Are you looking for the right music editor for Mac? You're in the right place. This quick guide shows you the best Mac audio editing software, both free and paid.
Whether you're just starting or you've been editing for years, there's something here for you. We looked at tools for beginners, pros, and everyone in between. Plus, we'll share simple tips to help you choose the right Mac audio editing software in 2025.
Our Top 3 Picks
Choosing the best Mac audio editor for you can be tricky. There are lots of options, and each one fits different needs. To help you out, we picked three favorites that work great on Mac.
Part 1. Mac Audio Editing Software Comparison Chart
We created a simple chart to compare Mac audio editing software. The chart shows key features, prices, and who each tool works best for. It helps you see the differences quickly. You can use it to pick the software that fits your needs and budget, and get your best music editor for Mac.
| Software | Best For | Price | Notable Strength | Ideal User Level | Multitrack Support |
| Filmora | Video editing, social media content | Free plan, One-time or Subscription | AI audio tools, video editing, royalty-free library, up to 100 audio tracks | Social media creators, general users | Yes, up to 100 |
| GarageBand | Amateur music creation, podcast | Free | User-friendly, built-in instruments/effects, pitch correction, loops, lessons | Amateur musicians | Yes, up to 32 on iOS |
| Logic Pro | Professional songwriting, mixing | Mac: $199.99 one-time iPad: $4.99/month |
AI tools (Stem Splitter, Mastering), Dolby Atmos, 1000+ tracks, Flex Time/Pitch | Professional music creators, composers | Yes, up to 1000 |
| Riverside | HQ remote podcast recording, live streaming | Free Standard: $15/mo Pro: $24/mo Live: $34/mo Business: Custom |
Local recording (4K video, 48kHz audio), AI editing, text-based editing | Podcasters, producers, remote teams | Yes, separate audio/video per participant |
| WavePad | Voiceover, single-track audio editing | From $60 one-time | Easy to use, non-destructive, batch processing, VST/DirectX, AI speech | Beginners to experienced audio users | Limited, single track focus |
| OcenAudio | Quick waveform editing, simple tasks | Free (open-source) | Real-time effect preview, multi-file editing, VST plugins, lightweight | Students, beginner content creators | No |
| Adobe Audition | Professional audio cleanup, restoration | $22.99/month (annual) | Full suite (waveform, spectral, multitrack), fast workflow, CC integration | Professionals | Yes, up to 128 |
| FL Studio | Composing, arranging, sound design | Fruity: $99 Producer: $199 Signature: $299 All Plugins: $499 (lifetime free updates) |
Lifetime updates, pattern workflow, plugins, advanced MIDI, AI mastering | Beginners to experienced producers | Yes, multiple tracks |
| Acoustica | Audio editing, mastering | Standard: $99 Premium: $199 Post Suite: $299 |
High audio quality (32-bit/384kHz), spectral, AI tools, ARA2, restoration | Beginners to advanced users | Yes |
| PreSonus Studio One | Music production | Perpetual: $199.99 Pro+ Monthly: $19.99/mo Pro+ Annual: $179.99/yr |
AI Stem Separation, Dolby Atmos, Melodyne, drag-and-drop, unlimited tracks | Music creators, producers, engineers | Yes, unlimited |
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Part 2. Top 10 Music and Audio Editing Software for Mac
From the list above, we will give you a simple breakdown of the ten best music and audio editing tools for Mac. Each one of these audio editors for Mac has its own strengths.
1. Wondershare Filmora
Secure DownloadFilmora is a video and audio editor for Mac with strong audio editing tools built in. It's designed for creators who want to work on both video and sound in one place. This makes it fast, simple, and great for content like YouTube videos or business clips. It's best for content creators, businesses, students, and DIY editors.
- User-friendly interface.
- Good blend of video and audio capabilities with helpful AI.
- Handles numerous tracks effectively.
- You can also work on the visualization in one place
- Audio-only editing may feel limited.
- Watermark on the free version.
- AI tools: Audio Enhancer, Silence Detection, Audio Ducking.
- All-in-One Editing Suite: Offers a full range of video editing tools along with access to royalty-free music for non-commercial use.
