VLC media player vs Audacity

VLC media player9.4Visit Audacity9.1Visit

Higher score VLC media player #1 in Free Tools 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 2 features Visit VideoLAN

vs

Audacity #4 in Free Tools 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 2 features Visit Audacity

• VLC media player fits best

  Free media playback across devices

• Audacity fits best

  Free multitrack audio editing and recording

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Side by side

Feature	VLC media player 9.4/10 Visit ↗	Audacity 9.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	9.1
Ranking	#1 in Free Tools	#4 in Free Tools
Best for	Free media playback across devices	Free multitrack audio editing and recording
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Free plan	Free
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Desktop, Mobile	Desktop
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Windows, macOS, Linux
Support	Community, Docs	Email, Community, Docs
Integrations	10 integrations	2 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business
Features VLC media player 1/2 · Audacity 1/2
Open source	✓	✓
Self-hosted option	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android	Not checked yet
Free user limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Free storage	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Plays many audio and video formats without separate codec packs Supports local files, discs, devices, network shares, and streams Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android	Free open-source editor with no subscription required Multitrack editing, recording, mixing, and noise reduction VST3, Nyquist, LV2, and Audio Unit plugin support
Cons	Its extensive playback and filter options may be more than casual listeners need Media-library search and playback history are listed for Android Support is through community resources and documentation	Desktop deployment only on Windows, macOS, and Linux MIDI editing is limited and there is no MIDI sequencing Cloud saving and collaboration run through Audio.com
Our verdict	VLC media player is a free, open-source multimedia player from VideoLAN for people who want to play audio and video across desktop and mobile devices. It handles local files, discs, webcams, connected devices, and network streams, with… Read the review →	Audacity is free, open-source desktop software for recording, editing, mixing, and exporting audio. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it suitable for solo creators and small teams such as podcasters, musicians, educators, field… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• VLC media player — where it wins

  • Plays many audio and video formats without separate codec packs
  • Supports local files, discs, devices, network shares, and streams
  • Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android

  Where it doesn't

  • Its extensive playback and filter options may be more than casual listeners need
  • Media-library search and playback history are listed for Android
  • Support is through community resources and documentation

• Audacity — where it wins

  • Free open-source editor with no subscription required
  • Multitrack editing, recording, mixing, and noise reduction
  • VST3, Nyquist, LV2, and Audio Unit plugin support

  Where it doesn't

  • Desktop deployment only on Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • MIDI editing is limited and there is no MIDI sequencing
  • Cloud saving and collaboration run through Audio.com

• VLC media player9.4/10 · Free plan

  A free, open-source player for broad-format playback across desktop and mobile.

  Visit VideoLANFull verdict →
• Audacity9.1/10 · Free plan

  A capable free desktop editor for multitrack recording, cleanup, and effects.

  Visit AudacityFull verdict →