The recording software you choose is the foundation of your podcast's audio quality. A great microphone with mediocre recording software will still sound mediocre. Conversely, professional-quality software on a budget microphone can help you maximize the quality you have. The good news: the best podcast recording software options range from completely free to subscription-based professional tools, and there's a great option at every price point.
This guide compares the leading podcast recording software for solo recording, remote interviews, and in-person co-host setups—helping you choose the right tool for your workflow and budget.
Audacity is the gold standard for free podcast recording and editing software. Used by millions of podcasters worldwide, it's an open-source, cross-platform audio editor that handles everything from basic recording to multi-track editing with effects.
Best for: Solo podcasters on a budget; Windows, Mac, and Linux users; anyone willing to learn a slightly technical interface.
Key features: Multi-track timeline, noise reduction, compression, EQ, level normalization, recording effects, export to MP3/AAC/WAV. The ecosystem includes thousands of YouTube tutorials.
Limitations: Interface is dated (hasn't changed much in 20 years); no built-in remote recording (must use Zoom separately); no automatic transcription without plugins.
GarageBand comes free with every Mac and iOS device. While designed for music production, it works perfectly well for podcast recording and editing. The interface is modern and intuitive—far more approachable than Audacity.
Best for: Mac and iOS users who want a polished interface without paying anything.
Key features: Multi-track recording, basic editing, built-in sound library, podcasts-specific voice presets, easy export. The podcast episode template is ready-to-use.
Limitations: Mac/iOS only; less powerful than dedicated DAWs; no built-in remote recording; basic noise reduction (rely on microphone technique instead).
Zoom is not podcast software, but its free tier (40 minutes per meeting) is widely used for remote podcast interviews. The audio quality is significantly better than phone calls and adequate for casual episodes.
Best for: Casual remote interviews where recording quality isn't mission-critical.
Key features: Free for 40-minute meetings; cloud recording (paid) or local recording; video for seeing your guest.
Limitations: Single audio track (all speakers on one file); audio quality degrades with poor internet; Zoom hosts have had privacy concerns raised.
| Software | Price | Multi-track | Remote Recording | Cloud Recording | Transcription | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside.fm | $15/mo | Yes (per speaker) | Yes (built-in) | Local + cloud | AI auto-transcription | Remote interviews |
| SquadCast | $12/user/mo | Yes (per speaker) | Yes (built-in) | Local + cloud | AI transcription add-on | Remote with video |
| Descript | $12/mo | Yes | Yes (via Riverside integration) | Cloud | AI transcription included | Editing + transcription |
| Adobe Audition | $22.99/mo | Yes | No | No | Add-on | Pro editing |
| Logic Pro X | $199 (one-time) | Yes | No | No | No | Mac power users |
Riverside.fm is purpose-built for podcast remote recording. Unlike Zoom, Riverside records each speaker locally on their own device (48kHz WAV quality) and uploads to the cloud simultaneously. This means if one person's internet drops, the recording is still saved locally and synced later. The audio quality is exceptional—comparable to recording in the same room.
Best for: Podcasters who regularly interview remote guests and need broadcast-quality audio regardless of internet conditions.
Key features: Per-speaker local recording (local files saved if cloud fails), 4K video recording, automatic audio leveling, AI-powered noise removal, automatic transcription, teleprompter mode, separate tracks for editing.
Free tier: Riverside's free tier gives you 3 hours of recording per month with full local recording quality—more than enough for beginners.
Descript is a revolutionary podcast editing tool that treats your audio like a Google Doc: you edit by editing the transcript. Delete a word in the transcript and that word disappears from the audio. This makes editing 10x faster for podcasts that rely heavily on talk content.
Best for: Interview-heavy podcasts where show notes, timestamps, and captions matter. Descript's transcription accuracy is genuinely impressive (competes with professional services at a fraction of the cost).
Key features: Transcript-based editing, automatic transcription (included on paid plans), overdub (AI voice cloning to fix mistakes), filler word removal, screen recording, video editing, export to all major podcast platforms.
Adobe Audition is the professional standard for audio editing. Part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite ($22.99/month), it's used by radio stations, TV production houses, and professional podcasters who need the most powerful editing environment available.
Best for: Experienced editors who need multi-track mixing, spectral editing, and the full power of a professional DAW. Overkill for most podcasters—Descript and Riverside are more purpose-built.
Key features: Multi-track mixing, spectral frequency display for precise noise removal, professional effects (EQ, compression, reverb), VST plugin support, roundtrip editing with Premiere Pro.
SquadCast is Riverside's closest competitor, focused specifically on high-quality remote video podcast recording. It records each speaker locally, provides beautiful video quality, and has one of the best interfaces for multi-camera podcast setups.
Best for: Video podcasters who want professional video quality from remote recordings without the complexity of OBS or professional video production setups.
Key features: 4K video recording, local WAV recording per speaker, automatic cloud backup, collaborative review and comments, AI transcription add-on.
| Your Situation | Recommended Tool | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Solo podcaster, zero budget | Audacity (free) | Full editing capability at no cost |
| Mac user, simple setup | GarageBand (free) | Modern interface, already on your Mac |
| Remote interviews, want broadcast quality | Riverside.fm | Local recording = no audio quality loss from internet |
| Editing speed is a priority | Descript | Transcript-based editing is transformative |
| Video podcast, remote guests | SquadCast or Riverside | Both offer excellent video quality |
| Professional editing, experience with DAWs | Adobe Audition | Industry-standard power for complex editing |
For most beginning podcasters in 2026: start with Audacity (free) or Riverside.fm (free tier). Audacity is the best free tool for local recording and editing. Riverside's free tier is generous enough that you can use it indefinitely before deciding whether to upgrade. Once you grow and need faster editing, add Descript for its transcript-based workflow. For serious video podcasting with remote guests, SquadCast is purpose-built for exactly this use case.