Short answer: choose Logic Pro if you work on an Apple silicon Mac and mainly write, record and mix songs, and want a large set of instruments, Session Players and Stem Splitter built in. Choose Ableton Live if you build tracks from clips, design sounds or perform live, or if you need a DAW that also runs on Windows. Logic Pro comes only from Apple; Live is sold by Ableton and by stores like ours, for example as Ableton Live 12 Suite.
Both are complete DAWs, and some producers use both. This comparison sets out the differences from Apple’s and Ableton’s own published information so you can pick the one that fits how you work.
Ableton Live vs Logic Pro at a glance
| Ableton Live | Logic Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Ableton | Apple |
| Current version | Live 12.4 | Logic Pro for Mac 12.4 |
| Computers | Windows and Mac | Mac with Apple silicon (plus Logic Pro for iPad) |
| Minimum macOS | macOS 11.7.10, Intel or Apple silicon | macOS 15.6, Apple silicon only |
| Plugin formats | VST2, VST3, plus Audio Units on macOS | Audio Units (AUv2 and AUv3) |
| Where you get it | Ableton and resellers | Apple’s App Store only |
| Standout features | Session View, Max for Live (Suite) | Live Loops, Session Players, Stem Splitter |
Workflow: clips or a classic studio timeline
Ableton Live
Live is built around two views. Session View is a grid where clips can be played at any time and in any order, which makes it ideal for trying loops against each other, improvising and performing. Arrangement View is the fixed timeline where the finished song lives. Many producers jam in Session View and then record the take into Arrangement View.
Live 12 adds MIDI Tools that generate and transform notes, plus Meld, Roar and Granulator III for sound design. Ableton Live 12 Suite also includes Max for Live for building your own instruments and effects, Stem Separation and a sound library of over 70 GB.
Logic Pro
Logic Pro follows the classic studio layout: tracks on a timeline, a mixer, and deep editing for recorded audio and MIDI. Apple also gives it a clip grid, Live Loops, described as a grid of loops and phrases you can trigger, so you can sketch ideas in a similar way to Live’s Session View.
Where Logic stands out is the included toolset. According to Apple’s Logic Pro page, Session Players are AI-powered musicians that play bass, keyboard, drum and synth parts that follow your song; Stem Splitter separates a mix into drums, bass, vocals, guitar, piano and other parts; and ChromaGlow adds the character of tubes, tape and analogue gear. Alchemy alone has over 3000 sounds, and Studio Bass and Studio Piano add sampled bass guitars and pianos.
Which is better for electronic music?
Both make electronic music well. Live is a natural fit for clip-based electronic production, sound design and live sets, because Session View, Max for Live and the Live 12 sound-design devices are at its centre. Logic suits electronic producers who prefer a timeline, want Session Players and a large included library, and work only on a Mac. If you perform on stage, Live’s clip and scene launching is often the deciding factor.
Can you use Logic Pro on Windows?
No. Apple makes Logic Pro for the Mac and iPad only, and the current version needs macOS 15.6 or later and a Mac with Apple silicon. If you use Windows, or work on both Windows and Mac, Ableton Live is the option of the two that runs on both: Live 12 needs Windows 10 (22H2) or Windows 11 with an AVX2 CPU, or macOS 11.7.10 or later.
Older Intel Macs are another reason to look at Live. Ableton Live 11 Suite, the previous version, runs on macOS 10.13 High Sierra with its Intel build.
Plugin formats: VST, VST3 and Audio Units
This is the biggest practical difference when you buy plugins:
- Logic Pro: Apple lists Audio Units (AUv2 and AUv3) as Logic Pro’s plugin format; VST is not on Apple’s list. According to Apple’s support article, Intel-only Audio Units run on Apple silicon Macs through Rosetta.
- Ableton Live hosts VST2 and VST3 on Windows and Mac, and Audio Units on macOS as well, according to the Live 12 manual.
Many instruments and effects come in both formats, so they work in either DAW on a Mac. Xfer Records Serum 2 ships as VST3, AU and AAX, and the FabFilter Total Bundle includes every FabFilter plugin as VST2, VST3, AU, AAX and CLAP. Before you buy, check that a plugin lists AU if you use Logic. Browse Audio Unit plugins for Logic Pro to see what works in Apple’s DAW.
Can you use Ableton Live and Logic Pro together?
Yes, both can be installed on the same Mac and you can move between them by exporting audio stems and MIDI files from one and importing them into the other. ReWire, which once linked DAWs directly, was removed from Live in Live 11, so there is no built-in live connection between the two. Your Audio Units plugins work in both, so sounds can travel with you.
Should you switch from Logic Pro to Ableton Live?
Switch, or add Live, if you want Session View for writing and performing, Max for Live, a DAW that also runs on Windows, or support for VST plugins. Stay with Logic if your work is mostly recording and mixing songs on a Mac and you rely on Session Players, Stem Splitter and the included instruments. Live 12 Suite also has its own Stem Separation, so you will not lose that if you move.
How to get each one
Logic Pro is sold only by Apple through the App Store, as a one-time purchase or as part of Apple’s Creator Studio subscription. We do not sell it. Ableton Live is available here as Ableton Live 12 Suite (current version) or Ableton Live 11 Suite (previous version, for older computers).
Still deciding? Our guide to the best DAW compares Live, Logic Pro, FL Studio and other DAWs by use case.
Written by the VSTmarketplace team from the developers’ published information.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ableton Live or Logic Pro better for electronic music?
Both work well. Ableton Live is a natural fit for clip-based production, sound design and live sets thanks to Session View and Max for Live in Suite. Logic Pro suits Mac users who prefer a timeline and its large included library.
Can I use Logic Pro on Windows?
No. Logic Pro is made by Apple for the Mac and iPad only and needs a Mac with Apple silicon. Ableton Live runs on both Windows and macOS.
Which plugin formats do Ableton Live and Logic Pro support?
Logic Pro uses Audio Units (AUv2 and AUv3) only. Ableton Live supports VST2 and VST3 on Windows and Mac, plus Audio Units on macOS.
Can I use Ableton Live and Logic Pro together?
Yes. Both can be installed on the same Mac, and you can move projects between them by exporting audio stems and MIDI files. ReWire was removed from Live in Live 11, so there is no direct link between them.
Should I switch from Logic Pro to Ableton Live?
Switch or add Live if you want Session View, Max for Live, VST support or a DAW that also runs on Windows. Stay with Logic if you mostly record and mix songs on a Mac and rely on its included instruments and Session Players.
