REAPER vs Adobe Audition

REAPER9.3Visit Adobe Audition8.7Visit

Higher score REAPER #2 in Audio Editing Software 9.3/10 60-day trial Free trial✓ 5 of 6 features Visit REAPER

vs

Adobe Audition #8 in Audio Editing Software 8.7/10 7-day trial Free trial✓ 4 of 6 features Visit Adobe Audition

• REAPER fits best

  Affordable, flexible desktop production

• Adobe Audition fits best

  Video editors in the Adobe ecosystem

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Side by side

Feature	REAPER 9.3/10 Visit ↗	Adobe Audition 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	8.7
Ranking	#2 in Audio Editing Software	#8 in Audio Editing Software
Best for	Affordable, flexible desktop production	Video editors in the Adobe ecosystem
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	$60 one-time	—
Free plan	—	—
Free trial	60 days	7 days
Free trial length	60 days	7 days
Deployment	Desktop	Cloud, Desktop
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS
Support	Email, Community, Docs	Phone, Live chat, Community, Docs
Integrations	10 integrations	2 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features REAPER 5/6 · Adobe Audition 4/6
Multitrack editing	✓	✓
MIDI sequencing	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Third-party plugins	✓	✓
Noise reduction	✓	✓
Video synchronization	✓	✓
Cloud collaboration	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows and macOS
Our review
Pros	Records, edits, mixes, and masters multitrack audio and MIDI Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux Supports broad plug-in formats, scripting, and video processing	Spectral, waveform, and multitrack editing in one desktop workstation Noise reduction, restoration, mixing, and mastering effects Premiere Pro integration with video clip import and soundtrack synchronization
Cons	The $60 license is limited to eligible users Commercial users who do not qualify pay $225 Desktop-only workflow; no recurring subscription option	Paid product with no free plan Limited to Windows and macOS desktop workflows Less production-broad than leading digital audio workstations
Our verdict	REAPER is a desktop digital audio workstation for recording, editing, processing, mixing, and mastering audio and MIDI. It suits home producers, professional studios, broadcast and location recording, education, sound design, game… Read the review →	Adobe Audition is a desktop audio workstation for recording, editing, mixing, restoring, and mastering audio. It serves podcasters, musicians, broadcasters, and video-production teams that need waveform, spectral, and multitrack tools in… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• REAPER — where it wins

  • Records, edits, mixes, and masters multitrack audio and MIDI
  • Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Supports broad plug-in formats, scripting, and video processing

  Where it doesn't

  • The $60 license is limited to eligible users
  • Commercial users who do not qualify pay $225
  • Desktop-only workflow; no recurring subscription option

• Adobe Audition — where it wins

  • Spectral, waveform, and multitrack editing in one desktop workstation
  • Noise reduction, restoration, mixing, and mastering effects
  • Premiere Pro integration with video clip import and soundtrack synchronization

  Where it doesn't

  • Paid product with no free plan
  • Limited to Windows and macOS desktop workflows
  • Less production-broad than leading digital audio workstations

• REAPER9.3/10 · 60-day trial

  A flexible desktop DAW with broad audio and MIDI tools and a one-time license from $60.

  Visit REAPERFull verdict →
• Adobe Audition8.7/10 · 7-day trial

  A mature desktop editor for detailed audio work and Adobe video-production workflows.

  Visit Adobe AuditionFull verdict →