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Audacity

Audacity is a free, open-source audio editor and recorder for Windows, macOS and Linux, used for podcasts, music and quick fixes like trimming, noise removal and format conversion. Version 4 brings a redesigned interface and Workspaces, and Audio.com adds optional cloud saving.

#18 in Video & Audio ToolsAudio EditorsFree plan

Who it's for

Best for

  • Podcasters cleaning up and trimming voice recordings
  • Students and teachers learning audio editing for free

Not for

  • Producers who need a full DAW with MIDI and virtual instruments

Features

  • Import, export, convert

    Supports all major audio formats, so WAV converts to MP3, FLAC, Ogg and more.

  • Plugin support

    Add third-party plugins in VST3, Nyquist and other formats to extend the built-in effects.

  • Spectrogram and analysis

    See frequencies in the Spectrogram view or run scientific Vamp analyzers to study a recording.

  • Audacity 4 Workspaces

    Audacity 4 brings an updated interface, Workspaces and productivity improvements over version 3.

  • Audio.com companion

    The online companion Audio.com adds project collaboration, versioned backups and sharing or publishing of finished work.

What users say

Pros

  • Free and open-source audio editor that matches paid alternatives for core editing and recording.
  • Basic recording, track splitting, and clip reordering take minutes to learn from scratch.
  • Removes background noise, changes speed without altering pitch, trims clips, and converts audio formats reliably.
  • The Audacity 4 redesign finally gives it a modern look.

Cons

  • Audacity 4 freezes, crashes and can drop audio on export.
  • Version 4 dropped tools from version 3, such as Export Multiple and Auto Duck.
  • The download and saving push the MuseHub launcher and a cloud account.
  • The long-standing interface feels dated and basic tools are hard to find.

A selection of the review sources we used:

Summarized from public user reviews and community discussions. View details

Global Traffic Rank

Top 50k

Alternatives

AudacityLogic ProAdobe AuditionPro Tools
Rank#18 in category#1 in category#2 in category#4 in category
Free planYesNoNoYes
ProFree, simple to learn, reliable noise removal and cleanupDrummer, plugin bundle, editable event model, fast takesPodcast and radio editing, spectral repair, voiceover recording192 kHz film sessions, AAX mix-chain plugins, tuning plugins
Better forPerforming surgical audio restoration with granular spectral editing
Weaker atEditing on a budget, requiring an ongoing paid subscription