Ableton Live has been the go-to music production software, for a large portion of the worlds producers. We love it too, but Ableton can be a bit expensive, especially for beginners. So, we’re going to look into how you can get Ableton Live on your computer for free.
There are two main ways how to get Ableton free. You can use Ableton Live Lite, which comes bundled with nearly all MIDI keyboards and controllers among other free options. Alternatively, a 90-Day trial is available, for the fully spec’d, unrestricted version of Ableton Live 11 Suite.
How to get Ableton for free:
- Go to Ableton.com
- Click Try Live For FREE in the top right of your screen.
- Select your Operating System from the drop-down menu
- Click Download
- Install and Sign In
- Enjoy 90-Days of unrestricted Ableton Live 11 Suite use
Contents
How Do You Get Ableton Live Suite Free?
Compatibility: Ableton Live 11 Suite runs on both Windows 10 and Mac OS X (10.13 or later)
System Requirements: Minimum 8GB RAM, Intel I5 CPU, up to 76 GB of available disk space
While there aren’t any ways to get the full version of Ableton’s Live Suite for free, there is an awesome 90-Day Ableton Free Trial available on their website.
This is a great way to start learning with Ableton Live Suite, since the price of the full package can be quite restrictive to beginner producers.
Unlike Ableton Live Lite, The 90-day Trial doesn’t have restrictions, it’s the full version of Live Suite.
Ableton Live 11 Suite includes 17 incredible instruments, including their awesome Wavetable and Operator synthesizers. In addition to the sound sources, you also get 74 effects to process your audio, these range from Reverbs to Resonators and sound processors.
Additionally, Ableton Live 11 Lite comes with Max For Live, which allows you to expand your library of instruments, effects more than ever. You can also use Max For Live to customize Ableton Live, to your own music production preferences.
Lastly, even if you’re not a beginner, this 90-Day Trial could still be useful to you. If you already own Ableton Live 10, the trial is a great way to test out Ableton Live 11, and see if you want to upgrade to the newer version.
How Do You Get Ableton Live Lite Free?
If you’ve already used up your 90-Day Trial, and still haven’t had enough of Ableton Live, consider picking up Ableton Live Lite for free.
Not to be confused with Ableton Intro, Lite is a stripped-back version of Ableton, with fewer effects and instruments, and a total cap of 8 tracks in a project. In comparison, The Standard & Suite versions have unlimited tracks. While it sounds like an inferior version, Lite is still an incredibly versatile and powerful DAW. You can absolutely produce professional records just by using it.
Unlike Ableton Live intro, you cannot get Ableton Live Lite straight from their website. Instead, the licenses for Live Lite are available exclusively as part of a bundle with other hardware gear or software apps.
So let’s look into how you could get an Ableton Live Lite license!
Download an app that bundles with Live Lite version
The following apps are known to come with a Live Lite license (kudos to this reddit thread). There may be more, please feel free to add them in the comments!
- Free – Koala Sampler (iOS, Android)
- Free or $4.99 – Patterning for iPhone (iOS) – you don’t need the paid version, just tap Export > Continue > Don’t have Live? Tap to get Ableton Live Lite for free!
- $7.99 – Triqtraq – Jam Sequencer (iOS)
Unfortunately, at the time of writing, there is no Android app that comes bundled with Lite. If you don’t have an iOS device you could just borrow one from a friend to install Koala Sampler above, get the license code, and keep using the app on your Android device if you’d like!
Register an account with the Splice platform
EDIT: This used to work until the end of 2020, but it seems it has been discontinued since. You could still try registering and reaching out to the Splice help desk to see if they can grant any more licenses. Please let us know in the comments if it works out!
Splice.com is offering to anyone having an account with them a free license for Ableton Live Lite. Just register an account with them and access https://splice.com/plugins/your-plugins to find your license key to authorize on the Ableton website.
Buy a MIDI controller or an audio interface
Buying a MIDI controller is probably going to be the easiest way you can get Ableton Live Lite.
These days, there are fewer instruments that don’t include Ableton, than the ones that do. Anything from Novation Launchpads, to Akai’s MPK and APC series, M-Audio midi keyboards, as well as Focusrite audio interfaces, and more.
In fact, if you’ve ever bought MIDI keyboards before, there’s a big chance you might already have a Ableton Live Lite license somewhere.
If a product that you know comes bundled with an Ableton Live Lite license, doesn’t have one included, you can refer to this page to request a new license.
The same goes for buying hardware second-hand, as long as it’s supposed to have an Ableton license bundled in, you can request a new license from Ableton (Make sure you have your proof of purchase available before you do!)
Go To Forums
Let’s face it, the broke life is hard, and sometimes you can’t afford to spend the money for any hardware – maybe you’re just beginning and don’t want to lose money.
Well, there still is a great option for you, but this can require some work.
