The 7 Best DJ Software Applications In 2024: Everything You Need To Know! (2024)

📅 Last updated: 15th May 2024 | 🕒 Est. reading time: 17 mins

Overview

In this post, we’ll break down thebest DJ software providers in the market right now, considering WHO they are best suited to.

As well as providing the relevant trial or ‘demo’ links where applicable, we’ll also link to two additional free options in our FAQ section at the end.

Understanding DJ software

Going back to the mid-90s, DJ software was originally developed as a library storage tool, with the idea that DJs would no longer need to lug their heavy record boxes back & forth to gigs. Nowadays, of course, it’s a much more powerful technology, with way more utility.

Once you have your preferred DJ software running on a laptop, all you need is some compatible DJ hardware (like a DJ controller) to take full advantage of its features & functionality. From there, you’ll receive regular in-software updates that keep you at the forefront of the latest DJ tech & innovation – for what’s a relatively small investment.

Compatibility with DJ controllers

Whilst some DJ controllers work universally with most DJ software, the majority are only compatible with the software programs that are endorsed by the manufacturer.

That said, it’s recommended that you stick with the software the controller was designed for (or at least one listed by the manufacturer) if you want to avoid compatibility issues.

Fortunately enough, when you buy a DJ controller the appropriate software usually comes with it!

What else to consider?

As we spoke about in our DJ Controller post, it will help if you already know what the purpose of your DJ setup is. For example: is it a stepping stone to playing out or is it just for fun?

And, if you do plan on playing out at some stage, what kind of DJ are you aspiring to be?!

Aside from that, your choice of software can simply come down to which one you’re most excited about and/or which interface you’re most comfortable with. You don’t need to overcomplicate it!

Once you’ve decided (or at least narrowed it down), you can then start looking for a compatible piece of hardware to marry up with your preferred software.

So let’s take a look at the best DJ software in the market right now…

1: Serato DJ

Overview:

Serato is very easy to navigate with a nice clean-looking interface, which makes it arguably the best DJ software for beginners. They also have a stripped-back version called Serato DJ Lite, which can be easily upgraded to the Pro version at any point.

Note: The Lite version is usually fine for your typical two-channel entry-level controllers, although you’ll want the Pro version for anything more serious.

Serato is one of the market leaders for good reason and a great option if you’d prefer not to be locked into one of the main manufacturer’s ecosystems of products, as is sometimes the case with Rekordbox and Pioneer’s hardware, or with Traktor and Native Instruments hardware, for example.

And whilst Serato doesn’t make their own hardware, it’s often the primary operation on popular DJ controllers from manufacturers like Pioneer DJ (who, as of July 2023 now owns Serato), Rane, Roland, and Reloop – so there’s no shortage of controllers to choose from.

Serato was very popular with scratch DJs back in the day (and still is), and it remains the preferred choice for many pro/working DJs around the world today – in both dance and Hip Hop circles.

Latest Serato updates:

In July 2023, Pioneer DJ’s parent company (whose proprietary DJ software is Rekordbox, see next on this list) officially bought out Serato. We’ll update this article as things develop, although feel free to check out this news piece for more details.

December 2022: In a major update, Serato 3.0 finally brought ‘stems’ technology to the software. This allows you to remove or isolate components of a track – the bass, drums, melodies or vocals – using these 4 different audio stems in real-time, giving DJs the ability to create unique mash-ups on the fly and execute more creative transitions, with the option of adding in FX.

The update was meant to coincide with the release of the RANE FOUR that dropped a few months later (Rane’s flagship DJ controller).

2: Rekordbox

Overview:

Next up we have Rekordbox, a music management system and DJ software that natively integrates with Pioneer’s hardware.

As Pioneer setups remain standard issue in bars and clubs around the world, one of the most obvious benefits of using the software would be a smoother transition from bedroom to DJ booth., partly because their Rekordbox-compatible controllers all mirror a ‘CDJ’ club setup/workflow.

Not only that, if you do ever transition to playing in a bar or club, you can also prepare your music at home in Rekordbox – setting cue points and creating playlists, etc. – export it onto a USB, and not require the use of your laptop in the venue.

The release of Rekordbox 6.0 (and iOS 3.0) in April 2020 brought a completely new 3-tier subscription model, scrapping the licensing model they had previously. The paid plans include ‘Core’, ‘Creative’ and ‘Professional’, with the major changes incorporating cloud music management across all devices in conjunction with third-party services such as Dropbox and Google Drive.

It’s important to note, though: when you purchase a ‘hardware unlock’ device (which is basically any Rekordbox controller) – unless you choose to upgrade your plan at some stage, you won’t need to pay a monthly subscription for the software.

