

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Overview
Pricing and Plans
Features
User Reviews

Overview

REAPER

4.8

(60)

Pricing

Pricing available upon request

About REAPER

REAPER is an on-premise solution that helps small businesses and non-profit organizations streamline processes related to audio producing, editing, transformation, and customization. It enables staff members to overdub and record multi-takes or layered audio and MIDI in several formats and on multiple disks according to individual requirements.

REAPER allows team members to utilize a drag-and-drop interface to import, move, split, re-seize, loop, crossfade, pitch shift and render audio files. It lets employees switch between multiple layouts and change colors, icons and toolbars. Staff members can intuitively handle changes across tempos, time signatures, pitch-shifting and varispeed. Additionally, it lets users embed plug-ins into track control and mixer panels, such as ReaFIR, ResEQ and ReaXcomp.

REAPER comes with an application programming interface (API), which lets businesses integrate the platform with several third-party solutions. It is available on a perpetual license and support is extended via email, documentation, community forum, FAQs, video tutorials and other measures.

REAPER Screenshots

REAPER Pricing and Plans

Starting price: $60.00

Free Trial

Free Version

Basic

$60.00

No plan information available

REAPER Features

Popular features found in Audio Editing
Audio Manipulation
Audio Mixing
Audio Recording
Plug-in Integration
Video Editing
More features of REAPER
API
Audio Capture
Audio Editor
Custom Development
Data Import/Export
Drag & Drop
Graphical Workflow Editor
Mastering
Monitoring
Multi-Channel Management
On-Demand Recording
Synchronous Editing
Third-Party Integrations

REAPER User Reviews

Overall Rating

4.8

Ratings Breakdown

75%

25%

Secondary Ratings

Ease of Use

4.3

Value for money

4.9

Customer support

4.3

Functionality

4.6

Jeremy D.

Verified reviewer

Media Production

2-10 employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed December 2022

A DAW That Challenges Standards

I had to learn REAPER for a gaming audio job, and it was very tough to get used to coming from Pro Tools, Cubase, et al., compared to other DAWs. The right-click mouse selection was particularly painful: no other DAW works like this, and it's hard to see what the benefit of this is. I often would summon a right-click menu instead of a selection and you still use the standard left-click selection for most things, causing more confusion. Despite REAPER's customizability, I could never change this to work like other DAWs. But that being said, REAPER is incredibly fast, light, and reliable. Once I dug into Actions, I immediately missed it on other DAWs. But ultimately, REAPER is a bit too much of an odd duck for me. But I would happily recommend it as a fully professional DAW.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

REAPER is almost limitless in scope: virtually everything about the app can be customized, with powerful actions (macros) and scripts that can automate complex tasks. The small footprint and low price explains why it has such a large, loyal user base, and the powerful batch tools show why REAPER has wide adoption in the gaming industry. REAPER is definitely a contender for the "best DAW".

Cons:

REAPER's interface can be very intimidating, with extremely small, hard-to-read fonts, and no included instruments or sounds. Furthermore, there are some very counterintuitive functions, like using right-click to select audio clips (trying to change this in Preferences is a real headache that I could never resolve) that will cause headaches for new users. Experienced users will also come across features they need that are missing, with feature requests dating back years.

Benjamin M.

Verified reviewer

Music

Self-Employed

Used weekly for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed January 2021

Great software for independent artists

I started using Reaper when I realized that my version of Cubase was obsolete. A friend recommended it and I tried it, band members started using it as well and now we can teach each other things. I use Reaper on Windows now and have not tried the Linux build but I think that's great! I used to run Reaper on a laptop I found in a dumpster, the Windows build run through WINE in Ubuntu. I didn't have any issues, but I think I only used it for editing, maybe not for recording.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Functionality

Pros:

It was free to try and there are tons of tutorials online and other people using Reaper to learn tips and how to use it. It's similar enough to the other programs I've used (Cubase/Protools) that I could jump in and learn from there. The EQ plugin interface is very nice as well. I find it is very convenient to use the waveform and move/change band points.

Cons:

The only problems I've run into have involved things that I overlooked or didn't completely understand. I have been able to fix them, easily though not always quickly. I can't say that I have anything I like least about it. It's great.

Reasons for switching to REAPER

A friend started using Reaper and told me about how cool it is. I realized that my version of Cubase was pretty old and I gave Reaper a try.

Tony R.

Verified reviewer

Entertainment

Self-Employed

Used monthly for less than 12 months

Review source

Reviewed March 2021

Reaper - Best for the money!

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Functionality

Pros:

The cost of Reaper is why it is so attractive. In the end if you are going pro you will need to spend more money. But you can purchase a user license extremely cheap and have most of the functions you need in a DAW to create and mix great music.

Cons:

It just wasn't "pro" level. But again, for the money there is nothing out there that has as much to offer as Reaper does. If you aren't trying to mix to a movie or do some other pro level recording with advanced work flow requirements this is the DAW for you!

Reasons for switching to REAPER

Logic is MAC only. Reaper will run on Windows, which is my preferred OS.

