Tool profile
Audacity: cost, fit and limits
Audacity is a free open source audio editor maintained by Muse Group and contributors for Windows, macOS and Linux, used for recording, cutting and processing sound, with AI plugins announced for macOS. It has been a staple of home and podcast editing for many years.
What to know first
Audacity costs nothing: the FAQ says it will always remain free, and the source code is open for anyone to view or modify. Installers cover Windows, macOS and Linux, and MuseHub builds are also listed. A vendor blog announces OpenVINO AI plugins for macOS, covering music separation, noise suppression, transcription, music generation and super resolution, plus a Voice by Auribus vocals plugin.
Audacity at a glance
| Maker | Muse Group and contributors, Not stated by the vendor |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Free |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Audio Editing Software in 2026, rank 6 of 11 |
| Website | audacityteam.org |
Who Audacity is best for
Budget-conscious beginners
The editor has no price and no account wall, so a new podcaster or student can learn waveform editing without spending anything.
Linux users
The download page lists an AppImage for Linux alongside Windows and macOS installers, which few polished AI editors offer. That makes it a rare cross-platform choice among the tools in this ranking.
Mac users curious about local AI
The blog describes OpenVINO plugins for macOS, which run as plugins in the editor rather than as a cloud service.
Audacity plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free download | Free | Installers for Windows, macOS (.dmg) and Linux (AppImage). The FAQ promises the editor stays free, with no trial period or account needed. |
| MuseHub versions | Not published | Listed on the download page as .pkg and .exe builds; terms were not opened. Buyers should check those terms on the download page before choosing that build. |
| Open source | Free | Source code open for anyone to view or modify; the license is not named on the homepage. |
Checked November 2026.
What Audacity does
- Cross-platform editor
- One program covers Windows, macOS and Linux, with the same waveform editing on each, so a team on mixed machines can share a workflow. Teams on mixed machines can share a workflow without buying different software for each operating system.
- OpenVINO AI Plugins
- The vendor blog lists music separation, noise suppression, music generation, transcription and super resolution for macOS. The post names these as macOS plugins, so Windows and Linux users should not assume access.
- Voice by Auribus
- A plugin described as AI-powered professional vocals. The pages read give no pricing or data terms for it. The vendor describes it as AI-powered professional vocals but the pages read give no price or data terms.
- Open source code
- Anyone can inspect or modify the code, which helps security reviewers and developers extending the editor. Security reviewers and developers can inspect the code, and the community can extend the editor.
- Analytics-only cookies
- The site states that cookie use is limited to analytics through Matomo. The analytics-only note is the entire data statement on the homepage, so deeper terms remain unchecked.
How Audacity handles your data
The Audacity pages opened for this entry link only a cookie policy and no privacy policy, so statements about training on user audio, retention or hosting could not be verified. The homepage says cookies are used for analytics through Matomo. Audacity processes files on the local machine, which keeps ordinary editing offline. The vendor blog announces the AI plugins for macOS, but the pages read do not say whether any plugin sends audio to an outside service. Check each plugin's documentation before using it with confidential recordings.
Where Audacity falls short in practice
- AI details on a blog only. The AI plugins are described in an announcement post, with macOS as the stated platform. The pages read give no limits, support terms or Windows and Linux availability.
- Destructive and manual workflow. The pages read describe no transcript editing or automatic leveling, so spoken-word cleanup stays a manual job unless a plugin covers it. Spoken-word cleanup therefore stays a hands-on job unless a plugin covers it.
- Missing policy page. No privacy policy appeared on the pages opened, and the maker's country is not stated. Organizations with vendor-review rules may need more documentation. Organizations with vendor-review rules may need more documentation than a cookie policy.
Works with
Alternatives to Audacity
Audacity: common questions
Is Audacity really free?
The Audacity FAQ says it will always remain free for everyone, and the homepage describes open source code. The download page also lists MuseHub builds whose terms were not opened. Check the MuseHub terms separately, because the pages read did not open them.
Does Audacity have AI features?
A vendor blog announces OpenVINO AI Plugins for macOS covering music separation, noise suppression, music generation, transcription and super resolution, plus the Voice by Auribus plugin. The core editor pages name no AI. The core editor pages name no AI, so treat the plugins as optional extras for macOS.
Which systems does Audacity run on?
The download page offers Windows installers, a macOS .dmg and a Linux AppImage. The AI plugins are described for macOS only. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, though AI plugin availability differs by platform. The AI plugins are described for macOS only, so check the blog post before assuming support elsewhere.
Does Audacity send my audio to the cloud?
The pages read do not say. Audacity edits files locally, but the plugin pages were not opened, and no privacy policy was found, only a cookie policy. Ask the vendor whether any plugin uses an online service before processing confidential audio.
Who makes Audacity?
The footer credits Muse Group and contributors. The pages read do not state the maker's country or the open source license name. The open source license name is not stated on the homepage, so check the repository for it. Check the project repository for the exact license, since the homepage describes open source code without naming one.