17 Best Apps for Musicians in 2024: Apps for On-the-go Production, Songwriting, Touring, and more

Not so long ago, making music required studio access and equipment worth thousands (or tens of thousands) of dollars. Now, you can create professional-quality music on-the-go with low-cost apps. The digital revolution has democratized the music industry in many ways, and there are dozens of tools out there, making the everyday life of musician much, much easier.

There are apps for music production, tour planning, songwriting — you name it. We put together this guide to give musicians an overview of the best apps that can help them at each stage of the music-making process. 

What are the best music making apps?

Here are the indispensable apps covering each area of music career, from composition and production to touring and live performance:  

1. Garage Band
2. iMachine 2
3. Korg Gadget 2 
4. FL Studio Mobile
5. Akai iMPC Pro
6. Animoog
7. Model 15 Moog Modular Synthesizer 
8. The Metronome by Soundbrenner
9. Songwriter’s Pad
10. Hokusai Audio Editor
11. Flat: Music Score & Tab Editor 
12. Splits
13. Road Trip 
14. Artist Growth
15. Band Mule
16. ClearTune
17. Decibel X Noise Meter

Types of apps for musicians

The apps listed above can be divided into the following categories:

•  Music production & recording
•  Synth & Drum Machine Emulators
•  Songwriting & Recording Tools
•  Going on tour 

Best mobile music production apps

On-the-go apps may not have the full-suite capabilities of your laptop DAW, but they make it possible to create music at any time and place. You can mock up quick drafts of track ideas on the road, and then expand on them when you’re back home with your DAW.

GarageBand

GarageBand transforms your iPhone or iPad into a portable recording studio and features a host of useful tools and features for producing music.

Features

• Simple and Powerful
• Allows sound recording straight from your phone
• Hundreds of instrument included

Price

• Free

App availability

• iOS

FL Studio Mobile

FL Studio Mobile is the portable version of (you’ve guessed it) FL Studio. It lets you bring some (but certainly not all) of FL’s functionality on the road at little-to-no cost — and then transfer your work seamlessly to the desktop app. Unlike GarageBand, FL Studio Mobile is multi-platform.

Features

• FL Studio Integration
• Multi-platform 
• High-quality plugins, 
• Clean and clear exports

Price

• Free

App availability

• Android and iOS

iMachine 2

Native Instruments’ iMachicne lets you create full tracks anytime and anywhere. Turn loops and scenes into full tracks, lay down beats, create patterns, and structure your records with ease. 

Features

• Simple beat creation and arrangement 
• Step Mode drumming expanding your pad drumming abilities 
• Excellent sampling capabilities 
• Broad export compatibility

Price

• 10,99 €.

App availability

• iOS

Korg Gadget 2 

Korg Gadget 2, as the name suggests, is built around a wide range of “gadgets,” or instruments, that you can mix and combine to create tracks on-the-go. New features in version 2 include added gadgets, a more intuitive UI, and collaborative functionality. 

Features

• 40 Korg-produced “gadgets” on board, from compact synths to drum machines, samplers and MIDI utilities 
• Use as plugins in the DAW of your choice
• Hardware link capabilities

Price

• $39.99

App availability

• iOS

Best emulator apps

The ability to carry DAW-like production space in your pocket is valuable, but let’s get real — the real work is happening in the studio. Even if it’s your bedroom. Synch and Drum Pad emulators are some of the tools that you can help you expand your studio capabilities at a fraction of the cost of the real thing. 

Akai iMPC Pro 2

Bring the legendary MPC Drum machine to your iPad along with a host of other tools like 64-track music production, sampling functionality, effects, and more. This app features over 1,400 sounds from acclaimed sound designer Richard Devine: drum beats, basses, leads, synths, and more. 

Features

• Exclusive iMPC sound set and classic Akai Professional sound library
• Create beats quickly with microphone, line input, and even you iTunes library sampling 

Price

• $24.99 iPad, $8,99 iPhone 

App availability

• iOS

Animoog

Moog’s famously vast library of synthesizers is now available on your iPad. Powered by exciting new technology, the Anisotropic Synth Engine (ASE), this tool allows you to create a dynamic, fluid soundscape.

