The 10 Best Podcast Editing Software in 2024 (+ Expert Tips)

Poor podcast audio quality is a nightmare. 

Dead space, hisses, weird transitions, and background noises take away from your content and show’s authority.

While you may have the right podcast recording software and equipment, getting great sounding audio comes down to your podcast editing tools. 

This guide shares the best podcast editing software plus a handful of tips to create polished episodes that dazzle your listeners.

What is podcast editing?

Podcast editing is the process of improving or altering an audio or video file to its maximum sound quality to make it more appealing to your audience. Editing a podcast ensures the output matches the podcast show’s story, theme, and requirements.

Unedited podcasts sound like a long-winded conversation that’ll never end. Podcast editing ensures everything moves seamlessly from one topic to the next while keeping the conversation lively. 

Editing also allows you to shape the conversation for more impact without altering the content of your conversations. 

What goes into editing a podcast?

Publishing a podcast takes more than just recording it. You need a carefully crafted narrative that sounds amazing for your audience. 

When editing your podcast, you’ll refine your recording by looking for mistakes, removing anything that’s unnecessary, and moving bits around to build a more cohesive story.

Here’s a quick rundown of what happens during the podcast editing process: 

• Removing background noise: Many noises in your environment might pop up in your podcast recording and distract your listeners. Editing the podcast filters and removes or lessens those noises making your audio sound like you recorded in a pristine, soundproofed studio.

• Getting rid of filler: You don’t want your listeners struggling to find your point amid filler words like “uh” and “um” or pauses and other distractions. You can remove these during editing to sound more concise, intelligent, and confident. 

• Deleting unwanted material: Ultimately, each podcast episode should only contain audio that serves the story. Deleting the parts that feel superfluous creates the story you’re looking for so it’s interesting to your audience.

• Cleaning up volume levels: Sometimes you’ll combine tracks from multiple sources that were recorded separately with varying loudness. Editing the podcast file adjusts each track’s volume levels for an even listening experience.

• Adding music and audio effects: Insert royalty-free music or sound effects enhances your podcast's tone and evokes a desired feeling in your listeners. For instance, if you run a cooking podcast, you can bring it to life by adding sizzling or chopping sounds.

• Creating intros and outros: Podcast editing lets you create a beginning and an end so your audience knows what you’re listening to and when it’s over.

• Listening and re-listening: Listening to your podcast repeatedly helps to catch mistakes and polish it into a piece that attracts your listeners and delivers a high-quality show.

Next, let’s look into the best podcast editing software to find the right tool for your needs.

Best podcast editing software in 2023

Free and paid come with unique features to produce high-quality audio for your audience. 

If you’re a beginner or on a limited budget, free podcast editing software offers essential recording and editing features for basic podcast production. However, if you need more advanced features, professional-grade audio processing, and greater flexibility, paid options offer comprehensive toolsets and integrations. 

No matter your experience and budget level, you can find the right one for your needs. Check out our top picks below.

1. Adobe Audition: Best all-in-one podcast editing suite

Source: Adobe Audition

Adobe Audition simplifies your entire podcasting workflow from production and editing to mixing and mastering your final episode. 

Got some standout audio clips you want to feature? Adobe Audition is part of the larger Adobe Suite. You can quickly grab your clips, send them into After Effects, and create an audiogram for your social media pages. Then use Adobe Media Encoder to send out the audiogram to your audience.

The software is best for experienced podcasters with established podcast show formats who need extensive and advanced features.

Key features:

• Music, segues, and fades 

• Audio presets and templates

• Adaptive noise reduction

• Audio track restoration and compression

• Batch-processing capabilities

• Session and clip markers

• Variable playback speed

• Copy or paste effects between tracks

• Time, marquee, and lasso selection tools

• Spectral Frequency Display to edit wav files

If you don’t see what you need on Adobe Audition, tack on the add-ons you need. 

