REAPER suits anyone who wants to record, edit and mix music or spoken audio on a Windows PC without switching between several programs. It handles multitrack audio and MIDI, from recording through mastering. The installer comes from the official server www.reaper.fm. The version shown here is 7.84, updated on October 29, 2026.
One application for the whole audio chain
REAPER is a digital audio production application from Cockos Incorporated. It covers multitrack audio and MIDI recording, processing, editing, mixing and mastering in one toolset.
The installer is 16.4 MB, which is small for software with that scope. The catalog lists it under utilities with the tags audio, audio-editor and audio-mixer.
How a typical session runs
A session follows the order of the feature set. You record audio or MIDI onto several tracks, then process and edit the material. After that you balance the tracks in the mixer and finish with mastering.
REAPER next to Audacity and the other listed alternatives
Audacity is the closest match among the alternatives, since it also deals with audio editing. The other entries are GIMP, scrcpy, PDFsam Basic, Mp3tag and MusicBrainz Picard, and they cover images, screen mirroring, PDFs and music tagging.
REAPER's scope of multitrack recording through mastering is broader than a single-purpose tool, so the choice depends on how much of the chain you need.
REAPER pros and cons
Pros
- Covers recording, editing, mixing and mastering in one application
- Handles both audio and MIDI on multiple tracks
- Small 16.4 MB download
- Free
- Published by Cockos Incorporated, with the download on the official server www.reaper.fm
Cons
- Proprietary license, so the source is not open
- Proprietary license
- Version 7.84 is the current release
- Windows only in this listing
Is REAPER safe?
The installer comes straight from www.reaper.fm, the server run for Cockos Incorporated, the developer. REAPER is proprietary software, and the version here is 7.84 at 16.4 MB. Scan the file with your own security software after downloading it.
How to install REAPER
- Press the download button to get the official file.
- Run the installer you saved and confirm the Windows security prompt if the publisher matches.
- Follow the setup steps, then start REAPER from the Start menu.
