3 free audio recording and editing apps to use instead of Audition by Adobe
The best free alternative to Audition is Audacity. Records, cuts and cleans up audio with noise reduction, covering most of what Audition is used for.
Other great options: ocenaudio and Ardour.
Quick pick: For voice recording, noise removal and podcasts: Audacity. For studio-style multi-track mixing: Ardour.
Reviewed November 2026 against each vendor's official website.
Free plans and trial lengths are set by the vendor and can change. Check the official website before signing up.
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Records, cuts and cleans up audio with noise reduction, covering most of what Audition is used for.
An open-source audio recorder and editor for cutting, noise reduction, boosting voices and converting formats. Well suited to podcasts and voiceovers.
Platforms: Windows · Mac · Linux
Lightweight, with real-time preview of effects as you adjust them.
A lightweight audio editor that previews effects in real time as you adjust them. Easier than Audacity for trimming and normalizing volume.
Platforms: Windows · Mac · Linux
Professional multi-track mixing with VST plugin support.
An open-source digital audio workstation (DAW) for multitrack recording, mixing, MIDI and VST/LV2 plugins.
Platforms: Windows · Mac · Linux
| App | Type | Platforms | Ease of use | GitHub stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Audacity | Open source | Windows, Mac, Linux | Easy to use | 18,992 |
 ocenaudio | Free | Windows, Mac, Linux | Easy to use | — |
 Ardour | Open source | Windows, Mac, Linux | Technical setup | 5,414 |
Open source: anyone can use, study and modify it, including businesses. Free: no cost, but the code is closed. Freemium: a lasting free plan with paid tiers for extra features. Source available: code is public but the license adds conditions.
The most popular picks are Audacity, ocenaudio and Ardour. For voice recording, noise removal and podcasts: Audacity. For studio-style multi-track mixing: Ardour.
Select a section that contains only noise, go to Effect > Noise Removal > Get Noise Profile, then select the whole track and run Noise Removal again at a moderate level (12 dB).
Premiere Pro
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FL Studio