Audacity is a free, open-source audio editor and recorder. You can record from a microphone or other input, cut and arrange clips, remove noise, apply effects and export to common formats. Audacity 4.0.0 was released on 3 September 2026. It rebuilds the interface on Qt, adds movable toolbars and saved workspaces, and changes clip editing so you can select, group and move several clips together. The release notes say most Audacity 3 workflows remain, but some controls have moved.
Who it suits
- Podcasters and voice-over artists editing spoken audio.
- Musicians making quick recordings or edits.
- Students and teachers who need a free audio tool on any desktop system.
How to get the official version
- Windows: MSI installers for x64 and ARM64 from audacityteam.org or the GitHub releases page.
- macOS: Universal, Apple Silicon and Intel disk images.
- Linux: AppImages for x86_64 and ARM64.
The download page also offers the FFmpeg library, which Audacity needs to import and export formats such as M4A and WMA, and promotes optional plugins through MuseHub. MuseHub is a separate program; Audacity works without it. There is no official Audacity app for Android or iPhone.
Cost
Audacity is free under the GNU GPL version 3. Some plugins offered through MuseHub are sold separately.
Requirements
The Windows page says Audacity is tested on Windows 10 and 11 and may also work on 8.1, 7 and Vista. The ARM64 build requires Windows 11 and does not support VST plugins. The Mac page says it is tested on macOS 14 and 15. Audacity needs fast local storage; the project warns that network drives and USB sticks may be unreliable for recording.
Safety notes
Popular free programs attract lookalike download sites. Use audacityteam.org or the official GitHub repository, and compare the SHA-256 hashes below. The release also includes a CHECKSUMS.txt file.
Questions
Should I update from Audacity 3 to 4?
If you depend on a specific workflow, read the 4.0 release notes first, because some controls have moved. Older versions remain available on the official site.
Why can’t Audacity open my M4A file?
Install the FFmpeg library linked from the download page.
Can I install it with winget?
Yes: winget install Audacity.Audacity.
