Pro Tools suits music creators who need recording, editing, MIDI, and mixing tools, as well as audio post users working with video and timecode in Studio or Ultimate.
Free plan WindowsMac
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Best Audio Editors 2026
Facts read 19 Sep 2026 – 15 Oct 2026
Audio editors help you cut, arrange and process sound. This guide helps you compare pricing, trials, platforms and editing capabilities before choosing a tool.
The standings: top 10
| Name | In a line | Record score | Price from | Try it free | Runs on | Facts read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Pro Tools | Pro Tools suits music creators who need recording, editing, MIDI, and mixing tools, as well as audio post users working with video and timecode in Studio or Ultimate. | 7.7 | Free plan | Free plan | Windows, Mac | 29 Sep 2026 |
| 02 Ardour | Ardour suits musicians and audio creators who need audio and MIDI recording, editing, mixing, and mastering across Linux, macOS, or Windows. | 7.6 | $1 a month | Free plan | Windows, Mac, Linux | 27 Sep 2026 |
| 03 Nuendo | 7.2 | $799.99 one-time | Free trial | Windows, Mac | 7 Oct 2026 | |
| 04 WaveLab | WaveLab may suit audio editors, mastering users, and podcasters who need audio editing, batch processing, or spectral tools. | 7.1 | $99.99 one-time | Free plan | Windows, Mac | 15 Oct 2026 |
| 05 Soundop | 7.0 | $2.99 a year | Free plan | Windows | 5 Oct 2026 | |
| 06 REAPER | 6.5 | $60 a month | — | Windows, Mac, Linux | 22 Sep 2026 | |
| 07 SAWStudio | 6.5 | $300 one-time | — | Windows | 8 Oct 2026 | |
| 08 WavePad | WavePad suits people who need to record or edit audio, including for podcasts, radio, voiceovers, or restoration. | 6.5 | $39.95 a year | Free plan | Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows, Mac | 15 Oct 2026 |
| 09 Harrison Mixbus | 6.3 | $49.99 a month | — | Windows, Mac, Linux | 22 Sep 2026 | |
| 10 Audacity | Audacity suits people who want a no-cost desktop editor for multitrack audio work, noise reduction, or spectrogram analysis. | 6.3 | Free plan | Free plan | Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows, Mac | 27 Sep 2026 |
The page lists releases with the newest releases first, using figures the makers publish and no score. Compare multitrack and spectral editing, noise reduction, plugin formats, batch processing and surround audio support.
02
Ardour
Ardour suits musicians and audio creators who need audio and MIDI recording, editing, mixing, and mastering across Linux, macOS, or Windows.
WindowsMacLinux Record7.6 Visit
03
Nuendo
WindowsMac Record7.2 Visit
04
WaveLab
WaveLab may suit audio editors, mastering users, and podcasters who need audio editing, batch processing, or spectral tools.
WindowsMac Record7.1 Visit
05
Soundop
Windows Record7.0 Visit
8
WavePad
AndroidiPhone & iPadWindows+1 $39.95 a year Record6.5 Visit WavePad suits people who need to record or edit audio, including for podcasts, radio, voiceovers, or restoration.
10
Audacity
AndroidiPhone & iPadWindows+2 Free plan Record6.3 Visit Audacity suits people who want a no-cost desktop editor for multitrack audio work, noise reduction, or spectrogram analysis.
11
Sequoia
Windows $595 a year Record6.1 Visit Sequoia suits Windows users needing multitrack editing, MIDI, synchronized video, noise reduction, and specialized visual tools.
13
SpectraLayers Pro
WindowsMac $359.99 one-time Record5.3 Visit It suits audio editors, restoration specialists, and sound designers needing visual spectral tools.
14
Qtractor
Linux Free plan Record5.0 Visit Qtractor suits Linux users building a personal home studio who need audio and MIDI recording, sequencing, and editing.
15
Acoustica
WindowsMac $149 one-time Record4.9 Visit Acoustica suits audio users who need multitrack editing, noise reduction, or stereo and surround processing.
17
GoldWave
AndroidiPhone & iPadWeb+3 $19 a year Record4.9 Visit GoldWave suits people looking for audio recording and editing tools across desktop, mobile, or browser use.
18
iZotope RX
WindowsMac $99 a month Record4.8 Visit RX suits audio professionals who need restoration tools for recordings, dialogue, or music on macOS or Windows.
20
MixPad
AndroidiPhone & iPadWindows+1 Free plan Record4.8 Visit MixPad may suit people who want multitrack audio editing across desktop and mobile platforms.
22
Ocenaudio
WindowsMacLinux Free plan Record4.7 Visit Ocenaudio suits people who want desktop tools for editing and analyzing audio across Windows, macOS, or Linux.
23
Digital Performer
WindowsMac — Record4.6 Visit Digital Performer suits musicians and producers working with recorded audio, MIDI, notation, and plug-ins on compatible Mac or Windows computers.
Before you choose
Compare plans and trials
Check whether a tool has a free plan, a free trial or a paid model. Pro Tools, WaveLab and Soundop list free plans. Nuendo, Sequoia, WaveLab, Soundop and Acoustica list trials.
Read the billing unit and starting price carefully. Listed examples include Pro Tools at $9.99 per month, Sequoia at $95 per month, Soundop at $2.99 per month on an annual plan, and SAWStudio from $300.
Match your devices
Confirm that the editor runs on your system. Platforms represented here include Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and the web.
If you move between devices, check whether the versions you need support the same projects and workflows.
Check editing depth
Use the comparison fields to match your work. Multitrack editing suits projects with layered tracks, while spectral editing focuses on changes within a sound's frequency view.
Noise reduction can matter when cleaning recordings. Review the listed support rather than assuming a feature from the product name.
Review plugins and processing
Look at supported plugin formats before moving an existing setup. Batch processing can help when you need to apply the same operation across multiple files.
Check the formats and processing tools against your current workflow and the files you plan to deliver.
Plan for surround audio
If your projects use surround audio, compare the surround support field directly. A stereo-focused workflow may not meet that requirement.
Check the platform and editing fields together so the chosen editor fits both your system and channel layout.
Questions
Which audio editors list a free plan?
Pro Tools, WaveLab and Soundop list a free plan. Ardour uses a freemium model, while several other entries are marked paid.
Which audio editors list free trials?
Nuendo lists a free trial. Pro Tools and Acoustica list 30-day trials, Sequoia 15 days, WaveLab 60 days and Soundop 7 days.
What platforms are represented?
The list includes tools for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and the web. Check the platform field for the editor you are considering.
What editing features can I compare?
Compare multitrack editing, spectral editing, noise reduction, plugin formats, batch processing and surround audio support.
Which tools show starting prices?
Listed starting prices include Pro Tools at $9.99 per month, Sequoia at $95 per month, Soundop at $2.99 per month on an annual plan, WaveLab from $99.99, Acoustica from $149 and SAWStudio from $300.
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