Jon G.

Verified reviewer

Music

Self-Employed

Used weekly for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed February 2022

Customizable DAW for College Dropout

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

Reaper is so easy to use and learn with lots of customizability for how you want your layout to look. I've mixed literally thousands of hours in the program and it's the only program I mix with now.

Cons:

The only downside of Reaper I can think of is that it doesn't come with a suite of cutting edge plug-ins or have an option to purchase different tiers of the program with elite plugins included.

Reasons for switching to REAPER

Pro Tools is too expensive compared to the amount of functionality Reaper has for much less but still allows it to compete in the field.

FLAVIO V.

Verified reviewer

Music

Self-Employed

Used weekly for less than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed March 2021

Reaper reaped expensive competitors

During this pandemic era, I and friends played remotely and recorded some songs without getting together. Reaper made this much more fun and easier than using traditional heavy softwares such as Sonar and Cubase.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

Reaper is light, fast, cheap, effective, intuitive, fun to use! I tried last 3 decades many other music production softwares, most of them are huge slow monsters, full of bugs.

Cons:

The online help is not as good as the software itself, but most of time I found on YouTube tutorials produced by the users which helped me a lot.

Reasons for choosing REAPER

Reaper price is much more attractive and it is faster with much better usability.

Reasons for switching to REAPER

Reaper is faster and consume less computer resources. It has also a great stability.

Maciej N.

Verified reviewer

Financial Services

Self-Employed

Used weekly for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed February 2021

My go to DAW

I am a hobbyist musician and have been using Reaper since 2009 (switched from ProTools). I am a big fan of this DAW as I know it, yet I have so much more to learn and so many features I did not get to know yet.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

Reaper has the most intuitive workflow for me. Before using Reaper, I tried Pro Tools, Cubase and Cakewalk. Reaper fits my needs the best. I love that the developers are conbstantly updating it and adding new features.

Cons:

There is nothing I don't like in Reaper. There is maybe a steep learning curve if you are used to using another DAW, but Reaper is definitely worth it.

Reasons for switching to REAPER

Reaper is much cheaper option and at the same time does not lack features.

Délcio R.

Verified reviewer

Music

2-10 employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed December 2022

Reaper is a professional sound production tool for everyone. I recommend it.

My experience has been the greatest. I finally found a professional and easy software to produce, mix and master my sounds, and increase my costumers in my studio. Thanks.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

One of the great features, is the easy and intuitive interface, and professional commands to manage sound. Great mixing and much more features. This software changed my life, and my costumers are very happy with the results. Thanks to the developers.

Cons:

I don't have a thing to complain yet. But sometimes it just has some bugs. But maybe this is a problem with my computer memory. Beside this, I love it.

Cristhian Josue J.

Verified reviewer

Design

2-10 employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed August 2021

Reaper, when the community makes a daw great.

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Functionality

Pros:

Reaper is the daw you always wanted if you are looking for a great community that will welcome you with open arms, in my opinion, the ability of the developers of this daw to listen to the community is undoubtedly the best of this software. despite its visual ineffectiveness, reaper is the right alternative for Linux users, because this daw bets for simplicity and compatibility with any operating system, leaving aside more visual or unnecessary aspects.

Cons:

Reaper can look intimidating, it looks like software from the '00s rather than a current daw, usually, people who want to give a chance to this daw are novices in the field of music production, so they might be overwhelmed by many aspects of this daw, either the poor quality in the visual aspect, the unpopularity of this daw in the mainstream or simply the prejudices that each person may have.

Kevin Fabián H.

Verified reviewer

Retail

201-500 employees

Used weekly for less than 6 months

Review source

Reviewed March 2024

Very easy to use

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

The simplicity of its use, its low weight and low requirements to be able to function

Cons:

The built-in libraries and effects are very few, which forces you to search from other sources

Simon M.

Verified reviewer

Media Production

2-10 employees

Used daily for more than 2 years

Review source

Reviewed April 2022

The go-to DAW for anyone starting out - even if you have no budget!

After having used REAPER for over a decade, I can proudly say that it was the best investment I've made in terms of time and money. Starting out with a shoestring budget right out of college, REAPER was the only piece of audio production software I could afford. 14+ years later, it still delivers beyond any other DAW I've used before. For anyone starting out reading this, please go ahead with closed eyes. The software is strong and the community is stronger. There is absolutely no place for regrets!

Ratings Breakdown

Ease of use

Value for money

Customer support

Functionality

Pros:

The relatively inexpensive start up costs is what helped with choosing REAPER. The wide array of included plugins, with industry leading levels of customization - this is why REAPER is one of the best in the industry. To top it all off, the ease of setup and use, regardless of the use case, is what makes this the best software out there. From recording to mixing to mastering, every step of the process can be easily accomplished with REAPER - no third party needed.

Cons:

To be honest, REAPER is a little too perfect thanks to its constant update cycle and bug fixes. Add to it a robust community that develops and supports each other, there's nothing left to be desired.

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