Pricing: 

• Individual: $20.99 per month

• Business: $35.99 per month (annual plan)

Pros 

• One-stop shop audio editing software

• Packed with advanced features for intermediate and advanced users

• Adheres to audio broadcast regulation standards

Cons

• Pricey for beginners

• Learning curve for new podcasters

2. Descript: Best AI-powered podcast editing software

Source: Descript

Descript has evolved from a transcription software into a podcast editing tool with all the power you expect from a digital audio workstation (DAW). 

You can record directly into it or insert a recording later, then edit the audio by editing your transcription text. The software is simple and intuitive, so once you edit or delete part of your transcriptions, it replicates your action inside the associated audio files. 

You also get Overdub—Descript’s free AI-powered voice replication tool and the only 44.1KHz broadcast quality speech synthesizer—which creates a text-to-speech model of your voice. 

Alternatively, you can make voice overs using one of Descript’s diverse library of ultra-realistic, pre-recorded stock voices, then type any words your podcast tracks are missing—without trudging back to the recording studio.

Key features

• Non-destructive editing

• Powerful search

• Batch clip editing

• Batch cut and paste audio search results

• Automatic room tone generation

• Shorten or remove silences

• Cloud media assets library

• Sequences

• Timeline format editor

• Wordbar (to adjust the space between words)

• Mic bleed detection

• Multi-composition projects

• Clip to composition and copy highlights

Pricing

• Free: $0

• Creator: $12 per user/month

• Pro: $24 per user/month

• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Pros 

• Makes podcast recording and editing easy and accessible

• Automated transcription

• You can delete, insert and change scenes based on the transcript

• You can train Overdub to sound like yours in different emotional states

• Attractive templates and features

• Good for people who need to recorded and transcribed a lot of dialogue quickly

Cons

• Falls critically short on reliability

• New Storyboards are more difficult to use than Descript classic

• Audio cuts sometimes don’t fade automatically, which can create clicking in your final product

3. Audacity: Best free and open-source podcast editing software

Source: Audacity

Audacity is a free and open-source podcast editing software ideal for beginners or users with a tight budget. You can record live audio, edit, mix, and process your podcasts on a device running Windows, Mac, or Linux operating system. 

Editing podcasts in Audacity is straightforward and fairly intuitive. Once you wrap a recording, you can import music or other recordings, which appear as separate tracks. You can select parts of your audio to add specific effects like fade-ins and outs and adjust volume in certain moments.

Key features

• Cut, copy, paste, duplicate, and delete tools

• Scrubbing and seeking 

• Timeline Quick-Play 

• Unlimited sequential undo and redo 

• Edit and mix selected tracks

• Multiple clips per track

• Label tracks 

• Sync-Lock Tracks

• Draw and envelope tools

• Automatic Crash Recovery (for open and unsaved projects)

Pricing

• Free, open-source

Pros 

• Free and open-source

• Beginner-friendly 

• Stable and secure

• Presets reduce the learning curve

• Free tutorials available to help you edit better

• Works with Windows, MacOS, or Linux

Cons

• Interface feels clunky and outdated

• May lack some high-end podcasting capabilities 

• You’ll need separate software for remote recording

• Doesn’t support MIDI recording

4. Garageband: Best for Apple users

Source: Garageband

If you’re a Mac user, you’re probably familiar with the free Garageband tool—Apple’s music creation studio. The software is popular for its ease of use, budget-friendliness, and its intuitive interface for podcast recording and editing. 

You can make and edit podcasts, cut and move audio sections around, and layer in real-time editing effects for better sound quality.

Key features

• Audio effect plugins

• Compression and visual EQ

• Create and mix up to 255 audio tracks

• Name and reorder podcast sections

• Polish tracks with reverb, volume levels, stereo panning, and reverb

• Section looping

• Flex Time 

• Capture changes in real-time

• Piano Roll Editor to fine-tune audio

Pricing

• Free with Apple devices

Pros 

• User-friendly 

• Sleek and intuitive interface

• No steep learning curve or tricky features

• Works on iOS devices (iPhones and iPads)

Cons

• Not accessible for non-Apple product users (Windows, Android, Linux)

• Supports MIDI recording

• No remote recording

• May be too simple for professional podcasters

5. Riverside: Best for creating shareable podcast teasers

Source: Riverside

Riverside has a built-in, text-based editor with tools for polishing your podcast recordings. You can locally record hours of audio or video and get separate tracks to maximize your editing control. 

