Cakewalk has re-released Sonar as a free DAW for Windows users. This is the long-awaited (re)birth of Cakewalk’s old flagship digital audio workstation, now with a new price tag, interface, and some new rules.
If you’ve been around the free DAW scene, you’ll remember Cakewalk by BandLab as one of the top choices, rivaling Waveform Free.
When BandLab discontinued the free version of Cakewalk, I feared it was gone for good. However, it’s now back under its original name—Sonar—with a new visual identity and a free version.
Let’s start with what’s new.
The GUI has received a fresh coat of paint, featuring high-resolution graphics and a dark theme that feels more modern and stealthy. I love the new design. It’s definitely easier on the eyes compared to the old version.
Under the hood, Cakewalk Sonar still delivers most of the features it’s known for: unlimited tracks, a 64-bit audio engine, along with various other goodies like VocalSync and ARA support.
Most importantly, it retains the ProChannel strip, which includes fantastic modules like the Tape and Console emulators. These are some of my personal favorites for mixing in the box.
But what about the free part?
I just tested Cakewalk Sonar on my Windows laptop, and yes, it’s completely free. All you need is your regular BandLab login. You don’t need a BandLab subscription.
Download the software from the product page, install it, log in to your BandLab account when prompted, and you will access the free version.
If you don’t have a paid subscription, you will be asked to “Continue Evaluation” when you launch Sonar, but the upper-left section interface shows a message that you have a Free License. So, as far as I understand, this is a proper free license, unlike Reaper’s unlimited free trial.
In terms of features, the free tier gives you most of what Cakewalk by BandLab used to offer, though a few premium features and add-ons are reserved for paying subscribers. The free edition is essentially a slightly trimmed-down version, yet still powerful enough for most needs.
That said, if you want all the features, you’ll need to subscribe to one of BandLab’s premium plans. And yes, I know how many of you don’t like subscriptions.
While there’s no perpetual license (yet), it’s still cool to see Sonar remain accessible. However, if you’re against subscriptions in any shape or form, you’ll probably want to skip this one.
If you’re already a Cakewalk user, this update feels like a natural step forward rather than a reboot. If you’re new to music production, it’s one of the best free DAWs around, as long as you’re on Windows.
Cakewalk Sonar is available now for Windows 10 and up, in VST3 and ARA-compatible formats. All you need is a free BandLab account to get started.
More info: Cakewalk Sonar (Free, requires a free BandLab account)
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Last Updated on June 23, 2025 by Tomislav Zlatic.
