The podcast industry is booming, with 39% of Americans listening to an average of nine podcast episodes every week. If you’re excited about becoming a podcaster, it’s important to create high-quality content and use the best podcast software available to stand out.
Are you looking to get started but need some assistance? Don’t worry, we’re here to help.
In this article, we’ll provide you with a list of the top 15 podcast software options that top content creators like Seth Godin and Gary Vee rely on as well. These software choices not only offer simplicity but also come packed with innovative features like AI voice cloning and much more. Read on!
14 Best Podcast Software for Recording & Editing
Here are the top podcast software choices for making great podcast episodes. They have various features like recording, editing, and all-in-one solutions for podcasting.
1. Adobe Podcast
- Best for: Beginners who prioritize ease of use
- Type: Web-based podcast platform
- Price: Free, Premium $9.99/month (Adobe Express)
- Hosting: No
- Editing: Yes
- Learning Curve: Easy
Let’s kick off our list of podcast software with a fantastic option that’s both new and innovative: Adobe Podcast. It stands out as a user-friendly, web-based platform made for podcasters.
With AI-powered features, this free podcast software will help you improve audio quality, transcribe recordings, and edit your content easily.
Key Features:
- AI-Powered: You can boost audio clarity and minimize background noise with ease.
- Auto Transcription: You can transcribe recordings into editable text.
- Simplified Editing: Its intuitive interface with drag-and-drop functionality is awesome
- Royalty-Free Music: Access a library of music tracks and sound effects for your podcast
Pros and Cons of This Podcast Software:
- ✅ Easy to use for most podcasters, especially newbies.
- ✅ AI enhancements for the best audio quality, and seamless workflow.
- ✅ Web-based, making it accessible from any device.
- ✅ Free
- 🚫 Limited advanced features, unlike most professional DAWs.
- 🚫 Beta version that may have occasional bugs and limited functionality.
Verdict: Great for beginners and intermediate podcasters with a user-friendly interface and AI enhancements.
2. Restream
- Best for: Podcasters who want to live broadcast and repurpose content
- Type: Cloud-based multistreaming platform
- Price: Free, Standard at $16/month
- Hosting: Yes
- Editing: Yes
- Learning Curve: Easy
Restream is one of the best podcast software that enables content creators to produce high-quality live content and reach a wider audience by broadcasting to multiple platforms simultaneously.
Key Features:
- Multistreaming: You can broadcast live audio to platforms like Facebook Live, YouTube, and custom RTMP destinations.
- Live Recording: Capture high-quality audio of your live conversations for editing later.
- Local Recording Backup: Record separate audio tracks for each participant on their own devices, giving you redundancy and flexibility in editing.
- Remote Guest Invitations: Easily invite guests to join your live podcast recording (6 guests for free version).
Pros and Cons:
- ✅ Interact with listeners in real time
- ✅ Combine live recording and broadcasting into a single step.
- ✅ Capture professional-grade audio for your podcast episodes.
- ✅ Broadcast live to multiple platforms.
- 🚫 Limited editing tools for more polished episodes.
- 🚫 Advanced features like higher bitrate recording are available only in paid plans.
Verdict: One of the best podcast software options for live audio, engaging with audiences, and streamlining production workflows.
3. Adobe Audition
- Best for: Professionals podcasters
- Type: Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
- Price: Starts at $22.99/month, Free Trial
- Hosting: No
- Editing: Yes
- Learning Curve: Hard
Recording, editing, mixing, and adding sound effects – you name it. Adobe Audition is one of the best digital audio workstations made for professionals.
This software for podcasting works for any project, big or small, and supports various formats. Plus, it integrates well with Adobe Creative Cloud, giving access to awesome tools for enhancing your work.
Key Features:
- Multitrack Editing: You can easily mix multiple audio tracks for your complex projects.
- Audio Restoration: Advanced tools are available to repair and enhance your damaged audio files.
- Adobe CC Integration: It seamlessly syncs with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications.
- Precision Control: You have precise control over your editing with a spectral display and comprehensive diagnostics.
