Max

C tier on Sound Design SoftwareScore 6.2 · #13 of 27

Android app: Not listed
Free plan: Trial only
Paid plans from: $10/mo
Runs on: Mac, Windows

cycling74.com

Summary

Max is ranked #13 of 27 in sound design software on Everything Xiaomi. It runs on macOS, Windows. There is no free plan. A free trial is offered. Paid plans start at $10/mo.

Max plans and pricing

All plans

Max Subscription $12.99/mo Monthly; automatically renews unless canceled Max access; upgrades included; authorizes up to 3 computers, with one running Max at a time cycling74.com · 3 Oct 2026

Max Subscription $120/yr Annually; automatically renews unless canceled Max access; upgrades included; authorizes up to 3 computers, with one running Max at a time cycling74.com · 3 Oct 2026

Max 9 Permanent License $399 once One-time payment Max 9 and free 9.x.x updates; major version upgrades sold separately cycling74.com · 3 Oct 2026

Compared on sound design software

Free plan: Nocycling74.com
Primary workflow: hybridcycling74.com
Standalone app: Yescycling74.com
Sample import: Yescycling74.com
Plugin formats: Audio Unit, VST, VST3, and AMXDcycling74.com
Supported platforms: macOS and Windowscycling74.com

Facts

Purpose: Max is an interactive visual patching environment for musicians, artists, and people prototyping their own software.cycling74.com · 3 Oct 2026
Audio: Max supports building synthesizers, manipulating samples, and creating layered multichannel sound with MC objects.cycling74.com · 3 Oct 2026
Visuals: Max includes Jitter, a set of expandable video and graphics tools optimized for realtime audiovisual work.cycling74.com · 3 Oct 2026
Hardware: Max can connect to development boards and access their sensors, knobs, and switches for prototyping interactions.cycling74.com · 3 Oct 2026
Code generation: Gen lets users create audio, matrix, or texture processes and output source code for use elsewhere.cycling74.com · 3 Oct 2026
Integrations: Max's Package Manager offers over 50 add-ons, including support for Novation, Monome, and ROLI hardware controllers.cycling74.com · 3 Oct 2026
Extensibility: Users can extend Max using C++, NodeJS, Java, or JavaScript.cycling74.com · 3 Oct 2026
Ableton: Cycling '74 develops Max for Live with Ableton, and Max 9 adds sound-processing objects based on Ableton's audio library.cycling74.com · 3 Oct 2026
Trial: The 30-day trial unlocks Max's features, allowing users to open, edit, save, and create without restriction.cycling74.com · 3 Oct 2026
Platforms: The download page lists macOS 11.0 or later on Intel and Apple Silicon, and Windows 10 version 22H2 or Windows 11 version 22H2 or later.cycling74.com · 3 Oct 2026
Subscription limit: An individual subscription can authorize up to three computers, but only one computer may run Max or RNBO at a time.support.cycling74.com · 3 Oct 2026
Offline use: After initial online authorization, a monthly subscription can remain authorized offline for up to 30 days and an annual subscription for up to 180 days.support.cycling74.com · 3 Oct 2026
Institution licensing: Institutional licenses support activation codes, machine-specific key files, third-party KeyServer, and iLok authorization.cycling74.com · 3 Oct 2026
Support: Cycling '74's support team is listed as online Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm Eastern Time.support.cycling74.com · 3 Oct 2026