12 Best Audacity Alternatives [2024]

Best for: creating high-quality screen and audio recordings on a Mac or Windows computer

OS: macOS, Windows

G2 rating: 4.5 out of 5, 50 reviews

Movavi Screen Recorder is more than just a good alternative to Audacity. With capabilities to record both video and audio from your computer and/or a microphone, Movavi Screen Recorder is gaining a lot of popularity with both video and audio creators. If you’re producing a podcast, for example, you might want to have a video feed as well as an audio recording. Movavi Screen Recorder makes that possible with simultaneous webcam and screen-recording capabilities. Looking to record the audio from an online presentation? Use audio recording capabilities to capture your system audio, with or without video. Plus, Movavi Screen Recorder also includes editing tools. So, when you’re done recording, you can cut your recording in the program, without the need to find and download a third-party editing application.

Key features:

All the audio-recording functions you want:

• Record and edit system and/or microphone audio in a single program
• Never miss a recording with automated scheduled recordings
• Capture video recordings of your podcast, music mixing session, or any other project
• Record podcasts and digital presentations with audio and/or video
• Record part or all of your screen to focus on the visuals you want to capture
• Enhance video recordings with live drawing, annotations, and keystroke and mouse highlighting
• Save screen recordings in all popular video and audio file formats
• Upload videos and/or audio files to the cloud or social media, directly from the program

Do more with your audio and video clips:

• Record and edit audio-only files for music projects, podcasts, and more
• Personalize video presentations with recorded footage from your webcam
• Add annotations and subtitles to your video captures

Best for: simple audio recording and editing projects

OS: Windows, macOS

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5, 33 reviews

WavePad is an audio-editing tool that enables you to record and edit music and other audio recordings. It’s capable of recording from a microphone and/or from your system’s audio, making it a decent replacement for Audacity. Its recording capabilities are limited to audio-only recordings, but WavePad does include some cool features, like volume amplification, echo effects, and noise reduction. At the same time, it only allows a single audio-editing track, which can be really frustrating if you’re trying to mix multiple voices, instruments, and sound sources.

Key features:

• Can be run from a USB memory stick
• Nondestructive editing
• Text-to-speech capabilities
• Compatible with Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins

Best for: advanced editing for pros and veteran users

OS: macOS, Windows

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5, 408 reviews

Adobe^® Audition^® is a solid Audacity alternative for a Mac or Windows PC. This professional program offers lots of audio editing tools and features: you can edit audio from your clips, use an automated remix tool, and mix multiple audio tracks. One of the drawbacks is a steep learning curve, so the program may not be suitable for beginners.

Key features:

• Multi-track audio editing
• Audio restoration feature
• Podcast production tools for recording, mixing, and mastering
• Automated remix tool to adjust song lengths to fit your project’s needs

Best for: editing audio for free on Linux computers

OS: Linux, Windows, macOS

G2 rating: 4.1 out of 5, 11 reviews

If you’re looking for Audacity alternatives for free audio editing, Ardour is a decent place to start. This open-source Audacity alternative for Linux boasts unlimited audio-editing tracks, supports multiple audio file formats, and includes a comprehensive digital mixing board. It can also extract audio from video files, but it doesn’t work for video recording or editing, though. That’s a pretty significant limitation if you’re producing a podcast, online presentation, product demo, or anything else with a visual component.

Key features:

• Support for multiple audio file formats
• Unlimited audio tracks
• Audio extraction from videos
• Robust audio-editing and mixing features

Best for: simple audio edits for Linux users

OS: Linux, macOS, Windows

TechRadar rating: 4.5 out of 5

Ocenaudio is a free audio editor with versions for Linux, Mac, and Windows computers. If you’re looking at programs like Audacity, and you’ve worked with other open-source applications, this program could be a good option for you. It’s a lighter-weight application compared with programs like Ardour, which means it may lack some features but will typically run faster while using fewer resources. 

Key features:

• VST plugin support
• Easy audio analyzing tools
• Real-time audio effects preview
• Large file editing capabilities

Best for: recording and producing MIDI projects

OS: Linux, macOS, Windows

G2 rating: 4.4 out of 5, 26 reviews

REAPER is an audio-recording, editing, and processing app compatible with Linux, but it also includes versions for Windows 10 (and some previous versions) and a Mac. This program is pretty impressive when you first look at it, with multi-channel recording and editing capabilities, hundreds of effects and tools, and support for several plugins. However, unlike most software like Audacity for Linux, REAPER is not freeware. A discounted (personal) license will cost you $60, while a commercial license runs $225. If you run Linux, you’re probably pretty dedicated to the open-source movement and free software. REAPER’s price tag is kind of high for any software, but it’s especially pricey in a market full of freeware. 

