If you're about to get started in the world of podcasting, then one of the first things you need to decide on is the software you're going to use to record and edit your podcast. There's a huge range of software available, but how do you choose the right one for you?

In this guide, we'll talk you through some of the best recording and editing software for podcasting, plus some other useful tools that'll help you in your podcasting journey, from podcast hosting platforms to transcription software so that you can provide written transcripts alongside your audio files.

Jump to:

• What you need to record a podcast

• The best recording and editing software for podcasts

• Other useful tools for podcasting

To get started with recording a podcast, there are only three things you really need:

• Computer

It's much easier to record and edit a podcast on a computer than a mobile device.

• Microphone

To ensure good audio quality, a decent microphone is a must. USB microphones start at around $50, or you could spend a little more on a dynamic mic that's better at eliminating background noise.

• Recording and editing software

Podcast editing software typically doubles up as recording software too, so you should only need one piece of software for the whole job.

One exception is if you're recording calls on Zoom or Microsoft Teams. These both have built-in recorders. Once the call has ended and the file has been saved, you can upload it to your chosen podcast editing software and start working some magic.

The podcast editing software you choose should, as a minimum, enable you to cut out long pauses or tangents, reduce background noise, and fix volume levels so that they're consistent throughout. Good audio will make the listening experience more enjoyable for your audience.

We've rounded up our pick of the best software for recording and editing your podcasts:

1. Audacity

If you're a complete beginner and you're looking for software that's really easy to get to grips with, then Audacity is your best option.

Audacity is an open-source audio recorder and editor, and it happens to be completely free, so it's ideal when you're learning the ropes and deciding whether podcasting is right for you. With all the basic features you'll need to edit your recording, it's without a doubt the best free software for podcasting.

2. Adobe Audition

Adobe Audition is the best Adobe software for podcasting, and it's one of the most popular professional-grade options out there. If you're already a podcast pro and you want to achieve nothing short of perfection, this one is packed with features that'll help you get there. If you're more of a beginner, it might be a little too advanced.

That kind of quality doesn't come for free -- it costs $20.99/month, so you want to make sure you're serious about podcasting and your ability to master new software before you invest.

3. GarageBand

If you're an Apple user and you're looking for a fairly straightforward way to record and edit podcasts, then Apple's GarageBand is a great free option. It's aimed more at musicians than podcasters, but it works just as well as a basic podcast editor. It's easy to use and it syncs across your Apple devices, for flexibility in how, when, and where you work on your podcast.

4. Alitu

Alitu is another useful piece of audio software for podcast beginners, especially if you're not particularly technical and want to keep things easy. It's designed specifically for podcast recording and editing, with plenty of features to automate the process (balancing out sound levels and doing the audio cleanup for you, for example). In short, it makes things as easy as humanly possible.

It costs $32/month, but that's a small price to pay for this level of assistance in the podcast editing process!

5. QuickTime

QuickTime is among the best software for video podcasting. It's free on any Mac (but is only available to Mac users), it's very user-friendly, and you can use it to trim, split, rearrange, and delete clips until you're left with a finished product that you're happy with. You can also use QuickTime to record your screen, so you can both record and edit in the same app.

If your podcast involves interviewing guests, and you plan to do this remotely rather than in person, then Zoom is the ideal platform. Not only will most of your guests have experience of using it, but you can record your call directly in Zoom, and then upload the file to your podcast editing software to chop and change it before publishing the episode.

After you've finished recording and editing your podcast, you'll need to upload it to a hosting platform, like Buzzsprout, Transistor or Anchor. Your chosen platform will generate an RSS feed for you (the standard way to syndicate content to podcast directories), which you can then submit to your chosen podcast platform.

You'll then need to decide where to submit your podcast to! Apple Podcasts is the largest podcast directory, followed by Stitcher, and Spotify is another great place to submit your podcasts because of its popularity with music streaming.

Use tools such as repurpose.io and wavve.co to create little soundbytes of your podcast in video format to share on your social channels and encourage people to listen to the full episode.

Adding a transcription to your podcast couldn't be easier with Transcribe. Our AI-powered transcription software means you get high-quality transcripts within minutes, and at the best possible price (our PRO service costs just $10 a month for 5 hours of transcription time, which works out as just $2 per hour). You can choose from a range of import and export formats, save up to 500 hours of audio recording in the cloud, and access your files from any device.

Depending on the quality of the audio in your podcast recording, you may need to make some small tweaks to the text once you've received the transcription, but this is quick and easy to do using our app or online editor. Learn how to transcribe a podcast with our handy guide.

With the right software, recording and editing your podcast is easy. For more inspiration to help you out at the start of your podcasting journey, check out our guide on how to start a podcast.

Written By Katie Garrett