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Hydrogen Drum Machine

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Sequence and synthesize drums with MIDI support and flexible audio export

Free, no paid tier
Free Music Production
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Tracked since 2026

The Bottom Line

Price
Free, no paid tier. Compare plans

Key facts

  • Free, open-source drum machine and sequencer for Linux, macOS and Windows
  • Pattern-based sequencing, drum synth and MIDI or OSC control
  • A drum machine, not a full DAW

Pros

  • Free download under the GNU GPL
  • Runs on Windows 64-bit, macOS (10.14 and above) and Linux
  • Pattern chaining, human velocity and swing functions suit drum programming
  • A release is listed

Cons

  • It is a drum machine and sequencer, not a full DAW
  • The project's pages mention no trial, paid license or support plan, so help comes from the community forum and GitHub
  • Windows binaries are 64-bit only

What is Hydrogen Drum Machine?

Hydrogen is an open-source drum machine for Linux, macOS and Windows. Its project README describes it as both a drum sequencer for pattern-based programming and a drum synth, with first-class MIDI support, in-depth control of instrument, sample and note properties, high quality time-stretching and pitch shifting, many drumkits and a MIDI or OSC API for automation. The project's features page lists a pattern-based sequencer with unlimited patterns that can be chained into a song, unlimited instrument tracks with volume, mute, solo and pan, up to 16 samples per instrument, a sample editor, a time-line with variable tempo, and export to WAV, AIFF, FLAC, OGG, MIDI or LilyPond. Hydrogen is released under the GNU GPL, and the project asks for no payment. It is a drum machine, not a full DAW, so melody, bass and mixing need another tool. This record covers the drum machine at hydrogen-music.org, not Shopify's Hydrogen framework.
Data compiled by Toolradar Pricing checked · How we evaluate
Source github.com

Key Features

  • Pattern-based drum sequencer with unlimited patterns, chainable into a song
  • Drum synth and sample-based stereo audio engine (WAV, AU, AIFF and FLAC samples)
  • Unlimited instrument tracks with volume, mute, solo and pan
  • Up to 16 samples per instrument
  • MIDI support and a MIDI or OSC API for automation
  • Export to WAV, AIFF, FLAC, OGG, MIDI or LilyPond
  • Installers for Windows 64-bit, macOS and Linux (AppImage)

Pricing Plans

Pricing checked Oct 21, 2026. Source: hydrogen-music.org/downloads, read Oct 21, 2026

Hydrogen Drum Machine plans and prices, checked October 2026
Plan Price Details
Free

$0

  • Open source under the GNU GPL
  • Installers for Windows, macOS and Linux
View full pricing

Is Hydrogen Drum Machine worth the price?

Great value

Hydrogen Drum Machine's pricing is exceptionally generous: it is completely free and open source under the GNU GPL, with no paid tiers or trials.

This makes it an outstanding value for anyone needing a capable drum machine and sequencer. Best for budget-conscious musicians, open source advocates, and hobbyists exploring music production.

Full Hydrogen Drum Machine pricing: every plan, hidden costs and alternatives

Hydrogen Drum Machine by the numbers

Hydrogen Drum Machine compared with 45 Music Production tools on Toolradar, as of Oct 2026
Metric Hydrogen Drum Machine Peer median Position (1 is best)
Free plan Yes 30 of 45 have one n/a
Listed as an alternative to 3 tools 4 #24 of 45 (joint)

Each position is counted among the tools that have data for that row, as noted under it. All Music Production data · How we compute this. Advertising and placement fees are not inputs to any position.

Cite this: Toolradar, “Hydrogen Drum Machine by the numbers”, Oct 2026.

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Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

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Hydrogen Drum Machine FAQ

Is Hydrogen free?

Yes. Hydrogen is open source under the GNU GPL and its downloads page offers installers at no charge.

Is Hydrogen a DAW?

No. The project calls itself an advanced drum machine: a drum sequencer for pattern-based programming and a drum synth. Melody, bass and mixing need another tool.

Which platforms does Hydrogen run on?

Windows 64-bit, macOS 10.14 and above, and Linux, as an AppImage or from a distribution's repository.

Is this Shopify's Hydrogen?

No. This record covers the drum machine at hydrogen-music.org. Shopify's Hydrogen is a separate headless commerce framework.

Source: github.com

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