Pros and Cons:
- ✅ Advanced editing and restoration capabilities
- ✅ Seamless workflow with other Adobe apps
- ✅ Detailed spectral display and diagnostics
- ✅ Mix and edit multiple tracks for complex projects and collaborative podcasting.
- ✅ Continuous enhancements and new features
- 🚫 The advanced features can be overwhelming for beginners.
- 🚫 May be expensive for those on a tight budget.
Verdict: Perfect for pro podcasters seeking advanced editing and seamless Creative Cloud integration, despite a steep learning curve.
4. Audacity
- Best for: All Podcasters
- Type: Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
- Price: Free
- Hosting: No
- Editing: Yes
- Learning Curve: Easy
Looking for free podcast software? Look no further than Audacity. It’s perfect for beginners and budget-conscious users. Audacity provides a wide range of editing tools, supports multiple tracks, and offers various effects and plugins to enhance your podcast.
Key Features:
- Audacity Cloud Saving: You can save your Audacity projects directly to audio.com, making it easy to collaborate with others.
- Plugin Support: You can add new effects, tools, and features created by the community or other developers to expand the software’s functionality.
- Deep Audio Analysis: Use automatic tempo detection and real-time pitch shifting for precise control over your audio projects.
- Customizable Interface: Adjust the workspace to your liking with different themes and layouts.
Pros and Cons:
- ✅ Free and Open-Source
- ✅ Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux
- ✅ Numerous third-party plugins for added features and customization
- 🚫 Lacks advanced editing options found in professional DAWs
- 🚫 Interface may seem outdated compared to newer software.
Verdict: Ideal for beginners and budget users because it’s free and easy to use while supporting extensive plugins for awesome final content production.
5. Riverside.fm
- Best for: Professional podcasters
- Type: Remote recording platform
- Price: Free, Standard at $19/month
- Hosting: No
- Editing: Yes
- Learning Curve: Easy
Top content creators like Gary Vee, Ali Abdall, and Jay Shetty put their trust in Riverside.fm as their podcast software. This showcases the software’s strong reputation and reliability.
Riverside.fm is the top choice for remote recording of high-quality audio and video interviews. This podcasting software is designed to guarantee excellent recordings.
Key Features:
- Local Recording: You can ensure high-quality audio by recording locally for each participant.
- Separate Tracks: You’ll have individual audio tracks for each participant, making editing easier.
- One-Click Transcriptions: Get automatic, high-quality transcriptions of your recordings with one click.
- Collaborative Editing: You and your team can edit and fine-tune recordings together in real time.
- Automatic Backups: Safeguard your recordings with cloud backups to prevent data loss.
Pros and Cons:
- ✅ Local recording ensures top-notch audio regardless of internet stability.
- ✅ Individual tracks for each participant facilitate cleaner edits.
- ✅ One of the best podcast software with an intuitive interface.
- 🚫 There are only basic editing capabilities.
- 🚫 Other podcast software like Restream costs less than Riverside.fm.
Verdict: One of the best software for podcasting used by many top content creators, with awesome remote recording, high-quality audio/video, and reliable backup features.
6. GarageBand
- Best for: Mac users who want a user-friendly podcast software
- Type: Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
- Price: Free
- Hosting: No
- Editing: Yes
- Learning Curve: Easy
One of the best audio production software options for Mac users is GarageBand. Not only musicians, but podcasters can also benefit from this awesome software too.
With its user-friendly interface and a wide range of virtual instruments, this podcast software stands out as an excellent choice for creating high-quality content from your iMac or MacBook.
Key Features:
- Multitrack Recording and Editing: You can record and edit multiple audio tracks, which is perfect for podcast interviews.
- Apple Loops Library: Access a vast collection of royalty-free loops and sound effects to enhance your podcast’s sound design.
- Audio Effects: Apply EQ, compression, and reverb to improve your audio quality.
- Podcast Templates: Choose pre-designed templates to quickly set up a new podcast project.
