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Audacity

Free, open-source audio editor and recorder — the world's most popular app for recording and editing audio on desktop.

Pricing: 0 USD · Updated 2026-09-03

audio

Pros

  • Free forever, open source, cross-platform
  • Recording plus multi-track editing with modern podcast tools
  • VST3/Nyquist plugins; WAV, MP3, FLAC, Ogg import/export

Cons

  • Desktop-only — no official mobile or web version
  • UI functional rather than modern; limited MIDI vs full DAWs
  • Audacity 4 redesign still in development

Alternatives

Audacity vs Spotify for ArtistsAudacity vs Sonos

More audio tools

ElevenLabsAI audio platform that offers text-to-speech, speech-to-text, sound effects, music and voice cloning tools built for creators and businesses.SunoGenerative AI music creation platform that creates songs with vocals and instrumentation from text prompts, widely available since December 2023.Spotify for ArtistsFree dashboard and mobile app for musicians and teams to manage their Spotify presence, pitch music to editorial playlists and read audience stats.SonosPremium multi-room wireless speaker system controlled by the Sonos app, supporting AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and voice control on supported devices.

FAQ

Is Audacity free?

Yes — "Audacity has always been and will always remain free", per the official FAQ. It is open source and cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux), with VST3/Nyquist plugin support and WAV, MP3, FLAC and Ogg import/export (checked 2026-09-03).

Is Audacity good for podcasting?

Yes for recording and multi-track editing — it includes modern voice/podcast production tools and exports to common formats. Limits versus a full DAW: desktop only (no mobile/web) and minimal MIDI capability.

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