Audacity
Open Sourceby Muse Group
The standard free audio recorder and editor.
- Multi-track recording and editing
- Noise reduction and audio repair
- Wide format import and export
6 Best Free Audio & Music Software for macOS in 2026
Audio editors, digital audio workstations and music production tools for recording, mixing and mastering. Every program below runs on macOS.
- 6 macOS programs
- 6 open source
- ₹0 to download
Free audio & music programs for macOS
Ardour
Open Sourceby Ardour community
Professional open-source digital audio workstation.
- Unlimited multi-track recording
- Full mix automation
- VST, LV2 and AU plugin support
LMMS
Open Sourceby LMMS Team
Free music production studio for beat-making and composition.
- Built-in synthesisers and samplers
- Pattern-based beat and bassline editor
- Piano roll composition
MuseScore
Open Sourceby MuseScore
The standard free music notation and scoring software.
- Professional sheet-music engraving
- Playback with bundled instrument sounds
- Imports and exports MusicXML and MIDI
Mixxx
Open Sourceby Mixxx Development Team
Free DJ software with real controller support.
- Four-deck mixing with effects
- Automatic BPM and key detection
- Supports many DJ controllers
Hydrogen
Open Sourceby Hydrogen team
Pattern-based drum machine and rhythm programmer.
- Pattern-based sequencing
- Sample-based drumkits included
- Exports to WAV and MIDI
Choosing audio & music software on macOS
All 6 programs listed here have a native macOS build — this is not a list of software that merely "might work" through a compatibility layer. 6 are open source.
Since every option is free, testing two or three on your own files is usually faster and more reliable than reading further comparisons. Audacity is the most widely adopted of these and a reasonable starting point.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free audio & music software for macOS?
Audacity the standard free audio recorder and editor. Ardour and LMMS are the other most common picks.
Are these really free on macOS?
Yes. Each is labelled with its licence — open source, free, or free tier — so you know exactly what you are getting before you download.
Where do the downloads come from?
The publisher's own website, every time. We host no installers, which is the single most effective protection against the bundled adware that plagues software download portals.