There are an estimated 424 million podcast listeners worldwide, a number that’s predicted to rise sharply by 2024. If you’re thinking of launching a podcast series to tap into that huge audience potential, choosing the right podcast editing software is important. And to help with that, we’ve shortlisted 8 of the best podcast editing software on the market today.
Top 8 Best Podcast Editing Software
- Audacity – Best Podcast Editing Software for Free
- Garageband – Best Podcast Editing Software for Mac Users
- Riverside – Best Podcast Editing Software for Video
- Adobe Audition – The Best Podcast Editing Software for Complete Control
- Descript – The Best Podcast Editing Software for Beginners
- Pro Tools – The Best Podcast Editing Software for Experts
- Reaper – The Best Podcast Editing Software for Intermediate Podcasters
- Alitu – The Best Podcast Editing Software for Speedy Edits
1. Audacity – Best Podcast Editing Software for Free
PRICING: Free
If you’re new to podcasting and not ready to splash out on an expensive Digital Audio Workstation then Audacity is the best option. You’ll find it simple to record, edit and mix your own podcast using this editing software, which works on MacOS, Windows 10 and Linux. It’s open-source and has an active user community so you’ll find plenty of tips and tricks online. Best of all, it’s completely free.
KEY FEATURES:
- Open-source
- Supports multiple file formats
- Wide selection of audio effects
REASONS TO BUY:
- It’s free
- Easy to use
- Big user community – lots of online tutorials
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Multi-track recording lacks sophistication
2. Garageband – Best Podcast Editing Software for Mac Users
PRICING: Free for MacOS users
Apple’s Garageband is better known as a music app, but it can be used as podcast editing software too. Advantages include a slick, easy-to-use interface that’s perfect for beginners and lots of built-in loops and sound effects to create background music. If you have multiple MacOS devices you can record and edit on the go using an iPhone or iPad (as long as you have a microphone and access to iCloud). For the Mac-literate, Garageband is an excellent choice.
KEY FEATURES
- Free on Mac devices
- Record and edit on the go
REASONS TO BUY:
- Simple interface
- User-friendly
- Creates high-quality audio files
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Not available on Windows
3. Riverside – Best Podcast Editing Software for Video
PRICING: Standard: $15/mo, Pro: $24/mo (billed annually)
Riverside is more than just podcast editing software, it’s an ‘all-in-one’ solution. What that means is that you can record conversations in both audio and 4K video, then create a finished podcast in minutes with the help of its ‘Magic Editor’. Riverside is one of the first platforms to offer podcast 4K video recording, and with its ‘Clips’ function, you can easily cut shareable video clips and then promote your podcast on social media.
KEY FEATURES:
- All in one podcast recording and editing software
- 4K video capability
- Automated ‘Magic Editor’
REASONS TO BUY:
- Clean, simple interface
- Good quality audio
- One of the first audio and video podcasting platforms
- Trusted by big-name podcasters including Gary Vaynerchuck
REASONS TO AVOID:
- 4K video recording requires a stable wi-fi connection
- You may need more control than the automated editor offers
>>More: How To Record A Podcast On Your Phone | How To Record A Podcast With Multiple Mics | How Much Does It Cost To Start A Podcast On Spotify | How Much Do Podcasters Make
4. Adobe Audition – The Best Podcast Editing Software for Complete Control
PRICING: A single business license costs $33.99/mo; access to Adobe’s full suite of apps is $79.99/mo
Many professional podcasters choose Adobe Audition as their podcast editing software because the Digital Audio Workstation comes with an array of sophisticated features, including multi-track recording, advanced audio visualisations, noise reduction, audio clean-up tools and a library of royalty-free effects. This podcast editing software also works seamlessly with Adobe’s other apps such as After Effects and Premiere Pro, so you can add video or graphics to your podcast if you’re familiar with those creative tools.
