Head-to-head
Reaper vs Sound Forge
2 tools, 10 differing data points, mostly pricing and positioning.
The verdict
Reaper or Sound Forge?
Section 01
Pricing, plan by plan
Every plan each vendor publishes, monthly and yearly where both are offered.
RReaper
Discounted licence
$60 one-time
For personal use and small businesses
Commercial licence
$225 one-time
SSound Forge
Sound Forge
$24.95/mo · $12.50/mo billed yearly
Sound Forge Plus
$33.95/mo · $16.66/mo billed yearly
Sound Forge (perpetual)
$299.95 one-time
Sound Forge Plus (perpetual)
$399.95 one-time
Section 02
Pros and cons
From each tool's full review, written from the same checked facts.
RReaper
Pros
- Sold as a low one-time licence, DRM-free, rather than a subscription.
- No registration or personal details are required to download or evaluate it.
- Deeply extensible through a documented ReaScript API and Extension SDK with a built-in scripting environment.
- Supports VST2, VST3 with ARA, LV2, CLAP, DX, AU and JSFX plugin formats.
Cons
- Ships no built-in library of loops or samples to build tracks from.
- There is no AI stem-separation feature.
- There is no AI session-player feature.
SSound Forge
Pros
- Can be bought once as a perpetual license instead of a subscription, for either the Sound Forge or Sound Forge Plus edition.
- DeHisser, DeClicker/DeCrackler and DeClipper restoration tools alongside loudness metering built for CALM Act compliance.
- A Batch Converter applies effects and processes multiple files automatically.
- VST2, VST3 and ARA plugin support, with ARA integrating Celemony's Melodyne directly into the waveform editor.
Cons
- Does not function as a digital audio workstation and cannot record a multitrack project, by design.
- Has no spectrogram or frequency-based editing view; its WaveColor feature is a colour-coded waveform view instead.
- Runs on Windows alone, with no Mac version.
Side by side
| Company | ||
| Founded | — | 1995 |
| HQ | United States | — |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac, Linux | Windows |
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing model | One-time purchase | One-time purchase or subscription |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Free trial | Yes, 60 days | Yes, 15 days |
| Starting price | $60 one-time (discounted licence) | $24.95/mo (Sound Forge) |
| All plans | Discounted licence — $60 one-time Commercial licence — $225 one-time | Sound Forge — $24.95/mo Sound Forge Plus — $33.95/mo Sound Forge (perpetual) — $299.95 one-time Sound Forge Plus (perpetual) — $399.95 one-time |
| Positioning | ||
| Best for | Home and pro engineers who want a light, deeply customisable DAW at a low one-time price | Windows users who master and restore single audio files and want to buy the editor once |
| Differentiator | Reaper is a lightweight, scriptable DAW sold for a low one-time price with a long free evaluation. | Sound Forge is a Windows audio editor for mastering and restoration, rented or bought once. |
| Competitors | Pro Tools, Ableton Live, FL Studio | Adobe Audition, Audacity, Reaper |
Section 03
Reaper vs Sound Forge: common questions
Is Reaper or Sound Forge cheaper?
Reaper's cheapest paid plan is $60 one-time (discounted licence) and Sound Forge's is $24.95/mo (Sound Forge). Compare what each plan includes below before going on price alone.
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