VirtualDJ is DJ software for Mac and Windows from Atomix Productions, now on its 2026 version, that mixes audio, video and karaoke and claims plug-and-play support for more than 300 controllers. It is free to use at home with no controller or DJ mixer attached; a controller needs the Home licence if it is on VirtualDJ's entry-level list or the Pro licence if it isn't, and any paid gig needs Pro.
What it does
VirtualDJ plays and mixes music files on virtual decks, from two up to 99, with waveforms, cue points, loops, a sampler, effects and sync, controlled from the mouse and keyboard or from a DJ controller. The current release is VirtualDJ 2026 (build b9644 on 13 October 2026), and the download page asks for Windows 10 64-bit or macOS 10.15 at minimum. VirtualDJ lists no iPad or phone version of the software itself; its "Remote" app for Android and iOS controls VirtualDJ running on a computer.
Its features page lists what sets it apart from the other DJ programs:
- Stems. It separates a track in real time into parts it names as vocals, instruments, kicks and hi-hats, with stem performance pads and a ModernEQ that mixes by stem rather than by frequency band.
- Video and karaoke. It mixes video files in full HD and 4K with effects and transitions, shows "videoskins" with the track information on a projector or video wall, plays the common karaoke formats and keeps a next-singer list on screen. Serato sells video as an expansion and rekordbox puts it in a paid plan; VirtualDJ includes it in every tier, per its comparison chart.
- DVS. A built-in engine for turntables and CD players that reads the main timecode brands as well as VirtualDJ's own signal, in absolute, relative and smart modes. The guide to digital vinyl systems covers the setup.
- Content subscriptions. Separate monthly catalogues from iDJPool (audio), VJ-Pro (video) and Sunfly (karaoke), per the buy page, plus streaming from SoundCloud and Deezer. An Online Music membership does not include the right to play that music in public; VirtualDJ's own article says you or the venue still need the usual licences, which the DJ licence guide explains.
- Customisation. Skins, a scripting language called VDJScript, a MIDI mapper with MIDI learn, DMX lighting control and recording, podcasting and radio broadcast.
When it is free, and what the licences add
VirtualDJ's price page puts the rule in one sentence: "If you are not using it professionally, and do not use any professional equipment like a DJ controller, or a DJ mixer, then VirtualDJ is FREE." The company says it has kept the software free for beginners since 1996. Its EULA defines professional use as being paid or compensated for an activity that involves the software.
| Free | Home | Pro | Business | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full player, library, skins, VDJScript, editors | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| All audio and video effects, video and karaoke playback | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Record audio or video to a file | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| USB/MIDI controllers | No | Entry-level list only | Any | Any |
| External analogue mixer or timecode vinyl (DVS) | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Clean audio output, without the VirtualDJ audio sample | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Change or remove the video logo | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced AI features (AIPrompt, full lyrics) | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Podcasts stored online, broadcast to a radio server | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Professional use (earning money as a DJ) | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-user licence, phone support, custom scripts | No | No | No | Yes |
Source: VirtualDJ's comparison chart, read 13 October 2026. Home, Pro and Business are monthly subscriptions, Pro cancellable at any time, tied to your VirtualDJ account rather than a serial number (licence settings). Licences can only be bought on virtualdj.com or inside the software, and they can't be transferred or resold.
A few things the chart doesn't say:
- The 10-minute rule. Plug in a controller without a licence that covers it and VirtualDJ still works, but only for 10 minutes at a time; VirtualDJ's support article describes this as a way to test controllers. Each product page on this site shows which VirtualDJ licence a controller or mixer needs.
- Audio branding. The Free and Home tiers play a VirtualDJ audio sample into the output now and then, and put a VirtualDJ logo on video. Pro removes both.
- Infinity. Until the subscriptions arrived, VirtualDJ sold a one-off Pro Infinity licence. The buy page still sells it as a legacy licence, but says it does not give access to some of the newer AI features. VirtualDJ's older support articles also mention Plus licences, one per controller, and LE licences bundled with a controller; those names are gone from the current price page.
Which controllers run on which licence
The Home licence page lists every controller VirtualDJ treats as entry-level. It is a long list of two-channel beginner controllers, including the Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4, DDJ-400, DDJ-200, DDJ-REV1 and the AlphaTheta DDJ-FLX2; the Numark Mixtrack Platinum FX, Mixtrack Pro FX and Party Mix; Hercules' DJControl Inpulse 200, 300 and Mix models; the Reloop Buddy, Mixtour and Ready; the Roland DJ-202; and Native Instruments' Traktor Kontrol S2 and Z1 MK2. If your controller is on the list, Home covers it for home use; if it isn't, you need Pro.
The list has no four-channel controllers and no mixers on it, so those need Pro. That includes the DDJ-FLX10, the DDJ-REV7, the Denon DJ SC Live 4 in its computer mode and battle mixers such as the Pioneer DJ DJM-S7 and DJM-S11, whose VirtualDJ setup page says a Pro licence is required. Unlike Serato and rekordbox, no controller unlocks VirtualDJ by being plugged in. The best controllers for VirtualDJ are picked by situation, with the licence each needs.
VirtualDJ or something else
- You play, or plan to play, Pioneer DJ club gear from USB. rekordbox is the program that exports a library in the format CDJs and XDJs read. See what rekordbox is.
- Your controller unlocks Serato or rekordbox. Most controllers come with one of those two free; VirtualDJ is a subscription on top. What Serato DJ is explains how its hardware unlocks work.
- You mix video, run karaoke nights or want one program that does both. Video and karaoke are in every VirtualDJ tier, and this is the situation the best DJ software guide recommends it for.
- You want to learn at home for nothing. VirtualDJ with the mouse and keyboard, or Serato DJ Lite with a controller that unlocks it, both cost nothing.
How this page is made
Every feature, licence and hardware detail here comes from VirtualDJ's own pages, read on 13 October 2026 and linked where they are used: the features, price and licence comparison, Home licence, buy and download pages, the EULA and its support articles. VirtualDJ changes its licence tiers and controller list, so check those pages before buying. We haven't tested the software for this page. The methodology explains how the site works.
