The Best Audio Editing Software Of 2025: Expert Tested And Reviewed

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You person nan quiet area, nan top-quality microphone, excellent speakers, and a reliable signaling level -- but without nan correct audio editing package aliases Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) to backmost you, your caller audio accumulation mightiness autumn short.

Many of america now expect clear, value sound erstwhile we perceive not only to songs, but besides erstwhile we perceive to podcasts, societal media videos, YouTube content, movie and TV shows, and trading materials. Listeners -- and imaginable subscribers -- are acold much apt to move disconnected if audio tracks are unpleasant to perceive to and not up to scratch (think really plosives tin wounded your ears!), and truthful investing successful nan correct audio editor for high-quality accumulation is captious for ensuring your task succeeds.

What is nan champion audio editing package correct now?

The champion audio editing package is Adobe Audition. Available for Windows and macOS, Adobe Audition is simply a professional-grade editor pinch a wide array of customization options and workflow guidance setups. If you're an manufacture professional, this solution is 1 you should earnestly consider. Subscriptions commencement from $23/month, and a free proceedings is available.

Alternatively, I would urge either Audacity aliases Ocenaudio if you are looking for an entry-level, free audio editor to study nan ropes.

Also: Best photograph editing package 2025

The ZDNET squad has tracked nan ebb and travel of user technologies for decades. We've covered everything from TVs and laptops to audio equipment, and audio editing package is nary exception.

Some of america are actively progressive successful podcasts and video projects, truthful we cognize a point aliases 2 astir editing -- and while I was compiling my apical recommendations for audio editing package suites, I person tested galore solutions personally. I besides see customer feedback and nan company's level of activity successful providing updates.

Read connected to find retired nan remainder of my favourite audio editing package packages successful 2025.

The champion audio editing package successful 2025

Adobe Audition is simply a celebrated audio editing package suite that is my favourite prime wide successful 2025.

Why we for illustration it: It's a awesome all-rounder DAW pinch some basal and precocious devices suitable for podcasting, voiceover editing, and creating aliases mixing audio tracks.

Adobe has provided an extended array of audio editing tools, and arsenic an audio editor first -- creator 2nd -- this package focuses connected editing improvements and polishing up existing audio files.

Features see audio cleanup, multi-track mixing, restoration, diagnostics, and support for third-party plugins. There's besides an Essential Sound sheet for streamlining nan audio editing process.

There's besides plentifulness of tutorials disposable done Adobe to thief you get started.

Who it's for: Professionals who request an extended toolkit and a cleanable DAW for their adjacent project.

Adobe Audition is portion of Creative Cloud and is disposable connected an yearly subscription for $23/month. You tin salary month-by-month, too, but nan value will increase.

Who should look elsewhere: If you are caller to nan world of audio editing, you mightiness find this solution overwhelming astatine first. In that case, see either Audacity aliases Ocenaudio to get a consciousness for audio editing workstations and devices earlier signing up for Adobe Audition. In addition, there's nary MIDI support, truthful it mightiness not beryllium nan champion prime for musicians.

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Audacity is my favourite unfastened root audio editor and will entreaty to anyone who wants a cross-platform option.

Why we for illustration it: Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux machines, Audacity is simply a celebrated audio editor that provides each of nan basal (and immoderate advanced) functions audio editors whitethorn request for their podcasts, interviews, societal media content, and schoolhouse projects.

Features see unrecorded recording, non-destructive editing, equalization, mixing, applying effects, multi-track editing, and record importation successful formats specified arsenic WAV and FLAC.

As it is unfastened source, Audacity besides supports galore third-party plugins.

In Audacity's latest release, type 3.7.4, nan developers person included Intel OpenVINO AI plugin macOS support, which provides effects specified arsenic euphony separation, sound suppression, and transcription utilizing nan OpenAI Whisper model.

Who it's for: Audacity is free and, arsenic an unfastened root project, will apt ever stay so. If you want to debar a subscription-based DAW aliases editing platform, Audacity mightiness suit you.

