10 Best Audio Editing Software (Free & Paid)

Editing your audio will significantly impact the content and make it more engaging. However, finding software to meet all your needs can be challenging, especially if you're diving into the experience for the first time.

We've tested numerous options to find the best audio editing software and provide a top list. If you're searching for the best tools, check out the options below and select an ideal one for your needs and preferences.

What Makes a Good Audio Editing Software?

Good audio editing software has many qualities to boost the editing experience and maximize your efficiency. Here are some examples:

• Ease of use - Your chosen software should be easy to use so you won't have to spend your time and nerves navigating the experience.
• Features - The software should provide essential and advanced audio editing features to boost your journey and help you reach the desired results quickly.
• File support - You should be able to choose the import and export format. The software should support all standard formats, providing inclusivity and diversity.

Paid vs. Free Audio Editing Software: What to Expect

Features are the most significant differences between free and paid audio editing software. Paid solutions provide advanced and time-saving tools, while free versions often have only essential toolkits to support your experience. That means you'll save time if you purchase an audio editor since free options usually require manual work.

Let's compare the differences between free and paid audio editing software to see which suits your needs best.

Best Free Audio Editing Software

Here are the best audio editing software solutions you can get for free.

1.Audacity

Best for: audio editing plugins

Star rating: 4.5/5

Supported OS: Windows, macOS, Linux

Reasons to buy:

• It supports numerous audio file types.
• You'll access an extensive plugin library.
• It has auto-crash recovery to preserve your creations.

Reasons to avoid:

• It has a steep learning curve.
• No multi-track editing is available.

Why We Picked It

Audacity is among the most advanced free audio editors on the market. You can use it for professional recordings and sizable files. It has all the essential elements to edit your audio manually, such as non-destructive editing and audio effects. However, the downside is the user interface, which is overwhelming for beginners and professionals.

What Do Other Users Say About It?

Audacity users have satisfying experiences on the platform, as you can see from the following review: "Audacity is a great tool to edit podcasts with noise cancellation and for basic sound and music editing. Can easily mix multiple tracks and adjust tempo, pitch, cut and paste the sounds to make it complete, etc." - A verified user on G2

However, some people have experienced issues during editing, such as this user: "The user interface is not at all user friendly. Audacity does not have a lot of features required for proper audio mixing and mastering, and even the existing features are not easy to find because of the poor user interface." - A verified user on G2

2.GarageBand

Best for: music editing

Star rating: 4.3/5

Supported OS: macOS, iOS, iPadOS

Reasons to buy:

• It provides many virtual instruments.
• You can get lessons from artists and support your musical experience.
• It gets frequent updates.

Reasons to avoid:

• It is exclusively for Apple devices.
• No professional features are available.

Why We Picked It

GarageBand is unique and one of the most entertaining audio editing software. Aside from standard editing features like mixing, audio effects, and loops, it provides virtual instruments for seamless MIDI recordings. It'll boost your musical journey and let you create tracks from scratch without touching an instrument.

What Do Other Users Say About It?

Because GarageBand is one of the best music editors on the market, many people claim to have excellent experiences using it. One wrote: "Being able to integrate, upload, and export across all Apple suites and platform tech is INCREDIBLY convenient even when not using inherently just apple products. Also integrates with several major platforms outside of Apple products and is intuitive to use." - Iyer A. on G2

However, as with all other software, some people didn't have the best time with GarageBand. One wrote: "There are a few areas where GarageBand could improve. The software might feel limiting for advanced users seeking more intricate controls or additional plugins for fine-tuning their compositions." - Shobhit G. on G2

3.MyEdit

Best for: online and simple AI audio editing

Star rating: 3.8/5

Supported OS: all browsers

Reasons to buy:

• It has an extensive AI feature library to enhance your experience.
• You can change your voice.
• You can adjust the pitch of your recordings.

Reasons to avoid:

• The free version lets you download one daily creation.

Why We Picked It

Although MyEdit isn't entirely free, you'll still get the ultimate audio experience with the free version. You can use almost all premium features, cutting production time and getting high-quality results. For instance, you can reduce background noise, change your voice, and adjust the pitch in seconds.

What Do Other Users Say About It?

One of the MyEdit platform's downsides is too few reviews. However, most reviews praise the platform. Here's an example: "This product is great, and it has a lot of good points." - kingb89 on CNET Download

4.Ocenaudio

Best for: editing speech

Star rating: 3.5/5

Supported OS: Windows, macOS, Linux

Reasons to buy:

• You can edit sizable files.
• You can listen to edits in real time.
• It supports plugins.

