The Best Guitar Software
Guitar software has become a huge part of modern playing — whether you’re recording at home, practising silently, building tones with plugins, or writing and sharing tab. Below are a few standout tools that cover recording, amp simulation, and learning/writing workflows.
Each recommendation includes what the software does, who it’s best for, and why it can be useful specifically for guitarists.
Cockos Reaper
Cockos REAPER is a full-featured digital audio workstation (DAW) used for recording, editing, mixing, and producing music. It supports multitrack audio and MIDI, so it works well whether you’re recording simple guitar demos or full songs with drums, bass, and vocals.
REAPER is especially popular because it runs efficiently, supports a huge range of third-party plugins, and can be customised to fit different workflows. If you want a professional DAW without paying monthly subscriptions, it’s a strong option for home studios and serious hobbyists.
Neural DSP
Neural DSP makes professional guitar amp and effects plugins designed to run inside your DAW. Each plugin is built around a specific tonal style (or artist-inspired rig), so you can go from clean, spacious tones to modern high-gain sounds without needing a physical amp or microphone setup.
This is a great choice for guitarists who record at home, practise silently with headphones, or want studio-quality tones at any volume. The playing feel and dynamics are a big reason so many guitarists prefer it over more generic amp simulators.
Most plugins include free trials, which makes it easy to test a few options and see which one fits your playing style before buying.
Guitar Pro
Guitar Pro is a tablature and notation program that lets you write, edit, and play back guitar tabs and full scores. It supports both TAB and standard notation, along with rhythm notation and multiple instruments, so it works well for everything from single-guitar riffs to full arrangements.
It’s ideal for guitarists who learn songs from tab, teach students, write their own music, or want a more structured practice tool. Because you can slow songs down, loop sections, and hear playback, it’s much more useful than reading static TAB alone.
If you want a reliable way to practise, create tabs, and organise song ideas, Guitar Pro is one of the most widely used tools for guitarists.
Why guitar software matters
Good software can make practice more efficient and recording more accessible. Even a basic home setup can help you track ideas, build tones, improve timing, and learn songs faster — especially when you can slow things down, loop sections, and record yourself regularly.
Affiliate Disclosure
Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. This means that if you choose to make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These recommendations are based on personal experience, research, and what I believe to be genuinely useful for guitarists.