Riverside’s Clips feature lets you turn long-form podcasts into short, shareable teasers you can promote on your social media pages. It also offers automated transcriptions for accurate captions.

You can easily cut out unwanted segments and use the software’s background noise removal and audio level normalization to fine-tune your recordings. Once done, add elements of your brand identity to give your audience the look and feel they can associate with your content. 

Key features

• Clips

• Video editing

• AI transcriptions

• Automated multitrack sync

• Transcript timeline navigation

• Phrase highlighter and speaker detection

• Background noise removal

• Audio level normalization

• AI-Speaker layout

• Branding and customization tools

Pricing

• Free: $0

• Standard: $15 per month

• Pro: $24 per month

• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Pros 

• Easy to use for all experience levels

• Accessible features in a few taps

• No difficult learning curve

• No need for separate podcast editing software

• Remote recording

• Create short promotional teasers

• Livestream from a browser

Cons

• Free option offers limited editing hours and features

• Its automatic editing tools might not be ideal for users who want more control over their podcast

6. Pro Tools: Best professional grade features

Source: Pro Tools

As its name suggests, Pro Tools is designed for professional podcasters. The software comes with every possible feature imaginable to record, edit, mix, and master your audio files.

Its features can take some time to learn, which can be daunting for beginners. But once you’ve mastered them, you can edit and position podcasts with great precision and accuracy.

Key features

• Clip Effects

• Position elements in 3D audio 

• 120+ plugins

• Huge sound library

• Sonic Drop

• Elastic Audio 

• Melodyne essential

• Media Composer

• Track automation and effects

• Markers 

• Session syncing

Pricing

• Pro Tools Artist: $9.99 per month

• Pro Tools Studio: $29.99 per month

• Pro Tools Ultimate: $99 per month

Pros 

• Free version available

• Industry-leading features

• Supports MIDI tracks

• Robust and complex editing tools

Cons

• Pricey for beginners 

• Steep learning curve

7. Hindenburg: Best for users of all experience levels

Source: Hidenburg

Hindenburg is a broadcast recording software designed for journalists and podcasters to record, edit, and organize their podcast episodes.

The user-friendly cross-platform program works with Windows and MacOS, and includes all the tools you’d expect in a professional-grade audio editing software or DAW. 

Unlike other pro tools, Hindenburg doesn’t have a steep learning curve, making it easy to use for podcasters of all levels. Both versions of the software—Hindenburg Journalist and Hindenburg Journalist Pro–have basic layout and editing functions, but the Pro version offers more advanced features.

Key features

• Fully-featured editing suite

• Recording transcriptions

• Auto-leveling

• Sound library

• Auto-noise reduction

• Built-in Skype call recorder

• Video Track for post-production

Pricing

• Standard: $12 per month

• Plus: $15 per month

• Premium: $30 per month

Pros 

• Intuitive interface

• Easy to handle and arrange audio recordings

• Easy to use no matter your experience level

Cons

• No free plan 

• Only works with Windows and MacOS

8. Alitu: Best drag-and-drop editing features

Source: Alitu

Alitu is a podcast editing software with simple but powerful drag-and-drop editing features, making the process simple for all types of users.

You can record your podcast solo or remotely with your show guests without paying for a separate recorder. Then use audio editing tools like the background noise and volume leveling to improve your audio files automatically.

If you want to produce your episodes faster, Alitu lets you create reusable templates and components then add segments and transitions during editing.

You won’t find as many bells and whistles in Alitu like in Audition or Pro Tools. However, it’s simple and straightforward to use, especially for new podcasters.