Reasons to avoid:

• The platform rarely gets updates.

Why We Picked It

Ocenaudio is a simple yet powerful audio editing solution everyone can use. Although it doesn't provide many features, you can still master your skills and become an audio professional. For instance, you can apply effects, edit parts of your audio, remove background noise, implement VST plugins, etc.

What Do Other Users Say About It?

Audio editors worldwide generally love Ocenaudio due to its simplicity and design. Here's one review: "It gives such a nice and clean interface, with using that anyone can trim the audio easily. I like the most is the compatibility it comes with." - Sumit Y. on G2

On the other hand, some say the platform is too austere for their taste, such as this user: "It lacks many features. It has a lot, but is still pretty basic compared to other DAWs." - Kyle S. on G2

5.AudioTool

Best for: collaborations and larger audio projects

Star rating: 4.1/5

Supported OS: all browsers

Reasons to buy:

• The software has an extensive effect library, including MIDI effects.
• You can sync your creations across devices.
• The software provides royalty-free samples.

Reasons to avoid:

• It may be resource-intensive.
• It's a browser-only app.

Why We Picked It

AudioTool is an easy-to-use audio editor for beginners and industry professionals. It lets you quickly create projects and connect with other artists for inspiration. The best part is that it provides all the tools you need for your audio editing experience, including effects, synthesizers, samples, crossfaders, etc.

What Do Other Users Say About It?

Once people visit the AudioTool platform, most love the quality of the given tools, such as this user: "AudioTool has TONS of genres and artists to choose from. The studio seems pretty cool too! You can create and share your own sounds and music, and listen to a lot of others' cool creations!" - Rebecca C. on G2

However, some people haven't had too much fun on the AudioTool platform, as you can see from this review: "The tool is too complex for a novice and makes it difficult to figure it out oneself. There are no set video guides or are difficult to find. All in all a tool only for professionals." - Aman K. on G2

Best Paid Audio Editing Software With a Free Trial

To get the ultimate audio editing experience and become a professional in the industry, check out these paid audio editing software solutions with free trials.

1.Filmora

Best for: beginner and professional audio editing

Star rating: 4.4/5

Supported OS: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS

Free trial: Limitless

Pricing: $9.99, $29.99, $49.99

Reasons to buy:

• Most features are AI-powered, cutting the production time.
• You don't need experience to use the software.
• You can quickly create new sounds and change voices.

Reasons to avoid:

• The free version leaves a watermark.

Why We Picked It

Wondershare Filmora is the most universal audio editor on the market. It has standard and advanced editing features, making it ideal for beginners and professionals. For instance, you can reverse audio, change your voice, speed up audio files like Spotify songs, add or generate music, and more. The best part is that most features are AI-powered, meaning getting the desired results will take only a few minutes.

What Do Other Users Say About It?

The results impress most people who download and use Wondershare Filmora. One user reported: "Filmora is like having a personal editing Swiss Army Knife in my toolbox. For quick social media edits, it's a breeze to use. The interface is intuitive, and features like drag-and-drop editing make piecing together clips a snap." - Rogelyn T. on G2

Here's another example of Wondershare Filmora's excellent reputation: "Filmora is such an easy software to use that a person who has never edited a video can learn to use it in 5 minutes. The UI is super easy to use." - A verified user on G2

2.Apple Logic Pro

Best for: Mac audio editing

Star rating: 4.6/5

Supported OS: macOS

Free trial: 90 days

Pricing: $199.99

Reasons to buy:

• You can create a Dolby Atmos sound.
• There are simplified and full-feature options.
• It provides MIDI audio editing.

Reasons to avoid:

• It has a hefty price tag.
• You can only use it on Mac devices.

Why We Picked It

Apple Logic Pro is among the mightiest audio editors you can use on your Mac. It has some of the most advanced features, including a mastering assistant, beat breaker, step sequencer, etc. However, the downside is that you may need time to adjust to all the features and tools.

What Do Other Users Say About It?

Many Apple users like what Apple Logic Pro offers: "Logic Pro X has amazing capabilities that are simple to use. Using only stock sounds, I was able to create many beautiful songs. I have created anything from ballads and love songs to techno and dubstep songs." - Beau K. on G2

However, some complain about the platform: "I don't like the UI in general. It makes me feel like I am coding an application, rather than creating and producing music. There is a steep learning curve." - Skyler B. on G2

3.Cubase

Best for: music creation and editing

Star rating: 4.3/5

Supported OS: macOS, Windows

Free trial: 60 days

Pricing: $49.99–$359.00

Reasons to buy:

• It supports numerous VST plugins.
• The user interface is intuitive.
• It's a lightweight solution.

