Which version of Ableton Live (Lite, Intro, Standard, Suite) should I get in 2022?

Are you wondering which version of Ableton Live (Lite, Intro, Standard, Suite) you should get in 2022? This article compares them and gives some suggestions.

Paid and free versions

	Paid Versions	Free Version
Versions	Intro Standard Suite	Lite
Where to get	Ableton website  City Music Singapore (discounts available)	Comes free with some MIDI controllers, Launchpads etc. Also comes free with Computer Music Magazine February 2022 issue buy an e-copy at PocketMags, or borrow an e-copy from your public library e.g. National Library Board Singapore
Features	Compare features of Live Intro, Standard, and Suite	Feature of list of Live Lite

Buy Ableton Live Suite now or 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 of Ableton Live Lite vs Intro vs Suite

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

OR Buy Live Intro if you are on a tight budget, and then search for free instruments / sounds / effects that you can download - but you won't have functions like Audio Slicing and Audio-to-MIDI, and you won't be able to use all the Max for Live devices.

OR If you are already buying an instrument (keyboard controller? Launchpad?) look for one which has Live Lite bundled, and also search for free instruments / sounds / effects to download. You can even get Live Lite free through your National Library account. But keep in mind that with only 8 tracks, you may run out of tracks pretty fast.

No point buying 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
	Comping MIDI Polyphonic Expression Note and Velocity Chance Tempo Following	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