Serato and RekordBox are now considered the top two options for modern DJing. Both lie at the cutting edge of the industry, both are supported by dedicated teams of software developers and both are highly respected by artists and DJs.

You might be asking: where’s Traktor in all this? Traktor is still the choice of many DJs and for a long time, it looked like Traktor was going to grab the DJ industry by the scruff of the neck and convince everyone towards a bright Native Instruments future.

Now, many believe that Traktor has failed to move with the times. They’ve been without a major release or update in a fair while and RekordBox and Serato really have whizzed past. Want to learn a DJ software which is hot and in use right now? Learn Serato DJ or RekordBox DJ. That’s the truth of it.

Serato DJ Summary

Serato is the most widespread DJ software right now. If you’ve looked at DJ controllers to buy then you’ll have noticed that any controller not manufactured by Pioneer or Native Instruments uses Serato. Serato’s license is provided to manufacturers pretty liberally and with 10 years under their belt, Serato-integrated gear is numerous.

Serato is integrated with 53 controllers, 16 mixers, four interfaces / DVS boxes and 14 accessories, like FX controllers etc.

RekordBox Summary

RekordBox has complete dominance over any CDJ-based mixing. If you want to mix on Pioneer CDJs then you have no choice but to use RekordBox, Pioneer’s free music prep software. RekordBox DJ is an extension of that, allowing for laptop-based control with CDJs and DJ controllers.

RekordBox is highly integrated with Pioneer devices and Pioneer are undoubtedly industry titans in terms of hardware. Outside of the CDJ world, RekordBox DJ works in a very similar way to Serato DJ – as software connected to a controller or deck via a USB to a laptop or computer.

RekordBox is compatible with less gear: 22 controllers, 10 CDJs, and 12 mixers, all Pioneer.

1: UX / Interface

Serato DJ

Serato DJ’s interface was always much darker and more serious than Traktor’s but it’s similar compared to RekordBox DJ. It’s fairly crammed and technical looking and by default, it’ll display waveforms in-line vertically.

Not everything is immediately obvious in Serato but it doesn’t take long to get under its skin.

Serato provides different views like 2 deck and 4 deck mode and you can also choose to display effects, the sampler and the mix record section. These are often togglable from your DJ controller.

One of Serato’s highlights is its browser. Smart crates is brilliant, allowing you to quickly find tracks you might’ve improvised in a set, etc.

Rekordbox DJ

RekordBox looks ultra professional, distinctly Pioneer with a modern sleekness that makes it look homogeneous and well-thought out. RekordBox allows for horizontal side-by-side track view or vertical track view like Serato DJ.

RekordBox DJ’s library is incredibly cool, especially the fact that it displays mini waveforms that allow you to quickly assess a track before you load it.

A key feature of RekordBox DJ’s interface is that it remains usable even when it’s not connected to a controller or deck. This allows you to try combos of tunes at any time, whether you’re sketching out your mix or setting cue points.

UI Verdict: Neither interface poses problems or disappoints but RekordBox DJ is ultra-clean and works offline without the use of a controller.

2. Features

Serato DJ

Serato’s built-in featureset is truly awesome owing to its expansion packs. These aren’t free but many don’t cost the earth at $29 each and they’re well worth it, each adding something exciting and innovative to the DJ software.

Serato Video – This allows users access to an inbuilt video DJ editor. With Serato Video, you can quickly add synced video sets to your sets for playback through projectors.

Serato Flip – Serato Flip essentially allows you to remix your tracks for playback through Serato DJ.

Serato DVS – DVS stands for digital vinyl system, allowing for the connection of CDJs and turntables using timecode vinyl and discs.

Serato Pitch n Time – This powerful expansion pack allows you to shift the pitch and time of a track perfectly.

Serato FX – Serato FX allows for the customisation of FX with the inclusion of third-party from developers like Izotope.

Rekordbox DJ

Built into RekordBox DJ you can find a sampler, powerful FX and an edit/remix tool comparable to Serato Flip. You even get a comparable version of Pitch N Time which allows for the seamless transition of tracks between keys. Aside from that, RekordBox closely matches Serato DJ by ways of expansions – you could even say that they directly copied some of their expansions packs.

RekordBox DVS – Pioneer showed their support for vinyl-heads when bringing out their own vinyl turntable in 2016. RekordBox DVS enables timecode control for scratchers and those who like to run a timecode vinyl setup.

RekordBox Video – Video DJ software for the integration of visualisers and graphics into sets.

RMX Effects – A vast suite of editable FX.

Features Verdict: RekordBox DJ arguably includes more for you money. Serato DJ is definitely more expandable, though, owing to its 10 years of development. If you bought everything then RekordBox DJ would cost you more than Serato DJ.

3: Stability

There’s no need to explain why stability is incredibly important for DJs. Stability issues plagued earlier versions of all DJ software, stopping gigs in their tracks, destroying libraries and setlists and generally scaring DJs back to CDs and vinyl!

Now, all DJ software enjoys great stability owing to years of patching and tweaking.

Serato DJ

Serato DJ is very stable and works well on older machines. One example would be the MacBook Pro 2011, one of the most popular MacBooks ever with 4GB of RAM and an Intel I5 processor. Serato DJ works well on these machines, which is very important for many who are yet to upgrade their DJ laptops.

RekordBox DJ

RekordBox DJ is built on RekordBox, which wasn’t known for its stability. RekordBox wasn’t designed for live use, though, so that didn’t necessarily matter. Now it does. RekordBox DJ isn’t bulletproof but it’s clearly been patched to the point of very infrequent crashes. Also, RekordBox DJ is more CPU intensive and doesn’t work as well on older machines.