Since there are so many products that come bundled with Ableton Live Lite, there are bound to be people who do not use them. In fact, a lot of these people are nice enough to post licenses online, whether that’s on Reddit, Facebook, or any other forums.
Probably your best bet would be to go scour some Reddit posts and pages, but there are always Facebook groups with people ready to give you their licenses.
Even better, if you have any friends who make music, there’s a good chance they might have a license for you too – so don’t be afraid to ask around!
Should you buy Ableton Live?
So, If you’ve already used up your Trial, and gotten tired of the restrictions that Ableton Live Lite has, what’s next?
If you’ve been enjoying your time with the Ableton platform, you should really save up for the full version.
Ableton Suite is always going to be the best option, but if you’re trying to save some money, Standard is awesome as well, and upgrading your license is an option later down the road.
While Standard doesn’t include as many instruments and effects as Suite, it’s still a fully capable DAW.
Truth be told, Ableton is our go-to DAW, and we love it. If you do too, you should get the full version, you won’t regret it.
That being said, in the case you find Ableton does not stick with your style of producing, the 90-Day Trial and Live Lite offer plenty of time, to figure out whether Ableton Live is for you, or not.
Here’s the recap.
| Feature | Ableton Live 11 Suite (90-Day Trial) | Ableton Live Lite |
|---|---|---|
| How to Obtain | – Visit Ableton.com – Select OS and download | – Bundle with MIDI controllers, interfaces, or apps like Koala Sampler, Patterning for iPhone, Triqtraq |
| Cost | Free for 90 days | Free with eligible hardware or apps |
| Compatibility | Windows 10, Mac OS X (10.13 or later) | Varies with bundled hardware/software |
| System Requirements | Min 8GB RAM, Intel I5 CPU, up to 76 GB disk space | Depends on hardware/software |
| Main Features | – Full version of Live Suite – 17 instruments, 74 effects, Max For Live | – Limited to 8 tracks<br> – Fewer effects and instruments than full version |
| Ideal For | – Beginners to try full features – Live 10 users to test upgrade | – Beginners and professionals – Users with hardware/software bundles |
| Additional Info | – No restrictions in trial period | – Accessible via third-party bundles only |
| Post-Trial Options | – Consider purchasing full version | – Use if trial is exhausted – Consider upgrading if needing more features |
FAQ
Beyond the free trial, no. But you can enjoy the Lite version for free from its bundling with any midi keyboard or controller, or from downloading an App that comes bundled together with a Lite instance You can check all the options in the dedicated section of this article
Live Lite does not have a price, since it’s not directly distributed by Ableton. It comes bundled with third-party hardware gear or software apps, some of which are free. So you can get your hands on Live Lite for free, and legally. Check all options here
Not much, they’re very close: Intro has a 16 tracks cap instead of 8 tracks for Lite and a couple fewer instruments & midi effects. You can check the Lite feature list here.
While the upgrade from 8 tracks to 16 tracks may sound significant, it’s probably not worth paying for the upgrade, it’s better to jump directly to the Standard edition for unlimited tracks and unrestricted features.
Yes, you definitely can! You will just need a proof of purchase, and to complete this form to request a replacement serial number.
You need to register your license number to your Ableton account in order to first authorize Live Lite. The whole installation package can be downloaded from this link.
Finishing Up
Getting Ableton Live for free is easy, once you understand the restrictions. The Full version can be yours free of charge for 90-Days, to get your feet wet with Ableton.
Alternatively, you can get Ableton Live Lite bundled for free with most midi instruments and effects. Live Lite is a stripped-back version of Ableton Live, that is perfect for beginners and confirmed producers alike. It features some awesome-sounding instruments and built-in plugins you can use instantly.
If you feel too limited by Lite’s 16 tracks, and don’t want to fork up the full Suite price, you are welcome to check our selection of DAWs that come completely free!
Both beginners, and professional producers, switching to Ableton, can get great use out of these free ways to get Ableton Live.
If you run out of things to do with Live Lite, consider downloading some free plugins and music production software. We have an awesome list of free plugins and synths, for you to check out!
Moreover, If you’re struggling to find EQ Eight in Ableton, take a look at this helpful resource for further guidance.
Toms is a music producer & DJ, born and raised in Post Soviet Latvia. Currently based in Brighton, Toms has had over 6 years of experience with all things production and in that time, he’s done a tonne of cool stuff! He’s played multiple festivals, had experience in the field with mixing & mastering and even become a freelance journalist in the music industry.
Toms currently creates music under the alias Sovereign. Producing music that’s intimate and subtle, while full of edge and energy, the young producer combines the artistic sounds of Trip Hop artists like Massive Attack, with the energy and youthfulness of producers like Flume, Jamie XX and Yaeji. You can check his stuff on Soundcloud.
