# Ardour vs LMMS

| Attribute | Ardour | LMMS |
|---|---|---|
| **vioscaleAI score** | 50 (19% (low)) | 45.1 (17% (low)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 73 | 10 |
| adoption.github_stars | 5,267 | 10,347 |
| content.faq | `[{"answer":"Open-source software for multitrack audio recording, mixing, MIDI composition, and video synchronization with plugin support and hardware control. It is indexed under Music Production Daw.","source":"https://ardour.org/","question":"What is Ardour?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Ardour is open source, so it can be self-hosted and used at no licence cost. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://ardour.org/","question":"Is Ardour free to use?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Ardour supports Windows, macOS and Linux. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://ardour.org/","question":"What platforms does Ardour support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. Ardour can be deployed self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.","source":"https://ardour.org/","question":"Can Ardour be self-hosted?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have confirmed 3 integrations for Ardour, including freesound.org, Mackie Control and JACK. This is what we could verify from public sources, so the vendor may support others we have not indexed.","source":"https://ardour.org/","question":"What does Ardour integrate with?","confidence":0.6}]` | `[{"answer":"A desktop digital audio workstation that enables you to compose, arrange, and mix music using built-in editors like a piano roll, beat sequencer, and multi-track mixer, along with synthesizers and effects plugins. It is indexed under Music Production Daw.","source":"https://lmms.io/","question":"What is LMMS?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"LMMS is open source, so it can be self-hosted and used at no licence cost. It is released under the GPL-2.0 licence. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://lmms.io/","question":"Is LMMS free to use?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"LMMS supports Windows, macOS and Linux. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://lmms.io/","question":"What platforms does LMMS support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. LMMS can be deployed self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.","source":"https://lmms.io/","question":"Can LMMS be self-hosted?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. LMMS is published under the GPL-2.0 licence, a copyleft licence, so check its terms before embedding it in a closed-source product. Licence terms can change between releases, so verify against the repository for the version you intend to use.","source":"https://github.com/lmms/lmms","question":"Is LMMS open source?","confidence":0.95}]` |
| deployment.options | `{"self_hosted":true}` | `{"self_hosted":true}` |
| description.long | Open-source software for multitrack audio recording, mixing, MIDI composition, and video synchronization with plugin support and hardware control. | A desktop digital audio workstation that enables you to compose, arrange, and mix music using built-in editors like a piano roll, beat sequencer, and multi-track mixer, along with synthesizers and effects plugins. |
| features.capabilities | `{"pricing_model":"free_open_source","workflow_paradigm":"traditional_linear_timeline","architecture_model":"desktop_local_application","gpl_or_permissive_oss_license":true,"video_playback_track_for_film_scoring":true,"vst3_and_audio_unit_au_hosting_support":true,"hardware_control_surface_deep_integration_midi_learn":true}` | `{"pricing_model":"free_open_source","workflow_paradigm":"traditional_linear_timeline","architecture_model":"desktop_local_application","gpl_or_permissive_oss_license":true}` |
| integrations.count | 3 | - |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"freesound.org","native":true,"category":"media_library","direction":"inbound"},{"name":"Mackie Control","native":true,"direction":"bidirectional"},{"name":"JACK","native":true,"direction":"bidirectional"}]` | - |
| language.primary | C++ | C++ |
| license.spdx | - | GPL-2.0 |
| platform.support | `{"mac":true,"linux":true,"windows":true}` | `{"mac":true,"linux":true,"windows":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://ardour.org/","retrievedAt":"2026-09-01T14:45:18.502Z"}` | `{"type":"open_source","summary":"Free and open source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://lmms.io/","retrievedAt":"2026-09-01T16:08:15.859Z"}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | open_source | open_source |
| pricing.price_level | free | free |
| pricing.transparent | - | yes |
| release.cadence_days | - | 123 |
| release.history | - | `[{"url":"https://github.com/LMMS/lmms/releases/tag/v1.3.0-alpha.2","date":"2026-09-06T00:16:35Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v1.3.0-alpha.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/LMMS/lmms/releases/tag/v1.3.0-alpha.1","date":"2020-11-09T12:47:12Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v1.3.0-alpha.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/LMMS/lmms/releases/tag/v1.2.2","date":"2020-07-04T12:35:12Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.2.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/LMMS/lmms/releases/tag/v1.2.1","date":"2019-10-21T00:31:26Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.2.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/LMMS/lmms/releases/tag/v1.2.0","date":"2019-06-09T12:17:53Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.2.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/LMMS/lmms/releases/tag/v1.2.0-rc8","date":"2019-02-19T01:57:30Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v1.2.0-rc8"},{"url":"https://github.com/LMMS/lmms/releases/tag/v1.2.0-rc7","date":"2018-09-25T07:48:37Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v1.2.0-rc7"},{"url":"https://github.com/LMMS/lmms/releases/tag/v1.2.0-rc6","date":"2018-06-01T00:05:23Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v1.2.0-rc6"},{"url":"https://github.com/LMMS/lmms/releases/tag/v1.2.0-rc5","date":"2017-12-19T17:43:15Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v1.2.0-rc5"},{"url":"https://github.com/LMMS/lmms/releases/tag/v1.2.0-rc4","date":"2017-10-01T20:13:01Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v1.2.0-rc4"},{"url":"https://github.com/LMMS/lmms/releases/tag/v1.2.0-rc3","date":"2017-05-31T14:46:37Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v1.2.0-rc3"},{"url":"https://github.com/LMMS/lmms/releases/tag/v1.2.0-rc2","date":"2017-01-06T15:08:08Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v1.2.0-rc2"},{"url":"https://github.com/LMMS/lmms/releases/tag/v1.1.90","date":"2016-02-17T05:35:53Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v1.1.90"},{"url":"https://github.com/LMMS/lmms/releases/tag/v1.1.3","date":"2015-03-08T02:52:35Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.1.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/LMMS/lmms/releases/tag/v1.1.2","date":"2015-02-10T15:44:02Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v1.1.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/LMMS/lmms/releases/tag/v1.1.0","date":"2014-12-23T17:56:41Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.1.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/LMMS/lmms/releases/tag/v1.0.100","date":"2014-12-16T20:34:03Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v1.0.100"},{"url":"https://github.com/LMMS/lmms/releases/tag/v1.0.99","date":"2014-12-01T04:05:36Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v1.0.99"},{"url":"https://github.com/LMMS/lmms/releases/tag/v1.0.98","date":"2014-11-20T05:04:40Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v1.0.98"},{"url":"https://github.com/LMMS/lmms/releases/tag/v1.0.96","date":"2014-11-07T14:10:43Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v1.0.96"}]` |

## Capabilities (Music Production Daw)

| Capability | Ardour | LMMS |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Capabilities** |  |  |
| Architecture model | Desktop local application | Desktop local application |
| Workflow paradigm | Traditional linear timeline | Traditional linear timeline |
| Vst3 and audio unit au hosting support | ✓ | - |
| Native pitch correction and vocal tuning flex pitch | - | - |
| Advanced audio warping and time stretching algorithms | - | - |
| Midi comping and take folder management | - | - |
| Sheet music score editor view | - | - |
| Hardware control surface deep integration midi learn | ✓ | - |
| Video playback track for film scoring | ✓ | - |
| Surround sound and dolby atmos native mixing | - | - |
| SOC2 type ii | - | - |
| Gpl or permissive oss license | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pricing model | Free open source | Free open source |

*Source: vioscaleAI. Generated 2026-09-11T23:37:57.928Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*