Will Native Instruments gamble on Windows & Mac, while a lot of Windows users switches to Linux?

Dear, Native Instruments(NI)!

Don’t you think it is about time you start to consider Linux support, since more and more revolts against Windows and a lot of people can not afford the Mac eco system?

I think it is, because we all know what Microsofts future looks like.

Besides my music, my job is computer security. The problem since Microsoft dropped the Windows 7 OS, was that Windows was no longer the product… you were.

I do see more and more musicians, producers, artists and so fort, doing the switch to Linux, me included, but it is a hard sacrifice, since we have to ditch the NI eco system, including both the hardware and software. So please consider it, your future user base might not be as big without the Linux support.

Find more posts tagged with

Community

Comments

chk071

"I do see more and more musicians, producers, artists and so fort, doing the switch to Linux"

I don't. And, you just repeat what Linux users always repeat and preach to others, while Linux still crawls around 1 or 2% market share on home PCs. And, THAT is the reason why you see so little native audio software for Linux. Not, because someone sleeps on it, which is another common theme Linux users obviously never get tired of bringing up.

Maybe Linux users should stop fantasizing. Then, maybe, one day, it will get more market share.

Vagus

In a game I published, it has hundreds of thousands of sales. Less than 500 Linux installs.

Vocalpoint

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/49395/will-native-instruments-gamble-on-windows-mac-while-a-lot-of-windows-users-switches-to-linux

NI has already very clearly addressed this - just about 10 days ago - .

Starting yet another Linux thread is not going to change anything.

nightjar

NI will get on Linux development right after they finish Orchestral Bagpipe…

Dubalab

Get an M1 mac. Not the latest so not the most expensive but totally capable of handling NI apps for years.

Eirik RA

The problem with NI approach is like it is for every other analyst, they do not see the potential. My honest feedback from people running studios around the world, is that if some bigger VST companies had started to provide support for Linux, a lot of them would have considered doing the switch. Like me, they believe that it could have resulted in a Domino effect in the industry.

They would also have loved to get out of the win/mac grip of the industry, since the costs of their eco-systems has become to high. On the environment side, it would probably have resulted in less system degradation, components would have been kept alive longer by the software communities, that is at least my experience. We are obviously a lot of former software developers in these communities, that think it is about time that «the people gets back the control of their electronic lives!».

My personal opinion is that with the open source approach, you will get more loyalty to the products and probably less error correction on the software side. Less BS and more secure systems.

JesterMgee

Forget Linux, when will we see Chromebook support!

Vocalpoint

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/252342#Comment_252342

"My personal opinion is that with the open source approach, you will get more loyalty to the products and probably less error correction on the software side. Less BS and more secure systems."

You still haven't addressed how are you going to convince anyone to actually "pay" for their stuff?

Haven't seen an open source product of any kind - ever - make any money. This is a business after all.

The Linux crowd doesn't even want to buy their OS - how are you going to sell them a $800.00 version of Kontakt?

Matthew_NI

if some bigger VST companies had started to provide support for Linux, a lot of them would have considered doing the switch. Like me, they believe that it could have resulted in a Domino effect in the industry.

This is the gamble.

There's simply no evidence to support any return on initial and ongoing investment.

As stated in the message linked above, we have no plans to support Linux.

Eirik RA

Statistics shows that Linux OS will most likely surpass Apple Mac OS during 2026 in popularity and since most music software providers support Mac, I think it is about time they starts to support Linux aswell.

I run music software on Windows aswell as Linux, as a necessity. But when it comes to OS stability, nothing beats Linux. There are to many bugs especially in Windows and the security aspect of Windows and Apple, scares me. I have a degree in computer science and I do know of the "backdoors" on both OS'es, made for the NSA and the CIA, but the problem is that probably millions of computer geeks, know about them aswell. Not all of them has a noble intention. So that is my wish, that we can get a more secure and private computer future.

Matthew_NI

I don't believe Linux is anywhere close to surpassing macOS in 2026.

We've millions of monthly active users on macOS, and I would be quite surprised if we'd missed millions of eligible customers using Linux.

Stranger things have happened though. Feel free to share your statistical analysis. Ideally it would be segmented, and not simple marketshare (which is not a proxy for total or sales addressable markets).

Vocalpoint

"Feel free to share your statistical analysis"

I have my popcorn ready to go for this…

BIF

Here in March 2026, nearly a quarter of the year is almost over with. Linux is still less than 3% of the music creative market. Less than 3%. I'd say OP is woefully misguided to think Linux music usage is going to double a whole 4 or 5 times in the remaining 9 1/2 months of 2026. It's just not going to happen.

I think it's actually more likely that Ardour and Bitwig will eventually come over to the Windows and Mac side of the tent than anybody else moving over to Linux; maybe even to the point where they stop offering the Linux version.

Somebody else above mentioned the difficulties getting Linux people to be willing to actually PAY for software when they still won't even make the jump to pay for their OS. This is the problem with most Linux business models…it's a yard sale trying to be a Bugatti dealership!

And for any company like Native Instruments to decide to support Linux, that very well might be the funeral bells for the company. It would raise their costs five-fold without actually bringing in any additional revenue. That probably wouldn't even get a positive reaction from the people managing NI through its current insolvency process.

And THAT is not the solution for success long term.

About once every 15 years, I try Linux…you know, for my self-education. Well, that's what I tell myself. Truth be told, it's just for "gits and shiggles". I'm getting close to that time again, but there's no way I'll convince myself that it would be a viable software distribution option for any for-profit company that wants…(ahem) "profits".

Linux is great for running embedded on devices, and for supporting server farms in data centers. Linux drives my Amazon Kindle, and my Yamaha and Roland keyboards, and I'll bet it's in my Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol MK3 controller too. It runs my NAS and it runs my garage door opener and my washing machine and dryer. It runs my security cameras and my Kindle Fire tablet. My car even runs Linux!

But it would not be a good choice for my music applications. It just wouldn't.

So from me? Hard pass, thank you very much!

I'm with @Vocalpoint … let's pop some mass-quantity of popcorn. With plenty of butter and salt, please!

Vocalpoint

"I'm with @Vocalpoint … let's pop some mass-quantity of popcorn. With plenty of butter and salt, please!"

Have to admit - it is very ballsy when a user swings by and states:

"Statistics shows that Linux OS will most likely surpass Apple Mac OS during 2026 in popularity"

and then promptly disappears.

But then again - that's Linux crowd it seems - always ready to talk/type a good game but when it comes to backing it up - crickets.

BIF

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/258083#Comment_258083

Haha, drive-by Linux Statisticians!

Quick links

Unanswered questions