Musicians, podcasters, and content creators often spare no expense for high-definition audio recording.
If that’s you, you know the importance of audio recording and editing software for creating voiceovers, podcasts, music, or voice notes. But you don’t have to break the bank to buy feature-packed voice recording tools. There are many free audio recording software that you can download and start using today to improve your vocal recording quality.
These free voice recording tools are intuitive, easy to use, and beginner-friendly. While there are numerous options, you can only try so many free audio recording software for Windows and Mac. In this article, we've compiled the best free audio recording software based on authentic user reviews.
These free audio recording tools either offer free versions or feature time-limited trials. We totally understand if you want to try first before buying software. That's why we've researched and compiled the best-in-class audio recording software solutions based on honest user reviews.
The free audio recording software list below is based on the best audio editing software category page. Please note that the list also considers vendors offering free trials as free products.
To be included in the category, a solution must:
*This data was pulled from G2 in February 2024. Some reviews may have been edited for clarity.
Riverside.fm is a web and app-based audio and video recording platform. Podcast and video hosts use this platform to record videos in 4K resolution with crystal-clear audio files. The best part is that you get separate audio and video files, which you can edit to your liking during post-production.
Besides text-based audio editing, the platform features AI-powered technology to generate accurate transcriptions in more than 100 languages. The free version lets you record two hours of separate audio and video tracks.
"The software is easy to learn and use. My first recording had 15 minutes missing at the end and I was so stressed out about it. I reached out to the support team, and they helped me so quickly. The backup recording was perfect, and I was able to launch my podcast on time. Since joining, they have upgraded their editing and provide a transcript which is very helpful. I highly recommend Riverside for anyone who wants to start a podcast.”
- Riverside.fm Review, Zenice H.
“I think it would be great to see more options for controlling volume levels and having it auto balance between all the guests, speakers, hosts, etc.”
- Riverside.fm Review, Jeremy C.
Descript is an all-in-one video and podcast editing software with screen recording, transcription, and clip creation features. The Studio Sound feature lets you produce studio-quality audio with acoustic echo cancellation and audio quality enhancement.
You can also improve voice quality with Studio Sound's regenerative algorithm and other audio processing tools, such as adaptive filters and sound subtractors. They offer a 90-day free trial that allows you to record and edit 10-minute audio files.
"It's super user-friendly, helps a lot as a complement to an audio team if you have one, and it's extra easy for those who don't. Also, it can be used as a one-stop shop for your post-production."
- Descript Review, Daniela P.
"The controls are kind of non-standard, which I suppose is a function of it having text-editing baked in. It would be nice if you could switch the keys to something more akin to a standard audio editing suite instead of having to hunt for the tab key. Still, it gets the job done.”
- Descript Review, Justin M.
Murf.ai is a cloud-based text-to-speech platform that content creators and music artists use to create realistic voice overs. You can also clone your voice or dub content in multiple languages with the help of built-in artificial intelligence capabilities. They offer a free plan that allows you to generate audio files up to 10 minutes.
"I needed an AI voice generator for multiple purposes. I tested a few confusing programs, but they didn't get the text-to-speech right. The other programs I tested were focused on making the sale. Murf.ai seemed more focused on making it easy and getting it right. Pronunciations are critical. I thought Murf.ai made a mistake on pronouncing one word. I checked. Murf.ai had it right, I had it wrong. That rocks."
- Murf.ai Review, Ryan S.
"Maybe some improvements can be made to the settings layout as I usually get lost trying to find my billing history.”
- Murf.ai Review, Ernest T.
Podcastle is a web-based podcasting software that allows artists and podcast hosts to record studio-quality audio and video from anywhere in the world. The platform also provides a digital audio workstation to help you edit and enhance audio content. Moreover, artists can also create clones of their voices. The platform offers a free plan which lets you record and edit audio, host podcast, and record up to three hours of video.
"Podcastle is my go-to for recording podcast with a remote co-host. Podcastle's ease of use in the recording studio is extremely useful for my co-host who isn't technically savvy. Only needing a link to join the recording studio and quickly be off and running with recording is great! Also, the audio quality of the recordings from co-host beats out local recording from a Zoom or Discord call by a mile."
- Podcastle Review, Howdy D.
"Podcastle has room for improvement. It needs a better way to organize recordings, like folders.”
- Podcastle Review, Jeff S.
WavePad is a feature-packed audio recording and editing software. It lets you edit and record different audio types, including music and voice. Besides making it easy for you to amplify, normalize, and equalize audio recordings, the platform supports 50+ audio formats. Moreover, you can also batch edit audio files and restore audio with noise removal and click pop removal.
"WavePad is a professional editing and recording application that you can download on your phone and laptop. It lets you quickly edit and add effect to your audio mix. You can choose the format you want to save your final mix."
- WavePad Review, Fidelis E.
"WavePad's only functional defect is its inability to process more accumulative files. This inhibits its efficiency as it can affect you if you have huge piles of files to edit. Despite this, WavePad premiums are relatively low and are not complicated to subscribe.”
- WavePad Review, Ndaire J.
KingShiper Audio Editor is a simple and efficient audio recording and editing tool that makes it easy to edit, enhance, and convert audio files without quality loss. Video creators, broadcasters, and artists love this platform because of its diverse capabilities. For example, the platform allows you to change pitch of audio recordings, adjust speed, combine multiple audio tracks.
"If you're into tweaking audio without the headache, KingShiper Audio Editor is the way to go. Here's why I love it: user-friendly interface, one-stop shop for edits, ease to download and integrate, and plays nice with all formats."
- KingShiper Audio Editor Review, Solomiia K.
"This program has caused an overheating of the processor on my older laptop once. So, it's better to install KingShiper Audio Editor on newer machine.”
- KingShiper Audio Editor Review, Solomiia K.
Speechify Voice Over Studio is a popular all-in-one voice and video software that lets you create clones of human voices, translate and dub videos, transcribe audio files, and convert content into voice overs. The platform ensures zero learning curve with a suite of easy-to-use products and detailed instructions at each step. The free plan lets you record up to 10 minutes of audio.
"Speechify Voice Over Studio has allowed me to move quickly through voice over projects, and make sure everything is 100% perfect before submitting. It gives user peace of mind before submitting important work and allows us to get paid on time."
- Speechify Voice Over Studio Review, Alisabeth S.
"Speechify Voice Over Studio lacks emotional voice and delivery of professional voice artist. These generated audios do not always sound completely natural.”
- Speechify Voice Over Studio Review, Pulkit G.
Free audio recording software solutions help you effortlessly capture, edit, and mix audio files from a single platform. These tools are your best bet, especially if you’re trying to test free audio tools before investing in one.
Focusing on honing the craft of creating better sound? Learn how audio editing can help you refine audio quality for the desired effects.
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