Steinberg’s Cubase is a popular DAW that can be used to record, compose and create any genre of music. It comes with everything you need to carry out music production on a more professional level. If you’re considering investing in Cubase, you’re probably wondering how much it costs and if it’s the right fit for you.

The price you pay for Cubase depends on which edition of the software you choose. There are three main editions of Cubase: Elements, Artist and Pro. Each edition comes with increasingly better features and more content. Cubase Elements can be purchased for $99.99 USD, Cubase Artist for $239 USD and Cubase Pro for $579 USD. 

Hi, I’m Ben from Live Aspects and in this guide, I’ll be answering the biggest questions musicians have when it comes to Cubase’s price tag and if it’s worth investing in.

• | How Much Does Cubase Cost?
• | Cubase Edition Comparison
• | Does Cubase Offer A Subscription Plan?
• | Does Cubase Have A Free Trial?
• | Does Cubase Ever Go On Sale?
• | How Much Is Cubase With A Student Discount?
• | Are Cubase Updates Free?
• | Is Cubase Worth The Money?

Without further ado, let’s dive in!

| How Much Does Cubase Cost?

The price you pay for Cubase depends on which edition of the software you choose. There are three main editions of Cubase: Elements, Artist and Pro. Each edition comes with increasingly better features and more content. Cubase Elements can be purchased for $99.99 USD, Cubase Artist for $239 USD and Cubase Pro for $579 USD.

| Cubase Edition Comparison

Each of the three editions of Cubase come with increasingly more features, additional content and less creative limitations. Depending on the size and complexity of your projects, your feature requirements and budget, there is a Cubase edition that’s right for you. If you’d like to view a more in-depth comparison of each edition of Cubase, click here.

| Does Cubase Offer A Subscription Plan?

Unfortunately, Steinberg does not offer a subscription plan on any edition of Cubase. Cubase can only be purchase with a one-time payment. Steinberg has no plans of implementing a subscription-based model.

| Does Cubase Have A Free Trial?

Yes, Cubase does offer a free 30-day trial. With Cubase’s free trial, you can try out all features of the software without any restrictions. Simply sign-in or sign-up for an account to start your Cubase Pro 12 trial. To download Steinberg Cubase’s 30-day free trial, click here.

| Does Cubase Ever Go On Sale?

Although Cubase has no sales pattern, it does go on sale occasionally. In recent years, Steinberg has had a sale on Cubase during the summer months and for Black Friday. If you’re looking to get a copy of Cubase on sale, make sure to also keep an eye on third-party retailers all year round.

| How Much Is Cubase With A Student Discount?

Steinberg offers a student discount on the three main versions of Cubase. Eligible students may be entitled to a discount of up to $219 USD. Cubase Elements Academic can be purchased for $69.99 USD, Cubase Artist Academic for $199.99 USD and Cubase Pro Academic for $359.99 USD. Each edition of Cubase Academic can be purchased from Steinberg’s website, as well as dozens of third-party retailers.

| Are Cubase Updates Free?

Unfortunately, major Cubase updates are not free. Updating from an older version of Cubase to the latest release or upgrading to a more expensive edition of the software will incur an additional cost. If you have purchased a Cubase license within six weeks of the release of a newer version, you may be eligible for a free grace period update to the latest version.

| Is Cubase Worth The Money?

No matter which edition of Cubase you go for, Steinberg’s Cubase is certainly worth its price tag. Cubase comes with a huge library of high-quality effects and plugins and a set of music production tools that outperform rival DAWs. Cubase is arguably the most powerful music production software on the market and is compatible on both Mac and Windows devices.

Cubase does have a relatively steep learning curve and is geared more towards intermediate and experts music producers. But if you’re serious about making music, then Cubase is a great investment and is certainly worth learning. If you’re still not sure, make sure to test out the software yourself with Cubase’s free 30-day trial.

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Want To Know More?

Here at Live Aspects, we have dozens of useful lessons and tutorials created to enhance your music production skills and help speed up the learning process. You can access our huge range of music theory lessons and production tips and tricks here.