Tools for Podcasting and Audio Work
Audio production isn't what our own tools cover — here are the ones we'd recommend.
Recording and editing audio well requires either a good desktop app (Audacity), a purpose-built podcast studio (Riverside), or a text-first workflow (Descript). None of those fit inside a static-export browser tools site — and if we tried, we'd end up with a strictly-worse version of tools that already exist.
Below: our honest picks. All are either free or have a free tier good enough to record and ship a podcast.
Or reach for a broader tool
Third-party products that fit this use case. Our built-in tools cover the small technical jobs; these cover the bigger workflows around them. External links, hand-picked, not sponsored.
| Tool | Pricing | Best for | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Descript Edit video and audio by editing the transcript. | Free (1 hr transcription/mo) · Creator from $15/mo | Podcasters and video creators who talk more than they show — the AI transcript UX is genuinely different from anything else. | Freemium |
| Audacity The classic free open-source audio editor. | Free, open source | Anyone recording or editing audio who doesn't want a subscription. | Free |
| Riverside.fm Remote podcast + video recording in studio quality. | Free (2 hrs recording/mo) · Standard from $15/mo | Podcasters recording remote guests who need broadcast-quality audio. | Freemium |
| Auphonic One-click audio post-production (levelling, noise, loudness). | Free (2 hrs/mo) · Prepaid $11/9 hrs | Podcasters who want their raw recordings to sound professionally mastered. | Freemium |
- DescriptFreemiumEdit video and audio by editing the transcript.
- Cuts, ums, and word-level edits done by editing text
- AI voice cloning (Overdub) for fixing narration
- Full podcast + video studio in one app
Best for: Podcasters and video creators who talk more than they show — the AI transcript UX is genuinely different from anything else.Free (1 hr transcription/mo) · Creator from $15/moVisit Descript - AudacityFreeThe classic free open-source audio editor.
- Full multi-track editor for desktop (Windows/Mac/Linux)
- Noise reduction, EQ, compression, effects
- Import/export every common audio format
Best for: Anyone recording or editing audio who doesn't want a subscription.Free, open sourceVisit Audacity - Riverside.fmFreemiumRemote podcast + video recording in studio quality.
- Records each guest locally then uploads (avoids Zoom quality loss)
- 4K video + separate audio tracks per participant
- Auto-transcription + magic clips for social
Best for: Podcasters recording remote guests who need broadcast-quality audio.Free (2 hrs recording/mo) · Standard from $15/moVisit Riverside.fm - AuphonicFreemiumOne-click audio post-production (levelling, noise, loudness).
- Fixes uneven levels between speakers automatically
- Broadcast loudness standards (EBU R128, ATSC A/85)
- Direct publish to podcast hosts (Buzzsprout, Libsyn, etc.)
Best for: Podcasters who want their raw recordings to sound professionally mastered.Free (2 hrs/mo) · Prepaid $11/9 hrsVisit Auphonic