Who should look elsewhere: It's not nan astir beginner-friendly action astir and it doesn't person nan afloat features of immoderate different DAWs, and truthful if you want a free solution, cheque retired Ocenaudio, aliases if you want a much precocious solution, Adobe Audition mightiness suit you.

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If you're looking for an audio editor that will thief you study nan ropes and let you to beryllium arsenic imaginative arsenic you want, Ocenaudio should beryllium connected your radar.

Why we for illustration it: It's beginner-friendly, and champion of each -- wholly free.

Ocenaudio originated arsenic a task developed by a Brazilian assemblage investigation group, which was subsequently released to nan public. It isn't unfastened source, but it does connection galore of nan basal audio editing devices that beginners and casual creators need, including nan expertise to import and export audio files, cleanable up and rebalance content, cheque levels, multi-select streams, and use effects.

Who it's for: Anyone caller to nan world of audio way editing, those who want to study nan basics for free, aliases students who request an editor for schoolhouse projects.

Who should look elsewhere: Ocenaudio is nosy to usage and will service basal usage cases, but it doesn't lucifer nan capabilities of a fully-fledged DAW. If you request precocious editing tools, see Adobe Audition aliases Avid Pro Tools.

Oceanaudio features: Runs connected Windows, macOS, Linux | Spectral position | Basic editing devices | VST plugin support | Free

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Mac users who are conscionable starting retired successful audio editing but intend to postgraduate to professional-grade devices should see trying retired Apple's GarageBand suite.

Why we for illustration it: GarageBand is downloaded by default and is disposable successful nan macOS and iOS ecosystems. If you ain a MacBook, for example, you've apt seen nan iconic guitar icon successful your Launchpad.

It's slick, cleanable -- arsenic you expect from galore Apple apps -- and easy to use. The dashboard includes an equalizer and you tin return advantage of virtual instrumentalist and loop presets, a comparatively ample sound library, a mixer, MIDI support, and compression to create aliases amended your audio tracks.

The latest of GarageBand focused connected bug fixes and usability improvements, including fixing a swathe of issues pinch nan software's VoiceOver functionality.

Who it's for: Mac users aliases anyone hoping to modulation from an easy-to-understand workplace to master tools. While GarageBand is free, erstwhile you consciousness for illustration you are ready, you tin upgrade to Logic Pro -- Apple's reply to a much established DAW. Logic Pro, disposable for $200, offers a acold much extended scope of editing functions, including Dolby Atmos tools, plugins, transportation correction, a 200-step undo history, and virtual workplace assistants.

Who should look elsewhere: Windows users won't beryllium capable to bask utilizing either GarageBand aliases Logic Pro, and truthful they will request to look elsewhere.

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Avid Pro Tools is different professional-grade audio editor that useful champion connected dedicated workstations.

Why we for illustration it: Available for Windows and Mac machines, Avid Pro Tools is simply a top-notch integer audio workstation that whitethorn beryllium basal if you are moving connected analyzable pieces and euphony projects arsenic a sound technologist aliases composer.

Pro Tools isn't for nan faint-hearted, and it will return clip and study to usage this package to its afloat potential. But erstwhile mixed pinch a dedicated workstation, this DAW will springiness you each of nan precocious devices you request to record, edit, mix, splice, and equilibrium your audio tracks.

Features of Avid Pro Tools see rendering, simultaneous signaling inputs, instrumentality and MIDI tracks, video editing, complete 130 plugins pre-installed, way compiling, Dolby Atmos mixing, batch record management, and more.

The latest update, Pro Tools 2025.6, includes a caller AI speech-to-text study tool, ARA support for Dreamtonics Synthesizer V and Waves Sync Vx plugins, and Splice integration enhancements.

Who it's for: A adjacent subordinate of excavation pointed maine toward Avid Pro Tools and allowed maine to trial nan package connected their dedicated workstation. As an manufacture master who travels and useful successful euphony and unrecorded events, he told maine that while he started his travel pinch Adobe Audition, he now relies connected this suite instead. If you're a moving professional, entree to Avid Pro Tools whitethorn beryllium a necessity.

