Audiotool
Audiotool is a Seattle-based company operating a free, browser-based multiplayer DAW with 37 built-in devices, serving 2M+ registered creators and 300K+ MAU. Its NEXUS open developer platform extends the DAW to third-party apps, plugins, and AI services via a proprietary multiplayer protocol.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Audiotool does
Audiotool operates a browser-based, multiplayer digital audio workstation (DAW) that allows musicians and producers to create, collaborate on, and publish music entirely online without software installation. The platform serves a long tail of individual musicians, hobbyists, bedroom producers, and developers, with a registered base exceeding 2 million creators and 300,000+ monthly active users as of early 2026. The core Audiotool Studio ships with 37 built-in devices—award-winning synthesizers (Heisenberg, Pulverisateur), drum machines (Machiniste, Beatbox9), and effects (Quasar, Pulsar, Gravity)—alongside modular cable routing and VST3 plugin hosting via a proprietary VST Bridge. Real-time multiplayer collaboration is native to the platform rather than an add-on, and a cloud library provides access to over 200,000 community presets and sounds.
Audiotool extends this core product with NEXUS, an open developer platform and multiplayer protocol built on Protocol Buffers that exposes the audio engine, routing, and signal-processing capabilities to third-party apps, plugins, and AI services. NEXUS is positioned as the first platform allowing multiple AI components to communicate directly within a DAW, with launch partners including Spitfire Audio (plugin distribution), Fraunhofer IDMT (AI workflow tools), DAACI (AI music generation), and BandM8 (AI creative assistance). The 'Let's Build!' global hackathon series, running May–July 2026 with a prize pool exceeding $70,000, drives ecosystem development and is supported by partners including OpenAI, ElevenLabs, Base44, Stripe, and a network of universities (Berklee, NYU, MTSU, Monash).
The company operates a freemium model: the core DAW is 100% free with no advertising, no track caps, and no feature restrictions. The only disclosed revenue mechanism is affiliate marketing via Amazon Associates and Tunecore Talent media partnerships, suggesting the product is currently subsidized rather than profit-generating. Audiotool Inc. is incorporated in Seattle, Washington, with operations in Cologne, Germany, is led by CEO and co-founder Andreas Jacobi, and raised $2.6M in October 2022 from BITKRAFT Ventures, Hubraum, and Unlock Venture Partners.
Audiotool firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Audiotool
- Legal name
- Audiotool Inc.
- Website
- https://audiotool.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Audiotool is a Seattle-based company operating a free, browser-based multiplayer DAW with 37 built-in devices, serving 2M+ registered creators and 300K+ MAU. Its NEXUS open developer platform extends the DAW to third-party apps, plugins, and AI services via a proprietary multiplayer protocol.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Audiotool industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Music Production Software (Digital Audio Workstation)
- NAICS
- Other Sound Recording Industries (512290), Other Sound Recording Industries (51229)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) (MPAIAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cloud Collaboration & Remote Recording Platforms (MPAIAIAD), Audio Plugins & Virtual Instruments (VST/AU/AAX) (MPAIAIAB), Sample Libraries, Loops & Sound Content Platforms (MPAIAIAF)
Keywords
Where Audiotool is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Audiotool business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Free Core Platform: Audiotool operates primarily as a free platform with no track or feature caps. The platform is described as '100% free + no ads'. Revenue is not generated from the core product at this time.
- Affiliate Marketing: Audiotool participates in affiliate marketing programs including Amazon Associates and Tunecore Talent media partner. Links on the website may be affiliate links generating commission on referred sales.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free Core Access |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Audiotool product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Audiotool is a free browser-based collaborative digital audio workstation (DAW) that enables musicians and producers to create, record, mix, and master music directly in the browser without installation. The platform includes 37 built-in devices—synthesizers (Heisenberg, Pulverisateur, Space), drum machines (Machiniste, Beatbox9, Beatbox8), and professional effects (Quasar, Pulsar, Gravity, Quantum)—with real-time multiplayer collaboration and access to over 200,000 presets.
