GarageBand suits beginners, podcasters and songwriters who want to learn, record and sketch ideas on a Mac with built-in lessons and Drummer. Logic Pro suits people ready for serious beat-making, sampling, third-party plug-ins, mixing and mastering on Mac and iPad. Start in GarageBand; move to Logic Pro when you keep hitting its limits.
Apple makes both of these, and they're designed as steps on the same ladder. GarageBand is where you learn and sketch; Logic Pro is where you finish and polish. I read Apple's GarageBand for Mac page and its Logic Pro page to set out the differences.
GarageBand and Logic Pro at a glance
| GarageBand | Logic Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| How Apple describes it | A fully equipped music creation studio inside your Mac | The ultimate music creation experience for Mac and iPad |
| Where it runs | Mac, with iPhone and iPad versions | Mac and iPad |
| Learning | Built-in piano and guitar lessons | Not the focus of the page I read |
| Beat-making | Drummer with 28 drummers and three percussionists | Drum Machine Designer, Step Sequencer, Quick Sampler |
| Plug-ins | Built-in instruments, amps and effects | Third-party plug-ins plus Apple's sound library |
| How to get it | On the App Store | Apple Creator Studio, or the Mac version on its own from the App Store |
What GarageBand gives you
Apple calls GarageBand a fully equipped music creation studio right inside your Mac. You get a sound library of instruments, presets for guitar and voice, realistic amps and stompboxes, and Drummer, a virtual session drummer that plays along with your song. Apple lists 28 drummers and three percussionists across six genres.
It's also a teacher. GarageBand has built-in piano and guitar lessons, 40 genre-based lessons and lessons from the artists who recorded the songs, and it listens as you play to tell you how you're doing. You can start a song on your iPhone or iPad and pick it up on your Mac through iCloud.
GarageBand is generous for a starter app, too. Apple lists 100 synth sounds inspired by EDM and Hip Hop, each with a Transform Pad to morph the sound, plus Smart Controls that put the right knobs and sliders on screen for whatever instrument or effect you're using. Plug in a USB keyboard or a guitar and you're recording straight away.
What Logic Pro adds
Logic Pro is where Apple puts the serious tools: Drum Machine Designer for building custom kits, Quick Sampler for chopping and flipping samples into new instruments, Drum Synth and a Step Sequencer inspired by vintage drum machines. It opens up tens of thousands of third-party plug-ins and adds Producer Packs from working artists.
Apple says Logic Pro takes you all the way to fully mixed and mastered tracks, with intelligent mastering at the end. It runs on Mac and iPad, it's part of Apple Creator Studio with Final Cut Pro and Pixelmator Pro, and the Mac version is also on its own in the App Store.
The learning gap that matters
The clearest difference on Apple's pages is who they're talking to. The GarageBand page spends a whole section on lessons, feedback and tracking your progress. The Logic Pro page assumes you already know what a sampler and a step sequencer are. That's your answer if you're new: GarageBand teaches; Logic Pro expects.
Both work with Logic Remote on an iPhone or iPad, so you can control playback and recording from across the room in either app.
Who each app suits
GarageBand suits beginners, hobby musicians, podcasters recording simple episodes, and songwriters sketching ideas. Logic Pro suits producers, beat-makers and musicians who want third-party plug-ins and a finished, mastered sound. If audio is part of your business, my guide on starting a podcast for your business and this one on recording audio on an iPhone are handy places to start.
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My advice on GarageBand or Logic Pro
Begin with GarageBand and give yourself a real project, like a full song or a podcast intro. When you find yourself wanting to sample, use plug-ins Apple doesn't include, or master a track to a finished standard, that's the moment to try Logic Pro. Apple's free trial through Creator Studio lets you test it before you commit.
Do you make music or audio apps? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place in comparisons like this one.
Frequently asked questions
Is GarageBand only for beginners?
It's built for learning, with lessons and instant feedback, but Apple also says you can make professional-sounding music with it.
Does Logic Pro run on iPad?
Yes. Apple describes Logic Pro as the ultimate music creation experience for Mac and iPad.
Can GarageBand teach me an instrument?
Yes. GarageBand has built-in piano and guitar lessons, 40 genre-based lessons and lessons from original artists.
Does Logic Pro support third-party plug-ins?
Yes. Apple says Logic Pro gives you access to tens of thousands of instruments and effects from leading developers.
Can I try Logic Pro before committing?
Apple's Logic Pro page offers a free trial through Apple Creator Studio.