- Multi-Track Support: Handles up to 100 audio tracks for complex audio layering.
- VST Plugin Compatibility: Supports third-party plugins to expand your audio editing capabilities.
- High-Quality Audio: Delivers precision editing with 32-bit float audio processing for professional-grade sound.
Filmora offers flexible pricing plans, including a free version, monthly/annual subscription, and a perpetual license.
PCMag gives it a 4.0/5 ("Excellent"), and TrustRadius rates it 9.2/10 for ease of use.
2. GarageBand
GarageBand is Apple's free music-making and music editing app for Mac. It's great for beginners and people learning music or podcasting. It works seamlessly on both Mac and iOS devices.
- Completely free and excellent for beginners.
- Good sound quality with seamless Apple device integration.
- Easy to learn and intuitive commands.
- Lacks advanced professional features.
- Exclusive to Apple products.
- Intuitive Interface: Easy to navigate, with built-in instruments and effects for quick music creation.
- Loops and Lessons: Includes royalty-free loops, guided music lessons, and guitar amp effects for beginners and pros alike.
- MIDI and Multi-Track Recording: Supports MIDI editing and records up to 32 audio tracks on iOS.
Free.
GarageBand gets high marks from TrustRadius (9.5/10) and G2 (4.3/5). It's ideal for beginners, students, and hobbyists.
3. Logic Pro
Logic Pro is Apple's professional-level music editing software for Mac. It's great for serious music production and works perfectly with Mac. It's a big step up from GarageBand. This software is best for professional musicians, beat makers, and producers.
- Full professional-grade features for immersive audio.
- One-time purchase with deep Apple integration.
- Powerful AI session players and bundled instruments.
- Steep learning curve.
- Mac and iPad only.
- AI Tools: Features Stem Splitter and Mastering Assistant for smarter, faster mixing, plus Dolby Atmos support for spatial audio.
- Extensive Sound Library: Includes up to 1,000 built-in tracks covering a wide range of genres and styles.
- Advanced MIDI and Live Tools: Offers powerful MIDI editing, live loops for performance, and a companion remote app for iOS control.
- Mac: $199.99 (one-time).
- iPad: $4.99/month.
Free.
4. Riverside
Riverside is a Mac audio editing software used for recording and editing high-quality podcasts and remote interviews. It records everything locally, so the sound stays clear even if the internet isn't. This makes it great for podcasters, marketers, and remote teams.
- Exceptional sound and video quality.
- AI features streamline editing.
- User-friendly for interviews and team collaboration.
- Not designed for full music production.
- Limited detailed sound control.
- High-Quality Local Recording: Captures 4K video and 48kHz audio, with separate tracks for each guest.
- AI Tools: Includes Magic Audio for cleanup, automatic Show Notes, and accurate Transcripts.
- Text-Based Editing and Live Streaming: Edit audio or video by editing the transcript, with built-in live streaming support.
- Free plan available.
- Paid plans from $15/month (billed annually).
Free.
G2 gives it a 4.8/5, based mostly on ease of use and quality.
5. WavePad
WavePad is a simple Mac audio editor app for basic tasks like voiceovers, podcasts, and audio cleanup. It's good for working on one track at a time. It's ideal for voice editors, podcasters, and audiobook creators.
- Cost-effective.
- Ideal for beginners and voice projects.
- Clean and simple layout.
- Lacks true multitrack support.
- May require additional apps for complex projects.
- Comprehensive Editing Tools: Includes cut, copy, trim, pitch shift, compression, and noise reduction.
- Audio Effects: Features reverb, equalizer, normalize, echo, and more for creative sound control.
- VST & DirectX Plugin Support: Expand your toolkit with thousands of compatible audio plugins.
- Spectral Analysis & AI Tools: Includes FFT, text-to-speech, and a voice changer for advanced editing.
Starts at $39.95 (one-time).
Free.
G2 rates it 4.3/5, and TrustRadius gives it a perfect 10/10.
6. OcenAudio
OcenAudio is an open-source, free audio editing software for Mac. It's good for fast edits, podcasts, and simple tasks. This program works on Mac, Windows, and Linux, making it highly versatile. This software is best for beginners, students, and voice editors.