- Share with a Click: Easily share your finished podcast directly to platforms like SoundCloud and Apple Podcasts.
- iCloud Integration: Seamlessly sync your GarageBand projects across multiple Apple devices for convenient access and editing on the go.
Pros and Cons:
- ✅ Free
- ✅ Intuitive design and streamlined tools simplify the editing process for new users.
- ✅ Offers a diverse range of sounds and loops to add depth and interest to your podcast.
- ✅ Syncs with Mac/iOS devices for mobile recording and editing.
- 🚫 Mac-only, leaving out those on other platforms.
- 🚫 Basic features only.
Verdict: A free podcast software developed by Apple, primarily designed for music production but also ideal for novice podcasters.
7. Podbean
- Best for: All podcasters
- Type: Podcast hosting platform
- Price: Free, Unlimited Audio at $9/month
- Hosting: Yes
- Editing: Yes
- Learning Curve: Easy
Looking for podcast software with hosting services? Podbean is one of the top choices out there. It offers awesome features like monetization and customizable websites, making it perfect for professional podcasters.
With Podbean, you get both podcast recording and editing software in one package. And the best part? It’s completely free to use.
Key Features:
- Unlimited Audio: You can host unlimited episodes with generous bandwidth, ensuring your podcast is always accessible to listeners.
- Podcast Distribution: Easily distribute your podcast to major directories like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
- Monetization Options: Use Podbean’s integrated advertising marketplace, listener support features, and premium content options to earn money from your podcast.
- Podbean App: Access your podcast and analytics dashboard on the go with Podbean’s mobile app.
- Own Domain Integration: Use your own custom domain name for your podcast website and RSS feed.
- Scheduled Publishing: Schedule the release of your episodes in advance, so your audience knows when to expect new content.
- Podbean AI: Use AI tools to transcribe episodes, generate show notes, and create short audio clips for social media promotion.
Pros and Cons:
- ✅ All-in-One Platform for recording, hosting, and distribution.
- ✅ Intuitive design and beginner-friendly tools.
- ✅ Various revenue generation options.
- ✅ Convenient podcast management and analytics on your smartphone.
- 🚫 Limited features for complex editing.
- 🚫 Storage and feature restrictions on the free plan.
Verdict:One of the best podcast software with affordable hosting, offering monetization, custom domains, unlimited storage, and a dedicated app.
8. Auphonic
- Best for: Podcasters who want automated audio post-production
- Type: Audio post-production podcast software
- Price: Free, Starts at $13/month
- Hosting: No
- Editing: Yes
- Learning Curve: Easy
“Your AI Sound Engineer for Podcasts.” That’s the catchy tagline of this remarkable podcast software. Auphonic is known for its expertise in improving audio quality., offering a range of features including leveling, noise reduction, and audio restoration.
If you’re a podcaster and want easy improvements, Auphonic makes sure your podcast episodes have consistent high-quality audio.
Key Features:
- Intelligent Leveler:This feature balances audio levels in podcasts for consistent sound with different speakers, music, and sound elements.
- Filtering & AutoEQ: It automatically detects and fixes audio issues, improving sound quality with filtering and equalization.
- Multitrack Algorithms: Upload multiple audio tracks (e.g., separate tracks for each speaker, music, and sound effects) for optimal processing.
- Loudness Specifications: You can ensure professional sound quality by meeting industry-standard loudness levels like EBU R128 or ATSC A/85.
- Speech2Text & Automatic Show Notes: Auphonic’s AI-powered transcription engine converts audio into text, facilitating show notes, captions, and repurposing content.
Pros and Cons:
- ✅ Save time and effort with automated post-production.
- ✅ Make your podcast sound professional and polished with consistent audio quality.
- ✅ Publish your podcast easily on different platforms using this podcast software.
- ✅ Customize your audio with presets and fine-tune settings.
- ✅ Choose from different pricing plans for one-time edits or subscriptions.
- 🚫 Not recommended for complex editing.
Verdict: One of the affordable podcast software that uses AI-powered features to help you easily produce and edit your podcast episodes.