Key features

• Intuitive interface

• Live support via chat or calls

• Exported episodes use industry standards

• Segment transitions

• Audio Cleanup

• Drag-and-drop audio blocks

• Waves editor

• Easy navigation and playback speed options

Pricing

• All-in-one podcast maker: $38 per month

• Bundled: $99.99 per month

Pros 

• You can publish and host your podcast in Alitu

• Allows remote recording

• Intuitive interface

• Smooth transitions between audio segments

• No-frills editor 

• Designed for beginner podcasters

Cons

• No free plan

• Limited pro-grade features 

9. Logic Pro: Most sophisticated sound variations or effects

Source: Logic Pro

Logic Pro offers a suite of powerful, industry-leading tools for professional audio or music production, editing, and mixing. You can organize all your podcast episodes, group related tracks, consolidate multiple tracks, and more.

The software has advanced options for recording, editing, and manipulating MIDI performances. Plus, you can add sophisticated variations or effects for more engaging episodes. 

Key features

• Flex Time to manipulate tempo and timing

• Flex Pitch to edit the level and pitch of sound notes

• Smart Tempo

• Track Alternative

• Recreate video podcast files

• Dynamic processors and EQs

• Built-in plugins 

• Fix out-of-tune vocals

Pricing

• $199.99-$229.99 (one-time fee)

Pros 

• Comprehensive features

• Produces pro-grade high-quality audio

• Automated features streamline editing and save time

Cons

• Steep learning curve for advanced features

• Only has Apple or Mac compatibility

10. Reaper: Most customizable automation features 

Source: Reaper

Reaper is a complete podcast editing software offering intermediate and advanced podcasters tools to record, edit, process, mix, and master multi-track audio and MIDI files.

The software comes with a wide range of editing features, processing effects, and built-in plugins that improve the quality of your podcasts. Customizable automation features are included that help you save time during editing and post-production.

Key features

• Powerful audio and MIDI routing

• Multi-channel support

• 64-bit internal audio processing

• Import, record to, and render in multiple media formats, bit depths, and sample rates

• Supports thousands of third-party plugins and virtual instruments

• Hundreds of studio quality effects to process MIDI and audio

• Automation, grouping, modulation, macros, surround, and scripting 

• Custom skins and layouts

Pricing

• Discounted license: $60

• Commercial license: $225

Pros 

• Well-designed interface

• Generous 60-day free trial

• Affordable one-time charge instead of monthly subscription

Cons

• Favors intermediate and advanced users

Choosing the right podcast editing software

Many podcast editing tools exist, making it harder to pick the right one for your needs. When evaluating podcast editing tools, consider the following:

• Your skill level: Find a podcast editing software that fits your audio editing knowledge, experience, and skill levels. Some tools overcomplicate things with advanced features that aren’t worth the cost for podcast editing. For instance, simple podcast editing software works best for beginners while more advanced users may prefer tools with high-end features and flexibility. 

• Learning curve: Consider the effort and time you want to spend learning a podcast editing tool. Some tools have steeper learning curves, making it hard for you to use without experience.

• Scalability: If you plan to expand your podcast production, a higher-end platform will help you scale faster.

• Features: Choose podcast editing tools that offer everything, such as recording, mixing, merging, multi-track editing, noise reduction or background noise removal, room tone generator, and more.

• Robust, user-friendly interface:  Find a tool with a visual, timeline-based editor with multitrack editing, audio level adjusting, cut and paste, and equalizer for individual tracks. A podcast editing tool that makes these and other processes difficult will make your editing process longer.

• Automation and integration: If you want to save time, choose a podcast editing tool with automation features. Plus integrations with other tools in your podcasting workflow, such as podcast hosting platforms, recording software, or plugins.

• File storage: You must save your raw and edited podcast files for future editing and use. Find a podcast editing tool that saves your audio recordings locally on your device.

• Technical support: Look for a podcast editing tool with adequate technical support options (e.g., online chat, 24-7 phone support) and help documentation so you can quickly troubleshoot problems.

