When it comes to audio and video editing, I typically stick to the simplest visual editors possible. That means I use apps like GarageBand and LumaFusion over more complex options such as Audacity or Adobe Premiere Pro. However, my current audio editing workflow lacks versatility. GarageBand is only available on macOS, so if I want to use my Windows PCs or toy with a Linux build, I need to find another audio editor. Enter Tenacity, a free and open-source audio editor that tries to deliver the feature set of Audacity with a cleaner and more intuitive user interface.
Tenacity is a forked version of Audacity, but this open-source audio editor was born out of necessity when Audacity’s ownership changed, and the app became surrounded by controversy. Tenacity has had a few controversies of its own and a couple of periods when active development slowed to a halt. Regular updates and active development are picking up again, hence why Tenacity is back in the spotlight. While Tenacity isn’t a perfect Audacity replacement, its clean, modern UI makes it an attractive option for those who find Audacity lacking.
What you can do with Tenacity
Multi-track editing and recording
Since Tenacity is forked from Audacity, the learning curve is pretty quick for people switching from the popular audio-editing app. It’s designed to cover all aspects of audio management, from recording and mixing to editing and signal analysis. The heart of the experience is the multi-track audio timeline, which can be used to edit audio clips, add effects to them, or generate brand-new sounds. Compared to Audacity’s dated design that resembles ancient versions of Windows, Tenacity’s dark UI and clean controls feel refreshing.
When you start a new project in Tenacity, a view called the project window opens. Here, users can drag an audio file into the editor or select it from their file editor through the File -> Import -> Audio menu. The selection tool is enabled by default, but you can also select a track to move it to your desired location on the timeline. There are standard options for splitting, copying and pasting, zooming, playback, and system audio recording (on macOS or Linux).
Tenacity has robust support for audio formats and plug-ins, including VST 2, LADSPA/LV2, and AU. The app can handle importing and exporting a variety of file types, and supports audio processing with 32-bit float audio. Although there are a few limitations compared to Audacity, I love the look and modernity of Tenacity, which doesn’t come at the expense of key features. You can even use your own themes to give the audio editor a custom look.
How Tenacity differs from Audacity
Some key limitations on macOS and Windows
Tenacity fell behind Audacity in terms of feature and version parity for years, but as of Fall 2025, the app was rebased on Audacity version 3.7. The developers behind Audacity are currently looking ahead to version 4.0, which is set to be a major overhaul. For now, though, Tenacity is relatively up to date. It’s serving a major purpose, because Audacity tends to nix support for older operating systems relatively quickly. Tenacity isn’t dead-set on providing support for older OSes forever, but it’s a modern solution for those who can’t or don’t want to upgrade to newer operating system versions.
The biggest Tenacity limitation is that the app does not support system audio recording on Windows. This feature works on macOS and Linux, and Windows users can still upload audio files after they’ve been recorded. However, the lack of real-time audio recording might make Tenacity a non-starter for some Windows users, like podcasters or musicians.
Additionally, some of Audacity’s newer features—like enhanced looping and real-time effects — aren’t included in the latest stable Tenacity builds. The Mixer Toolbar was removed with version 1.3 of Tenacity, so there’s no way to adjust input or output volume levels. While themes are still present in the latest version of the app, the developers are completely reworking the feature for version 1.4, which is currently in alpha testing.
For macOS users, the only way to install new versions of Tenacity is via the MacPorts compiler and installer. This requires installing Xcode developer tools and running sudo-level Terminal commands, which may turn away potential users. As such, there are major reasons why macOS and Windows users might not want to use Tenacity over Audacity.
Why Tenacity exists
What the future holds, and who it’s for
Although Audacity began as an open-source software project, it was acquired by Muse Group in 2021, and the new ownership quickly became entrenched in multiple controversies. There were early moves by Muse Group that tried to add telemetry data collection to Audacity, putting user privacy at risk. Another change was the new contributor license agreement (CLA), which stated Muse Group could use contributor code in proprietary software, potentially violating the GPL open-source license.
That’s why Tenacity was originally created, according to its website. The road wasn’t always smooth for the open-source fork of Audacity, and there was a development hiatus at one point. Now, Tenacity development seems to be moving slowly but steadily, cementing it as a key Audacity fork with a cleaner UI and clear privacy protections.
- OS
-
Windows, macOS, Linux
- Pricing model
-
Open source
- Cost
-
Free
Tenacity is an Audacity fork that aims to provide a cleaner and more private experience. It’s a free and open-source audio editor that supports multi-track audio editing and audio recording.
