Audacity has been the default answer to "how do I edit a podcast for free" for over two decades, and it still deserves that reputation even if the interface hasn't aged gracefully. Waveform editing, basic noise reduction, and normalization are all here and all functional.
We assessed Audacity alongside the rest of our audio & podcasting reviews, including Descript, iZotope RX and Hindenburg Pro, so the score below is relative to that field.
What you give up compared to Hindenburg or Descript is workflow intelligence. There's no automatic loudness targeting preset for podcast delivery standards, no voice profiling across speakers, no filler-word detection — every leveling and cleanup pass is manual, chain-built through the Effects menu.
Cleaning up a rough two-mic recording with inconsistent gain is entirely possible here, but it takes substantially longer than the same task in Hindenburg, because per-track normalization is manual and there is no project auto-save cushion if the app stops mid-session.
For someone starting a podcast with zero budget and a willingness to learn keyboard shortcuts and effect chains, Audacity remains genuinely capable. It's just no longer the fastest way to a finished episode if you have any budget at all.
| PLAN | PRICE | WHAT YOU GET |
|---|---|---|
| Audacity | $0 /one-time | fully free, open source |
Beginners and hobbyist podcasters who need zero-cost editing — and anyone who wants Audacity to do the heavy lifting in this category.
you want automated loudness targeting or AI cleanup built in — if that's a dealbreaker, see every audio & podcasting tool we've tested.
- Is Audacity worth it in 2026?
- The free, open-source workhorse that has quietly trained a generation of podcasters, still capable but visibly dated next to modern DAWs. We rate it 6.9/10, and it's the strongest pick for beginners and hobbyist podcasters who need zero-cost editing.
- How much does Audacity cost?
- Audacity lists Audacity at $0/one-time. List prices change often, so confirm with the vendor before you buy.
- What are the downsides of Audacity?
- Interface looks and feels dated No cloud collaboration or auto-save by default Manual workflow for multi-track leveling No built-in transcription or AI cleanup
- How did BestCreates review Audacity?
- Editorially reviewed: Evaluated against our documented editorial framework — features, ease of use, pricing accuracy, support and integrations — using vendor documentation, pricing pages and published user evidence rather than hands-on testing. The score is relative to the other tools we cover in this category.
Editorially reviewed. Evaluated against our documented editorial framework — features, ease of use, pricing accuracy, support and integrations — using vendor documentation, pricing pages and published user evidence rather than hands-on testing. Read our review standards.
BestCreates is written and edited by Carlos Gil. Every tool is assessed against the same documented framework — the jobs creators hire it for, ease of use, pricing accuracy, support and integrations — and each review states in the open how it was assessed.
LAST CHECKED SEP 16, 2026
SIGNED BY CARLOS GIL · FOUNDER & EDITOR, THE BEST NETWORK · OUR DISCLOSURE POLICY