Audacity vs REAPER
Audacity
audacityteam.orgREAPER
reaper.fmSide by side
| Figure | Audacity | REAPER |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $60/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 4 |
| Spec score · Audio editors for voice | 8.7 (#1) | 7.1 (#11) |
| Spec score · Audio Editing Software | 8.8 (#11) | 7.7 (#75) |
| Spec score · Multimedia Software | 8.4 (#10) | 6.8 (#27) |
| Founded | 2000 | 2004 |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| MIDI sequencing | No | Yes |
| Multitrack editing | Yes | Yes |
| Noise Reduction | Includes tools for reducing background static and noise. | Yes |
| Supported platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Third-party plugins | Yes | Yes |
| Video synchronization | Yes | Yes |
Plans
REAPER
- Discounted license$60 a month
- Discounted license$60, paid once
- Commercial license$225 a month
- Commercial license$225, paid once
In their own words
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.