Adobe Audition vs Audacity
Audacity scores 8.5 to Adobe Audition's 6.0 among the audio editors we rate, and is the better pick for 3 of the 4 kinds of buyer below.
Audacity wins, 8.5 to 6.0
Audacity is free and open source; Adobe Audition is sold only by subscription, billed monthly or annually, with no free tier beyond a trial. Audition edits audio against picture in a Video Panel and mixes down to 5.1 surround, neither of which Audacity offers. Audacity counters with optional free plugins for AI stem separation and dialogue isolation, features Audition lacks, plus a scripting API for automation. Both support spectral editing and third-party plugins.
Pick Adobe Audition if if you need to edit audio against video and surround.
Pick Audacity if if you want free AI stem separation and no subscription.
Best for
Who each one suits, decided on the criteria that matter to that buyer and the checked facts where the two differ.
- Edits audio against video: Adobe Audition yes, Audacity no
- Surround or Atmos mixing: Adobe Audition yes, Audacity no
- But Audacity leads on aI repair or dialogue isolation: Audacity yes, Adobe Audition no
- Audio formats it exports: 8 export formats against 4 export formats
- Scripting or developer API: Audacity yes, Adobe Audition does not say
- Free plan: Audacity yes, Adobe Audition no
- Cheapest plan you can edit in, monthly: $0 against $22.99
- Source published under an open licence: Audacity yes, Adobe Audition no
How they score
Both are scored the same way, against the other audio editors we rate, from facts on each vendor's own pages. Audacity leads on 3 of 4 criteria.
Where they differ
Every point where the two vendors' published facts disagree, with a link to where each fact was read. "Not published" means the vendor does not say either way.
Published by only one of them
Where they match (5)
Pricing, plan by plan
Every plan each vendor publishes, monthly and yearly where both are offered.
Adobe Audition
Audacity
For everything else about each tool, read the full Adobe Audition review and Audacity review.
Adobe Audition vs Audacity: common questions
Which is better, Adobe Audition or Audacity?
Audacity scores 8.5 and Adobe Audition 6.0 out of 10 among the audio editors we rate. Audacity is ahead on workflow and output, pricing and privacy and trust. Adobe Audition is ahead on what it adds beyond the basics.
Is Adobe Audition or Audacity cheaper?
Adobe Audition's cheapest paid plan is $22.99/mo billed yearly and Audacity's is Free. Compare what each plan includes below before going on price alone.
Do Adobe Audition and Audacity have a free plan?
Audacity does and Adobe Audition does not.
What can Adobe Audition do that Audacity cannot?
On the facts both vendors publish: edits audio against video and surround or Atmos mixing.
What can Audacity do that Adobe Audition cannot?
On the facts both vendors publish: aI repair or dialogue isolation, free plan and source published under an open licence.
