Adobe Audition is Adobe’s main audio precision editing app. It’s part of the Adobe Creative Cloud, meaning it falls under the subscription trap found with many other Adobe creative software. To avoid the subscription and find better tools available which are more suited to your needs, there are many great alternatives to Adobe Audition you can use across multiple platforms and at different price points.

11 Djay

Multi-platform audio editing app

While Djay isn’t a direct comparison to Adobe Audition, it’s a great option for audio editing on the go from your iOS or Android device, Mac or Windows desktop, Vision Pro, and Meta Quest platforms. It offers a simple and fun interface that makes you feel like a true DJ, with double turntables and an easy-to-select music library and import options.

You can scratch, rewind, fast-forward, and mix the two tracks together. There’s also the FX button which allows for even more styles to add or edit on your audio in the Djay app. Djay is free, but there is a Pro upgrade for a few extra features.

10 PreSonus Studio One Pro

Premium audio editing

Although Studio One used to be available for free, it now costs $200 for a perpetual license with one year of free feature upgrades included, and different price ranges for other rental licenses. There is a 30-day free trial available before purchase.

Studio One offers a professional powerhouse of audio editing tools for recording, mixing, mastering, producing, and performing all types of music and audio. Currently in its 7th generation, Studio One Pro features AI tools, dozens of native plugins, splice integration, and integrated music tools all built into an easy-to-learn drag-and-drop interface style.

9 WavePad

Audio editing from desktop and mobile devices

WavePad offers audio-editing tools for multiple platforms, including both desktop and mobile formats for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. It’s a free tool, but for commercial use of your edited audio, you must purchase the full version of software.

The mobile versions of WavePad provide a familiar layout to the desktop version, so you don’t feel like you must learn two interfaces to use it with cross-platform functionality. The interface is simple with standard editing tools like trim, split, join, duplicate, and loop. You’ll also find levels and equalizer tabs for further editing precision.

8 Steinberg Cubase

Premium audio editing

Cubase by Steinberg is a premium audio editing software that comes with a 60-day free trial before purchasing it for $100. Cubase Pro is a further upgraded version of the premium software, available at $500 flat.

With claims it’s used by Hollywood production teams, Cubase is a big deal in the audio-editing world. The price matches the value of the software. While this price may not be accessible to many people, especially those simply trying to avoid Adobe’s prices, it’s a great option for anyone moving into professional levels of audio production.

7 Ardour

Open-source multi-platform audio editing

Ardour is an open-source audio editing platform developed by musicians and sound producers. You can edit audio from Linux, Mac, and Windows systems, plus record, edit, mix, master, and export your audio. This tool is great for audio engineers, soundtrack editors, musicians, composers, podcasters, and producers, and anything in between.

6 Logic Pro

Apple-based professional audio studio

Logic Pro is an Apple-based digital audio workstation (DAW) software, available on MacOS and iPadOS for multi-platform access. It’s a premium proprietary software available from $200, with a 90-day free trial. You get what you pay for with Logic Pro.

Logic Pro contains a myriad of tools and plugins to create audio masterpieces, including tools for songwriting, mixing and mastering, beatboxing, spatial audio, and realistic sounding digital instruments to create your perfect band.

5 Magix Sequoia Pro

The engineers’ choice for audio editing

Great for mixing, mastering, post-production, and broadcast audio, Sequoia Pro is a premium high-end audio editing software. With a hybrid audio engine, Sequoia Pro features both basic and high-end level tools within its software.

There are plugins, some AI features, video import and export options, and so much you can do with the audio features.

You can access a 14-day free trial or purchase the full version for $1500 for a perpetual license or an annual license at $470 per year. This software is not to be purchased lightly.

4 Premiere Pro

Adobe’s next best audio editing offering

Adobe’s flagship video editing tool, Premiere Pro, can also be used for audio editing. This is the most similar option to compare directly to Adobe Audition, due to the similar Adobe interfaces and the Creative Cloud backup. While Premiere Pro isn’t entirely the best audio editing alternative, if you’re already an Adobe Creative Cloud subscriber but you don’t want to use or don't like Audition, then it could be the next best option.

3 Wavosaur

Windows-only free audio editor

Wavosaur is a free — and ad-heavy — audio editing tool with VST (virtual studio technology) plugin support. Although it is free, it is not open-source like many other free offerings are. Wavosaur is available and developed for Windows, but using a Wineskin plugin, it can also be installed on Mac systems.

This free tool allows multiple projects within the same window and includes more advanced features like crossfade looping, auto-trim, silence remover, and audio region export options. It’s a good option for Windows users who want a free tool and don't mind ads.

2 Ocenaudio

Free cross-platform audio editing tool

This free, not quite open-source software is a fantastic alternative to Adobe Audition. It works on Linux, Mac, and Windows systems, and it features VST plugin support, multi-selection for delicate editions, efficient large-file editing, and more.

Ocenaudio makes one of the best free Adobe Audition alternatives. It’s a good tool for quick and easy audio edits, rather than deep-diving for hours and slowing down your system.