Today there are 113 different DJ software. We spent 70 hours comparing the top 50 to find the seven best you can use to turn up your DJ’ing mojo.
What is the Best DJ Software?
- Serato DJ Pro — best of the best
- Ableton Live — best for live music production
- MixVibes Cross DJ — best for beginner DJs
- PCDJ DEX 3 — best for video mixing
- Native Instruments Traktor Pro — best for effect-heavy mixes
- Pioneer DJ Rekordbox — best for DJs using Pioneer hardware
- Mixxx — best for open-source DJ software
Our Verdict — Best Of The Best
Price: $205
Serato DJ Pro is the solution DJs who love precision and control. We think it’s the best because of its massive power, coupled with its user friendliness.
The Best Part:
- It's incredibly user-friendly. Serato DJ Pro sports an intuitive interface with robust library management capabilities, making it a breeze for both newbies and pros to benefit from it.
The Worst Part:
- It requires hardware. Serato DJ Pro only works when you connect compatible DJ equipment, which could rain on the parade for those looking for a software-only solution.
Get it if you want a powerful, user-friendly mixing platform that's compatible with a wide range of DJ hardware.
I recommend you download the 14-day free trial first, then buy Serato DJ Pro for $205.
(14-day free trial)
Best For
Serato DJ Pro is best for professional and aspiring DJs who want a feature-rich, user-friendly platform that integrates seamlessly with DJ hardware.
Top Features
Set the mood. Add flavor to your mixes with Serato DJ Pro's vast array of high-quality built-in FX, and keep the dance floor packed.
Get your ducks in a row. Effortlessly manage and access your tunes with Serato DJ Pro's all-encompassing library management features.
Capture every epic moment. Record your live sets in crystal-clear audio with Serato DJ Pro's handy recording feature, perfect for sharing your performances on social media.
Make it feel like home. Customize Serato DJ Pro's interface to suit your style with various layout choices, so you can focus on what matters most — the music.
Master the art of looping. Create seamless loops and impromptu remixes with Serato DJ Pro's powerful looping tools, adding a distinct flavor to each of your sets.
Pricing
Serato DJ Pro offers a single pricing plan:
Serato DJ: $205 one-time payment, for aspiring and professional DJs who want a powerful, user-friendly DJ software that integrates seamlessly with over 90 pieces of hardware in the market.
Try Serato DJ Pro today with a free 14-day trial.
2. Ableton Live
Our Verdict — Best For Live Music Production
Price: $545
Ableton Live is a complete music production and performance software. We think it’s the best for live music production because it enables you to go wild with your live presentations.
The Best Part:
- No limits. Ableton Live's Session View lets DJs play around with different sounds and mixes on the fly, without being locked into a set order or structure.
The Worst Part:
- It’s a pricey investment. Ableton Live's full version price can be a little steep compared to other DJ software options, with a one-time fee of $545.
Get it if you want a DJ software that's designed specifically for live music production with an intuitive and user-friendly workflow.
I recommend you start with the 90-day free trial, then get the Ableton Live for $545.
(90-day free trial)
Best For
Ableton Live is best for live music producers and DJs who want cutting-edge software for real-time audio manipulation and performance.
Top Features
Make beats in a heartbeat. Easily create complex drum patterns in a snap using Ableton Live's intuitive Drum Rack and Impulse instruments.
Master of time. Dive into uncharted sonic territory with Ableton Live's incredible time-stretching and audio warping features.
Live-show ready. Master MIDI mapping with Ableton Live to effortlessly customize your hardware controllers, giving you full creative control for creating a unique, unforgettable live show.
Take control of the stage. Seamlessly integrate lighting and visuals into your performance with Ableton Live's MIDI output capabilities.
Shape your sound. Create unique synth sounds effortlessly using Ableton Live's versatile Instrument Racks and Simpler/Sampler tools.
Pricing
Ableton Live offers a single pricing plan:
Ableton Live 11 Suite: $545 one-time payment, for DJs and live music producers who want an all-in-one software for manipulating and producing music live.
Try Ableton Live today with a free 90-day trial.
Our Verdict — Best For Beginner DJs
Price: $45
MixVibes Cross DJ is a beginner-friendly DJ software designed for newbies. We think it’s the best for beginner DJs because of its easy-to-use interface.
