Best Alternatives to Audio Hijack for Windows, macOS, and Linux
Audio Hijack is a Mac program for recording system audio and editing in real-time, ideal for apps like Skype or radios. However, its price and complexity may lead some to seek alternatives. We've researched and reviewed the top Audio Hijack alternatives for Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing options that might better suit your needs.
Top 1. TunesKit Audio Capture - The Best Alternative to Audio Hijack (Mac & Windows)
TunesKit Audio Capture is a versatile audio recording tool with several standout features compared to other Audio Hijack alternatives. Instead of simply recording audio, it captures the actual code, ensuring lossless, original-quality music. It can simultaneously record from different apps, with each audio stream saved as a separate track, so tracks never mix or overlap.
Additionally, TunesKit offers a built-in audio editor for trimming, cutting, and adjusting EQ. It auto-recognizes ID3 tags for published music, which you can edit as needed. Recorded tracks can be exported in up to six formats, including MP3, AAC, and FLAC, with customizable audio settings.
Key Features of TunesKit Audio Capture:
The best Audio Hijack alternatives to record audio on macOS and support 16 output formats as well as flexibly edit with built-in tools.
600,000+ Downloads
600,000+ Downloads
Price:
$14.95 for 1 month
$29.95 for 1 year
$89.95 for lifetime
Pros:- Lossless recording audio quality
- Record sperate tracks from different apps at the same time
- Diverse audio parameters and formats choices
- Powerful built-in editor to edit the recordings
Cons:- Not free
Top 2. Audacity (Mac & Windows & Linux)
Audacity is a powerful, free, open-source audio editing program, ideal as an alternative to Audio Hijack. It can record audio from system speakers and microphones simultaneously. Audacity offers extensive post-recording processing, including trimming, noise removal, and volume adjustment. It's a great introduction to professional audio recording and editing for many users.
Still, we cannot ignore a major drawback of this app. Audacity is unable to select a specific app to record, meaning that all the sounds you record from the system will mix up together. Also, many users complain about the learning curve being too steep.
Price: Free
Pros:- Free of charge
- Record system audio and the microphone at the same time
- Useful audio editing features
Cons:- Unable to record from specific apps
- Relative steep learning curve
- Recording audio not lossless
Pro-tip:Top 3. VoiceMeeter Banana
VoiceMeeter is not just a recorder; it's a complete virtual audio mixer for your PC. The "Banana" version hits the sweet spot of power and usability. It allows you to mix hardware inputs (like your mic) with software inputs (like your game audio, Discord, and music) and route them to different outputs simultaneously. You can send a perfect mix to your stream while hearing a different mix in your headphones.
Price: Free (Donationware)
Pros:- Incredibly powerful audio mixing and routing capabilities
- Separates audio from different applications for granular control
- Built-in recorder and basic audio effects (EQ, compression)
- Free to use (Donationware)
Cons:- Has a very steep learning curve for beginners
- The user interface is functional but can be visually overwhelming and confusing
Top 4. Sound Siphon (Mac)
Sound Siphon, similar to Audio Hijack, turns your Mac's audio output into an input device, enabling audio transfer between applications for processing or recording. It's user-friendly for Audio Hijack users and records from microphones, system audio, and specific apps. It offers similar features to Audio Hijack at a lower price, with system-wide recording flexibility.
However, it is still worth noting that the price of this program is still relatively expensive. Its functionality does live up to the price, but beginner users might be overwhelmed by its complex features and special workflow.
Price: $49
Pros:- Powerful recording ability to record from any source flexibly
- Easy for Audio Hijack users to learn
- Diverse recording editing capability
- More cost-effective than Audio Hijack
Cons:- Price relatively high
- Difficult for beginners to get used to
Top 5. Piezo (Mac)
Piezo is a fast streaming recorder on Mac. By saying fast, Piezo requires nearly no configuration apart from choosing the recording source, such as the microphone, Skype, or other apps. The UI design resembles a boutique physical recorder, which is rarely seen and easy-to-use. Other notable features are the play-thru capability and the customizable output folder, which will be opened automatically after your recording.
As for the drawbacks, the biggest one must be that it can only record from one source at a time, which greatly reduces your productivity. The audio quality is not lossless. Limited format - MP3 and AAC - are provided for you to choose from. However, being free of those complex features is what makes Piezo swiftly record audios without much hassle.
Price: $19
Pros:- Fast and clean recording experience
- Record from multiple sources including microphone and the system
- Beautiful and intuitive UI
- Play-thru capability
- Customizable output features
Cons:- Record only from one source at a time
- Audio quality not lossless
- Only 2 formats to choose
Top 6. Blackhole + Audacity (Mac)
For those who prefer free, open-source software and don't mind a little setup, combining BlackHole with Audacity is a fantastic solution. BlackHole is a modern virtual audio driver that lets you route audio from any application to another. You can set your Mac's system output to BlackHole, then set BlackHole as the input in a recording program like Audacity or QuickTime Player.
Price: Free
Pros:- Completely free and open-source
- Highly flexible and modular
- Audacity provides a powerful suite of editing tools after recording
Cons:- Requires manual setup and is less intuitive than an all-in-one app
- No graphical interface for routing; you manage it in macOS's Audio MIDI Setup
- Can be prone to user error if not configured correctly
Top 7. PipeWire + OBS Studio (Linux)
For modern Linux systems like Fedora or Ubuntu, PipeWire manages complex audio routing. OBS Studio, known for streaming, is also excellent for multi-track recording. You can use "Application Audio Capture (PipeWire)" to capture audio from specific apps and "Audio Input Capture (PipeWire)" for microphones, recording each to separate tracks.
Price: Free
Pros:- Free, open-source, and incredibly powerful
- Granular control over which applications to record
- OBS's filter system allows for adding real-time effects like noise suppression, EQs, and compressors
- Records audio and video, making it perfect for screencasts
Cons:- OBS can be overkill if you only want to record audio
- The setup is more involved than a dedicated one-click recording app
Quick Comparison Table: Which is the Best for You
Choosing the right tool depends entirely on your operating system and your goals. You can check the table below to make you final decision.
| Operating System | Price | Key Feature | Best For | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audio Hijack | macOS | $59 | Visual node-based audio routing & effects | The "it just works" gold standard for Mac |
| TunesKit Audio Capture | Windos and Mac | $14.95 | Record audio without quality loss | The comprehensive and feature-rich Audio Hijack alternative |
| Audacity | Windows, macOS, Linux | Free | Simple system audio capture + editing | Free recording and post-production |
| VoiceMeeter Banana | Windows | Free (Donationware) | Complete virtual audio mixer | Live streamers and complex audio management |
| Sound Siphon | macOS | $49 | Direct application audio capture | A slightly cheaper, simpler Audio Hijack |
| Piezo | macOS | $25 | One-click recording | Quick, simple, no-fuss audio capture |
| BlackHole + Audacity | macOS | Free | Modular virtual routing + powerful editing | Budget-conscious DIY power users |
| PipeWire + OBS | Linux | Free | Per-app capture & multi-track recording | The definitive, modern Linux recording setup |
Conclusion
There are various reasons for people to look for alternatives to Audio Hijack for Windows, Mac, or Linux. They may need to switch operating systems, find a more easy-to-use and cleaner app, or just not very happy with the price. To suit the need of different customers, we have provided alternative options with generally lower prices like TunesKit Audio Capture. We are sure that one of the software in this list will be perfect for you.
