Head-to-head comparison
Adobe Premiere Pro vs Reaper
Two of the editing tools podcasters reach for. Here's how they differ on pricing, features, audience, and the trade-offs that actually matter day-to-day.
Industry-standard video NLE with text-based editing and tight Audition integration.
Best for: Cross-platform video podcasts
Featherweight DAW with a generous license and obsessive community.
Best for: Indie podcasters
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
Adobe Premiere Pro
Pros
- Works identically on Mac and Windows
- Text-Based Editing speeds up interview cuts
- Largest freelancer talent pool in video
Watch-outs
- Creative Cloud Pro now $69.99/mo for All Apps
- Project files can corrupt occasionally
- Heavier than Resolve for simple edits
Reaper
Pros
- $60 discounted license for personal use
- Free upgrades through major version 8
- Endlessly customizable via scripts and themes
Watch-outs
- Default UI scares off newcomers
- Minimal hand-holding for beginners
- No transcript-based editing built in
Which one should you pick?
Pick Adobe Premiere Pro if
You’re building around cross-platform video podcasts. Premiere is the safest cross-platform pick for video podcasters who hand projects to collaborators or move between Mac and Windows. Text-Based Editing has closed the gap on Descript for interview cuts.
Pick Reaper if
You’re building around indie podcasters. Reaper is the $60 DAW that quietly does 90% of what Pro Tools does, and the personal-use license is on the honor system. If you can tolerate a UI that looks like a 2008 audio forum, you'll get a more capable editor than Hindenburg for a fraction of the price — but you'll need to invest a weekend learning it.
Also worth comparing
Frequently asked
What does Adobe Premiere Pro do better than Reaper?
Adobe Premiere Pro's standout is "Works identically on Mac and Windows". Reaper doesn't make that promise — it leans into "$60 discounted license for personal use" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Adobe Premiere Pro; if the second does, pick Reaper.
What are the trade-offs?
Adobe Premiere Pro: creative cloud pro now $69.99/mo for all apps. Reaper: default ui scares off newcomers. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use Adobe Premiere Pro and Reaper together?
Both are editing tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using Adobe Premiere Pro for one show or episode type and Reaper for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.