Key features:

• Multi-channel recording and editing for audio and MIDI projects
• Capability to run from a cloud-based or portable external drive
• Support for multiple plugins, including VST, LV2, AU, DX, and JS
• Hundreds of audio-editing effects and built-in tools
• Automated tools for more efficient editing

Best for: online audio editing on the fly

OS: any with compatible browser

If you run a Chromebook, you’re probably pretty conscious of resource use on your computer. You might not have the memory to download a bulky program, but you’re looking for something better than Audacity, right? TwistedWave is a browser-based Chromebook alternative that you might like. It’s pretty intuitive, doesn’t require you to download any software, and you can import files directly from SoundCloud, Google Drive, or your computer.

Key features:

• Support for multiple audio file formats
• Online editing with no download
• Drag-and-drop editing
• Multi-track audio editing

Best for: collaborating and beat-making on a Chromebook

OS: any with supported browser

G2 rating: 3.8 out of 5, 3 reviews

If you’re a DJ with a Chromebook, Soundation might be a lot of fun. It has a similar feel to other online audio editors, but its main focus is on creating cool beats and collaborating with other creators. It includes a large library of loops, beats, and samples to help you add to new songs and remixes. It also includes a lot of learning tools and tutorials to help newbie producers improve their skills. 

Key features:

• Large library of beats and loops
• Collaboration tools
• Guides and tutorials to enhance audio-editing skills
• Sound design tools, including drum machines and audio effects

Best for: basic audio editing on an Android tablet or phone

OS: Android

Google Play rating: 4.6 out of 5, 116K reviews

Lexis Audio Editor is one of a few decent apps like Audacity for Android. Available from Google Play, this app includes a free trial version, but you’ll have to pay to continue to use it after the trial. It includes support for multiple audio files but no video support. You’ll find basic editing tools that are accessible and easy to use, but you may find that it falls short for more in-depth editing jobs.

Key features:

• Support for FLAC, WMA, AAC, WAV, and M4A files
• Audio recording and playing functionalities
• Basic editing tools, including trim, cut, copy, and paste
• Noise reduction and compression features

Best for: recording and editing audio on an Android device for personal use

OS: Android

Google Play rating: 3.6 out of 5, 7.58K reviews

MixPad is another Audacity alternative for Android. If you’re a DJ, producer, or podcaster on the go, you might like this comparatively powerful app. While it won’t stand up to some of the desktop platforms we’ve reviewed here, you might find it useful for recording and editing interviews in the field, capturing sound bytes, or recording and editing samples on your phone. 

Key features:

• Unlimited audio mixing tracks
• Audio effects, including compression, reverb, and EQ
• Quick editing features, like copy, paste, and trim
• Free music and sound effect library
• Support for 6-96 kHz sample rates
• Save as MP3 and other file formats

Best for: simple free audio editing on macOS and iOS devices

OS: iOS, macOS

App Store rating: 4.1 out of 5, 84.6K reviews

If you have an updated iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer, you probably already have GarageBand. This free iOS app is Apple’s native audio editor, and it’s been a popular choice for Mac users for years. It includes unlimited audio-editing tracks, allows you to record audio directly into a project, and you can use your iCloud storage to back up projects when you need to. While it’s very user-friendly and accessible, if you want to do more advanced editing work, or if you need video capabilities, GarageBand might be a little disappointing. It’s a simple app, designed to help beginners with fun, personal projects. 

Key features:

• Unlimited audio-editing tracks
• Audio recording
• Direct sharing to multiple platforms from the app
• iCloud storage

Best for: music composition on iOS devices

OS: iOS

App Store rating: 4.6 out of 5, 28.2K reviews

Medly is another iOS audio-editing app available for free from the App Store. While you can get the app and make some edits to your audio files for free, Medly does require a paid subscription to access all of its features. The app may also be a little confusing for new users who haven’t worked with a music composition tool before. It’s not your typical audio-recording and mixing software, like Audacity and the other programs we’ve reviewed here. If you’re looking for an app to support audio- and/or video-recording and mixing projects, this might not be the best choice. On the other hand, if you’re composing music from scratch, you might love it.

Key features:

• Add individual musical notes or full audio samples
• Choose from hundreds of musical instruments (for the paid version only)
• Direct sharing to SoundCloud