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Podcast Tools
12
min
May 11, 2022

The 7 Best Podcast Editing Software Apps

Once you’ve planned your podcast episode and recorded it, the next step is to edit, mix, and master your content before you hit publish. If you’re going to edit your podcast then you will need to find some podcast editing software that fits your specific scenario. 

In this article we’ll go over the 7 best programs you can use to edit, mix, and master your podcast. 

The Best Podcast Editing Software:    

  1. Ferrite   
  2. Garageband  
  3. Audacity  
  4. Descript  
  5. ProTools  
  6. Resound
  7. Honorable Mentions

Before we dive in, let’s talk about how you can pick the right tool for your unique situation. 

How to Pick the Best Podcast Editing Software

There are a few things you need to think through in order to pick the best podcast software for your unique situation.

1. Ferrite: Best for Editing on iPad (Free)

Product shot of podcast editing software Ferrite
Image Source: Ferrite

Ferrite is a free mobile podcast editing app that is best for editing on iPad but works on smartphones as well. This app lets you record, edit, enhance, and export your audio files just like other traditional digital audio workstations (DAW) like ProTools or Logic Pro.

This app is best for creators who want more detailed control and enjoy the more complex editing experience of a DAW like ProTools.

Compatibility

Available for iPad (best) or iPhones

Features 

Pros

Cons

2. GarageBand: Best for Macs (Free)

Product shot of podcast editing software Garageband
Image Source: Apple

GarageBand is a free digital audio workstation (DAW) that is pre-installed on every Apple computer. GarageBand is the younger cousin to Logic Pro, the more robust DAW also developed by Apple. GarageBand is a simple tool that lets you record, edit, enhance, and export audio all on your computer. And, as an added benefit, if you outgrow GarageBand you can easily buy Logic Pro with the confidence that you’ll learn how it works very quickly since it has a nearly identical interface design. 

Compatibility

Available for macOS (best), iPhones, or iPads

Features

Pros

Cons

3. Audacity: Best for Beginners on Windows (Free)

Product shot of podcast editing software Audacity
Image Source: Audacity

Audacity is a free open-source DAW that runs on Windows, Mac, and even linux. It is a great replacement for GarageBand on Windows, offering a very similar simple feature set. You can record multiple tracks, edit, enhance your audio by mixing it, and export files for publishing. 

Compatibility

Available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux

Features

Pros

Cons

4. Descript: Best for Editing from a Transcript (Free to $24/mo)

Product shot of podcast editing software Descript
Image Source: Descript

Descript has put a major spin on the editing process by allowing you to edit your audio and video via transcription, just like editing a Google doc. This tool is great for podcasters who want to see a full transcript of their show, scan through the content to find sections they want to remove, then cut out that content. Some creators use this tool to edit their entire show, while others use it to simply identify clips they want to remove before using another program to mix and master their audio. 

Compatibility

Available for MacOS El Capitan (10.11) or later and Windows 10 or later

Features

Pros

Cons

5. Anchor: Best for Free Podcast Hosting (Free)

Product shot of podcast editing software Anchor
Image Source: Anchor

Anchor is a podcast creation tool that Spotify acquired in 2019. Anchor provides forever-free podcast hosting to all creators and has a very simple mobile app that lets you record with a friend remotely (just like a phone call), splice together an episode, and add music from Spotify’s library (if you only release it on Spotify), and more.

Compatibility 

Available on iOS, Android, or as Web app (Mac, Windows, Tablets, Smartphones)  

Features 

Pros

Cons

6. Pro Tools: Best for Professionals ($9.99/mo)

Product shot of podcast editing software Pro Tools
Image Source: Avid

Pro Tools has been the industry-leading DAW for several decades and is used in top recording studios around the world. It is one of the most robust (and complex) editing tools used for music production, recording audiobooks, scoring films, and doing complex surround sound mixing for feature-length films. This is the best software for professional audio engineers and creators looking for maximum control, capabilities, and complexity. But it’s not the best option for a creator making a simple podcast with a couple of people and some background music. 

Compatibility

Available for MacOS and Windows

Features

Pros

Cons

7. Resound: Best for Detecting Umms and Ahhs

Resound (this is us 👋) is an editing tool for podcasters that uses artificial intelligence to speed up the process.

Cleaning up the content of your podcast can be very time-consuming. The average person says a filler word such as “um” or “ah” every twelve seconds that they’re talking (Harvard Business Review). Translation? That means the average 45-minute podcast has roughly 225 mess-ups and takes a very long time to edit. Many podcasters say that it takes 3x the length of an episode to edit it. Meaning a one-hour podcast can take three hours to edit.

Resound automates the process by removing your umms and ahhs in seconds, saving you hours of editing time. Resound offers a limited free plan, and also detects silences and automatically mixes and masters your audio. Create a free account to automatically detecting all the umms and ahhs in your podcast.

Compatibility

Available as a web app (Mac, Windows, Tablets, Smartphones)

Features

Pros

Cons

Honorable Mentions

Screenshots of podcast editing software like Reaper and Logic Pro
Image Sources: Reaper, Apple, Hindenburg, Adobe, Spreaker

When (and Why) Do You Need Podcast Editing Software? 

You need podcast editing software for after you’ve recorded an episode and are ready to add music, chop up the content, and add effects to the vocals to make them sound crisp and professional. 

Why edit your podcast? The goal of editing is to make your podcast better for your core listeners. You want to bring your listeners on a journey that they will enjoy, and wow them so that they go tell their friends about the episode too, creating a growing feedback loop. 

How to Edit a Podcast

Editing a podcast can mean a lot of different things. Here are some of the most common things people do during the editing process. 

Editing a podcast includes: 

Once you’ve edited your show, the last steps are to mix (make your voice(s) sound clearer and compressed), master (prepare your audio file for digital streaming), then upload it to a podcast hosting platform so it will be live on Apple, Spotify, etc. 

Recap 

There are lots of podcast editing tools available for podcasters today. Even the free apps have some compelling features. 

Let’s recap what we’ve learned: 

I hope this guide has helped you pick the perfect tool for your setup. 

Let me know what software you decide to use by replying to this Tweet

FAQ’s 

What is Podcast Editing Software? 

Podcast editing software is any tool that lets you edit and/or enhance audio to prepare it for publication. Digital audio workstations, or DAWs, are commonly used as podcast editing software. However, other solutions exist like Resound, Anchor, Descript, and other tools that don’t neatly fit into the category of a DAW. 

What Program Do You Use to Edit a Podcast?

There are many different programs for editing a podcast.

How Can I Edit My Podcast for Free? 

You can edit your podcast for free using a tool like Resound, Descript, Garageband, or Audacity. These free tools provide all the essential features you need to edit your show. Some professionals prefer to use a paid tool like Pro Tools ($29/mo) or Logic Pro ($199).  

What is the Easiest Way to Edit a Podcast? 

Resound is the easiest way to edit out ums and ahhs from your podcast. Just upload your audio, run it through Resound, and “approve all” or review each edit manually. Coming soon at resound.fm

Is Editing a Podcast Hard? 

Editing a podcast can be a very time-consuming process. Many podcasters say a one-hour podcast takes them around three hours or three times the length of their recording. The time it takes will depend on how many mistakes you made in your episode, how long it is, how detailed you want to be with your editing process, and how many additional items like music and ads you need to put in your show. We think editing takes way too long, so we’re building a podcast editing app called Resound to reduce the editing process down to a few minutes.

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Colby S.

3+ years as a lead marketer in the podcast industry. 6+ years experience in Audio Engineering and Music Production.

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