And, even without a hardware unlock DJ controller, you can still use the free version for basic library management functionality as well as exporting synced playlists onto USB, etc., which is useful if you sometimes use CDJs in a venue but don’t want to pay a subscription.

Latest Rekordbox updates:

In May 2024, Pioneer released Rekordbox version 7.0, which brought improved processing speeds (which might be more significant if you have a cheap laptop), a refreshed user interface and browsing experience, improvements to ‘Export Mode’, and more.

In July 2023, Pioneer DJ’s parent company AlphaTheta Corporation officially bought out Serato. We’ll update this article as things develop, although check out this news piece for more details.

As of March 2023, Rekordbox now has its own version of ‘track separation’ technology, or ‘Stems’. You can use three different audio stems in the software: vocals, drums and ‘other instruments’. The update was synchronized with the release of the DDJ-FLX10, which is also one of our 7 best ‘Top-Tier’ DJ controllers.

3: Virtual DJ Pro

Overview:

One of the longest-standing players in the DJ Software market is Virtual DJ. It supports more DJ controllers and hardware than any other software (even Serato), boasting ‘plug & play’ support for over 300 controllers.

Known for its live video-streaming and Karaoke features (to name a couple of things), Virtual DJ is a widely popular choice among mobile DJs and beginners. It’s got a much slicker-looking interface than it did just a few years back, and there’s also an ‘event scheduler’ feature which would most likely appeal to mobile, wedding and radio DJs.

There are a few different versions and licenses to choose from, starting with a free ‘laptop only’ home version for PC or Mac, right up to their flagship Virtual DJ Pro offering for professional use. You also won’t need to pay for future updates once you’ve purchased a license/plan, and they offer a cheaper Pro license called ‘VirtualDJ Home Plus’ if you only intend to use it with a single DJ controller for home use.

Latest Virtual DJ updates:

Along with various library improvements and Fuzzy Keymixing, Virtual DJ 2024 introduced CloudDrive. This allows DJs to sync their lists and files to the cloud, and retrieve and stream them from any location.

In December 2022 they rolled out their improved 2.0 version of ‘stem pads’, which allow for real-time track separation so the user can remove or isolate components of a track, such as the drums, melodies or vocals in the mix. As well as positive feedback from users, this has been touted by many in the industry as the best stems on the market.

In April 2021, Virtual DJ announced that users can now export their library onto USB sticks and then use them on Pioneer CDJs in a pro DJ booth. This is (or at least was) one of Rekordbox’s biggest unique selling points before the update, which makes it pretty significant.

4: Traktor Pro

Overview:

At No.4, we have Traktor Pro from Native Instruments. It’s most notably a popular choice among DJ producers that specialize in electronic genres such as house & techno.

Whilst some say that Traktor Pro software isn’t the market leader it once was, it’s still the preferred choice with a lot of performance DJs due to its live remixing capabilities and high-quality range of FX. Popular features did include their ‘remix decks’ and ‘stems’, although stems aren’t unique to Traktor anyone, with all the big players now having their own versions.

Traktor also integrates with Pioneer’s pro gear in a DJ booth if or when you use it to play out in a club (laptop required, unlike Rekordbox), although certainly for beginners, it’s strongly advised you stick with Native Instruments hardware initially to ensure tight integration with the software.

Their flagship DJ Controller series includes the Traktor Kontrol S2 MK3 aimed at beginners, the mid-tier Traktor Kontrol S3, and their Traktor Kontrol S4 for amateur/professional use.

Latest Traktor updates:

June 2023: View the latest 3.9.0 updates via the support page.

December 2022: Traktor Pro 3.7.0 features five brand-new Pattern Player kits for Traktor Pro Plus subscribers created by Camea, Chris Liebing, Dubfire and Joran van Pol. The update also came with several bug fixes. View the full breakdown on their website.

August 2022: Traktor Pro 3.6 now has Pattern Player and Ozone Maximizer (subscription features only). The update also included some other smaller fixes. Additionally, NI has started publishing quarterly updates along with a road map for where things are heading. Here’s Traktor’s full walkthrough video on the 3.6 changes.

5. djay Pro AI

Next in line would definitely be djayPro by Algoriddim. The full version of the software is called djay Pro AI.

Whilst djay is mostly popular on IOS devices for mobile and iPad right now, they also brag a seamless integration with your music library for Windows, which recently got a major overhaul in August 2023.

In another recent update, version 4.0 in May 2022, they introduced tons of new features, most notably Digital Vinyl Control (DVS) integration. This now means pro DJs can, for the first time, potentially use their mobile to connect to physical turntables and mixers.