Stability Verdict: Serato DJ edges it on stability and compatibility with older machines. RekordBox will get there but for now, there’s some work to do.

4: Compatibility

We’ve already touched on the fact that RekordBox is specifically designed for Pioneer machines. However, all DJ controllers are reprogrammable and custom mappings have been created to map many controllers to RekordBox. This is tricky, though, and may create stability issues!

Serato DJ

Serato DJ’s license is liberally sold to controllers manufactured by Numark, Denon, Roland and many others. Any controller except those manufactured by Native Instruments and Pioneer will include a Serato license.

Expensive DJ controllers often come with a full license to Serato DJ but cheaper entry level controllers will come with Serato Intro, which is a minimal version of the software. Serato Intro can be easily upgraded to Serato DJ at extra cost.

Serato DJ is not just for controllers, though. Its Club Kit, now known as DJ Essentials, provides you the power of mixing on CDJ decks and timecode vinyls without the need for an interface. It’s a clever addition that is made possible with HID technology, which works via USB on compatible mixers. You basically plug your laptop into your decks and mixer and voila! You can rock up and easily use a club’s CDJs.

Supported Club Kit Mixers:

RekordBox DJ

RekordBox DJ is officially limited to Pioneer products. You can unofficially map it to controllers made by other manufacturers but it’s pretty difficult and generally ill-advised if you’re looking for a bulletproof setup.

RekordBox DJ’s compatibility strengths lie in the fact that RekordBox is also a playlist prep software for mixing on Pioneer CDJs with a USB drive. If you mix between controllers and CDJs with your USB then RekordBox is the natural choice – it wouldn’t make sense to switch to Serato when you’re mixing on controllers as you’d need to place your libraries on both software platforms.

Formerly, Pioneer gear was ultra expensive and there was a fear that their controllers were going to follow that trend but actually, some Pioneer DJ controllers cost under $300, such as the DDJ-RB.

Compatibility Verdict: It’s difficult to vote on compatibility as this is where the two softwares fork off and go their separate ways. Serato DJ dominates compatibility for those looking to mix exclusively on controllers and laptops, e.g. roll up to a gig and plug your controller into the output. This is an incredibly common situation and even major clubs like Ministry now expect DJs to plug their controllers right into the club system with a connected laptop.

However, this isn’t always the case – many clubs are still dominated by the use of Pioneer CDJs and in this circumstance, RekordBox DJ takes the prize as it also doubles up as prep software for creating CDJ-enabled playlists for use on Pioneer setups. Rock up to a gig with just your USB – nothing else needed!

5: The Incomparable

Not everything between these two softwares is comparable head to head. Let’s take a look at features exclusive to each software:

Serato DJ

Serato DJ, for now, has successfully defeated its old adversary in Traktor. Traktor had an edge over Serato DJ because it made a better choice for DJ producers who wanted to transfer their produced music into live sets. Now, Serato DJ has seized that ground with Ableton Link, something which is not possible with RekordBox software. Ableton Link connects Ableton, a music production DAW, to Serato DJ. This opens up a world of possibility for producers.

RekordBox DJ

RekordBox DJ is an extension of RekordBox, which was music preparation software designed to organise and export playlists to USB drive for use on Pioneer CDJs. As mentioned, this makes it the only choice for those who wish to mix both on their controller and on CDJs.

This also created a new type of DJ controller, the all-in-one. All-in-one DJ controllers contain a mixer, decks and an LCD screen, meaning you don’t need anything else – no laptop, no external mixer, no decks, etc!

You just need a USB drive with your RekordBox-enabled playlists. If this appeals to you then check Pioneer controllers from the XDJ and CDJ series, they’re expensive but they do literally roll up professional-grade Pioneer mixers and CDJs into one club-enabled system.

5: Price

Serato DJ

Serato DJ’s full license comes free with expensive controllers. Otherwise, you’ll get Serato Intro which can be upgraded to Serato DJ which costs $129. Expansions packs cost between $29 and $99.

If you want the Club Kit, known as DJ Essentials then that costs $169 – you won’t need to pay for Serato DJ as well, it comes with it.

If you want everything then the Serato DJ Suite is $299.

Rekordbox DJ

RekordBox itself is free. RekordBox is the prep software for loading tunes onto USB drives for use without a laptop. RekordBox DJ, however, costs $139. Expansion packs range from $10 for additional FX to $159 for RekordBox Video and $109 for the DVS pack.

Pioneer do bundle RekordBox DJ for free with every Pioneer controller, even the very cheapest, saving you $139 instantly – no need to buy a license for the full software.

Conclusion

It’s extremely difficult to call either way. Serato DJ and RekordBox DJ are so similar but they differ in crucial areas and that makes them incredibly hard to judge versus each other.

Loosely speaking, we believe that Serato DJ still reigns over the DVS world. It’s still the most used software amongst scratchers, partly thanks to Serato’s links with Rane, a top manufacturer of battle mixers. Serato DJ can be more complex and with a bit of time and dedication, DJs can really take advantage of its full range of features for some awesome creative possibilities. Also, Serato DJ is compatible on more controllers and a more fully-featured setup is available for a lower price.

RekordBox DJ’s key difference to Serato is its biggest strength: it’s integrated with the traditional CDJ setup found in many clubs. By using RekordBox, a DJ can use CDJs with their USB stick, opt for a DJ controller and laptop setup or opt for an all-in-one DJ controller setup. Pioneer has a knack for monopolising audio industries and over the coming years, we can see Pioneer all but taking over everything in the DJ industry.

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