Ableton Live
Berlin maker of Live, Push and Move with a free trial of Live 12
Key data
| Company | Ableton AG |
|---|---|
| Category | Music Production Software (DAWs) |
| Headquarters | Berlin, Germany |
| Founded | 1999 |
| EU Presence | Yes - Germany (EU) |
| Data Location | not stated on the pages we read |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Live 12, Link Audio, Push and Move hardware, Note app, Live Lite, Ableton Cloud, learning resources |
| Pricing | Price not shown on the pages we read; free trial of Live 12 and rent-to-own for Live 12 Suite are listed |
| Best For | Producers and live performers who want a trial first and a hardware ecosystem |
| Replaces | Avid Pro Tools |
Review in detail
Ableton AG sits at Schönhauser Allee 6-7 in Berlin, entered as HRB 72838 at Amtsgericht Berlin-Charlottenburg. Gerhard Behles and Jan Bohl form the management board, and Uwe Struck chairs the supervisory board.
The company says it began in 1999 under the same people who lead it now, and that more than 350 staff from over 30 countries work there. The range spans Live, Push, Move and Note.
Beyond the DAW itself
The site also lists Link, Packs and a Learn area with beginner lessons. The front page announces Live 12.4 with Link Audio and updated devices, and a Try Live 12 for free button sits in the top bar.
Paying for Live 12
Rent-to-own is offered for Live 12 Suite to spread the cost. Edition amounts are missing from the pages we read, so the Ableton shop is the place to check.
Legal documents on the site: Terms and Conditions, an End User License Agreement and Ableton Cloud Terms of Service.
Privacy policy and group companies
The May 2026 policy names Ableton AG as controller. Other Ableton group companies may process data too, relying on EU adequacy decisions, standard contractual clauses or the EU-US Data Privacy Framework.
daspro GmbH in Berlin is the listed data protection officer.
Known limits
We found no price list, no platform list and no hosting location. Because group companies outside the EU may process data under transfer mechanisms, a strict EU-only rule could exclude it. The material is about making and performing music, not film post-production. A Windows-only freeware option is Podium.
Is Ableton Live right for you?
Producers and live performers who want to test a DAW for free and might add Push or Move later.
Strengths and weaknesses
Pros
- Imprint with register number and board
- Free Live 12 trial advertised
- Rent-to-own for Live 12 Suite
- Own hardware and app line (Push, Move, Note)
- Lessons for beginners on site
Cons
- No prices on the pages we read
- Group companies may process data outside the EU
- No platform list seen
- Post-production workflows not described
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Berlin imprint with register number and board
- Free trial of Live 12 listed
- Rent-to-own offered for Live 12 Suite
- Own hardware and app range (Push, Move, Note)
- Learning section with lessons for beginners
Cons
- No prices on the pages we read
- Group companies may process data outside the EU
- Platform list not shown on the pages we read
- Post-production workflows not described
Alternatives to Ableton Live
Further European music production software (daws) to compare:
See all European music production software (daws) or compare them directly against Avid Pro Tools on our alternatives page.
Common questions
Yes. Ableton AG is registered in Berlin, with the commercial register number HRB 72838 in its imprint.
A Try Live 12 for free button is on the site. Duration and limits are not shown on the pages we read.
Amounts are not on the pages we read; rent-to-own exists for Live 12 Suite, so look at the shop for edition prices.