9. Hindenburg Journalist
- Best for: Professional podcasters
- Type: Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
- Price: Free Trial, Starts at $13,32/month, $50 one-time
- Hosting: No
- Editing: Yes
- Learning Curve: Medium
Hindenburg Journalist Pro is the top choice for journalists and podcasters. It has everything you need to make awesome podcasts. It’s easy to use and has cool features like automatic levels and voice profiles.
It may not have all the fancy features like Adobe Audition, but it’s great for anyone who wants to focus on the spoken word.
Key Features:
- Magic Levels: Automatically adjust sound levels on different tracks, so you don’t have to do it yourself.
- Voice Profile: Analyzes your voice and creates a personalized EQ setting to optimize the sound of your narration.
- Speaker Detection: Identifies different speakers in your recording and assigns them separate tracks, simplifying the editing process.
- Multitrack Transcription: Integrates with transcription services, allowing you to import transcripts and sync them with your audio tracks.
- Vari Speed: Adjust the playback speed of your audio without changing the pitch.
- Volume Editing: Easily adjust the volume of individual tracks and create smooth fades.
- One-Click Publishing: Publish your finished podcast directly to platforms like Libsyn and SoundCloud with just one click, making distribution easy.
Pros and Cons:
- ✅ Specifically designed for editing and enhancing speech recordings
- ✅ Streamlined editing process with automatic leveling
- ✅ Preserves original audio files for flexible adjustments and revisions
- ✅ One-time purchase option for lifetime access
- 🚫 Fewer built-in effects and plugins compared to comprehensive DAWs like Adobe Audition
- 🚫 Learning curve for newcomers to podcast editing software
Verdict: A unique podcast software that offers narrative-focused tools with a voice profile and a one-time purchase option.
10. Descript
- Best for: All podcasters
- Type: Editing and transcription software
- Price: Starts at $12/month
- Hosting: No
- Editing: Yes
- Learning Curve: Medium
If you’re looking for AI-powered podcast software, Descript is the standout option. This innovative software focuses on a unique text-based editing approach, making it easy to edit audio and video by modifying the transcript.
Descript is a user-friendly choice that stands out from other options, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced podcaster.
Key Features:
- Transcription-Based Editing: You can edit audio and video by changing the transcript.
- AI-Powered Filler Word Removal: You can remove filler words like “um” and “uh” with a single click.
- Overdub: Want to fix mistakes or add new content in your own voice? You can do that.
- Multitrack Editing: You can edit multiple audio and video tracks seamlessly.
- Studio Sound: The AI-powered technology can help you enhance your audio quality by reducing noise.
Pros and Cons:
- ✅ You can make changes to the text by simply editing it.
- ✅ AI can clone voices to help with adding or fixing things in the text.
- ✅ The collaborative feature is awesome.
- 🚫 This might not be good for people who are very skilled at working with sound.
- 🚫 Even the paid version has a word limit for the AI Speech.
Verdict: One of the best podcast software with innovative text-based editing and AI overdub. It is a must-try if you want to create a podcast channel like Chameleon, Finding Fred, and Planet Money.
11. Alitu
- Best for: Podcasters seeking an all-in-one podcast production solution.
- Type: All-in-one podcasting software
- Price: Free Trial, Indie Podcaster at $38/month
- Hosting: Yes
- Editing: Yes
- Learning Curve: Easy
Alitu is a top podcast software that simplifies production for beginners. It is web-based and packed with features to automate tasks like audio cleanup, episode assembly, and publishing. Its user-friendly interface allows podcasters to focus on content creation, not technical details.
Key Features:
- Automated Audio Cleanup: You can enhance audio quality by reducing background noise and leveling volume.
- Episode Assembly: You can arrange audio segments, add intro/outro music, and transitions with a drag-and-drop interface.
- Theme Music and Jingles: Access a library of royalty-free music and sound effects.
- AI-Generated Transcripts: Generate transcripts of podcast episodes for later editing.
- Podcast Website: You can build a simple, customizable website for your podcast.