The Best Part:
- It’s incredibly user-friendly. MixVibes Cross DJ boasts a user-friendly interface that allows even those who are completely new to DJ’ing to confidently mix their tunes
The Worst Part:
- Manual LED mapping. MixVibes Cross DJ requires manual LED mapping, which is a painful process that can baffle beginners.
Get it if you want an easy-to-learn DJ software that lets you create professional-sounding mixes without breaking the bank.
I recommend you start with the Free plan to test the waters, then buy MixVibes Cross DJ for $45.
(free plan)
Best For
MixVibes Cross DJ is best for aspiring DJs who want an affordable yet powerful software to hone in their DJ’ing skills.
Top Features
Visualize your mixes. Play around with waveforms to get a crystal-clear view of your tracks while you're working on your tunes in MixVibes Cross DJ.
Explore new beats. Call in hot tracks from popular platforms such as SoundCloud, Mixcloud, and iTunes to stream and mix right away.
Go live. Broadcast your live mixes online on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, or Twitch with MixVibes Cross DJ's handy streaming capabilities.
Beat-match like a pro. Let MixVibes Cross DJ's automatic beat-matching provide you with seamless transitions, making you sound like a pro.
Add flair to your sound. Experiment with MixVibes Cross DJ's vast selection of audio effects to transform your mixes from decent to downright astounding.
Pricing
MixVibes Cross DJ offers a single pricing plan:
MixVibes Cross DJ: $45 one-time payment, for beginner DJs who want an easy-to-use software to mix using professional tools and capabilities.
Try MixVibes Cross DJ today with the free plan.
Our Top Three Picks
Here’s a quick summary of our top three picks:
- Serato DJ Pro — best of the best
- Ableton Live — best for live music production
- MixVibes Cross DJ — best for beginner DJs
Here’s a quick comparison of our top seven picks:
Tool | Entry Offer | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
Serato DJ Pro | 14-day free trial | $205 |
Ableton Live | 90-day free trial | $545 |
MixVibes Cross DJ | Free plan | $45 |
PCDJ DEX 3 | 14-day free trial | $149 |
Native Instruments Traktor Pro | 30-minute free trial | $49 |
Pioneer DJ Rekordbox | 30-day free trial | Starts at $18/mo |
Mixxx | None | Free forever |
Here are the top 50 best DJ software we considered in this review:
- Serato DJ Pro
- Ableton Live
- MixVibes Cross DJ
- PCDJ DEX 3
- Native Instruments Traktor Pro
- Pioneer DJ Rekordbox
- Mixxx
- VirtualDJ
- DJUCED
- Algoriddim Djay Pro
- Atomix Virtual DJ Pro
- Cross DJ Pro
- Deckadance
- Numark CUE
- MAGIX Digital DJ
- Zulu DJ Software
- UltraMixer
- DJ Mixer Professional
- DJ Music Mixer
- FutureDecks DJ Pro
- CuteDJ
- DJ ProDecks
- DJ Jukebox
- MixPad Multitrack Mixer
- One DJ
- You.DJ
- Serato Studio
- MegaSeg DJ
- PCDJ Red Mobile
- KraMixer DJ Software
- Disco XT DJ
- DJ Twist & Burn
- OtsAV DJ
- DJ Mix Lite
- DJ Mixer Express
- BPM Studio Pro
- MixMeister Studio
- Blaze Media Pro
- DJ Mix Pro
- e-mix Pro Edition
- ProDJLive
- ConvexSoft DJ Audio Mixer
- ClubDJ ProVJ
- DJ Mixer Pro for Mac
- DJ Java Decompiler
- DJ Mix Station
- DEX 3 LE (Limited Edition)
- DJ ProMixer NB Netbook
- Rockit Pro DJ
- DJ Audio Editor
What to look for when buying software for DJ'ing?
- Good DJing apps should have track analysis features for better mixing
- Support for club DJs to play on club gigs
- Choose a music creator that integrates with your midi controllers, and offer a wide range of effects
- The performance tool should include a tune key analysis
- Integration with music streaming services
- Advanced track analysis tools
The Bottom Line
To recap, here are the best DJ software to try this year:
- Serato DJ Pro — best of the best
- Ableton Live — best for live music production
- MixVibes Cross DJ — best for beginner DJs
- PCDJ DEX 3 — best for video mixing
- Native Instruments Traktor Pro — best for effect-heavy mixes
- Pioneer DJ Rekordbox — best for DJs using Pioneer hardware
- Mixxx — best for open-source DJ software
