Serato DJ Lite vs. Serato DJ Pro software comparison – What are the main differences? Is one better than the other? Should you upgrade to Serato DJ Pro? Let’s go over 12 most important things that make Serato DJ Pro much different from Serato DJ Lite.
1. What is Serato DJ Lite and Pro? – main differences
Serato DJ Lite is the free, cut-down version of Serato DJ Pro. It includes the essential tools needed to start mixing, but has a smaller feature set and, with some DJ controllers, leaves certain hardware functions unavailable until you upgrade to Pro. Serato DJ Lite works with a wide range of entry-level controllers, including devices such as the Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX4, DDJ-REV1, and various Numark Mixtrack models. The functionality of Serato DJ Lite is always limited in comparison to the Serato DJ Pro which is considered a “full version” of the Serato DJ software.
Essentially, Serato DJ Lite is a free version of Serato DJ Pro with a much smaller feature set.
While Serato DJ Lite is a free version of the Serato DJ software that is distributed with many entry-level DJ controllers, Serato DJ Pro is available as a paid upgrade from Serato DJ Lite, or in case of some more expensive DJ controllers is available to you out of the box without the need to upgrade. In those cases, a DJ controller that includes Serato DJ Pro hardware unlock support acts as a hardware key for the software (it will unlock the full version of Serato DJ Pro when connected to your computer).
The upgrade to Serato DJ Pro greatly extends Serato DJ functions and feature set. You will unlock many features such as more hot cue slots, more sampler slots and banks, more audio FX and ability to record your mixes in the software by upgrading to Serato DJ Pro.
You can check the current price of the Serato DJ Pro upgrade on the official Serato DJ website here: Serato DJ Pro.
There is also a 14-day free trial available for you to test out the software before your purchase.
2. No option for enabling Serato Smart Sync mode in Serato DJ Lite
Smart Sync mode is a sync functionality mode available in Serato DJ Pro that tries to match both the BPM and phase of playing tracks, resulting in more accurate syncing of your songs. This mode is not available in Serato DJ Lite.
How To Organize Your Tracks/Songs – DJ Playlists Guide
3. Serato DJ Pro gives you access to the full range of Serato Expansions
Serato DJ Pro can be expanded with additional Serato features such as DVS, Serato Video, Pitch ‘n Time DJ, Flip, Play, and additional FX through Serato DJ Suite.
Serato DJ Lite does not have access to the full expansion ecosystem, although Serato Play is an important exception and can also be used with Lite for laptop-only DJing.
As of now you are able to use the following expansion packs with Serato DJ Pro:
- Serato Play – an expansion that allows you to use the full functionality of Serato DJ Pro without having a DJ controller connected to your computer.
- Serato P’nT DJ (Serato Pitch ‘n Time DJ) – high quality pitch manipulation expansion pack that allows you to change the pitch and key of your tracks in creative ways without a significant audio quality loss.
- Serato FX – additional FX functionality and advanced FX controls available through Serato’s expansion/Suite options.
- Serato Flip – this expansion allows you to manipulate and edit your tracks with custom loops and cuts and then save your edits for later use.
- Serato DVS – lets you control Serato DJ software with a DVS setup (if you don’t know what that is, check out this short explanation here: DVS And Timecode For DJs Explained).
- Serato Video – allows you to utilize video mixing features.
Can you use Serato DJ without a DJ controller connected?
Both versions can be used to some extent without a DJ controller. Serato DJ Pro has a free Practice Mode for basic laptop-only use, while the Serato Play expansion adds a more complete keyboard-and-mouse mixing workflow and can be used with either Serato DJ Pro or Serato DJ Lite.
If you’re interested in using Serato DJ Pro without a DJ controller (essentially mixing using your laptop only), you can read more about the Serato Play expansion in this article here: Can You DJ With Just A Laptop? – Do You Really Need A DJ Controller?
4. Serato DJ Pro offers additional display modes
In Serato DJ Lite you only have the option to utilize a basic 2 deck view. Serato DJ Pro on the other hand can display up to 4 decks with the following display modes:
- Vertical waveform view
- Horizontal waveform view
- Extended view
- Stack view
- Library view
In other words with Serato DJ Pro you have more ways of customizing how the software looks to make it more suitable for your personal needs and your mixing style.
