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Audacity vs LANDR

Audacity logo

Audacity

Music

Free and open-source multi-track audio editor and recorder

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
LANDR logo

LANDR

Music

AI mastering and music distribution, sold as separate mastering, distribution and bundled Studio subscriptions

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Audacity has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Audacity no real-time multi-user collaboration; remote teams cannot edit the same project simultaneously; LANDR mastering and distribution are separate subscription lines, so a producer wanting both is typically paying for two products, not one, unless they specifically choose the bundled Studio plan.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Audacity and LANDR actually diverge.

Attributes where Audacity and LANDR differ
AttributeAudacityLANDR
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelopen-sourcePer user per month, separate mastering and distribution subscriptions
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWeb

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Music).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Audacity

Nothing recorded that LANDR does not also cover.

Only in LANDR

  • AI mastering
  • Digital distribution
  • 100 percent royalty retention
  • Pay-per-track mastering
  • Sample packs and plugins
  • Collaboration tools

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Audacity

  • Podcast recording, editing, and production without subscriptionsnot LANDR
  • Audiobook narration and audio engineeringnot LANDR
  • Music production and remix creationnot LANDR
  • Audio restoration (removing clicks, hums, background noise)not LANDR
  • Interview recording and transcription supportnot LANDR
  • Educational audio labs and sound design coursesnot LANDR

LANDR

  • An independent producer wanting fast, low-cost mastering for demos or lower-stakes releasesnot Audacity
  • A self-releasing artist who wants distribution to Spotify and Apple Music without a label or aggregator contractnot Audacity
  • A producer wanting to pay for a single mastered track without committing to a subscriptionnot Audacity
  • An artist who wants sample packs, mastering and distribution bundled together under one Studio plannot Audacity

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Audacity

  • No real-time multi-user collaboration; remote teams cannot edit the same project simultaneously
  • Limited MIDI support; not suitable for music composition or virtual instrument arrangement
  • No built-in content library; users must source background music, sound effects, and transitions externally
  • Version 4 GUI redesign not yet stable; production users should remain on 3.x branch, delaying access to new features

LANDR

  • Mastering and distribution are separate subscription lines, so a producer wanting both is typically paying for two products, not one, unless they specifically choose the bundled Studio plan.
  • AI mastering is generally regarded by working audio engineers as producing a less considered, more generic result than a human mastering engineer for a release meant to matter to an artist career.
  • The lowest mastering tier caps output at lower-resolution MP3, so getting WAV and HD WAV masters requires the more expensive Pro tier.
  • Distribution plans are billed annually, which is a less flexible commitment than platforms offering month-to-month or per-release distribution pricing.
  • Frequent promotional discounting on LANDR pricing makes the real ongoing renewal price harder to predict from marketing pages alone.

Pricing, plan by plan

Audacity

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Audacity review.

LANDR

On request
  • Mastering Basic$4/month
    • Unlimited lower-resolution MP3 masters
    • Digital distribution not included
  • Mastering Pro$25/month
    • Unlimited WAV and HD WAV masters
    • Highest mastering resolution tier
  • Distribution Basic$24/year
    • Distribution to major streaming platforms
    • Billed separately from mastering plans
  • Distribution Pro$45/year
    • Higher-tier distribution features
    • 100 percent royalty retention

Which should you pick?

Choose Audacity if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Audacity review

Choose LANDR if

  • You need ai mastering.
  • You also want digital distribution.
LANDR review

Questions people ask

Is Audacity or LANDR better?
Neither clearly leads. Audacity starts at Free and LANDR at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Audacity or LANDR?
Audacity has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Audacity and On request for LANDR.
Does Audacity or LANDR run on more platforms?
Audacity runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. LANDR runs on Web.
Can I use Audacity for free?
Yes. Audacity has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. LANDR starts at On request.
What is Audacity best used for?
Audacity is most often used for podcast recording, editing, and production without subscriptions, audiobook narration and audio engineering, music production and remix creation, audio restoration (removing clicks, hums, background noise). Of those, podcast recording, editing, and production without subscriptions and audiobook narration and audio engineering are not what LANDR is typically brought in for.
What can Audacity do that LANDR cannot?
LANDR covers AI mastering, Digital distribution, 100 percent royalty retention, Pay-per-track mastering.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Audacity: Is Audacity free?

Yes. Audacity is free and open-source under the GPLv3 licence. There are no licensing fees, subscriptions, or restrictions for commercial or educational use.

Source
LANDR: Do mastering and distribution cost the same subscription?

No, they are billed as separate plans; a bundled Studio plan combines them along with sample packs and plugins.

Audacity: What audio formats can I export from Audacity?

Audacity supports WAV, MP3, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, and AIFF export. FLAC and Ogg are lossless and space-efficient for archival; MP3 is widely compatible for playback devices.

Source
LANDR: Do I keep 100 percent of royalties through LANDR distribution?

Yes, artists retain full royalties from tracks distributed through LANDR.

Audacity: Can I use Audacity for podcast production?

Yes. Audacity provides multi-track recording, noise reduction, equalisation, and export to MP3. It lacks real-time collaboration, so team workflows require manual file exchange.

Source
LANDR: Can I master a single track without a subscription?

Yes, a pay-per-track option is available for around 9.99 USD per master.

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