- Completely free and easy to learn.
- Fast performance and cross-platform compatibility.
- Non-destructive editing.
- No multitrack support.
- Not for advanced music production.
- Real-Time Effects and VST Support: Apply EQ, gain, and filters with instant previews and expand functionality with VST plugins.
- Multi-Selection Editing: Select and edit multiple parts of an audio file at once for faster, more precise adjustments.
- Advanced Spectrogram View: Analyze audio in detail with a fully customizable spectrogram that updates changes in real time.
Free (donationware).
Free.
Techjockey rates it 4.7/5 for ease of use.
7. Adobe Audition
Adobe Audition is professional software for fixing audio and audio editing for Mac. It works well for post-production, podcasts, and sound design. This makes it perfect for professional editors, podcasters, and content creators.
- Professional-grade quality.
- Efficient audio issue resolution.
- Strong tools for podcasters and video editors.
- Requires a subscription.
- It can be challenging for beginners.
- Multitrack and Waveform Editing: Edit audio with precision across multiple tracks or in detailed waveform view.
- Audio Cleanup Tools: Includes advanced noise reduction and sound repair features for professional-quality results.
- Podcast Templates and Adobe Integration: Start fast with built-in templates and streamline workflows with other Adobe apps.
- $22.99/month (billed annually).
- Included with Adobe Creative Cloud subscription.
TrustRadius rates it 8.6/10, and G2 gives it 4.4/5.
8. FL Studio
FL Studio is a full music-making and music editing app for Mac. It's very popular with beat makers and electronic music producers. It runs on both Mac and Windows. This software is ideal for music producers, beat makers, and electronic artists.
- One-time purchase with free lifetime updates.
- Excellent for beats and loops with powerful tools.
- Cross-platform compatibility.
- The interface can seem busy initially.
- Not ideal for traditional linear recording workflows.
- Pattern-Based Workflow: Create tracks using built-in synths, samples, and effects with an intuitive sequencer.
- MIDI and Mobile Support: Includes advanced MIDI editing, a mobile app, and AI mastering through FL Cloud.
- Modular Patcher: Chain instruments and effects in a flexible modular rack environment
- Unlimited Playlist Tracks: Arrange patterns, audio clips, automation, and more across unlimited tracks in the Playlist
$99 to $499 (one-time purchase for various editions).
TrustRadius rates it 9.4/10.
9. Acoustica
Acoustica is an upscale audio editor for Mac made for mastering, restoration, and post-production. It uses deep learning to fix and clean up audio. It's a great choice for audio engineers, post-production teams, and serious podcasters.
- Exceptional audio quality.
- Powerful repair capabilities with time-saving AI.
- Excellent for immersive audio.
- Higher price point.
- It may be too complex for basic users.
- High-Resolution Audio Support: Delivers crystal-clear sound with advanced tools for noise removal and audio restoration.
- AI-Powered Features: Includes stem splitting, auto-generated captions, and Dolby Atmos support (Premium version).
- Surround Sound & Speech Recognition: Supports 7.1.2 surround audio and built-in speech recognition for faster editing workflows.
- Standard Edition: $99 (one-time).
- Premium Edition: $199 (one-time).
- Post Production Suite: $299 (one-time).
KVR Audio rates the Premium version 4.5/5.
10. PreSonus Studio One
Studio One is an all-in-one Mac audio editing tool for music production, mixing, mastering, and even live shows. It's known for its easy drag-and-drop workflow. This software is best for producers, composers, and mixing engineers.
- Supports all stages of music creation.
- Fast and smooth workflow with immersive audio capabilities.
- Feature-rich.
- Perpetual license covers only one year of updates.
- A subscription may be needed for ongoing updates.
- AI-Powered Stem Editing: Supports Dolby Atmos and Apple Spatial Audio for immersive sound design.
- Pitch Correction & Workflow Tools: Features include built-in pitch editing and an intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
- Creative Plugin Suite: Comes with a wide range of instruments, effects, and chord editing tools for music production.
