12 Best Audacity Alternatives [2024]

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12 Best Audacity Alternatives for Any Device [2024]

Edited by Ben Jacklin

December 18, 2024

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Audacity has been a hugely popular audio-editing and music-mixing tool for years, but with recent rumors around spyware and other issues, creators are reconsidering their options. To help you find the best Audacity alternative, we’ve used and reviewed the top contenders on the market today.

Quick summary

Editor’s pick for world-class recordings and audio editing: Movavi Screen Recorder
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Top pick for free audio editing on Linux: Ardour
Top pick for collaborative editing on a Chromebook: Soundation

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When selecting products to include in our reviews, we research both demand and popularity.
The team tests all the products mentioned in this article.
When testing, we compare the key characteristics of the products, which include selecting capture area, schedule recording, showing keystrokes and mouse, and other significant features.
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Best alternatives to Audacity for Windows and macOS

Movavi Screen Recorder

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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

Pros:

User-friendly interface makes it easy to start recording and editing in minutes
Convenient audio-editing tools streamline the creative process
Tons of live tools, like live drawing and annotations, add a lot of value for creators

Cons:

Take your creative audio projects to the next level with the full version

WavePad

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

Pros:

Lightweight, portable program fits on an external memory stick
Includes trim, split, and cut editing tools
Offers a library of free music clips and sound effects

Cons:

No advanced editing tools
Lacks multi-track editing capabilities

Adobe^® Audition^®

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

Pros:

Edit audio from video clips
Capture audio for podcasts and presentations
Get thousands of free audio clips from Adobe’s stock library

Cons:

Unintuitive and can be difficult to learn
Expensive compared with other software like Audacity
Resource-hungry and requires a ton of bandwidth

Best Audacity alternatives for Linux

REAPER

G2 rating

4.4/5

Ardour

G2 rating

4.1/5

Ocenaudio

TechRadar rating

4.5/5

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

Pros:

Free audio mixer and editor
Audio editing on video files
Podcasting and radio production tools

Cons:

Not the most intuitive program
Lacks customer support

Ocenaudio

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

Pros:

Intuitive user interface
Lightweight, portable audio-editing platform
Multi-clip selection for more efficient editing

Cons:

Editing tools are pretty basic and may leave you wishing you had more control

REAPER

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

Pros:

Won’t eat up resources while processing files
Includes a dark mode option for editing in low-light settings

Cons:

Lacks stock sounds library
No video file support
Expensive compared with other Linux-compatible editors

Best Chromebook alternatives to Audacity

TwistedWave

Editor’s rating

4.5/5

Soundation

G2 rating

3.8/5

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

Pros:

A good online alternative to Audacity
Easy to learn
Quick uploads from your machine or the cloud

Cons:

Pretty basic editing capabilities compared with other editors

Soundation

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

Pros:

Has a lot of support for new users
Built for collaboration

Cons:

Lacks video file format support
More like an Ableton alternative than an Audacity alternative

Best apps like Audacity for Android

Lexis Audio Editor

Google Play rating

4.6/5

MixPad Multitrack Mixer

Google Play rating

3.6/5

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

Pros:

Quick and easy to learn
All features available with the free version (except MP3 exports)

Cons:

MP3 exports are only available with the paid version
Extremely basic editing tools

MixPad Multitrack Mixer

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

Pros:

Fully-featured free version for noncommercial use
User-friendly basic editing tools

Cons:

You’ll have to pay if you plan on monetizing your work
A paid version is expensive
The interface looks dated

Best programs like Audacity for iOS

GarageBand

App Store rating

4.1/5

Medly

App Store rating

4.6/5

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

Pros:

100% free audio-editing app
Recording, production, and sharing features all in one app

Cons:

Not as advanced as other editing tools

Medly

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

Pros:

Makes it easy to compose music on the fly
Includes a ton of instruments and audio samples with the paid version

Cons:

Tailored to composition over other uses
Lots of features lacking in the free version

Tips for choosing an Audacity alternative that’s free

Now that we’ve walked through all of the top programs like Audacity for a variety of platforms, let’s talk about how to choose the best one for your needs. Keeping these tips in mind can help you make the best choice without a ton of trial and error:

