Audacity
Audacity: A capable free editor for multitrack audio, recording, restoration and format conversion. Ranked #13 of 128 in Audio Editing Software by our editors (8.2/10); pricing: Free plan; best for free cross-platform audio editing.
At a glance
- Editor score8.2 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forFree cross-platform audio editing
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Third-party pluginsYes
- Founded2000
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free and open source on Windows, macOS and Linux
- Multitrack editing, recording, mixing and built-in restoration effects
- Supports third-party plugins, cloud projects and local Whisper transcription
Where it doesn't
- No MIDI sequencing for composing or sequencing instruments
- No video sync for audiovisual editing workflows
- Audio.com cloud storage may incur separate charges
Our verdict on Audacity
Audacity is a free, open-source desktop application for recording, editing, mixing and exporting audio. It suits podcasters, musicians, field recorders, educators and other creators who need a capable multitrack editor across Windows, macOS and Linux. Live recording from microphones or mixers, overdubbing, mixing, format conversion and spectrogram analysis cover a broad set of everyday audio tasks. Support for MP3, WAV, FLAC and AIFF also makes it practical for working with common files.
The software itself has no paid plan or trial, so the core feature set is available without a subscription. It includes noise reduction, equalization, reverb, distortion and other built-in effects, along with third-party audio plugin support such as VST3 and Nyquist. Projects can be saved locally, while optional cloud saving through Audio.com adds backups, versioning and collaborator sharing; that cloud storage may incur separate charges. FFmpeg support further extends format import, export and conversion workflows.
Audacity is particularly strong when the priority is accessible desktop audio editing rather than a full music-production or audiovisual suite. Local Whisper AI speech-to-text transcription adds a useful option for spoken-word projects, and the combination of restoration tools, analysis views and multitrack editing gives the application substantial range. It is less suitable for users who require MIDI sequencing or video sync. Choose Audacity for free, cross-platform recording and editing; consider an alternative if composition workflows or tightly integrated video production are central requirements.
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Audacity pricing
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Audacity fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Supported platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Multitrack editing | Yes |
| MIDI sequencing | No |
| Third-party plugins | Yes |
| Noise reduction | Yes |
| Video synchronization | Yes |
| Cloud collaboration | Yes |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Compliance & security | GDPR |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 2 integrations: Audio.com, MuseHub |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | audacityteam.org |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
Audacity integrations
Audacity lists 2 integrations on its own site.
- Audio.com
- MuseHub
Alternatives to Audacity
- Pro ToolsA broad workstation for studios spanning music production, audio post, and immersive mixing.9.4
- REAPERA flexible desktop DAW with broad audio and MIDI tools and a one-time license from $60.9.3
- Logic ProA broad audio and MIDI workstation for Apple-based producers and video composers.9.2
See all Audacity alternatives →
Also Ranked In
Audacity is ranked in 6 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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