KEY FEATURES:
- Advanced recording and editing software
- Powerful audio clean-up functionality
- Works with other Adobe Creative Suite apps
REASONS TO BUY:
- Gives the user complete control over podcast edits
- Loaded with presets
- Tutorials for beginners are available
- Cost-effective option for Adobe Creative Suite subscribers
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Inexperienced podcasters may feel overwhelmed by its options
5. Descript – The Best Podcast Editing Software for Beginners
PRICING: $12/mo (Creator license); $24/mo (Pro license)
If you have no podcasting experience, Descript offers an easy-to-use podcast editing software solution. In fact, it’s more than just editing software: with Descript you can record audio and video too. The platform transcribes audio into a script and you edit this to make changes to your podcast. It works just as a word-processing tool. You can even clone your voice using its AI-powered ‘Overdub’ feature.
KEY FEATURES:
- Record and edit video and audio
- Script-based podcast editing
- Edit collaboratively with other team members
REASONS TO BUY:
- Great for beginners
- Makes the removal of filler words and gaps easy
- Multi-track, non-destructive editing
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Experienced podcasters may find it too simplistic
6. Pro Tools – The Best Podcast Editing Software for Experts
PRICING: Standard $29.99/mo, Pro $79.99/mo
Pro Tools is a Digital Audio Workstation that’s designed for professionals (think radio station and music producers). So it’s one of the most advanced podcast editing software solutions available. It comes complete with virtually any recording, editing and mixing feature you can think of. For that reason, podcast newcomers may find there’s a lot of functionality to get their heads around. The podcast editing software also comes at a high price point, although a 30-day free trial is available.
KEY FEATURES:
- Top of the range audio mixing
- More than 120 plug-ins available
- Supports video tracks
REASONS TO BUY:
- Industry-standard podcast editing software
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Beginners may find it tough to navigate
- Expensive option
7. Reaper – The Best Podcast Editing Software for Intermediate Podcasters
PRICING: $60 Discounted license; $225 Commercial license
Reaper is a complete audio production studio that runs as a desktop app. It has most of the recording, editing, processing and mixing tools you’ll need to create your podcast and all for a really competitive, one-off price; if you’re an individual, non-profit organisation or business that makes less than $20k in podcast revenue, a license costs just £60. The perfect solution if you’re looking for an upgrade on free podcast editing software without breaking the bank.
KEY FEATURES:
- MIDI sequencing
- Hundreds of effects
- Full suite of plug-ins
- 60-day trial available
REASONS TO BUY:
- Fast to load and reliable
- Online video tutorials for beginners
- Single, one-off payment
REASONS TO AVOID:
- The interface takes some getting used to
- Not designed primarily as podcast editing software
8. Alitu – The Best Podcast Editing Software for Speedy Edits
PRICING: $32/mo
Alitu’s podcast editing software automates much of the editing process, so you don’t need any production experience to use it. You can use the desktop application to record your podcast (solo recordings or interviews) or upload audio files. Then you simply select the sections of your files you want to remove, choose whether to add an intro, outro or transitions and Alitu’s online podcast editing software automatically adjusts the levels and removes background noise.
KEY FEATURES:
- Simple drag and drop editing
- Automated sound clean up
- Publish straight to podcast hosting platforms
REASONS TO BUY:
- Speeds up postproduction
- Ideal podcast editing software for beginners
- All-in-one recording and editing solution
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Limited editing tools compared to other Digital Audio Workstations
References And Links
- https://www.emarketer.com/content/global-podcast-listener-forecast-2021-2025
- https://riverside.fm/blog/podcast-editing-software
- https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/podcast-editing-software
- https://influencermarketinghub.com/best-podcast-editing-software/
- https://wiredclip.com/best-podcast-editing-software/
- https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/podcast-editing-software-ranked/
- https://jonathancarson.medium.com/the-ultimate-riverside-fm-review-2021-the-new-best-podcast-recording-platform-65c15c6bd8b
- https://www.descript.com/
- https://www.thepodcasthost.com/editing-production/reaper-review/
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