Producers talk DAWs like sports fans talk teams. Have you ever heard a die-hard FL Studio users who swear nothing beats its piano roll? Then there are Reason heads who live for the patch cables, combinator patches, and hardware like GUI?
Both camps are loyal for good reason.
In 2026, FL Studio and Reason Studios are more polished, more powerful, and more creative than ever. They’ve each evolved with unique features, workflows, and sounds that can completely change how you make music.
And here’s the thing; this isn’t about finding “the best” DAW for everyone. It’s about figuring out which one fits you, your style, and the way you actually like working.
FL Studio 2025 and Reason 13 CPU Performance
Both DAWs can handle large projects, but they do so in different ways. FL Studio tends to be efficient with loop based projects, but can get pretty hoggish especially when using 3rd party plugins and patcher!
Reason’s modular routing can become CPU intensive if you stack multiple complex devices or run huge Combinator patches. Kontakt tends to be a problem with Reason, a little laggy at times.
Especially if you’re working with Intel processors. However, Apple’s M series works well with both.
They’re both impressively stable in 2025, especially without the use of 3rd party plugins, and I can’t see them doing anything but getting better in 2026.
FL Studio 2025 vs Reason 13 - Pricing
FL Studio 2025 still offers its lifetime free updates. That means you buy once and keep getting every future version (FREE). The Producer Edition runs about $199 USD, while the All Plugins Edition, which includes every ImageLine plugin, is roughly $499.
Reason 13 follows a more traditional upgrade cycle. A new license costs about $499, while upgrades for existing users are typically around $129–$199, depending on your current version and promo being run.
Reason also offers a Reason+ subscription at $19.99/month or $199/year, which gives you the latest version plus all Reason Studios devices and sound packs.
Popular Producers and Hit Songs Made in FL Studio and Reason 13
Many well known producers swear by FL Studio or Reason, each shaping hits in their own way. Here are a couple you might be familiar with.
| DAW | Producer | Songs Produced (Using DAWS) |
|---|---|---|
| FL Studio | Metro Boomin | “Stargazing” (Travis Scott), “Birthday Song” (2 Chainz feat. Kanye West) |
| FL Studio | Wheezy | “Yes Indeed” (Lil Baby feat. Drake), “Going Bad” (Meek Mill feat. Drake) |
| Reason | !llmind | “Love Yourz” (J. Cole), “You & the 6” (Drake) |
| Reason | DJ Khalil | Numerous tracks for Kanye, Drake, Eminem (prolific Reason usage) |
Conclusion
Both FL Studio 2025 and Reason 13 are great DAWs. Try both, use the demos, and see which works best for your workflow and budget.
If you need great 3rd party sound and sample libraries, we’re here for you.
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