Best Audio Editing Software in 2026: 12 Free & Paid Options Tested

Choosing audio editing software can be overwhelming. Whether you're editing podcasts, producing music, cleaning up recordings, or creating content — the right tool makes all the difference.

TL;DR: Audacity is the best free option for basic editing. Logic Pro offers incredible value for Mac users. Ableton Live excels for electronic music and live performance. Pro Tools remains the industry standard for professional studios. For specialized tasks like vocal removal, StemSplit handles stem separation without a full DAW.

Quick Comparison Table

Best Free Audio Editing Software

1. Audacity — Best Free Overall

Price: Free (open source) Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux

Audacity has been the go-to free audio editor for over 20 years. It's not glamorous, but it gets the job done.

Best for:

• Basic audio editing and cleanup
• Podcast editing
• Audio format conversion
• Quick cuts and exports
• Learning audio fundamentals

Key Features:

• Multi-track editing
• Effects and plugins (VST support)
• Spectral analysis
• Recording and monitoring
• Extensive format support

Pros:

• Completely free
• No limitations or watermarks
• Huge community and tutorials
• Cross-platform

Cons:

• Dated interface
• Destructive editing workflow
• No real-time effects preview
• Limited MIDI support
• Can be unstable with large files

Verdict: Audacity is unbeatable for free. For basic editing tasks — cutting, trimming, noise removal, format conversion — it's all you need. For production work, look elsewhere.

2. GarageBand — Best Free for Mac

Price: Free Platform: Mac, iOS, iPadOS

Apple's GarageBand is surprisingly capable for free software. It's essentially a simplified Logic Pro.

Best for:

• Beginners learning production
• Songwriting and demos
• Podcast creation
• iOS music making
• Gateway to Logic Pro

Key Features:

• Virtual instruments
• Apple Loops library
• Amp and effects simulation
• Multi-track recording
• AI drummer

Pros:

• Professional-quality sounds
• Intuitive interface
• Seamless iOS integration
• Projects open in Logic Pro
• Great built-in sounds

Cons:

• Mac/iOS only
• Limited track count
• Fewer effects than Logic
• No advanced mixing tools

Verdict: If you're on Mac and starting out, GarageBand is the obvious choice. It's genuinely capable software, not a toy.

3. Studio One Prime — Best Free DAW

Price: Free (Prime version) Platform: Windows, Mac

PreSonus offers Studio One Prime completely free with no time limits or project restrictions.

Best for:

• Beginners wanting a real DAW experience
• Tracking and mixing
• Learning professional workflows
• Songwriting

Key Features:

• Unlimited tracks
• Real-time effects
• Professional interface
• Native plugins included

Pros:

• Full DAW experience free
• Modern interface
• Drag-and-drop workflow
• Upgrade path to Pro

Cons:

• No VST/AU plugin support in free version
• Limited effects
• No MIDI editing

Verdict: Studio One Prime gives you a professional DAW interface for free. The plugin limitation is significant, but for learning and basic work, it's excellent.

Best Budget Audio Editing Software

4. Reaper — Best Budget Option Overall

Price: $60 (personal), $225 (commercial) Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux

Reaper offers professional-grade capabilities at an unbelievable price. The $60 license is the best value in audio software.

Best for:

• Budget-conscious professionals
• Podcasters
• Musicians
• Sound designers
• Anyone who values customization

Key Features:

• Unlimited tracks
• Full VST/AU/LV2 support
• Extensive customization
• Scripting and macros
• Excellent performance

Pros:

• Ridiculous value at $60
• Extremely stable
• Light on resources
• Portable installation
• Constant updates
• Incredible customization

Cons:

• Steep learning curve
• Minimal bundled content
• Interface not intuitive
• Need to provide own plugins/sounds

Verdict: If $60 is your budget, stop here. Reaper competes with software costing 10x more. The catch is the learning curve and lack of bundled content.

5. FL Studio Fruity — Best for Beat Making (Budget)

Price: $99 (Fruity), $199 (Producer), $299 (Signature), $499 (All Plugins) Platform: Windows, Mac

FL Studio's Fruity edition is a genuine bargain for beat makers and electronic producers.

