By NaJade · DJ in Bangkok · Published October 27, 2026
This guide is part of DJ software: the complete guide.
Before you pay for rekordbox, check what the controller in your bag already gives you for free.
rekordbox is the software behind almost every club CDJ booth, so most DJs end up using it sooner or later. It’s free to download, but the plan page lists seven options, and new DJs regularly pay for features they never use — or skip a plan they actually need. The deciding question isn’t which plan has the most features; it’s what hardware you own and whether you need your library on more than one computer. Here’s how the plans break down.
rekordbox has a Free plan plus three paid tiers: Core ($12/month or $120/year), Creative ($18/month or $180/year) and Professional ($36/month or $360/year). If your controller is a Hardware Unlock device, you can perform without paying. Pay only if you need to mix with non-unlock gear, sync your library across computers, or want the extra tools.
Every rekordbox Plan and Price
These are the US list prices on the official rekordbox plans page at the time of writing. Prices in Thailand and other regions can differ, and AlphaTheta does change them, so always confirm before buying.
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly | Devices | Cloud Library Sync |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | — | No |
| Free + Cloud Option | $11 | $108 | 3 | Yes, 1 TB Dropbox |
| Core | $12 | $120 | 3 | No |
| Core + Cloud Option | $23 | $228 | 3 | Yes, 1 TB Dropbox |
| Creative | $18 | $180 | 4 | No |
| Creative + Cloud Option | $28 | $276 | 4 | Yes, 1 TB Dropbox |
| Professional | $36 | $360 | 8 | Yes, 5 TB Dropbox |
Paying yearly works out to roughly two months free compared with monthly billing. “Devices” is the number of computers you can activate at once.
What the Free Plan Actually Does
The Free plan is more capable than most people assume. According to AlphaTheta’s own rekordbox 7 plans FAQ:
- Export mode works. You can import and analyse music, manage your library, set cues and grids, and export to USB for CDJs. For a club DJ who plays off USB, that may be all you ever need.
- Performance mode works on screen, but controlling it with DJ equipment needs a paid plan or a Hardware Unlock device.
- Some features are limited, including video output, Cloud Library Sync and some effects.
- New accounts get a 30-day trial with nearly all features, once per account, after which it drops back to Free.
Hardware Unlock: The Reason Many DJs Never Pay
A Hardware Unlock device is a controller or all-in-one system that unlocks rekordbox’s Performance mode without a subscription. Most current Pioneer DJ and AlphaTheta controllers are Hardware Unlock devices — the DDJ-FLX4 is the classic example. Plug it in and you can mix on the Free plan.
Before buying a subscription, check your hardware’s product page for “Hardware Unlock”. If it’s listed, you may not need a paid plan at all. If you’re still choosing gear, see the best DJ controller for beginners.
Which Plan Do You Need?
| You are… | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A club DJ who plays off USB | Free | Export mode covers prep and USB export |
| A beginner with a Hardware Unlock controller | Free | The controller unlocks Performance mode |
| Using a non-unlock controller or a MIDI-mapped setup | Core | Cheapest way to perform with that gear |
| Want the extra creative tools | Creative | Adds features Core lacks — check the current list |
| Prep on one computer, play on another | Any plan + Cloud Option | Cloud Library Sync keeps libraries matched |
| Working pro with several machines | Professional | 8 devices, 5 TB storage, sync built in |
The honest advice: start on Free, use the 30-day trial to see which paid features you actually reach for, and only subscribe when something specific is stopping you. If you’re weighing up other software too, see rekordbox vs Serato and Serato DJ Lite vs Pro.
Billing, Cancelling and Refunds
- Cancel any time. You keep access until the date your next payment would have been taken.
- Refunds are available within 14 days of a subscription starting.
- Deactivating a computer doesn’t cancel anything — it just frees up a device slot. Billing continues.
- Old version 5 plans don’t carry over to rekordbox 7; you need a current plan.
Your library, analysis, cues and playlists stay on your computer whether you pay or not, so dropping to Free doesn’t delete your prep. For a full tour of the software itself, read the rekordbox review.
A Note From NaJade
I paid for a plan for months before realising I was using it for exactly one thing: preparing USBs, which the Free plan does anyway. Most of my students in Bangkok start with a DDJ-FLX4 and never need to pay for rekordbox in their first year. Where a subscription earns its money is when your setup grows — a laptop at home, another for gigs, and a library you need to match on both. That’s when cloud sync stops being a nice-to-have. Until then, spend the money on good headphones or a few more tracks. Software you don’t use is the most expensive kind.
Related: the DJ software guide, rekordbox review, exporting rekordbox to USB, and DJ gear for beginners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is rekordbox free?
How much does rekordbox cost?
What is a rekordbox Hardware Unlock device?
Do I need a rekordbox subscription to use CDJs?
What is the rekordbox Cloud Option?
What happens to my library if I cancel rekordbox?
About the Author
NaJade is a Bangkok-based DJ playing progressive house, melodic EDM, pop, and Thai music across clubs, rooftops, and weddings in Thailand. He teaches beatmatching and mixing to beginners both in person in Bangkok and online over Zoom. When he’s not behind the decks, he’s documenting the journey on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.