Podcast & audio cleanup tools
Remove noise, filler and echo; edit by transcript. 6 tools we track, checked .
Short answer page: What's the best podcast & audio cleanup tool?
Ranked by fit for solo businesses: tools we profile in depth first, then those used in our research notes, then the rest. Affiliate status never changes the order.
- 1
Descript
Pick this if you want podcasts and talking-head videos edited like a doc.
Edit audio and video by editing the transcript, with AI cleanup tools.
Free plan + paid plans · Free plan: Yes · $0 · then $24/mo, or $16/mo billed yearly · Difficulty 2/5
- 2
Audacity
Pick this if you want free audio editing and cleanup.
Free, open-source audio editor for recording and editing.
Free, open source · Free plan: Yes · Free, open source · Difficulty 2/5
- 3
Riverside
Pick this if you want recording remote podcast and video interviews.
Remote recording studio with local-quality tracks and AI editing.
Free plan + paid plans · Free plan: Yes · $0 · then $35/mo monthly or $24/mo yearly · Difficulty 2/5
- 4
Adobe Podcast
Pick this if you want making cheap-mic recordings sound studio-clean.
Browser tools including Enhance Speech, which cleans up voice recordings.
Free plan + paid plans · Free plan: Yes · Difficulty 1/5
- 5
Auphonic
Pick this if you want podcast loudness and leveling on autopilot.
Automatic audio post-production: leveling, loudness, noise and filler removal.
Free plan + paid plans · Free plan: Yes · Difficulty 2/5
- 6
Cleanvoice
Pick this if you want removing ums and mouth clicks.
Removes filler words, mouth sounds and silences from podcast audio.
Paid plans only · Free plan: Trial only
Side-by-side
| Tool | Pricing model | Free plan | Starting price | Difficulty | Output rights | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Descript | Free plan + paid plans | Yes | $0 · then $24/mo, or $16/mo billed yearly | 2/5 | You own or may use output commercially | Podcasts and talking-head videos edited like a doc |
| Audacity | Free, open source | Yes | Free, open source | 2/5 | Not a content generator | Free audio editing and cleanup |
| Riverside | Free plan + paid plans | Yes | $0 · then $35/mo monthly or $24/mo yearly | 2/5 | Not a content generator | Recording remote podcast and video interviews |
| Adobe Podcast | Free plan + paid plans | Yes | See official site | 1/5 | – | Making cheap-mic recordings sound studio-clean |
| Auphonic | Free plan + paid plans | Yes | See official site | 2/5 | – | Podcast loudness and leveling on autopilot |
| Cleanvoice | Paid plans only | Trial only | See official site | – | – | Removing ums and mouth clicks |
"Starting price" is shown only for tools we profile in depth, where we read the official pricing page on . For the others, check the official site.