Head-to-head comparison
Cubase vs GarageBand
Two of the editing tools podcasters reach for. Here's how they differ on pricing, features, audience, and the trade-offs that actually matter day-to-day.
Steinberg's flagship DAW, equally at home with bands and dialogue editing.
Best for: Music-leaning producers
Apple's free DAW, surprisingly capable for music-driven podcasts.
Best for: First-time podcasters
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
Cubase
Pros
- Mature MIDI and audio routing
- Strong VST ecosystem and stock plugins
- Excellent automation and mixing tools
Watch-outs
- Steep learning curve for spoken-word work
- Pro tier is $579 one-time
- Steinberg licensing still has friction
GarageBand
Pros
- Free, preinstalled on every Mac
- Solid multitrack recording and basic editing
- Project files open directly in Logic Pro
Watch-outs
- No noise reduction or auto-ducking built in
- iPad caps recordings at 72 minutes
- Apple-only, no Windows version
Which one should you pick?
Pick Cubase if
You’re building around music-leaning producers. Cubase is a serious music-production DAW that handles dialogue editing fine, but it's wildly overpowered for a typical podcast workflow. If you're not already a Cubase user from a music background, Reaper or Hindenburg will get you to a finished episode in half the time without the learning curve or the price tag.
Pick GarageBand if
You’re building around first-time podcasters. GarageBand is the free DAW everyone underrates because it ships with their MacBook. It'll get you through your first hundred episodes just fine, but the moment you want strip-silence, real noise reduction, or transcript-based editing, you'll outgrow it and probably move to Logic Pro for $200 anyway.
Also worth comparing
Or see all Cubase alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does Cubase do better than GarageBand?
Cubase's standout is "Mature MIDI and audio routing". GarageBand doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Free, preinstalled on every Mac" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Cubase; if the second does, pick GarageBand.
What are the trade-offs?
Cubase: steep learning curve for spoken-word work. GarageBand: no noise reduction or auto-ducking built in. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Do they support the same platforms?
Cubase works on Windows where GarageBand doesn't. GarageBand works on iOS where Cubase doesn't. If you're on a specific OS or device, that may decide for you.
Can I use Cubase and GarageBand together?
Both are editing tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using Cubase for one show or episode type and GarageBand for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.