- Group Recording: You can record remote interviews or group discussions with up to 10 participants.
Pros and Cons:
- ✅ Recording, editing, production, and hosting in a single platform.
- ✅ One of the user-friendly podcast software options you can find today.
- ✅ You can easily and quickly create episodes.
- ✅ With the paid plan, you can have a dedicated podcast website.
- 🚫 $38/month is relatively high for beginners or those on a budget.
Verdict: One of the best options for any content creators who are looking for an all-in-one podcast software to make great podcast episodes.
12. Anchor (Spotify for Podcaster)
- Best for: All podcasters
- Type: Podcast platform
- Price: Free
- Hosting: Yes
- Editing: Yes
- Learning Curve: Easy
Spotify for Podcasters, formerly known as Anchor, makes podcasting easy. It’s not just podcast recording software, but also podcast editing software owned by Spotify.
Key Features:
- Podcast Creation Tools: You can record and edit audio directly within the platform, using features like background music and transitions.
- Built-in Analytics: Track listener demographics, episode performance, and audience engagement metrics to understand your audience and optimize your content.
- Monetization Options: Access Spotify’s Ad Marketplace and other monetization features, such as podcast subscriptions, to earn revenue from your podcast.
- Interactive Features: Engage with your audience through Q&A and polls, fostering a deeper connection with your listeners.
- Mobile App: Create, edit, and publish your podcast on the go, using Spotify for Podcasters’ mobile app.
- Record with Friends (music+talk): Remotely record podcast episodes with up to five guests, regardless of their location.
Pros and Cons:
- ✅ Free and Easy to Use.
- ✅ All-in-One Platform for creation, hosting, and distribution.
- ✅ Offers seamless integration with Spotify, the world’s largest audio streaming platform.
- ✅ Great interactive features like Q&A and polls.
- 🚫 Supports basic editing only.
- 🚫 Primarily geared towards publishing on Spotify; additional tools needed for distribution.
Verdict: A great podcast software owned by Spotify. It’s not only free but also beginner-friendly.
13. Podcastle
- Best for: Podcasters who want an all-in-one solution platform
- Type: Production suite
- Price: Starts at $11.99/month
- Hosting: Yes
- Editing: Yes
- Learning Curve: Easy
Looking for reliable podcast software? Podcastle is a top choice with a stellar 4.9 out of 5 rating on G2. It’s an all-in-one production suite that empowers podcasters of all levels. From recording to editing and hosting, it covers all your needs.
Key Features:
- Podcast Studio: You can enjoy high-quality remote recording with separate tracks for each participant. It also supports local recording as a backup.
- Text Mode: Edit your audio by editing the text transcript. Changes you make in the text are automatically reflected in the audio.
- Voice-Over Recording: Use the user-friendly voice-over recording feature to easily add narration, commentary, or introductions to your podcast episodes.
- AI Voice Generator: Generate realistic AI voices from text, providing you with a quick and easy way to create voiceovers without the need for recording.
- AI Voice Cloning: Clone your own voice to create realistic AI-generated speech, allowing you to fix errors, add content, or create an entire podcast episode simply by typing.
- Podcast Teleprompter: Read your script smoothly during recording, reducing the need for retakes and ensuring a professional delivery.
- Audio Translator: Translate your podcast audio into different languages, expanding your potential audience reach and making your content more accessible to a global audience.
Pros and Cons:
- ✅ Automatic transcription and filler word removal.
- ✅ Unique AI Revoice and Magic Dust.
- ✅ Easy collaboration with up to 10 guests.
- ✅ 2GB Cloud Storage for the free plan.
- 🚫 Mobile Apps only for paid users.
- 🚫 Basic functionality compared to other DAWs.
Verdict: Great all-in-one platform with powerful AI features and 2GB cloud storage for free users.