The software also has an innovative Neural Mix feature which allows the user to remove (or separate) the elements of a track in real-time – such as the vocals and the drums – similar to the ‘stems’ feature on Rekordbox, Serato and Virtual DJ. Note: Both of these features are only available with the full version.

In addition to an ever-increasing number of DJ controllers, their software also offers native integration with Pioneer DJ’s pro gear in a DJ booth. From an innovation standpoint, it’s arguably the best DJ software on the market, although perhaps not ideal if you want the pick of the DJ controllers with the convenience of out-of-the-box native integration.

The software also integrates with streaming services including TIDAL, Beatport Streaming, Beatsource, SoundCloud Go+, and most recently, Apple Music.

If you want to see exactly which controllers are supported based on your device/operating system it’s best to visit their website. Alternatively, check out the latest updates to the software via this page.

6. Engine DJ

Now unless you’re buying a piece of Denon’s hardware (or perhaps Numark as they’re owned by the same parent company, ‘inMusic’… we list all of them below), you don’t need to worry about this influencing your decision on what DJ software to use.

In the same way you would with Rekordbox, for example, you would use Engine DJ as a track management/preparation tool on your laptop – setting cue points and creating playlists, etc. – transferring them onto a USB ready to plug into one of Denon’s standalone units.

Aside from Denon’s professional media players, these all-in-one DJ systems (where the Engine DJ operating system is built-in to the unit for standalone purposes) include the Numark Mixstream Pro, the Denon Prime Go, the SC Live 2, the SC Live 4, Denon’s Prime 2 (note, this unit has been discontinued), and of course, Denon’s flagship Prime 4 and Prime 4+.

Also see our buyer’s guide: the 5 best standalone DJ controllers.

Most notably, one of the key selling points of the units that it operates on is the WiFi connectivity. This allows the use of streaming services and also the ability to sign straight into your Dropbox to access your digital music collection in the cloud. Other popular features include the Touch FX (touchscreen FX), Drop Sampler, and Smart Playlists.

Aside from that, Engine DJ is extremely robust, and without a doubt as good as the market leaders. Visit the Engine DJ website here or view the latest updates to the software via this page.

7. DJ.Studio

Last, but certainly not least, is DJ.Studio. Released to market in late 2023, it’s an automixing software designed for studio, radio, and non-live use – so it’s not in direct competition with the other six providers we’ve listed above.

Simply put: The software is designed for regular mix show creators so they can use their time more effectively rather than jumping on the decks for every recording. Whilst there have been and are other solutions out there, there’s nothing quite like it if you want to solve this problem.

Here’s a quick overview of the process:

Importing tracks is the first step

You can instantly add entire ZIP files and folders, or just individual music files from your hard drive. The software integrates with a ton of online music sources, including Beatport, Traxsource and iTunes, streaming services such as Beatport Streaming, Spotify and SoundCloud, and DJ software: Rekordbox, Serato, Virtual DJ, Engine DJ, Traktor, and Mixed In Key.

Depending on your workflow, these integrations alone could be a massive time-saver, allowing you to manage a range of sources right in the software.

Creating your mix (the automix feature):

Comparing millions of mix combinations with AI, the automix feature orders your playlist in the best possible sequence, allowing you to prioritize either harmonic or tempo-based transitions (meaning you choose how much, or if, the mix increases in energy as it progresses). As well as setting the length, intensity, and type of transition, you can also lock in the first and last track, and much more.

Once the mix is complete, which takes a matter of minutes, you can then customize it however you wish, with the software offering all sorts of pro-grade functionality. You can easily add effects such as filters, loops, vinyl brake, spinback, reverb, echo, and so on.

Exporting your mix:

When you’ve finished creating your mix, you can then share it to a range of locations, most notably Mixcloud along with an auto-generated playlist.

Exporting options include:

• Export to your hard drive (MP3 or WAV)
• Export directly to Mixcloud (with an auto-generated tracklist)
• Export directly to Ableton
• Export directly to Rekordbox
• Export directly to YouTube (4k video)

DJ.Studio pricing:

To buy the software outright, you have two different plans to choose from: ‘Lite’ for $199 or ‘Pro’ for $499, both of which come with a free 14-day trial. If you’d prefer a monthly subscription, it starts at just $6 p/month.

Note: They regularly have discounted offers on their licenses, so you’ll likely get a better price than the ones quoted above.

On the Lite plan, you can still use the core automix features and export the final MP3 to Mixcloud along with the playlist. Additionally, you get ALL your DJ app integrations (just no exporting to Ableton).

Some of the advantages of the Pro plan include high-quality WAV file exports (in addition to MP3), manual transitions, high-quality YouTube video exports, email support, and additional automation functionality. Visit their website here to learn more.

FAQs