Are you a newbie or a veteran? If you’re new to audio recording and editing, you might want to avoid the open-source programs and some of the more complex software that we reviewed here. Adobe^® Audition^® is a powerful program, but it can be a real pain to learn. On the other hand, Movavi Screen Recorder includes a ton of features but is designed to be easy for anyone to learn in minutes.
Will it work with your device? Before you get too excited about a program, check that it is compatible with your computer, phone, or tablet. It’s a simple metric, we know, but it’s an important one to avoid wasting time researching programs that only work on a Mac when you run Linux.
How easy is it to get support and guidance? Whether you’re looking for a Mac alternative to Audacity, a web-based program, or you need a mobile solution, you should consider what you’re going to be doing with the software and how you’ll learn to do it. Does the program you’re considering have a library of video tutorials and informational articles, or will you be scouring Reddit and YouTube to try to find what you’re looking for? Also, if something goes wrong, will customer support be available? If you want to be sure that you’ll have help immediately if you run into a glitch, we’d recommend checking out Movavi Screen Recorder or one of the other programs with solid tech support.
What features does it include? Some of these programs are really simple and easy to use, but they lack features and tools that you might need. If, for example, you’re recording a podcast, and you want to take some video recordings as well as capturing audio, you’ll want a more robust program like Movavi Screen Recorder.
What’s your budget? Okay, we know these are tips to choose a free alternative to Audacity, but this is still important. While everyone loves a free solution, free tools don’t always do everything that you need. You could save a few dollars in subscription fees but then spend precious time switching between programs and trying to cobble together what you need. With that in mind, you don’t have to buy the most expensive software around to create high-quality recordings. Compare prices and try out free versions of different programs to see which will fit your budget and do everything you need.

Summary: Up your audio-editing game with the right Audacity alternative

So, what do you think? Are you ready to pick the best Audacity alternative for your next audio- and/or video-recording and editing project? If you’re still a little lost amid all this info, check out Movavi Screen Recorder to see how it can help you boost your podcasting, screencasting, or online presenting game.

Movavi Screen Recorder

The perfect way to record anything from your screen

Download for Free About the Windows version

Download for Free About the Mac version

Disclaimer: Please be aware that Movavi Screen Recorder does not allow capture of copy-protected video and audio streams.

Frequently asked questions

Are there better alternatives to Audacity?

Yes. In addition to issues with spyware, Audacity isn’t the most feature-rich or user-friendly editor out there. We recommend trying out Movavi Screen Recorder, with its ability to record and edit video and/or audio samples.

Is there a free alternative to Audacity?

Yes, there are free alternatives to Audacity. If you’re interested in a more robust video- and audio-recording and editing tool, you may want to try the trial version of Movavi Screen Recorder.

Is Audacity still relevant?

Audacity is not the most updated or advanced editing tool out there, and it’s recently had issues with rumors of spyware. While some users still like it, you might want to opt for a safer, more modern recording and editing program.

Is Audacity the best audio software?

Audacity is decent audio software, but it’s not the best on the market today. We’ve reviewed the top audio recording and production programs for multiple platforms, check a few options out to find an app that fits all your needs.

What is the best Audacity alternative?

Here are the best Audacity alternatives:

Movavi Screen Recorder – all-in-one audio and video recording and editing
Adobe^® Audition^® – audio restoration
WavePad – portable and lightweight
Ardour – cross-platform support
Ocenaudio – quick and simple edits
REAPER – automated editing features
Soundation – collaborative editing tools

What is the best Audacity alternative for a Mac?

Check these alternatives for your Mac:

Movavi Screen Recorder – recording and editing in one program
WavePad – nondestructive editing
Adobe^® Audition^® – podcast production
GarageBand – free audio editing for macOS and iOS
Ocenaudio – simple audio edits

What is the best Audacity alternative for Linux?

Try the following alternatives to Audacity:

Ardour – multiple audio file formats
Ocenaudio – basic editing
REAPER – MIDI recording

What is the best Audacity alternative for Android?

Here are some of the best Android audio-editing apps:

Lexis Audio Editor – basic mobile editing
MixPad Multitrack Mixer – music mixing effects
Music Maker Jam – thousands of loops and samples

References

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