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…

Pros:

• Convenience: you can create, edit, and mix music from anywhere with an internet connection on almost any computer. This is super convenient if you don’t have a computer with the power to handle a software DAW.
• Low cost: many online music makers are available for free or at a very affordable subscription price.
• Easy collaboration: most online music makers have built-in collaboration tools that let you work with other musicians in real-time.
• Flexibility: you don’t need a bunch of expensive recording equipment to start using an online music maker.
• Easy distribution: many online DAWs make it easy to share your music online directly.

Cons:

• Dependence on technology/internet: this is the biggest issue with online music makers. Recording music online requires a stable internet connection and a device with enough processing power to run the website. If you run into computer or internet connectivity issues, it could interrupt your recording process, leading to lost work.
• Limited control: software DAWs typically offer more features than online music makers, meaning you’ll have less control over the final sound with a cloud-based DAW.
• Collaboration challenges: again, all collaborating parties need a stable internet connection or else there may be lag or a complete disconnection.

Okay, here are five 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
• 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

From every producer’s favorite website, Splice, comes Splice Studio. It’s mainly a way to back up the projects you made with your software DAW, but it also offers collaboration features and the ability to revisit old versions of your project.

Here’s why Splice Studio might be a good fit:

• Project backups compatible with Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro X, GarageBand, and Studio One
• Splice Studio offers a library of over 1 million sounds, loops, and samples that you can use in your song
• The interface is designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate
• Built-in collaboration tools
• Online tutorials and resources
• Free plan and paid subscriptions available

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

Again, I would recommend planning to eventually get a software DAW. Online music makers are a great start, but if you want to level-up your production game, you’ll need a real DAW.