Reasons to avoid:

• It's a pricey solution.

Why We Picked It

Cubase made it to our list because of its convenience and ease of use. The design resembles professional studios, so you'll get the authentic audio editing feel. Cubase also provides all the features you need for a professional experience, including the drum editor, list editor, cleanup lanes, etc.

What Do Other Users Say About It?

Cubase has positive and negative sides, which users have noticed during their experiences. One wrote: "Cubase is a straightforward tool for both recording and live performance. VSTs are included, and the software is very light to install and does not require a powerful machine to export good-quality music files." - Matheus G. on G2

However, some didn't have the best time using the software: "I found some Audio libraries a little confusing. I was not able to understand the shortcuts. Some documentation I found is a little confusing." - Suraj M. on G2

4.Ableton Live

Best for: DAW editing

Star rating: 4.7/5

Supported OS: Windows, macOS

Free trial: 30 days

Pricing: $99, $439, $749

Reasons to buy:

• You'll get a lifetime license.
• It's an innovative DAW editing solution.
• It's a professional editing option.

Reasons to avoid:

• It has a steep learning curve.
• It isn't beginner-friendly.

Why We Picked It

Ableton Live is a professional audio editing solution to boost your experience and help you create the best audio content. It's suitable for various professional industries, making it an excellent choice if you plan on becoming an audio master. You'll access MIDI generators, MPE plugins, LFO, and more.

What Do Other Users Say About It?

Ableton Live is among the most loved audio editors. Here's how users see this platform: "I really enjoy Ableton Live's simplistic user-interface, allowing me to easily select a VST and produce music instantaneously. I very much enjoy using Ableton Live's Analog synth, as it allows you full control over shaping the sound by making adjustments to the instrument." - Callum B. on G2

Although it's an excellent solution, it has downsides. One user reported: "It is very hard to understand at first and there are many things that can go wrong. I once recorded a song using the wrong rate for sounds waves and I had to rerecord the entire thing after 2 hours of work already." - Allie W. on G2

5.Reaper

Best for: flexible audio editing

Star rating: 4.5/5

Supported OS: Windows, macOS, Linux

Free trial: 60 days

Pricing: $60, $225

Reasons to buy:

• The software is easy to use.
• It provides multi-channel recording and editing.
• You can customize your experience.

Reasons to avoid:

• The user interface may initially seem overwhelming.

Why We Picked It

Reaper provides exceptional audio editing solutions at a fraction of the price. It's ideal if you're on a tight budget but want professional results. The software supports numerous plugins, crossfades, and MIDI routing, providing a superb audio editing experience when creating high-quality content.

What Do Other Users Say About It?

Users predominantly love the Reaper software. Here's an example: "It's easy to use, has so many features, the user interface is pretty modern and user friendly, at the same time containing all the features. You can record and work on actual full songs in the studio quality." - Alex B. on G2

As expected, not all platforms are perfect, and some users have difficulty using Reaper: "Routing audio between tracks is so complicated, audio editing is not a strong area for this software, creating aux tracks for routing audio or for adding effects like reverb or delay is complicated as well." - Mafdy M. on G2

How We Tested the Best Audio Editing Software

We tested all the software above on a Windows operating system. Aside from those that made it to the top list, we've tested 20 more options, including WavePad, Adobe Audition, Audiate, etc. Here are some reasons the solutions made it to the list:

• Installation - The solutions that made the cut are easy to download and install on all desktop devices, providing convenience and efficiency.
• Usability - After downloading, we tested the user interface to see whether each platform was easy to navigate and whether users would have difficulty finding the desired features.
• Performance - The most crucial factor during the testing period was performance. All tools must be stable and ensure you get the best results during editing.
• Value - We've selected solutions that will give you the best bang for your buck because you shouldn't overspend on your audio editor.

Conclusion

Audio editing is a thing of the future, so prepare yourself and master your skills for your future career. However, you can't do it alone; you'll need help from powerful audio editing software, so choose one of the best free and paid solutions to get top-notch results.

Wondershare Filmora may be ideal if you're searching for the most convenient and professional solution. It provides all the essential and advanced features to make studio-like audio content and attract the desired audience. The best part is that it's easy to use, and you can master your skills within a day.