The invention of podcasts has given us great benefits and a wealth of knowledge, particularly with thousands of new podcasts starting up every year. Given that all you need to start your podcast is an internet connection, a mic and recording software, it’s not hard to see why so many people are interested in the idea. If you are looking to start your podcast, or possibly improve on the one you already run, you’ve probably wondered which recording software you’re going to use. After all, the software that you choose will have an impact on your quality and ultimate experience with recording podcasts. You don’t have to worry, however; we have compiled a list of the best free podcasting recording software so you can make an educated decision. With that said, let’s jump straight into it!
Top 8 Best Free Podcast Recording Software
The top 8 best free podcasting recording software is, in no particular order:
- GarageBand
- Logic Pro X
- Adobe audition
- Auphonic
- Cast
- Alitu
- Zoom
- Audacity
1. GarageBand
PRICING: Free for all iOS and macOS users, with in-app upgrades
You’ve most likely heard of GarageBand before. It is one of Apple’s flagship apps that come pre-installed when you buy your shiny new MacBook. Whilst it’s usually known for its music creating abilities, particularly guitar, it’s also a popular choice for podcasts given that you can add instrument sounds
REASONS TO BUY:
- Free
- Wide selection of audio editing tools
- File sharing to a wide range of platforms is included
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Only available to macOS and iOS users
2. Logic Pro X
PRICING: $199.99, free with a 90-day trial
The beefed-up and more powerful cousin of GarageBand, Logic Pro X. Also exclusive to macOS users, this software are known for having pretty much all the tools you could imagine for podcasting recording. From spatial audio to advanced sampling tools, it has it all. In addition to this, it also has over 5,900 instrument and effect patches!
REASONS TO BUY:
- Highly advanced tools for top-notch audio recording
- Plenty of built-in features
- Easy to control virtual instruments
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Relatively costly compared to other audio recording software
- Only available to macOS users
3. Adobe audition
PRICING: $20.99 per month, including a free trial
Adobe is known for its high-quality, stellar apps such as Photoshop which seemingly always deliver customers a top-notch production. So it isn’t a surprise that they’ve also entered the audio editing industry and have once again excelled in it as well. Adobe audition offers the Waveform view which you can use for stereo editing, as well as the Multitrack view which you can use for mixing tracks. As for someone who will be recording podcasts, you will mainly be interested in the Waveform view.
REASONS TO BUY:
- Available for all major platforms
REASONS TO AVOID:
- A monthly plan rather than a one-off payment; may become too costly for some
- Not very intuitive for beginners
4. Auphonic
PRICING: Ranges from free to over $99/month
Auphonic uses AI-based audio algorithms to help you record your podcasts. It includes features like an intelligent leveller which balances levels between speakers, music and speech. In addition to this, it’s packed with a plethora of other features such as Speech recognition and transcription, audio restoration and loudness normalization. Auphonic is unique when it comes to pricing given that it’s based on how many hours of monthly processed audio you’ll be using it for. For example, if you decide to opt for its free package (Auphonic XS), you will be able to use up to 2 hours of monthly processed audio for free. However if you’re going to be using more than that (which we think you will if you will be podcasting regularly), you may opt for a more advanced plan such as Auphonic L which lets you use up to 45 hours of monthly processed audio for $49 per month. In addition to this, they also offer one-time credits which are added on top of your monthly plan.
REASONS TO BUY:
- Beginner-friendly interface
- The price depends on how much you use it, so you won’t be paying for something you’re not using.
REASONS TO AVOID:
- The free plan only comes with 2 hours of monthly processed audio
5. Cast
PRICING: Depends on the package; ranges from $10 per month to 30$
Although this is a paid software, we thought it was worth a mention given its uniqueness. Not all of us want to download an extra application onto our computers just to record audio, especially if you move around a lot and don’t want to carry that device with you all the time. If this sounds like you, then maybe Cast is a good choice to record your podcast audio. It’s a browser podcast recording software which means all you need to do is access their website and you can begin recording your podcast. All of your data is then stored in the cloud meaning you can access it anywhere you go!
REASONS TO BUY:
- Access your work anywhere you go
- User-friendly interface
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Free version is not available
6. Alitu
PRICING: Monthly package is $32/month, yearly is $320/month
Alitu is an easy-to-use podcast recording software that offers a free 7-day trial. Who doesn’t love a good free trial? This will allow you to test out the software before committing to its monthly or yearly package. Alitu features simple and intuitive recording and editing tools which will streamline your whole podcast creation experience. In addition to this, it features automatic audio clean-up and levelling using drag and drop features. This is one of the more user-friendly software out there.
REASONS TO BUY:
- Intuitive user design
- Free theme music
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Relatively expensive
- The scope of editing tools is relatively limited
7. Zoom
PRICING: Free
By now the majority of us have extensive experience with Zoom given the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst most of us have been using it for its video conferencing functionality, few know about its ability to be used as a podcast recording software. When you use Zoom, you’ll get all the benefits that you usually get with its video-conferencing features such as high-quality video and reliable VoIP. In addition to this, Zoom even has a blog where they walk you through the podcast feature of the application.
REASONS TO BUY:
- Very easy to get setup
- Simple user interface
- Free
REASONS TO AVOID:
- The scope of editing tools is relatively limited
8. Audacity
PRICING: Free
Audacity is a free open-source podcast recording software that prides itself on being easy to use. It’s available for all major operating systems including Windows, macOS and Linux. Audacity offers a wide range of appealing features such as a spectrogram view mode for selecting frequencies and various plugins.
REASONS TO BUY:
- Open-source software so support is readily available
- Free
- Plugin functionality
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Old-fashioned design
Those are our top picks if you’re looking for a free podcast recording software. Now all you have to do is decide. Podcasting is fun and having the right software to go with it makes it a much more enjoyable experience. We wish you great luck on your podcasting journey!