Product overview
Audiotool is a browser-based multiplayer music production platform offering a cloud-based DAW with unlimited tracks and features. The core product, Audiotool Studio, features 37 built-in devices including award-winning synthesizers (Heisenberg, Pulverisateur, Space), drum machines (Machiniste, Beatbox9, Beatbox8), and professional effects (Quasar, Pulsar, Gravity, Quantum). The platform is extended by NEXUS, an open developer platform enabling third-party apps, plugins, and AI services to integrate into live multiplayer sessions. VST3 plugin support is available via the VST Bridge. The Let's Build! initiative runs global hackathons enabling developers to build music tools using the NEXUS SDK.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- NEXUS: Open-source multiplayer music protocol and developer platform that connects apps, AI tools, and creators in real-time multiplayer sessions. Built on Protocol Buffers, it provides API access to Audiotool's audio engine, routing, and signal-processing capabilities.
- Let's Build!
Products and services
- Audiotool Studio A free, browser-based collaborative digital audio workstation (DAW) that lets musicians and producers create, record, mix, and master music directly in the browser without installation. Includes 37 built-in devices (synthesizers, drum machines, effects), 200,000+ presets, and real-time multiplayer collaboration.
- NEXUS Developer Platform
Quantifiable outcome
- Join over 2 million creators worldwide on a free platform
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Audiotool
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Audiotool technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability4 records
Feature9 records
Audiotool partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- BBC R&DcoreBBC Research & Development leads a dedicated hackathon track focused on rights-aware music creation tools for the PHARE prototype platform. PHARE aims to provide transparent ownership, rights registration, and monetization infrastructure for music creators. Manon Dave from BBC R&D serves as a judge.
- Music HackspacemajorMusic Hackspace collaborates to define hackathon challenges, mentor participants, and judge submissions in the Let's Build! series. CEO Jean-Baptiste Thiebaut serves on the judging panel.
- The Audio ProgrammermajorThe Audio Programmer (Joshua Hodge, Founder) collaborates on hackathon challenges, mentoring, and judging. Provides educational content for music software development.
- Spitfire AudiocoreFirst plugin partner integrated into Audiotool. Spitfire Audio provides professional orchestral and cinematic sample libraries. The partnership enables users to access Spitfire LABS instruments directly within Audiotool sessions.
- Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology (IDMT)coreIntegration partner bringing AI tools directly into real music production workflows. Fraunhofer's AI services can improve workflows using production actions recorded in structured, time-based format within Audiotool sessions.
- DAACIcoreAI music technology partner integrated via NEXUS for advanced music creation capabilities.
- BandM8coreSmart AI creative partner for music creators, launching first with Audiotool. Provides AI-assisted music creation tools within the platform.
- OpenAImajorProvides annual ChatGPT Pro licenses ($2,400 value per person) to hackathon winning teams. Supports AI-powered music tool development on the Audiotool platform.
- ElevenLabsmajorProvides Creator tier (2 months for in-person attendees, $44 value) and Pro tier (3 months for overall winning team, $297 value per person). Also offers Scale tier (3 months, $990 value per person) for best project built with ElevenLabs.
- Base44majorProvides 2-month Builder license for all participants (extends to full year, $480 value, upon qualifying submission). Total commitment of $6,000 USD across six challenge categories.
- StripemajorProvides $1,000 USD in Stripe fee credits for each winning team across all six categories (total $6,000). Credits can be used for Stripe fees on Payments, Connect, Billing, Tax, and Sigma products.
- LANDRminorProvides annual LANDR Studio Pro ($250 value) to each team member of winning hackathon teams.
- Berklee College of MusicmajorUniversity partner for Let's Build! hackathon series. Professor Jonathan Wyner (Head of Artistic Technology Initiatives) serves as a judge. Provides educational platform access and student engagement.
- NYU (Gen Audio)majorUniversity partner with Professor Rithik Kundu (Co-founder, AI Music Researcher & Advisor) on the judging panel. Provides academic framework for AI music research.
- Hawai'i Pacific UniversityminorUniversity partner for hackathon series. Dr. Mary L. Smith (Associate Professor of Computer Science) serves as a judge.
- Queen Mary University LondonminorUniversity partner supporting Let's Build! hackathon with student engagement and educational resources.
