Splitwave vs Audio Hijack

Splitwave9.0Visit Audio Hijack8.4Visit

Higher score Splitwave #4 in Audio Enhancement Software 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 5 features Visit Splitwave

vs

Audio Hijack #10 in Audio Enhancement Software 8.4/10 Paid ✓ 3 of 5 features Visit Audio Hijack

• Splitwave fits best

  Cross-platform open-source audio production

• Audio Hijack fits best

  Mac users needing recording and routing

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Side by side

Feature	Splitwave 9.0/10 Visit ↗	Audio Hijack 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.0	8.4
Ranking	#4 in Audio Enhancement Software	#10 in Audio Enhancement Software
Best for	Cross-platform open-source audio production	Mac users needing recording and routing
Pricing model	Free	Paid
Starting price	Free plan	$69 one-time
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	macOS, Linux, Windows	macOS
Integrations	8 integrations	8 integrations
Features Splitwave 3/5 · Audio Hijack 3/5
Noise reduction	✓	✓
Equalizer	✓	✓
Virtual surround	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Audio routing	✓	✓
App-specific profiles	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms	macOS, Linux, Windows	macos
Equalizer bands	10 bands	10 bands
Our review
Pros	Free and open source under the MIT license Routes microphones, apps, files, effects, and plugins in real time Supports macOS, Linux, and Windows with broad recording formats	Captures audio from apps, microphones, mixers, or the full system Combines mixing, 10-band EQ, denoise, recording, and routing Supports local transcription and streaming to RTMP, Shoutcast, and Icecast
Cons	Virtual audio devices are available only on macOS and Linux The node-based workflow may require careful pipeline configuration Its wide feature set may exceed the needs of simple audio enhancement	Runs only on macOS Costs $69 upfront with no permanent free plan The license is limited to a single user
Our verdict	Splitwave is a desktop audio router for macOS, Linux, and Windows, designed for users who need more than basic volume or tone adjustment. Its node-based graph connects microphones, system audio, per-application audio, WAV files, effects,… Read the review →	Audio Hijack is a macOS audio utility for people who need to capture, shape, record, route, or broadcast sound from a computer. It can work with individual applications, microphones, mixers, other input devices, or all system audio. That… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Splitwave — where it wins

  • Free and open source under the MIT license
  • Routes microphones, apps, files, effects, and plugins in real time
  • Supports macOS, Linux, and Windows with broad recording formats

  Where it doesn't

  • Virtual audio devices are available only on macOS and Linux
  • The node-based workflow may require careful pipeline configuration
  • Its wide feature set may exceed the needs of simple audio enhancement

• Audio Hijack — where it wins

  • Captures audio from apps, microphones, mixers, or the full system
  • Combines mixing, 10-band EQ, denoise, recording, and routing
  • Supports local transcription and streaming to RTMP, Shoutcast, and Icecast

  Where it doesn't

  • Runs only on macOS
  • Costs $69 upfront with no permanent free plan
  • The license is limited to a single user

• Splitwave9.0/10 · Free plan

  A free, cross-platform audio router for live processing, recording, streaming, and DAW workflows.

  Visit SplitwaveFull verdict →
• Audio Hijack8.4/10 · Paid

  A versatile Mac audio workstation with deep routing, recording, and enhancement tools.

  Visit Audio HijackFull verdict →