5. Custom MIDI mapping with Serato DJ Lite is not possible
You don’t have any custom controller MIDI mapping capabilities when using Serato DJ Lite. In Serato DJ Pro however, you can remap many of your hardware controls and also map additional functions to supported third-party MIDI devices. This is really handy!
6. More hot cue points and sampler slots available with Serato DJ Pro
Serato DJ Lite limits your hot cue number to 4 hot cues and your sampler capacity to 4 samples per bank. An upgrade to Serato DJ Pro unlocks 8 hot cue slots and up to 32 sample slots in total (8 samples per bank).
7. Track key analysis capability in Serato DJ Pro
Serato DJ Pro offers you the option to automatically detect the key of each track in your library. The visibility of respective track keys enables you to improve your mixes by mixing consecutive tracks in key – that is following a set of rules regarding appropriate key orders.
This is particularly useful if you regularly mix harmonically or use musical key information when choosing your next track. Popular DJ software like NI Traktor and Virtual DJ offer this functionality out of the box.
8. Serato DJ Pro gives you more advanced audio FX controls
Both Serato DJ Lite and Pro now include Serato’s updated DJ-FX system, but Pro gives you access to a larger and more advanced FX feature set.
Serato DJ Pro also supports additional Pro FX functionality and, with the appropriate expansion or Suite access, more advanced FX presets and customization.
9. Many DJ controllers have limited functionality when used with Serato DJ Lite
DJ controllers such as the Pioneer DJ DDJ-REV1, DDJ-FLX4, or Numark Mixtrack Platinum FX have limited functionality when they are being used with Serato DJ Lite. On many entry-level devices with an upgrade to Serato DJ Pro you unlock additional pad modes, sample bank slots and hot cue slots and only then you are able to use your hardware to the fullest.
Be sure to check if a DJ controller you’re considering that’s compatible with Serato DJ Lite out of the box has any limitations that lock out some of the hardware functionality without an upgrade.
10. You cannot record your mixes with Serato DJ Lite
The mix recording function is not present in Serato DJ Lite. To record your live sets you either have to upgrade to Serato DJ Pro, or use some kind of external software such as Audacity or OBS.
More on that, alongside a few tips here: Can You Record Your Mixes With Serato DJ Lite?
11. Limited loop functionality
Serato DJ Lite limits Auto Loop lengths to between 1 and 8 bars. Serato DJ Pro gives you a much wider Auto Loop range, from 1/32 to 32 bars, which makes short loop rolls and more aggressive loop-based effects much easier to use.
In Serato DJ Pro you have no practical restrictions in terms of loop length or control.
12. Serato DJ Pro gives you more advanced Stems features
Both Serato DJ Lite and Serato DJ Pro now support Serato Stems, allowing you to isolate parts of a track such as vocals, melody, bass, and drums.
The difference is that Serato DJ Pro gives you access to the more advanced Stems feature set, including Stems FX. Lite still gives beginners the core stem-separation functionality, so Stems are no longer a Pro-only feature.
The conclusion – When should you upgrade to Serato DJ Pro?
There is a chance you are planning to buy or you’ve already bought yourself a brand new entry-level DJ controller that is compatible with Serato DJ Lite out of the box and you are wondering whether or not you should get the paid upgrade to Serato DJ Pro anytime soon.
Best reasons to upgrade from Serato DJ Lite to Pro include:
- Owning a Serato DJ Lite compatible controller that has some of the hardware functions soft-locked with the Lite version of the software (like the DDJ-REV1 or DDJ-FLX4).
- Wanting to extend the functionalities of the hot cues, loops and the sampler by unlocking additional slots with Serato DJ Pro.
- Needing any of the Serato DJ Pro advanced features such as expansion packs, more sophisticated audio FX, mix recording capabilities or custom MIDI mapping features to name a few.
- You plan to invest more time and effort in DJing and you don’t plan to switch to another DJing software (and quite frankly sooner or later you will need some of the Serato DJ Pro features).
Serato DJ Lite is still a good starting point if you’re learning the basics or using an entry-level controller, and it has gained quite a few useful features over the years. You don’t necessarily need to upgrade immediately.
Serato DJ Pro makes much more sense once you need things like mix recording, 8 Hot Cues, the larger Sampler, Smart Sync, key analysis, custom MIDI mapping, more flexible loops, advanced Stems features, or access to the wider Serato expansion ecosystem.
If you already know you’ll want those features, buying a controller that unlocks Serato DJ Pro out of the box can also save you from purchasing a separate Pro license later.