Who should look elsewhere: The costs whitethorn deter immoderate users, and galore customers kick astir nan firm's business practices alternatively than nan DAW itself.

While nan basal Pro Tools Artist subscription useful retired cheaper than Adobe Audition, priced astatine $9.99/month aliases $99/year, subscriptions pinch afloat workflow setups and immersive mixing will costs you $35/month (or $299/year), aliases up to $99/month ($599/year), depending connected nan featurs you need.

If you want thing that is much affordable, aliases moreover free, cheque retired my different recommendations.

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To thief you determine connected nan champion audo editor for your adjacent project, see each of our favourite recommendations and their notable features, arsenic below:

Audio editing software	Suitable for..	Notable features	Price
Adobe Audition	Advanced users	Professional-grade tools, accessible, recording, remixing, effects, repairs	$23/month
Audacity	Mid level+	Open source, plugin support, multi-platform, preset packs	Free
Ocenaudio	Beginners	Plugin support, effect and editing previews, spectrogram review	Free
GarageBand	Beginners+	MacOS compatible, easy-to-understand UI, ample sound library	Free, upgradable
Avid Pro Tools	Advanced users	Professional-grade tools, manufacture focus, workstation UI	$99/year+

When we were compiling our recommendations for nan champion audio editing software, we explored each of nan following:

Hands-on testing: Where possible, we behaviour hands-on testing and utilize our experiences, on pinch feedback from experts, successful our wide recommendations.
Use cases: We included a scope of audio editing package solutions suitable for various usage cases, including post-event production, unrecorded events, marketing, voiceovers, podcasts, and societal media.
Workflows: We considered really each audio editor sets up workflow management, which is particularly important for master users.
Operating systems: We included options suitable for much than conscionable 1 operating strategy and included solutions suitable for some Windows and Mac machines.
Template resources: While they are not required, template libraries and resources -- specified arsenic instrumental sounds -- tin beryllium highly useful successful immoderate productions and they tin beryllium invaluable for beginners to study from. We for illustration to spot immoderate type of room disposable to users.
Customer feedback: We person considered personification feedback pinch each of our recommendations
Cost: We person included a scope of audio editing solutions that will suit each budget, including free editors and professional-grade package connected lifetime, monthly, and yearly subscription structures. We besides for illustration to spot free trials.

Choose this audio editing software...	If you want...
Adobe Audition	The champion audio editing package overall. Adobe Audition provides almost each instrumentality an audio master could inquire for, including recording, editing features, remixing, cleanups, and compatibility pinch video creation and editing software.
Audacity	An unfastened root audio editing package solution. Audacity is often updated pinch caller devices and features, and arsenic a bonus, it useful connected Windows, macOS, and Linux. While its personification interface is simply a tad dull, you person a immense scope of devices and third-party plugins to explore.
Ocenaudio	A free audio editing package action that is awesome for beginners. I for illustration this action for short skits and societal media content, and while you deficiency precocious tools, it's a awesome measurement to study nan basics.
GarageBand	A transitional audio editor successful Apple's ecosystem. If you for illustration Macs and want to yet study capable to move connected to much precocious audio editing, commencement pinch GarageBand, and past upgrade to Logic Pro.
Avid Pro Tools	End-to-end audio accumulation software. Avid Pro Tools is an manufacture favorite, backed by a immense scope of devices and now AI assistance.

When you're trying to determine what audio editor is correct for you, see nan pursuing factors:

