Head-to-head comparison
Audacity vs Cubase
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.
Free, open-source audio editor that's been the entry point for podcasters for 25 years.
Best for: Indie podcasters on a budget
Steinberg's flagship DAW, equally at home with bands and dialogue editing.
Best for: Music-leaning producers
At a glance
The honest trade-offs
Audacity
Pros
- Free and open source forever
- Runs on Mac, Windows and Linux
- Massive bank of community tutorials
Watch-outs
- Interface feels stuck in the early 2000s
- Destructive editing model is error-prone
- No text-based editing or modern AI
Cubase
Pros
- Mature MIDI and audio routing
- Strong VST ecosystem and stock plugins
- Excellent automation and mixing tools
Watch-outs
- Steep learning curve for spoken-word work
- Pro tier is $579 one-time
- Steinberg licensing still has friction
Which one should you pick?
Pick Audacity if
You’re building around indie podcasters on a budget. Audacity is the default answer to 'how do I edit a podcast for $0' and it's still a perfectly reasonable one. Interface looks like Windows XP, the workflow is fiddly next to modern tools, and the recent ownership change rattled the community — but it's free, runs everywhere, and does the basics well.
Pick Cubase if
You’re building around music-leaning producers. Cubase is a serious music-production DAW that handles dialogue editing fine, but it's wildly overpowered for a typical podcast workflow. If you're not already a Cubase user from a music background, Reaper or Hindenburg will get you to a finished episode in half the time without the learning curve or the price tag.
Also worth comparing
Or see all Audacity alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does Audacity do better than Cubase?
Audacity's standout is "Free and open source forever". Cubase doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Mature MIDI and audio routing" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Audacity; if the second does, pick Cubase.
What are the trade-offs?
Audacity: interface feels stuck in the early 2000s. Cubase: steep learning curve for spoken-word work. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use Audacity and Cubase together?
Both are editing tools so most teams pick one. Some workflows do combine them — for example, using Audacity for one show or episode type and Cubase for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.