Features

• Create unique sounds with the full functionality of Moog Synth at a fraction of the price 
• Diverse library of timbres, derived from analog waveforms captured from classic Moog osci

Price

• $29.99

App availability

• iOS (iPad only)

Model 15 Moog Modular Synthesizer 

This app is an iOS-powered replica of the Moog Model 15 modular synth. Modular synths are a great way to find inspiration and experiment with new sounds. Besides, they’re can be a fun way to spend your evening drifting through the soundscapes!

Features

• The complete functionality of Model 15 Moog modular opens up endless opportunities for experimentation 
• Ships with over 160 unique presets
• Tutorial patches to assist all experience levels

Price

• $29.99

App availability

• iOS 

Songwriting & Recording Apps for Musicians

Studio tools are essential, but working in the studio is just one part of the music-making process. Here are some of the songwriter-specific tools that will help you come up with, organize, and flesh out your compositions.

Songwriter’s Pad

This simple app provides a lot more than just a space to write down song and lyric ideas. It helps you develop these ideas with several helpful little tools, like the “Mood” button that generates new phrases to help with the writer’s block. 

Features

• Rhyming dictionary
• Song idea generator

Price

• Free

App availability

• iOS

Hokusai Audio Editor

This audio editing app allows you to edit numerous tracks side-by-side, mix them, and export them to an app of your choice. It’s great for recording and organizing song ideas for further development. 

Features

• Clutter-free interface
• Complete sound editing capabilities 
• Easy Mp4 / Wav export 

Price

• Free + In-app purchases 

App availability

• iOS & Android 

Flat: Music Score & Tab Editor 

Looking to turn your ideas into sheet music that you can share with other artists? Flat is the app for you: their composition software helps you develop ideas and turn them into tangible music notation.

Features

• Simple interface
• Virtual piano keyboard for easy input
• Complete control over the sheet music 

Price

• Free + In-app purchases

App availability

• iOS

Splits

Compromised metadata is a huge problem plaguing the music industry, but Splits can help make sure the ownership metadata is on point. With Splits, songwriters can keep track of their contributions from the moment they step into the studio and even generate simple contracts to define the splits.

Features

• Track all information for the track in one place 
• Record a 30-second reference audio clip.
• Select contacts directly from your mobile device and assign ownership percentages.
• Generate basic ownership agreements

Price

• Free

App availability

• iOS

The Metronome by Soundbrenner

This app is without a doubt the best metronome app in the music industry. It’s simple interface lets you get the band in tune with each other throughout rehearsals and performances with ease. 

Price

• Free

App availability

• iOS

Best apps for musicians on tour 

Touring brings its own challenges: planning, estimating expenses, promotion, tuning for live shows, and more. Here are the apps that can make your tour experience a breeze. 

Road Trip

The Road Trip app is an indispensable tool for plotting out the details of your tour. Make sure your tour is as cost-effective as possible by tracking expenses from fuel to lodging while finding the quickest routes.

Features

• Track fuel
• Compare costs
• Plan efficient routes

Price 

• $6.99

App availability

• Android and App Store

Artist Growth

This app covers every aspect of the touring and promotion process: tour management, roster management, event notifications, collaborative tools, and more. Artist Growth also has a ton of useful integrations to bring together the touring ecosystem. 

Features

• Calendar
• Track your finances
• Manage guest list

Price 

• Free

App availability

• Android and iOS

ClearTune

ClearTune is the most advanced and accurate tuner on the market, a simple tool that works as it’s supposed to, period. Perfect for making sure that your sound and your instruments stay in top shape.

Price

• $3.99

App availability

• iOS

Decibel X Noise Meter

If some of your touring venues have a dB limit, then it’s particularly important that your volume is strictly controlled. Decibel X Noise Meter measures the sound pressure level around you and lets you keep track of volume.

Price

• Free

App availability

• iOS

Band Mule

Band Mule is the app that brings your band together and provides a private space for sharing information. Chats, schedules, setlists, and ideas: you can collaborate on all of it with Band Mule. 

Features

• Calendar
• Private Chat
• Shared set-lists

Price 

• Free + in-app purchases 

App availability

• Android and App Store

Conclusion 

Each of these tools has its function, and while every musician will not need all of them, they are simple and generally low-cost ways to make your life a bit easier. The more tools you have at your disposal to streamline your working process, the better the output will be.