The learning curve: If you are caller to nan world of audio editing software, see testing a beginner-friendly solution. Perhaps download a free solution first to study nan ropes, and past subscribe to a paid, master suite.
Use cases: What do you scheme to usage audio editing package for, too nan hint successful nan name? Consider whether aliases not a solution is suitable for unrecorded events, podcasts, euphony production, aliases otherwise.
Plugins and add-ons: You whitethorn want package that supports plugin compatibility aliases third-party package and add-ons. Check for immoderate support issues earlier making a purchase.
Free options: If you are a new, casual, aliases hobbyist editor and only want package for experimentation aliases schoolhouse projects, for example, a free editor mightiness beryllium sufficient. However, you mightiness not beryllium capable to entree galore of nan devices that springiness audio that other polish.
Platform: Are you a Mac, Windows, aliases mobile-first user? Some audio editors are only compatible pinch 1 benignant of operating system, and truthful you'll request to cheque their compatibility first.
File format support: If possible, see what record formats you for illustration aliases will beryllium moving with. It's champion to activity pinch lossless formats for nan champion editing possible, truthful cheque your package is compatible.
Video: Do you besides want video support and compatibility? If so, a dedicated audio editor mightiness not fresh your needs.
Price: You request to determine what you are comfortable paying, and how. Some audio editors are free, others require 1 one-off costs for a life license, and immoderate are subscription-based and will require a monthly aliases yearly licensing fee.

Latest news

Ableton 12.2 has been released, which includes caller car filters, expressive chords, and a Bounce to New Track feature.
Amazon has published a set of blogs that guideline readers connected really to edit and transcode audio via AWS.
Audacity's latest version includes 32-bit PCM support for nan FLAC importer.

It tin be! While utilizing immoderate audio editors tin beryllium overwhelming astatine nan start, if you prime a beginner-friendly action first, they tin thief guideline you done nan basics. I besides urge exploring YouTube videos to thatch you nan fundamentals -- and successful particular, attraction connected nan style of project, specified arsenic podcasting aliases unrecorded show accumulation editing.

It's besides easier if you person entree to earthy audio files alternatively than files imported into compressed formats, arsenic you person much accusation to activity with.

Apple's GarageBand is simply a awesome audio editor that will suit galore casual projects -- arsenic agelong arsenic you are a Mac user. It's simple, easy to learn, and useful good for editing songs, creating voiceovers, and for trading aliases societal media use.

Canva is simply a awesome online assets for anyone who needs to create logos, graphics, trading materials, and short societal media reels aliases videos. When you are creating video content, you tin adhd audio tracks by uploading your ain files aliases by utilizing audio resources disposable successful Canva's template library, which tin past beryllium trimmed, measurement balanced, synced, and faded. In short, you tin execute basal audio edits successful Canva, but don't expect precocious editing tools.

You want a record format that is lossless -- successful different words, a record format that preserves each audio information alternatively than compresses it to trim nan file's wide size. In nan aforesaid measurement that photographers for illustration .RAW files that sphere image data, lossless audio files -- including .WAV, .AIFF, and perchance .FLAC.

Latest updates

August 2025: In August, we published our guideline connected nan champion audio editing software.

Other audio editing package to consider

Reaper is an fantabulous replacement that has gathered affirmative reviews arsenic a flexible, unchangeable solution, awesome for mixing and synthesizing aggregate audio tracks. Some of its devices are connected nan level of precocious Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs), and location is support for countless third-party plugins. It's very reasonably priced, too, astatine $60 for individuals and very mini businesses, aliases $225 for a commercialized license.

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Ableton Live is an fantabulous replacement audio editor if you are progressive successful professional-grade projects. In particular, users opportunity that Ableton is simply a awesome action for unrecorded performances and events arsenic good arsenic post-production mixing and compilation. However, it tin quickly go expensive, pinch plans opening astatine $99/year and rising to $749 annually.

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Image‑Line's FL Studio is different celebrated audio editor pinch a attraction connected being user-friendly. It's flexible, highly customizable, and comes pinch instruments and effects arsenic good arsenic plugins for audio signaling and different functions, depending connected your plan. Subscriptions statesman astatine $99 for a licence pinch each early updates included.

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WavePad is an audio editing package suite you should see if you want a simple, beginner-friendly solution for basal editing work. Although you won't find each nan precocious features of premium package solutions, it does support a assortment of record formats. This package is compatible pinch Windows and macOS -- and it is free for non-commercial use.

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If you're besides willing successful what nan champion online video editing solutions are connected nan market, cheque out ZDNET's guide. We've besides recovered nan best photo editing suites around.

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