The best audio editing software for Mac, Windows, and the web

Adobe Audition is a powerful audio editor that offers industry-standard features, including multi-track editing and advanced audio restoration tools, but at an expensive price point with a subscription model. For free audio editing, Audacity is a capable and feature-rich option that's open-source and free to use. Acoustica Standard Edition is a budget-friendly alternative to Adobe Audition, offering powerful effects and features for editing audio files. Hindenburg Pro 2 is geared towards journalists and podcasters, with auto-leveling and other features tailored to spoken word recordings. SOUND FORGE Audio Studio 17 is a moderately priced option that's great for adding complex effect chains and mastering audio using, while Audiate is a transcription-based editor that lets you edit audio like a text document. AudioMass is a free browser-based online editor that's easy to use but limited in its feature set. Ultimately, the best audio editor depends on your specific needs and budget.