• Budget: Think of how much you’re willing to spend on a podcast editing software, then check the pricing of the tool you’re considering. Some tools have a free version, but for more robust editing features or plugins, you’ll likely need to pay for the software.

A note about AI podcast editing tools

Whether you’re a new or professional podcaster, you won’t love every part of podcasting everytime. 

The post-product and editing process can be draining. Besides cleaning up your audio or video files, you need to create show notes, keep up with your content calendar, and manage your community.

Thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) tools, you can get work done easier and faster. There are a ton of AI tools you can use to write, edit, market, and even promote your podcast content. 

AI podcast editing tools automate noise reduction, volume leveling, silence trimming, background noise removal, and other processes. Through sophisticated algorithms that automatically analyze your audio files, AI tools detect and remove unwanted sounds leaving only the required content like speech, music, and the conversation. You can also use AI tools to upscale your videos for better resolution.

That way you save time and resources while delivering consistent editing quality per episode.

Some good AI podcast editing software you can try include: 

• Resound

• Podcastle 

• Adobe Podcast

• Auphonic

• Cleanvoice.ai

• Listnr

• Altered Studio

Alternatively, you can find expert AI services from Fiverr’s freelancers who can edit your podcast professionally and deliver your projects on time. 

Tips to produce high-quality podcast episodes 

Podcast editing takes time and effort. That’s why you need to learn how to edit your audio and video files in the shortest time possible with great results. The quickest way to edit your podcasts is to outsource it to an expert podcast editor so you can focus on other matters like promoting your podcast show.

We interviewed some podcasters about how they create great podcast content. Here are some tips they shared that you can quickly implement today:

• “Keep podcasts short and use humor to increase the chances that people will listen to your show, and it will be easier to edit and manage,” says Ryan Faber, founder and CEO of Copymatic.“Everyone likes to laugh. Especially if your field is complex, like tech, humor will display your creativity and also help you understand the concept better.”

• “Start with a clear goal for your podcast so you can plan your content and editing process accordingly,” says Brenton Thomas, CEO of Twibi.“Take the time to remove any mistakes, trim the fat, and add any music or sound effects that you think will improve the overall listening experience.”

• “Listen to the entire raw audio file and create a "to fix" list with any segments that require editing,”says Celeste Renee, SEO strategist at The Elegance Edit.“Then use your list and the corresponding timestamps you noted down to edit the segments that require attention, rather than stopping and editing at every point.”

• “Use music and sound effects strategically to add depth and texture to your content,” says Aysu Erkan, social media manager at Character Calculator.“Use them sparingly and only where they naturally fit, ensuring the volume of such elements is balanced with the speech volume. Master soundscaping to transform your podcast into an immersive auditory experience.”

• “Don't edit on a small screen as these make editing more cumbersome and time-consuming,” says Kirkland Gee, co-founder of

  Perfect Extraction.“Get a larger screen (or multiple displays), so you can easily see any blips in the file where your microphones may have picked up a rogue noise without zooming in and out, and edit faster and more effectively.”

• “I recommend critically analyzing a selection of high-ranking podcasts, paying close attention to their editorial practices,” says Steve Dinelli, founder of MarketerInterview.com.“Listen for the structure of their introductions, pause lengths, and the pacing of their topic transitions. You'll notice patterns and commonalities that professional podcast production teams employ, which you can add to your own editing process and enhance your podcast’s overall quality.”

Produce great-sounding podcasts

Editing a podcast episode can be tedious and time consuming. But with the right podcast editing software, it’s easier, faster, and cheaper to edit and publish your content—stress free. 

Another viable option is to hire a professional podcast or audio editor to edit and refine your podcast and improve its quality. 

Hiring an expert from Fiverr to handle all your podcast writing and editing needs lets you focus on the content and promotion—not the hassles of cutting, trimming, and polishing. 

Fiverr’s online marketplace hosts a wide range of expert freelancers at different experience levels and budgets. And you can use our platform to manage your projects, freelancers, and payments—for free.

Sign up to Fiverr to hire independent talent to work with you.