Head-to-head comparison
Audacity vs SOUND FORGE Pro
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
Long-running stereo audio editor that remains a standby for mastering and detailed cleanup.
Best for: Detailed stereo edits
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
SOUND FORGE Pro
Pros
- Precise sample-level stereo editing
- Mature batch processing tools
- Mac version exists alongside Windows
Watch-outs
- Just acquired by Boris FX — upgrade path unclear
- Stereo focus, not multitrack DAW
- UI still shows its radio-production lineage
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 SOUND FORGE Pro if
You’re building around detailed stereo edits. SOUND FORGE was a household name in radio production decades ago. Note for 2026: Boris FX acquired it from Magix in March, so the ownership story changed.
Also worth comparing
Or see all Audacity alternatives.
Frequently asked
What does Audacity do better than SOUND FORGE Pro?
Audacity's standout is "Free and open source forever". SOUND FORGE Pro doesn't make that promise — it leans into "Precise sample-level stereo editing" instead. If the first sentence describes your workflow, pick Audacity; if the second does, pick SOUND FORGE Pro.
What are the trade-offs?
Audacity: interface feels stuck in the early 2000s. SOUND FORGE Pro: just acquired by boris fx — upgrade path unclear. Whether either matters depends entirely on what you actually need — neither is a deal-breaker by itself.
Can I use Audacity and SOUND FORGE Pro 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 SOUND FORGE Pro for another. Worth trying both free tiers before committing.