Once you’ve recorded your podcast, the next step is to use an audio editor to remove unnecessary content and fix poor sound quality. You may also want to add extra audio, whether it’s a song at the beginning or sound bites within the episode.

Using an audio editor can be the difference between an amateur-sounding podcast episode and one that sounds professional. Poor audio quality can turn off listeners and cause them to stop tuning in to your show. However, that doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot of money on an audio editor. 

In 2023, there are a variety of options available, both free and paid, to help you create, edit, and share your podcast seamlessly. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the best free audio editor options for podcasts.

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Audacity 

Audacity is a venerable free podcast editing software that has been a mainstay in the podcasting world for decades. It was developed with the aim of democratizing media and creative tools on the internet. While it offers a wide range of features, including importing/exporting, sound quality adjustments, and plug-ins for noise reduction and filtering, Audacity is known for its open-source nature.

Benefits:

• Robust features, including an equalizer and compression tools
• Support for multiple tracks and various audio file types

Drawbacks: 

• Not the most intuitive option; it may require some learning for those not familiar with audio editing

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Auphonic

Auphonic, an Austrian software company, has gained popularity for its automated algorithms designed to streamline audio editing. With features such as intelligent leveling, noise reduction, and video support, Auphonic can save you valuable time and effort.

Benefits:

• Automation simplifies audio editing for non-professionals
• User-friendly interface

Drawbacks:

• The free plan has limitations on monthly usage, so you’ll have to scale up as your podcast grows

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GarageBand

GarageBand, included free with Apple devices, may be primarily designed for music production but offers podcast-specific functions as well. One nice feature of this application is that it includes a complete library of sound effects to add to your show. With multi-track editing, templates, and an intuitive podcasting interface, it's a valuable tool for Mac users.

Benefits:

• Easy to use with helpful tutorials
• Supports multi-device collaboration through iCloud

Drawbacks:

• Lacks podcast-specific metadata capabilities

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Studio One

Studio One is a digital audio workstation (DAW) that's suitable for podcasters and musicians. With an easy single-window interface and drag-and-drop processing, Studio One simplifies the recording and mastering process. PreSonus, the developer, offers premium upgrades for users who need additional capabilities beyond the free version.

Benefits:

• Effortless creation with a single-screen workflow
• Powerful composition tools for creative podcasting
• Intuitive drag-and-drop audio editing

Drawbacks: 

• Mainly suited for music producers, may have more features than needed for podcasting
• Occasional crashes upon launch

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WavePad

WavePad Audio Editing Software is a free option for non-commercial use, ideal for podcasters who don't intend to monetize their content. It offers batch processing, making it a great choice for efficiency.

Benefits

• Fast and powerful batch processing
• Comes with a sound effect library

Drawbacks:

• Frequent pop-ups promoting the paid version
• No built-in mixer

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Power Sound Editor

Power Sound Editor is a comprehensive audio editing tool that comes packed with features for podcasters. It allows users to record audio from various sources and import audio clips from CDs, DVDs, media players, or web videos. The platform supports multiple audio formats, including MPEG, WAV, and Windows Media Audio, ensuring flexibility in your podcasting endeavors.

Benefits:

• Support for all major audio file formats
• Over 25 built-in audio effects for enhancing your content
• High-quality audio recording from any source

Cons:

• Outdated interface design
• May be complex for beginners

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Avid Pro Tools Intro

Avid's Pro Tools Intro is the free version of its renowned audio editing software. It may be more geared towards music production, but it's a valuable stepping stone for podcasters, with eight audio tracks, plug-ins, and no-latency clip special effects.

Benefits:

• Simple to use. A great starting point for newcomers to audio editing
• Easy transition to paid Pro Tools versions

Drawbacks:

• Primarily designed for music recording, so there is a learning curve for podcast-specific editing

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CyberLink AudioDirector Essential

CyberLink's AudioDirector Essential offers a stripped-down version of its premium software and provides AI-powered features for audio editing. It's a convenient option for those looking to simplify the editing process.

Benefits:

• AI-powered tools for easy editing
• Ripple editing for seamless clip transitions

Drawbacks:

• Confusion between paid vs. free features 

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Ashampoo Music Studio

While primarily designed for music-related tasks, Ashampoo Music Studio can serve as a basic podcast editing tool. It's user-friendly, offering cover design, metadata editing, and essential audio edits.

Benefits:

• User-friendly with click-into-place track editing
• Supports various file types

Drawbacks:

• Limited to editing a single linear track

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Bonus: best podcast hosting sites 

Once you're done editing your podcast, it's time to think about publishing it across listening apps. The easiest way to automate this process is through podcast hosting platforms.

We know there are countless podcast hosting platforms out there and it can be challenging to pick the best one for your show, so we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. 

CoHost 

CoHost is built by the award-winning podcast agency Quill. The platform is revolutionizing the podcast industry by equipping brands and agencies with powerful tools to enhance podcast reach, drive growth, and maximize revenue.

