Ardour vs Audacity
Ardour
ardour.org
Audacity
audacityteam.orgSide by side
| Figure | Ardour | Audacity |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $1/mo | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 2 |
| Spec score · Audio Editing Software | 8.6 (#16) | 8.8 (#11) |
| Spec score · Game Audio Editors | 8.6 (#4) | 8.8 (#1) |
| Spec score · Audio editors for voice | 8.5 (#2) | 8.7 (#1) |
| Spec score · Audio editors | 8.6 (#5) | 8.4 (#7) |
| Spec score · Multimedia Software | 8.3 (#15) | 8.4 (#10) |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| MIDI sequencing | Yes | No |
| Multitrack editing | Yes | Yes |
| Support Channels | Support includes documentation, tutorials, bug tracking, email, forums, IRC, Matrix, and social channels. | Support is available through the manual, forum, and developer Discord. |
| Supported Platforms | Ardour runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Third-party plugins | Yes | Yes |
| Video Synchronization | Audio regions can be locked to video and moved at video-frame granularity. | Yes |
Plans
Ardour
- Developing World$1 a month
- Low Cost$4 a month
- Standard$10 a month
- Institutional$50 a month
- Annual subscription$120 a year
In their own words
Ardour
Ardour is an open-source workstation for recording, editing, mixing and mastering audio and MIDI projects on Linux, macOS and Windows. It supports any number of tracks and busses, along with unlimited undo and redo. Signal connections can be one-to-many, many-to-one or many-to-many. Supported plugin formats include AudioUnit, LV2, VST2/VST3 and LADSPA; plugins also support sample-accurate automation and MIDI Learn. MIDI synchronization options include MIDI timecode, MIDI Machine Control, MIDI clock and JACK transport sync. Ardour can import one video, display a thumbnail timeline, synchronize audio and export video. Users can search for and import audio or MIDI from Freesound. The software is licensed under GNU GPL v2, allowing users to copy, share and modify it without payment. Optional subscriptions support development and include unlimited updates while active. Monthly subscriptions are $1 a month, $4 a month, $10 a month or $50 a month; an annual subscription is $120 a year.
Audacity
Audacity is a free, open-source audio editor for Windows, macOS, and Linux desktop computers. It supports multitrack editing, noise reduction, video synchronization, and cloud collaboration. Common audio formats include MP3, M4A, AIFF, FLAC, and WAV, and it handles 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit audio with high-quality resampling and dithering. A Spectrogram view helps visualize and analyze audio clips. Third-party plugins are supported, including VST3, Nyquist, LV2, and Audio Unit formats. Its source code can be viewed or modified under the GNU GPL, and no subscription is required. Audacity has no mobile version for iOS or Android, despite those platforms appearing in some listings. The software is developed by a small remote team supported by the community. Help is available through a manual, forum, and developer Discord.