- Professional Edition: $199.99 (perpetual license).
- Subscription: $19.99/month.
Sweetwater user reviews are generally positive.
Part 3. What to Consider When Choosing Audio Editing Software for Mac
The best audio editing software can significantly improve your projects and open up new creative possibilities. But finding the ideal music editor for your Mac or Mac computer involves considering a few key aspects of your needs.
Understanding these points will help you choose the perfect tool for your workflow and skill level.
What Kind of Audio Projects Are You Doing?
- Making music: Use Logic Pro, FL Studio, or GarageBand.
- Recording voiceovers or podcasts: Go for Riverside, WavePad, or Filmora. Filmora includes AI voice isolation and ducking.
- Editing videos that include audio: Filmora is ideal, as it also lets you trim music, apply fade-in/out, and sync voiceovers easily within the video timeline.
- Quick fixes or cleaning up audio: Use OcenAudio or WavePad for fast, simple audio processing.
How Good Are You at Editing Audio?
- Beginner: Choose GarageBand, OcenAudio, or Filmora.
- Intermediate: Try Riverside, WavePad, or Studio One.
- Pro: Go for Logic Pro, FL Studio, or Adobe Audition if you require deep editing and plugin support.
Do You Need Multitrack Support?
Multitrack editing is a crucial feature of an audio editing app. If you plan to work with several audio layers at once, it gives you much more control. This kind of editing is essential if you're:
- Recording multiple instruments, vocal tracks, or podcast participants. For example, if you have a lead singer, a guitarist, and a drummer, multitrack support lets you record each one separately and adjust them individually later.
- Adding background music and voiceovers simultaneously. This means you can have a music track playing quietly while someone speaks over it, then easily adjust the volume of each.
Tools that offer strong multitrack capabilities include Filmora, GarageBand, Logic Pro, Riverside, FL Studio, and Adobe Audition.
Do You Edit Video as Well?
If your projects often involve syncing music or spoken audio with visuals, choosing the right audio editor app that handles both seamlessly will save you a lot of time and effort.
Recommended tool: Filmora is a smart pick for this. It includes both video and audio timelines, meaning you can easily align voiceovers, music, and sound effects directly with your video without having to switch between different programs. This makes the whole editing process much smoother for video creators.
What's Your Budget?
Your budget is another important factor, as the options range from costly options to completely free music editors for Mac to professional-grade tools with a higher cost.
- Free options: You can get started without spending any money with programs like GarageBand or OcenAudio.
- Budget-friendly: If you have a small budget but want more features, Filmora is a good choice, with subscriptions starting at around $4 per month if you pay yearly.
- Premium tools: For the most advanced features and professional-level control, you'll find options like Logic Pro, which is a one-time purchase of around $199, or Adobe Audition, which is available through a subscription (about $20.99 per month).
Conclusion
Choosing the right music editor for your Mac ultimately comes down to your specific needs, rather than a one-size-fits-all solution. By carefully considering the type of audio projects you're doing, be it music production, podcasts, voiceovers, or quick edits, you can narrow down your options.
Your current skill level is also important. Beginners will benefit from user-friendly interfaces, while pros need advanced features. You should also assess if you require multitrack support for layered audio or seamless integration with video editing.
Lastly, your budget will guide you towards budget-friendly choices, premium professional tools, or even, you can get your hands on a great yet free music editor for Mac.
FAQ
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What free software can I use to edit music on a Mac?
There are several options available for free music editing apps on Mac. GarageBand is a familiar starting point with many features. For simple cuts and edits, OcenAudio is another solid free audio editing option. -
Can I edit music and audio for videos in one app?
Yes, you can efficiently edit both music and video audio in one application. Filmora is highly recommended for this. It provides integrated video and audio timelines, allowing you to easily sync music, voiceovers, and sound effects directly with your video. -
I'm new to audio editing. What's the easiest software to start with?
For beginners, ease of use is key. Filmora is a fantastic choice due to its user-friendly design, intuitive layout, and helpful features like AI voice isolation. GarageBand is another excellent, free audio editing software for Mac users with a very friendly interface. OcenAudio is also very simple for basic tasks.
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