Best for:

• Beat making
• Electronic music
• Hip-hop production
• Loop-based production
• Pattern-based workflow

Key Features:

• Step sequencer
• Piano roll (industry-best)
• Built-in synthesizers
• Lifetime free updates

Pros:

• Lifetime free updates
• Excellent piano roll
• Great for beginners
• Huge user community

Cons:

• Fruity edition limits audio recording
• Workflow differs from traditional DAWs
• Can feel chaotic initially

Verdict: FL Studio's piano roll is legendary, and the pattern-based workflow clicks for many producers. Lifetime updates make it great long-term value.

Best Professional Audio Editing Software

6. Logic Pro — Best Value for Mac Users

Price: $200 (one-time) Platform: Mac only

Logic Pro offers professional capabilities at a fraction of Pro Tools pricing. For Mac users, it's the sweet spot.

Best for:

• Serious music production
• Songwriting
• Film scoring
• Professional recording
• Anyone on Mac

Key Features:

• World-class instruments and plugins
• Flex Time and Flex Pitch
• Spatial Audio mixing
• Stem separation (new)
• 72GB sound library

Pros:

• Incredible value at $200
• Professional quality
• Huge sound library
• Excellent MIDI editing
• No subscription

Cons:

• Mac only
• Learning curve
• Resource intensive

Verdict: Logic Pro at $200 is arguably the best value in professional audio software. If you're on Mac and serious about production, this is the obvious choice.

7. Ableton Live — Best for Electronic/Live Performance

Price: $99 (Intro), $449 (Standard), $749 (Suite) Platform: Windows, Mac

Ableton Live's unique Session View makes it the go-to for electronic music and live performance.

Best for:

• Electronic music production
• Live performance
• DJing and remixing
• Sound design
• Beat making

Key Features:

• Session View (non-linear)
• Arrangement View (traditional)
• Excellent time-stretching
• Max for Live integration
• Powerful MIDI effects

Pros:

• Unmatched workflow for electronic
• Great for live performance
• Excellent stock plugins
• Max for Live extensions

Cons:

• Expensive for Suite
• Session View learning curve
• Less ideal for recording bands

Verdict: If you make electronic music or perform live, Ableton is the standard. Session View changes how you think about music creation.

8. Pro Tools — Industry Standard

Price: $99/yr (Artist), $299/yr (Studio), $599/yr (Flex) Platform: Windows, Mac

Pro Tools remains the professional studio standard, particularly for recording, mixing, and post-production.

Best for:

• Professional studios
• Film/TV post-production
• Recording bands
• Professional mixing
• Collaboration

Key Features:

• Industry-standard format
• Advanced editing
• Avid cloud collaboration
• Post-production tools
• Dolby Atmos support

Pros:

• Industry standard (file compatibility)
• Excellent editing tools
• Professional collaboration
• Best for recording sessions

Cons:

• Subscription pricing
• Expensive
• Hardware dependencies (historically)
• Steeper learning curve

Verdict: Pro Tools' industry-standard status matters for collaboration and employment. For home studios, other options offer better value.

9. Cubase Pro — Best for MIDI and Scoring

Price: $100 (Elements), $332 (Artist), $579 (Pro) Platform: Windows, Mac

Steinberg's Cubase excels at MIDI editing and scoring, with a history dating to 1989.

Best for:

• Film scoring
• Classical/orchestral
• Complex MIDI work
• Professional production

Key Features:

• Advanced MIDI editing
• Score editor
• VariAudio pitch correction
• Expression maps

Pros:

• Excellent MIDI capabilities
• Professional mixing
• Comprehensive feature set

Cons:

• Expensive
• Complex interface
• Steeper learning curve

Verdict: Cubase shines for composers and MIDI-heavy work. For other use cases, competitors may offer better value.

Best for Specific Uses

10. Adobe Audition — Best for Podcasting/Video

Price: $22.99/mo (or CC subscription) Platform: Windows, Mac

Adobe Audition integrates seamlessly with Premiere Pro and offers excellent podcast tools.

Best for:

• Podcast production
• Video audio editing
• Audio cleanup
• Adobe workflow integration

Key Features:

• Premiere Pro integration
• Multitrack podcast editing
• Spectral editing
• Noise reduction
• Auto-ducking

Pros:

• Excellent for podcasts
• Adobe ecosystem integration
• Great cleanup tools
• Professional results

Cons:

• Subscription only
• Expensive standalone
• Less suitable for music

Verdict: If you're already in Adobe's ecosystem or doing podcast/video work, Audition makes sense. Otherwise, the subscription pricing is hard to justify.

