AudioPad vs EXP Soundboard
AudioPad
audiopad.vercel.app
EXP Soundboard
expsoundboard.comSide by side
| Figure | AudioPad | EXP Soundboard |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Soundboard Software | 8.0 (#9) | 8.1 (#5) |
| Audio formats | It accepts MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC, and M4A files directly without conversion or upload. | It supports MP3 and WAV audio files. |
| Hotkeys | Global hotkeys can trigger sounds from anywhere, with custom bindings. | Users can assign hotkeys to sounds for quick playback. |
| Integrations | The maker lists Discord, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, OBS Studio, Steam, and Slack, and says it works with any application that reads a microphone. | The site describes routing audio to Discord or OBS through Virtual Audio Cable or similar tools; it says this setup is optional. |
| Intended users | The maker describes AudioPad as a soundboard for people who use voice chat and explains it was created as a free alternative to paid soundboard software. | The site describes it as useful for gamers, streamers, and content creators. |
| Support | The maker invites users to support the project on Patreon and directs press inquiries to GitHub or the project repository. | The site invites support questions by email and lists [email protected] as its contact address. |
| System requirements | The app is listed for Windows 10 and 11 and Linux distributions with deb, rpm, and AppImage packages. | The listed minimum requirements include Windows 7, a 1 GHz Intel or AMD CPU, 1 GB RAM, 50 MB free disk space, and Java Runtime Environment 8 or later. |
Plans
In their own words
AudioPad
AudioPad is a desktop soundboard for sending music, memes, sound effects, and voice clips through a microphone in voice chats, meetings, streams, and games. It runs on Windows 10 and 11 and Linux, with deb, rpm, and AppImage packages. The app accepts MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC, and M4A files directly. Global hotkeys with custom bindings can trigger sounds from anywhere, and playback latency is described as sub-20ms. AudioPad mixes clips with a live microphone, or can send sound without the mic. The maker lists Discord, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, OBS Studio, Steam, and Slack, and says the app works with any software that reads a microphone. It runs on the user's machine without accounts, cloud services, analytics, or telemetry; crash reporting is opt-in. The free plan costs nothing and includes unlimited sounds and custom hotkeys. First installation requires admin rights to register a virtual audio device; routine use does not.
EXP Soundboard
EXP Soundboard is a free, open-source soundboard for playing custom clips through speakers or virtual audio devices. Users can load MP3 and WAV files, assign hotkeys for playback, adjust each sound’s volume, and configure the output. It also includes text to speech for playing custom messages. Gamers, streamers, and content creators are among its intended users. Audio can optionally be routed to Discord or OBS through Virtual Audio Cable or similar tools. The software is designed for Windows, with Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11 listed as compatible. It is also listed for Linux, macOS, and web: Mac and Linux use is through a virtual machine or Wine, while browser use runs through OnWorks in a virtual Windows environment. After installation, it works offline, except when used through OnWorks. Minimum requirements include Windows 7, a 1 GHz Intel or AMD CPU, 1 GB RAM, 50 MB free disk space, and Java Runtime Environment 8 or later. The site says the installer may be flagged by antivirus software and advises downloading from trusted sources.