Audacity is a free, open-source multi-track audio editor and recorder for Windows, macOS, and Linux, built for podcasting, music, and voice editing.
Audacity is a free, open-source multi-track audio editor and recorder available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It was started in 1999 by Dominic Mazzoni and Roger Dannenberg at Carnegie Mellon University and has been maintained by Muse Group, which also owns MuseScore and Ultimate Guitar, since 2021.
The application is released under the GNU General Public License v3, so its source code remains open for anyone to view, audit, or modify, and it has always been distributed free of charge.
Audacity provides multi-track recording and editing, support for VST3, LV2, and Nyquist plugins, and export to common formats including WAV, MP3, FLAC, and Ogg. It includes built-in tools such as a compressor, noise reduction, pitch and speed changers, and a vocal remover.
Through Muse Group's companion Muse Hub application, Audacity can also access AI-assisted effects for tasks like music source separation, noise suppression, and transcription.
Audacity is used by podcasters, musicians, voice-over artists, educators, and hobbyists who need a capable, no-cost audio editor without a subscription or account. Its plugin support also makes it a base for more advanced audio restoration and mixing workflows.
Yes. Audacity has always been free to download and use, with no paid tiers or subscriptions.
Yes, it is released under the GNU General Public License v3, and its source code is publicly available.
Audacity runs natively on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Yes, it supports VST3, LV2, and Nyquist plugins for extended functionality.