Ableton Live Lite vs Intro vs Standard vs Suite - which one should I get?

This article has been updated for 2022

Read the updated article here

Here we discuss what the different versions of Ableton Live are. Ableton Live Lite 10 was available FREE from Splice until 31 December 2020, but the more complete Ableton Live 10 versions are also available at 20% discount with a free upgrade to Ableton Live 11 when it launches in early 2021. How to choose???

Comparing Features

The paid version of Live comes in three editions: Intro, Standard and Suite. They share common features, but Standard and Suite have additional features, instruments, Packs, and effects. 

Compare Live Intro, Standard, and Suite, at Ableton's shop Note that pricing may be different for you if you ask your Ableton instructor or local distributor (hopefully additional discounts), so ask. These are the retail prices of the different versions of Ableton Live at City Music Singapore.  

The free version of Live (Lite) which is included with a number of apps and hardware products (e.g. Splice, Focusrite hardware etc. is a lightweight version of Ableton Live 10 – with "all the essential workflows, instruments and effects". The feature of list of Live Lite is here.

Should you buy a full version right now or a smaller version and upgrade later?

To quote Kevaz L Jones on Quora, "Upgrading is actually more expensive than buying a Suite license from the beginning. Though of course, buying the Intro license allows you see if Ableton is right for you.

The actual price for an upgrade might be different for each user, that’s why Ableton encourages you to check on your account to see your special price"

He also says "Is upgrading to Suite necessary? It depends. If throughout the years you have collected lots of VST instruments and effects, and lots of sound packs already, then upgrading to Suite might be an overkill.

But if you don’t have a collection of instrument/effects yet, then Suite may be the only thing you need to produce good records. Because it has virtually everything and their Devices (Ableton’s term for their built-in of instruments and effects) is very well-integrated both in function/design and resource management."

Ben's personal view, in summary

• Buy Live Suite if you can afford it, because it has a whole lot of powerful features /  instruments / sounds / effects AND access to the Max for Live platform which has even more powerful features / instruments / effects
• Buy Live Intro if you are on a tight budget, then spend your time finding and downloading free instruments / sounds / effects 
• Consider buying an instrument (keyboard controller? Launchpad?) which has Live Lite bundled if you want to play your instrument
• Don't buy Live Standard because it lacks the most powerful features of Suite but is twice the price of Intro.

Additional note: Whatever version you buy at EDU discount (for students), the discount applies to your first purchase, not to subsequent upgrades - see Ableton's FAQ. Keep this in mind when evaluating e.g. different versions of Ableton Live at City Music Singapore.  

Comparison Table 

Here is my attempt and building a comparison table of Lite, Intro, Standard and Suite. My preliminary advice is: If the free Live Lite meets your needs, you don't need Intro. But consider buying Live Suite, especially if you qualify for discounts or have help from your Ableton instructor or local distributor, because of all the additional features.

Lite	Intro	Standard	Suite
8 Audio & MIDI tracks 8 Scenes 2 Send and return tracks 8 Mono audio input channels  8 Mono audio output channels  Complex warp modes	16 audio and MIDI tracks and Scenes 2 send and return tracks 8 mono audio input channels 8 mono audio output channels Capture MIDI Complex warp modes	Unlimited Audio and MIDI tracks and Scenes 12 Send and Return tracks 256 mono audio input channels 256 mono audio output channels Capture MIDI Complex warp modes Audio-slicing Audio to MIDI	Unlimited Audio and MIDI tracks and Scenes 12 Send and Return tracks 256 mono audio input channels 256 mono audio output channels Capture MIDI Complex warp modes Audio-slicing Audio to MIDI Max for Live
As far as I know, only current purchasers of Intro, Standard and Suite will get free upgrades to Live 11 (check with Ableton to confirm your exact status). Users of free Live Lite can buy an upgrade to Live 11 Standard or Suite (again, check with Ableton for exact details)	Coming in Live 11: Comping MIDI Polyphonic Expression Note and Velocity Chance Tempo Following	Coming in Live 11: Comping Linked-track editing MIDI Polyphonic Expression Note and Velocity Chance Tempo Following	Coming in Live 11: Comping Linked-track editing MIDI Polyphonic Expression Note and Velocity Chance Tempo Following
Software instruments Drum Rack Impulse Simpler	Software instruments Same as Lite	Software instruments Same as Lite and Intro	Software instruments Drum Rack Impulse Simpler DrumSynths Analog Bass CV Instrument CV Triggers Operator Poli Sampler Wavetable
Audio Effects Audio Effect Rack Auto Filter Beat Repeat Chorus Compressor EQ Three Erosion Redux Reverb Simple Delay Tuner Utility	Audio Effects Audio Effect Rack Auto Filter Auto Pan Beat Repeat Channel EQ Compressor Delay EQ Three Erosion Gate Grain Delay Limiter Looper Reverb Saturator Tuner Utility	Audio Effects Audio Effect Rack Auto Filter Auto Pan Beat Repeat Channel EQ Compressor Delay EQ Three Erosion Gate Grain Delay Limiter Looper Reverb Saturator Tuner Utility External Audio Effect Drum Buss Dynamic Tube EQ Eight Filter Delay Frequency Shifter Glue Compressor Multi-band Dynamics Overdrive Resonators Spectrum Vinyl Distortion Vocoder	Audio Effects Audio Effect Rack Auto Filter Auto Pan Beat Repeat Channel EQ Compressor Delay EQ Three Erosion Gate Grain Delay Limiter Looper Reverb Saturator Tuner Utility External Audio Effect Drum Buss Dynamic Tube EQ Eight Filter Delay Frequency Shifter Glue Compressor Multi-band Dynamics Overdrive Resonators Spectrum Vinyl Distortion Vocoder LFO Envelope Follower Shaper Amp Cabinet Color Limiter Convolution Reverb CV Clock In CV Clock Out CV Envelope Follower CV In CV LFO CV Shaper CV Utility Echo Gated Delay Pedal Pitch Hack Re-Enveloper Spectral Blur Surround Panner