11. Hindenburg — Best Dedicated Podcast Editor

Price: $95 (Journalist), $375 (Pro) Platform: Windows, Mac

Hindenburg is built specifically for spoken word, making it ideal for podcasters and journalists.

Best for:

• Podcast production
• Radio production
• Journalism
• Interview editing

Key Features:

• Voice profiler
• Automatic loudness
• Chapter markers
• Publishing integration

Pros:

• Purpose-built for spoken word
• Automatic leveling
• Simple publishing
• Clean interface

Cons:

• Not for music
• Limited mixing capabilities
• Expensive for features

Verdict: Hindenburg removes complexity podcasters don't need. If podcasting is your focus and you don't need music production, it's worth considering.

12. Descript — Best AI-Powered Editing

Price: $12/mo (Creator), $24/mo (Pro) Platform: Windows, Mac

Descript's revolutionary approach treats audio like a text document — edit the transcript, edit the audio.

Best for:

• Podcast editing
• Video content
• Quick editing
• Transcription
• Screen recording

Key Features:

• Edit audio by editing text
• AI voice cloning
• Filler word removal
• Screen recording
• AI generated content

Pros:

• Revolutionary text-based editing
• Fast workflow
• AI features
• Video included

Cons:

• Subscription required
• AI has limitations
• Not for music production
• Privacy considerations

Verdict: Descript's text-based editing is genuinely innovative. For podcasters and content creators comfortable with AI, it dramatically speeds up editing.

Specialized Audio Tools

Beyond DAWs, specialized tools handle specific tasks:

Vocal Removal and Stem Separation

For extracting vocals, drums, bass, or other elements from songs:

StemSplit — AI-powered stem separation

• Extract vocals, drums, bass, other
• No DAW required
• Pay-per-song pricing
• High-quality Demucs AI

Use cases:

• Creating karaoke tracks
• Sampling and remixing
• Learning parts
• Isolating instruments

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iZotope RX — Audio Repair

For cleaning problematic audio:

• Remove noise, clicks, hum
• Repair dialogue
• Forensic audio tools
• Professional restoration

Melodyne — Pitch Correction

For pitch and timing correction:

• Note-level editing
• DNA technology for polyphonic
• Industry-standard pitch correction

How to Choose

For Beginners

For Music Production

For Podcasting

For Content Creation

FAQ

What's the best free audio editing software?

Audacity for basic editing and podcasting. GarageBand for Mac users who want instruments and production tools. Studio One Prime for a real DAW experience.

Is Audacity good enough for professional use?

For basic editing, yes. Many podcasters use Audacity professionally. For music production, mixing, or complex projects, you'll hit limitations.

Which DAW do professionals use?

It depends on the field:

• Recording studios: Pro Tools
• Electronic music: Ableton Live
• Film scoring: Logic Pro, Cubase
• Post-production: Pro Tools

Is Logic Pro worth it?

At $200 with no subscription, Logic Pro is arguably the best value in professional audio software. If you're on Mac and serious about production, it's almost certainly worth it.

Ableton vs FL Studio — which is better?

Neither is objectively "better":

• Ableton for electronic music, live performance, and experimental work
• FL Studio for beat making, hip-hop, and pattern-based production

Try both demos and see which workflow clicks.

Do I need expensive software to make good music?

No. Reaper ($60), GarageBand (free), and even Audacity have been used on commercial releases. The software matters less than your skills, creativity, and the time you invest in learning.

What software do I need for vocal removal?

You don't need a full DAW. Specialized tools like StemSplit handle stem separation better than DAW plugins, using dedicated AI models optimized for the task.

The Bottom Line

The "best" audio editing software depends entirely on your use case:

• Beginners: Start with Audacity (free) or GarageBand (free, Mac)
• Budget producers: Reaper ($60) offers professional capabilities
• Serious Mac users: Logic Pro ($200) is exceptional value
• Electronic music: Ableton Live is the standard
• Beat makers: FL Studio's workflow may suit you best
• Professional studios: Pro Tools remains the industry standard
• Podcasters: Audacity, Hindenburg, or Descript depending on needs

Don't overthink it. Pick something that fits your budget and workflow, learn it well, and make music. You can always switch later — skills transfer between DAWs.

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