Head-to-head comparison
GarageBand vs Studio One
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.
Apple's free DAW, surprisingly capable for music-driven podcasts.
Best for: First-time podcasters
Modern PreSonus DAW with a drag-and-drop workflow that suits speech editing.
Best for: Modern DAW newcomers
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
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
Studio One
Pros
- Drag-and-drop everything feels intuitive
- Single-window UI stays uncluttered
- Pro 7 is $199 perpetual with a year of updates
Watch-outs
- Smaller plugin ecosystem than Pro Tools
- Free Prime tier was discontinued
- Less common in podcast tutorial content
Which one should you pick?
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.
Pick Studio One if
You’re building around modern daw newcomers. Studio One has quietly become one of the most pleasant DAWs to use, with drag-and-drop everywhere that makes it less intimidating than Pro Tools. PreSonus killed Prime and Artist in 2024, so the lineup is now just Pro 7 — $199 perpetual or $19.
Also worth comparing
Or see all GarageBand alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does GarageBand do better than Studio One?
GarageBand's standout is "Free, preinstalled on every Mac". Studio One doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Drag-and-drop everything feels intuitive" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick GarageBand; if the second does, pick Studio One.
What are the trade-offs?
GarageBand: no noise reduction or auto-ducking built in. Studio One: smaller plugin ecosystem than pro tools. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Do they support the same platforms?
GarageBand works on iOS where Studio One doesn't. Studio One works on Windows where GarageBand doesn't. If you're on a specific OS or device, that may decide for you.
Can I use GarageBand and Studio One together?
Both are editing tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using GarageBand for one show or episode type and Studio One for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.