Audacity
Free open-source cross-platform audio editing software for recording and processing audio
Core features are free to use.audacityteam.org
Highlights
- Intuitive waveform editing for multi-track audio
- Complete effects suite including noise reduction, noise gate and EQ
- Export to all common formats such as MP3 and WAV
- No paywalls, cross-platform support for Windows, Mac and Linux
Typical use cases
- Reduce background noise and remove mouth clicks from recorded course audio
- Multi-track editing and mixing for podcasts
- Splice multiple audio clips into a complete podcast episode
Who it suits
- Podcasters and online course creators
- Users who need local offline audio processing
- Amateur podcasters and voiceover enthusiasts
Things to check before you commit
- Professional-oriented interface with a steep learning curve for new users
- No one-click noise reduction; requires manual parameter adjustment
Pricing
100% free and open-source