Here’s a closer look at riffle and BandLab, and what each one is really good at, so you can figure out which one belongs in your workflow.
at a glance
| riffle | BandLab | |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Free, browser-based musical canvas | Free, cloud-based music social network with a DAW inside it |
| Price | Currently free | Free, with paid membership tiers unlocking distribution and extra tools |
| The workspace | An infinite canvas, and a timeline mode for when you're ready to lock in | A timeline DAW inside a social feed |
| Collaboration | Real-time by default, multiple people on one board | Real-time possible via Live Sessions, but forking and async edits are the more common workflow |
| AI tools | A single ethical and assistive AI that does it all | Ten separate tools - SongStarter, Smart Tools, AutoPitch, Splitter, AI Mastering, and more |
| Mobile | Currently optimized for desktop | Native iOS/Android apps, widely used, works offline |
| Project limits | None | 15-minute cap per project, 16-bit WAV export only, regardless of tier |
BandLab: a closer look
BandLab is free, browser-based, and built around a public feed - finish a track and post it where other users can hear it, remix it, and build their own version from it, with attribution handled automatically.
The AI toolkit is wide: SongStarter for idea generation across eleven genres, Smart Tools for extending or layering a MIDI part, Splitter for stem separation, AutoPitch and AutoMix for pitch and mix balance, AI mastering, and a voice changer with fifteen options. For a free product, that's plenty.
BandLab supports two ways of working together. By default, inviting people to a shared project lets them add and edit at their own pace, without everyone needing to be online at once. Live Sessions is the other mode - everyone joins the same session and create or edit in real time.
The cons: every project caps at 15 minutes no matter what you're paying, export tops out at 16-bit WAV even on paid plans, and the free tier has been shedding features - distribution now needs paid membership, and 50+ features have moved behind a paywall since mid-2024. Mobile app ratings are strong, but BandLab's Trustpilot score is a lot rougher, mostly over billing and paywall changes rather than the actual product.
riffle: infinite canvas for music
riffle is a browser-native modern musical ecosystem, built for how music actually gets made today. Open a board and there are several ways in: record audio into your mic, play a virtual instrument, drag in a sample to set the vibe, jam with the sampler, use/remix a template, or ask sous chef (our intelligent, ethical, assistive AI) for a starting point. The canvas also accepts images, embeds, and notes, so reference material lives right next to the music instead of in a separate tab.
Real-time collaboration is one of riffle's core features. Invite friends or collaborators to edit the board and build a track with you live, or bring someone in as a comment-only collaborator if you're looking for feedback.
Sharing runs through 'drops' instead of a feed - a track or stack published straight from riffle, with its own cover art, playable instantly by anyone with the link, no download or account required.
Your work isn't trapped in the platform once you're done, either. Export lets you choose specific stacks or individual stems, downloadable as .wav or .daw files, ready for DAWs or any other tools you may want to use.
Sous chef is an AI co-producer that lives on every riffle board. Sous chef doesn't generate full songs - what it generates are samples, 2/4/8/16 bar loops you duplicate, chop, stretch, and reshape however you like. It can split a track into two or six stems, detect tempo & key of imported audio files, and edit clips directly on the board. You can also talk to sous chef, if that's easier for you.
The same assistant also picks up less glamorous jobs - one-click mixing and mastering, listening to what you've made and giving specific notes on what to change, and more. By default, changes the sous chef makes are previewed before they're applied.
Also, riffle does not and never will use models that aren't ethically trained. The same principle shows up in how sous chef behaves too - it favors surfacing a sound that already exists over generating a new one, and when it does generate, it aims for the smallest, cheapest version.
riffle is currently in beta and free for early users.
which one's right for you?
Opt for BandLab if you want:
- A public feed and remixing - built-in discovery for your tracks
- A wide AI toolkit: idea generation, mixing, mastering, vocals
- Native mobile apps that work offline
Opt for riffle if you want:
- An infinite canvas to explore, and a focus mode to lock in
- Real-time collaboration with anyone, anywhere
- Intelligent, ethical AI co-producer that can do it all
faq
Is riffle or BandLab better for beginners?
If you're completely new to music-making, both are much easier to get into than a traditional DAW. BandLab gives you a full music studio for free, with instruments, samples, effects, and a more familiar timeline-based workflow. riffle is the better fit if the blank DAW timeline is exactly what puts you off. You can start by playing around with ideas on the canvas without having to figure out the structure of a song first.
Can I move work between riffle and BandLab?
riffle lets you export individual stems or full stacks as .wav or .daw files, which you can then bring into BandLab.
Is BandLab actually free?
BandLab has a free tier that gives you access to a substantial amount of its core music-making experience. It also has paid Membership features for people who want access to additional sounds, tools, and features.
Is riffle a DAW?
riffle is a music-making tool, but it doesn't work like a traditional DAW. Instead of starting with a linear timeline and building from left to right, you get an infinite canvas where you can collect ideas, experiment, arrange them, and collaborate. There's also a timeline mode for when you're actually ready to lock in.
Can I collaborate with other people in riffle?
Yes. Multiple people can work on the same board in real time, or you can invite someone just to listen and leave comments.
Does riffle use AI to make songs?
Sous Chef can generate samples and loops, but the idea is to give you material to work with rather than hand you a finished song. It can also edit your board, manipulate audio, mix and master, and give you feedback on what you've made.
Is riffle free?
riffle is currently in beta and free for early users.
riffle is free while we're in beta.
open a board and make something in the next few minutes.
free · no download · no card required