Another name for an online music maker is an online digital audio workstation (DAW), or a cloud-based DAW.

It basically means that, instead of having a piece of software that lets you record, edit, and mix music, the whole process is done on a website that automatically backs up your work to that website’s storage. This obviously requires internet access – you cannot use an online DAW without internet.

While online music makers can be a great place for beginners to start, you should plan to eventually get a software DAW for many reasons. We’ll cover why in the next section.

It’s important to know what to expect (and not expect) with an online DAW.

So here are some common pros and cons of online music makers…

You found a free online music maker. Nice. But here’s where a lot of people stall out: the “now what?” part. Collaboration gets messy fast, and finishing a track (then actually sharing it) can feel weirdly confusing at first. The good news is that online DAWs are built for this. You just need a simple plan so your song doesn’t turn into 47 half-finished versions called “final_FINAL_2.”

Online collabs work best when you treat them like a small group project, not a free-for-all. Pick a goal, pick roles, and keep the handoff clean. If you do that, you can make music online free with other people and still stay friends afterward.

1. Pick a “project owner” and a finish line (demo by Friday, full song by next week, etc.).
2. Lock the basics early: tempo (BPM), key, and one reference track for vibe.
3. Name tracks like a normal person: “Lead Vox Take 2,” “Chorus Synth,” “Kick Layer.”
4. Use versions or revisions instead of overwriting someone else’s work.
5. When internet is sketchy, trade stems (audio exports) instead of trying to work live.
6. Decide credits in plain English while you still like each other.

If your real-life music circle is small, the internet is basically a cheat code. Reddit and Discord communities are packed with producers looking for vocalists, remix partners, guitar layers, or someone who can turn a decent loop into a real song. Look for collab channels, feedback threads, remix challenges, and “open verse” posts. You can also learn faster just by watching what other beginners struggle with.

• Producer subreddits (beatmaking, EDM production, songwriting, lo-fi communities)
• Discord servers tied to genres (lo-fi, indie pop, hip-hop, electronic)
• Community challenges inside the online DAWs themselves (contests, prompts, open collabs)

If you want to level up quickly, jump into a beat battle or remix challenge. The time limit forces you to finish something, which is honestly the hardest skill in music. Even if your track isn’t “release-ready,” you’ll get reps: arranging, mixing basics, and making decisions faster. Plus, people are way more likely to collab after they’ve heard you actually complete songs.

You don’t need money to put music out. You can upload directly to places like SoundCloud, YouTube, and Bandcamp for free, then share the link anywhere. If you want your track on major streaming platforms, some distributors have free tiers (they usually take a percentage instead of charging upfront). Terms change, so read the fine print before you commit, but the main point is simple: you can go from “made online” to “public release” without opening your wallet.

Online DAWs often include loops and sounds that are meant to be used, but you should still double-check licensing rules inside the platform. What you want to avoid is ripping a famous vocal or a recognizable copyrighted sample and pretending it’s fine. If you’re not sure, use the DAW’s built-in sounds, royalty-free packs, or record your own parts. It’s way less stressful.

Okay, here are four of the best online music makers for you to try out. I would suggest testing each one to see which one fits your preferences and needs.

This Spotify-owned online DAW is probably the most well-known option on this list.

They offer a free account as well as four paid subscriptions ranging up to $18 a month.

The free account gives you:

• Unlimited projects
• 4960 loops
• 440 instruments and sounds
• 150k+ sound effects from freesounds.org
• Soundtrap Originals sound packs every second week

Here are some of the highlights:

• Big library of virtual instruments
• Includes basic production and editing effects, like reverb, delay, and EQ
• The ability to collaborate on the same project with someone at the same time (video or text chat available)
• Lots of royalty-free samples and loops

Probably the best reason to use BandLab is that, on top of the online DAW and royalty-free sounds, you get extra stuff to help you promote your music, write songs, earn money, land gigs, and enter contests. And it’s totally free.

Here are some of the highlights of this online music maker:

• Huge library of loops, samples, and virtual instruments
• SongStarter (generate song ideas with AI)
• A built-in chat and commenting system that lets users communicate with each other
• Corresponding mobile app that lets you access your projects and collaborate with others on-the-go
• 24/7 customer support

Audiotool is a totally free online DAW with a ton of features. People don’t often talk about it, but it’s worth mentioning.

Here are some of the things you get:

• More than 1,000,000 samples
• More than 200,000 device presets
• 5 synth sounds and 3 drum machines
• A lot of basic producing, editing, and mixing effects and tools
• Real-time collaboration tools included

AmpedStudio is a free online music maker that runs on Google Chrome, Opera, or Vivaldi. Hopefully, they’ll expand to other browsers in the future.

With the free account, you get:

• Unlimited projects
• More than 400 audio and MIDI files
• 5 virtual instruments and 10 virtual effects
• Can’t export project, but you can import audio and record new audio

With the Premium account ($4.99/month), you get:

• Unlimited projects
• More than 10,000 audio and MIDI files
• 9 virtual instruments and 10 virtual effects
• Able to save and export recorded and imported audio
• Project sharing