There is a free tier, with paid plans above it. What we have on record: Free for personal use; Master's Edition around $69 one-time, Standard from around $39.. Confirm what the free tier includes on their site.

What can I use instead of WavePad?

Other tools in the same category: Descript, Audacity, Hindenburg Pro.

EditingFreemium

W

WavePad

Lightweight audio editor that runs on essentially every platform a podcaster might own.

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Our take

WavePad is the no-frills audio editor that runs on Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android. It won't threaten Audition or RX, but for trimming, normalising, and exporting an episode it's reliable and cheap. Free for personal use; Standard around $39.95, Masters Edition around $99 one-time.

At a glance

Pricing: Freemium
Category: Editing
Price: Free for personal use; Master's Edition around $69 one-time, Standard from around $39.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Best for: Casual cross-platform edits

Confirm current pricing on WavePad →

In depth

WavePad is part of NCH Software's broad portfolio of cheap, simple desktop and mobile apps, and it's one of the few audio editors that runs on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. For podcasters who want a no-frills tool to trim a recording, normalise loudness, run a basic noise reduction, and export an MP3, WavePad gets the job done with minimal fuss.

The interface is clearly from a different era of software design, with crowded toolbars and Windows 7-era icons, but the underlying engine works well and has been refined over many years. NCH offers a free tier that's genuinely usable for occasional non-commercial editing, plus paid editions: Standard around $39.95-$60, and Master's Edition normally around $99-$100 — both one-time perpetual licenses billed as lifetime fees rather than subscriptions.

Discounts are frequent. The Masters Edition unlocks VST plugin support and the SFX library, which makes the upgrade worth it for serious use.

It's not a multitrack DAW, so heavy interview comping is awkward, and NCH's installer is famous for nudging users toward other apps in the bundle, which is a real friction point. As a cheap utility for quick audio surgery, WavePad still has a place — especially for podcasters who need the same tool across mobile and desktop.

Free, from SliceFree export settings referenceThe bitrate, codec and resolution each platform actually wants, without digging through help docs.Open it

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Alternatives to WavePad

See all Editing →

Descript

Editing$$

Edit podcasts and video by editing the transcript — delete a word, delete the audio.

Best for: Long-form podcast editing