- MTSU (Middle Tennessee State University) - Scott Borchetta College of Media and EntertainmentminorUniversity partner with Daniel Rowland (Professor MTSU, Oscar/Emmy-winning Producer) and Maurício Gargel (Professor, Department of Recording Industry) on the judging panel.
- Monash UniversityminorUniversity partner. Dr. Martin K. Koszolko (Senior Lecturer, Creative Music Technology) serves as a judge.
- Munich Music LabsminorMusic technology organization co-presenting with TU Munich. Daniel Henel (Co-President) serves as a judge.
- 2weiminorMusic technology company visible in Let's Build! industry partners section.
- MUSIC CITY MAKE-A-THON NashvilleminorNashville-based music hackathon/event partner for Let's Build! series.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Audiotool competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BandLab: Browser-based collaborative music creation platform with social/community features and a large user base of hobbyist producers. Direct competitor to Audiotool's free multiplayer DAW offering.
- Soundtrap: Cloud-based DAW owned by Spotify offering browser-based collaborative music production for creators and educators. Closest direct competitor in the browser-DAW category.
- Soundation: Browser-based music creation studio with collaboration features targeting similar individual musician/hobbyist segments as Audiotool.
Broad incumbents
- Splice: Major music creation platform offering samples, plugins, and production tools, including the integrated Spitfire Audio brands. A key content/integration partner and adjacent competitor in the creator economy.
- Ableton: Industry-leading DAW maker serving professional producers. Audiotool's VST3 Bridge enables partial Ableton workflow in-browser, and Ableton represents the high-end aspirational competitor Audiotool creators may graduate to.
- Native Instruments: Major music production software and hardware company producing instruments, effects, and DAW-integrated tools. Operates in the same creator-tool category as Audiotool.
- Reaper: Affordable, full-featured DAW popular with independent musicians. Represents the cost-conscious incumbent segment Audiotool undercuts with its free model.
Emerging players
- LANDR: AI-powered music mastering and production tools platform. Comparable as an AI-in-music-production company and existing Audiotool hackathon partner.
- UJAM: AI-assisted virtual instrument and music production tools maker, listed as a Let's Build! partner of Audiotool. Comparable as a developer of music-tech tools integrated with DAWs.
- BandM8: AI music creation assistant that launched first integration with Audiotool via the NEXUS platform. Closely aligned as an AI-native music technology partner leveraging Audiotool's infrastructure.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Audiotool social profiles
Digital presenceAudiotool compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Audiotool financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Audiotool leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Audiotool funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Audiotool M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Audiotool
What does Audiotool do?
Audiotool is a free browser-based collaborative digital audio workstation (DAW) that enables musicians and producers to create, record, mix, and master music directly in the browser without installation. The platform includes 37 built-in devices—synthesizers (Heisenberg, Pulverisateur, Space), drum machines (Machiniste, Beatbox9, Beatbox8), and professional effects (Quasar, Pulsar, Gravity, Quantum)—with real-time multiplayer collaboration and access to over 200,000 presets.
Is Audiotool a public or private company?
Audiotool is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Audiotool founded?
Audiotool was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Audiotool based?
Audiotool is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Audiotool make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Free Core Platform is the primary driver. The others are affiliate Marketing.
Who are Audiotool's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BandLab, Soundtrap and Soundation. Broad incumbents are Splice, Ableton, Native Instruments and Reaper. Emerging players are LANDR, UJAM and BandM8.
Does Audiotool have an API?
Yes. NEXUS is Audiotool's open projects API built on Protocol Buffers. It enables developers to programmatically create and edit projects with MIDI, audio, automation, and device setups using the same API the app uses itself. Developers can integrate third-party services such as AI mastering, stem separation, or sample libraries directly into live multiplayer sessions, and build community apps with custom interfaces that plug into projects. Developer documentation is at developer.audiotool.com.
What industry is Audiotool in?
Audiotool's product category is Music Production Software (Digital Audio Workstation). Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAIAA, Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs), with a secondary code of MPAIAIAD, Cloud Collaboration & Remote Recording Platforms. Its NAICS code is 512290.