14. Zencastr
- Best for: Podcasters and Video Creators
- Type: Web-based podcast recording software
- Price: Starts at $20/month
- Hosting: Yes
- Editing: Yes
- Learning Curve: Easy
Zencastr is a cloud-based platform for remote podcast recording and production. It’s perfect for podcasters who do interviews or work with co-hosts. The user-friendly interface and innovative features, like ZenAI, make it an awesome choice for your podcast channel in 2024.
Key Features:
- High-Quality Audio & Video Recording: Record individual tracks for each participant to ensure clear audio.
- Live Sound Monitoring: You can monitor your audio in real-time during recording.
- Automatic Post-Production: Streamline editing with features like automatic audio leveling and noise reduction.
- Zen AI: Use AI tools to improve your podcast production efficiency, including transcribing your audio, and generating chapters for your episodes.
- Direct Distribution: You can publish your episodes directly to major podcasting platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
- Dynamic Ad Insertion (DAI): Insert ads into your episodes dynamically based on listener demographics and interests to maximize ad revenue.
- Cloud Storage and Backup: Safely store your recordings in the cloud for easy access and peace of mind.
Pros and Cons:
- ✅ User-friendly interface and simple setup.
- ✅ Studio-quality audio and video recordings.
- ✅ Securely stores recordings in the cloud.
- 🚫 Offers basic editing features.
- 🚫 Only offers a free trial to test the podcast software, no free tier.
Verdict: Zencastr is a good podcast software that has AI tools and cloud storage. However, it doesn’t have a free option and costs $20 per month, which some may find expensive.
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Podcast Software
When choosing podcast software, consider these factors to make the right choice for your needs:
1. Budget
When choosing podcast software, your budget matters, so you should start by checking the pricing structure carefully. Also, don’t forget to see if the software offers free trials or limited versions.
Is free always the best option? Not necessarily. While tools like Spotify for Podcaster are good to start with, as you improve, you might need more advanced capabilities.
2. Learning Curve
For new podcasters, it’s best to start with simple podcast software like Audacity. It has an easy-to-understand interface and an efficient workflow.
If you want more advanced features, you can try podcast software like Adobe Audition. It might be a bit harder to learn, but it’s perfect for experienced podcasters.
3. Editing Capabilities
Editing is important for podcast production, just like it is for video content. Basic tools can handle simple cuts. However, to create high-quality podcasts, you’ll need software that has advanced features like multi-track editing.
Imagine having podcast software that not only lets you control audio volume and clarity but also allows you to design the sound exactly the way you want it. Awesome, right?
4. Hosting Service
Podcast software with integrated hosting services makes it easier to store and share podcast episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. But if your podcast software lacks hosting services, you may need to set up your own hosting or use a platform.
5. Collaboration Features
Want to step up your podcast game? Collaborating with others can be the solution, especially when exploring podcast topics in the gaming or cosplay niche.
If you need podcast software that makes collaboration a breeze, then pick the software that lets you do remote recording, especially if everyone gets their audio track.
6. Integration with Other Tools
Does your podcast software easily work with the content creator tools and services you need for your podcast? Think about more than just the software like analytics, transcriptions, and social media management tools. When everything works together, it can make your work easier and help you get more done.
7. Audio Quality
Don’t waste time planning your podcast and finding a great guest, only to realize that your audio sounds bad. Save yourself the trouble by using high-quality recording software. Look for a program with excellent sound and advanced features like reducing noise.
8. Customization
Podcasters have their special ways of getting things done. That’s why it’s important to have customizable podcast software. It will help you be creative and work faster. Hindenburg Journalist is a great example. It gives you templates and tools that make things easier.
9. Reviews
You need to look into reviews, testimonials, and online communities to check out how good this podcast software is. Getting feedback from other podcasters is crucial because it gives you real insight into how well it performs, how reliable it is, and if users are happy with it.
Which One is Your Podcasting Software for Your New Channel in 2024?
In this article, we provide all the information you need to choose the best podcast software. We cover various types of podcast software, including recording and editing tools, as well as all-in-one platforms for podcasting.
By the end of this article, you’ll have the details you need to make an informed decision and start your new podcast channel in 2024. Good luck!
