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Audacity vs REAPER

Audacity logo

Audacity

Music

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
REAPER logo

REAPER

Music

Full digital audio workstation with a 60 day evaluation and a USD 60 personal licence

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Audacity no real-time multi-user collaboration; remote teams cannot edit the same project simultaneously; REAPER the USD 60 discounted licence requires that yearly gross revenue does not exceed USD 20,000, above which the commercial licence at USD 225 applies
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Audacity and REAPER actually diverge.

Attributes where Audacity and REAPER differ
AttributeAudacityREAPER
Pricing modelopen-sourceone-time

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Music).

What people use each for

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

Audacity

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

REAPER

  • Music productionnot Audacity
  • Audio recordingnot Audacity
  • Audio editingnot Audacity
  • Post productionnot Audacity
  • Podcast editingnot 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

REAPER

  • The USD 60 discounted licence requires that yearly gross revenue does not exceed USD 20,000, above which the commercial licence at USD 225 applies
  • The commercial licence at USD 225 is nearly four times the discounted one for identical software, since the price is set by who is using it rather than by what it does
  • The evaluation lasts 60 days, after which continued use requires a purchased licence
  • Sold as a paid licence with no free tier beyond the evaluation period

Pricing, plan by plan

Audacity

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Audacity review.

REAPER

Free
  • Discounted License$60/one-time
    • For individuals using REAPER personally
    • For businesses with yearly gross revenue under 20000 USD
    • For educational and non-profit organizations
  • Commercial License$225/one-time
    • For commercial use by businesses exceeding revenue threshold
    • Includes free upgrades through REAPER version 8.99

Which should you pick?

Choose Audacity if

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

Choose REAPER if

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

Questions people ask

Is Audacity or REAPER better?
Neither clearly leads. Audacity starts at Free and REAPER at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Audacity or REAPER?
Audacity starts at Free and REAPER at Free.
Does Audacity or REAPER run on more platforms?
Both run on Windows, macOS, Linux, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Audacity for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 REAPER is typically brought in for.

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
REAPER: How much does REAPER cost?

REAPER costs 60 USD for a discounted license (individuals, non-profits, organizations under 20000 USD annual revenue) or 225 USD for commercial use. All licenses include free updates through version 8.99.

Source
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
REAPER: Can I try REAPER before buying?

Yes, REAPER offers a 60-day full evaluation period with no artificial feature limitations, allowing you to test all capabilities before purchasing.

Source
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
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