CoHost is a podcast analytics, hosting, and audience insights platform that not only publishes your show across all podcast directories, but also equips you with in-depth data and insights on how your show is performing, who's listening to it, and how it's resonating with audiences.

The inspiration behind CoHost's creation was the evident need in the market for tools that catered to branded podcast growth and measurement. With its seamless podcast solution, CoHost provides agencies and brands with a comprehensive suite of features to ensure their success in the world of audio content.

Key CoHost features:

• Analytics Dashboard: CoHost's analytics dashboard offers insights into consumption rates, growth rates, and provides valuable comparisons between top-performing episodes and the latest ones.
• Audience Profile: Gain a deeper understanding of your audience with data on their preferred listening apps, download patterns by time of day, and geographical download distribution.
• Downloads and Unique Listener Performance Metrics: Track the performance of your podcast by monitoring downloads over time, comparing episode launches, and breaking down data on segmented downloads or unique listeners.
• Audio Insertion: Customize your podcast experience with pre- and post-roll insertion, ensure high audio quality, employ dynamic editing, and enjoy streamlined file organization.
• Advanced Audience Demographics: Discover valuable, critical insights about your listeners, including their age, gender, household income, social media consumption/habits, interests, and family members, and more.
• B2B Analytics: Dive into the corporate world with company-specific breakdowns, analyze listener engagement, explore individual episode performance, and generate exportable download lists for lead generation.
• Automatic Transcriptions: CoHost features an in-app AI-powered transcription tool that simplifies editing, aids in distribution, improves SEO, and enhances accessibility for all users.
• Podcast Hosting: Benefit from CoHost's custom media player, easily manage multiple shows, collaborate seamlessly with team settings, and publish with just one click.
• Tracking Links: Streamline your podcast promotion by consolidating listening app links. CoHost provides the capability to track download sources, analyze individual link performance, and create single tracking links for efficient management.
• Podcast Website: CoHost offers automatic, SEO-optimized podcast websites that are fully customizable. You can automatically upload episodes and transcripts, ensuring that your podcast has a strong online presence.

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Libsyn 

Libsyn, standing as one of the podcasting world's venerable hosting platforms, boasts a well-earned reputation for its dependable service, offering unlimited bandwidth to its users. Their feature-rich platform caters to the diverse needs of podcasters, spanning from novices to seasoned creators. The primary goal of Libsyn is to streamline the podcasting process, from content creation to hosting and distribution, while also offering valuable tools for podcast monetization and marketing.

Key features:

• Advanced Analytics: Libsyn provides robust statistics and audience metrics, enabling you to closely monitor your podcast's performance, allowing for data-driven improvements.
• Scheduled Publishing and Social Sharing: Podcast promotion is simplified with Libsyn, which offers scheduled publishing and automated social media sharing to reach your audience effectively.
• Customizable Podcast Website: Personalize your podcast's online presence with a customizable website, complete with an embedded player, making it easy to integrate your content into your website or blog seamlessly.
• Monetization Options: Libsyn is well-equipped for podcast monetization, offering sponsorship opportunities and a paid subscription model, helping creators to maximize their podcast's revenue potential.

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Buzzsprout 

With a decade of experience since its founding in 2009, Buzzsprout has cultivated a thriving community of podcasters, attracting some of the industry's most esteemed creators. It has garnered a reputation as one of the most user-friendly podcast hosting providers, particularly suitable for newcomers to the podcasting world.

Buzzsprout equips podcasters with a comprehensive toolkit essential for success, encompassing easy-to-comprehend reporting and analytics, seamless distribution across major podcast directories, and various monetization avenues, including listener support and the introduction of Buzzsprout Ads.

Key features:

• Intuitive User Interface: Designed for ease of use, Buzzsprout's interface is perfect for those new to podcasting, ensuring a smooth start to your journey.
• Detailed Podcast Statistics: Track your audience's growth and performance with in-depth statistics, enabling you to make informed decisions to enhance your content.
• Automatic Episode Optimization: Buzzsprout streamlines the process of optimizing your episodes for different directories and social media platforms, saving you time and effort.
• WordPress Plugin: Seamlessly integrate your podcast with your website through the WordPress plugin, ensuring your content reaches your online audience effortlessly.
• Monetization Options: Buzzsprout offers diverse monetization avenues, including opportunities for affiliate marketing, allowing you to capitalize on your podcast's potential to generate income.

Looking for a more extensive list and in-depth comparison? Check out our full list of the top podcast hosting sites. 

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What is the best podcast editing software for you?

Choosing the right podcast editing software is essential to producing high-quality content. 

While the free options discussed in this post cater to different needs and skill levels, the paid software with free trials offers more advanced features for those looking to take their podcast to the next level. 

Regardless of your choice, remember that practice and dedication are key to mastering these tools and improving your podcast's quality. 

If you’re looking to further enrich your podcasting endeavors, reach out to our team.