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.
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.
We used it to clean up a rough two-mic recording with inconsistent gain, and it got the job done, but it took roughly three times longer than the same task in Hindenburg, mostly because of the manual per-track normalization and the lack of any project auto-save cushion when it crashed once 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, look at the alternatives in the sidebar.
- Is Audacity worth it?
- 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
Cleaned up and leveled a two-mic interview recording with inconsistent gain levels, timing the manual editing workflow.
We buy the tools, use them on real client and creator work, then write what we found.
LAST TESTED MAR 12, 2026
REVIEWED BY THE BESTCREATES DESK · REVIEWS TEAM · OUR DISCLOSURE POLICY