Audacity
Open Sourceby Muse Group
The standard free audio recorder and editor.
- Multi-track recording and editing
- Noise reduction and audio repair
- Wide format import and export
Free alternatives to Hydrogen
5 audio & music programs worth considering instead of — or alongside — Hydrogen.
Alternatives to Hydrogen
Ardour
Open Sourceby Ardour community
Professional open-source digital audio workstation.
- Unlimited multi-track recording
- Full mix automation
- VST, LV2 and AU plugin support
LMMS
Open Sourceby LMMS Team
Free music production studio for beat-making and composition.
- Built-in synthesisers and samplers
- Pattern-based beat and bassline editor
- Piano roll composition
MuseScore
Open Sourceby MuseScore
The standard free music notation and scoring software.
- Professional sheet-music engraving
- Playback with bundled instrument sounds
- Imports and exports MusicXML and MIDI
Mixxx
Open Sourceby Mixxx Development Team
Free DJ software with real controller support.
- Four-deck mixing with effects
- Automatic BPM and key detection
- Supports many DJ controllers
About Hydrogen
Hydrogen is a dedicated drum machine for programming rhythms via an intuitive pattern editor, with its own sample-based instruments. It fills the gap between a full DAW and a simple loop player.
It is open source and runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Below are 5 audio & music programs that cover the same ground — some open-source, some cross-platform, each free to use.
Hydrogen alternatives compared
| Program | Licence | Platforms | Best known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audacity | Open Source | Windows, macOS, Linux | Multi-track recording and editing |
| Ardour | Open Source | Windows, macOS, Linux | Unlimited multi-track recording |
| LMMS | Open Source | Windows, macOS, Linux | Built-in synthesisers and samplers |
| MuseScore | Open Source | Windows, macOS, Linux | Professional sheet-music engraving |
| Mixxx | Open Source | Windows, macOS, Linux | Four-deck mixing with effects |
The alternatives in detail
Audacity Open Source
Audacity is the most widely used free audio editor, handling multi-track recording, editing, noise reduction and format conversion. Notable for multi-track recording and editing and noise reduction and audio repair. Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Ardour Open Source
Ardour is a full digital audio workstation aimed at professional recording, editing and mixing, with unlimited tracks, full automation, plugin support and surround capability. Notable for unlimited multi-track recording and full mix automation. Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
LMMS Open Source
LMMS is a music production environment oriented toward composing with software instruments and sequenced patterns, in the spirit of FL Studio. Notable for built-in synthesisers and samplers and pattern-based beat and bassline editor. Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
MuseScore Open Source
MuseScore is a full music notation program for writing, playing back and printing sheet music. Notable for professional sheet-music engraving and playback with bundled instrument sounds. Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Mixxx Open Source
Mixxx is a complete DJ application with multiple decks, beat detection, key detection, effects and support for a wide range of DJ controllers — an area where the commercial alternatives are usually expensive or hardware-locked. Notable for four-deck mixing with effects and automatic bpm and key detection. Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
How to choose
5 are fully open source (Audacity, Ardour, LMMS, MuseScore, Mixxx) — pick one of these if you value auditable code you can self-host. For the widest platform coverage, Audacity, Ardour, LMMS run on three or more operating systems.
All 5 are free to download from the publisher's own website, so installing two or three and testing them on your own files is the fastest way to decide — it costs nothing but a few minutes.