Audio editing is best on PC, but it's doable on mobile in a pinch. Here are the best audio editing apps and DAWs on Android.
By Joe HindyPublished on March 23, 2024
Audio editing requires something a bit different from any other form of editing. People generally use multiple tracks and require sound balancing and other stuff. Bands need it to cut albums, and podcasters need it to prepare shows. It’s a wide industry with many solutions that work pretty well. A good DAW should let you edit multiple channels and various sound effects; the most versatile ones have things like MIDI support and other such things. There aren’t many options, but we think we found the good ones. Here are the best audio editing apps and DAWs for Android.
We’d also like to mention Caustic 3 (Google Play) and KORG Kaossilator (Google Play). They are both exceptional apps in this space but haven’t been updated in six or three years, respectively.
Mobile DAWs, or “digital audio workstations,” exist in the same capacity as video editing. The point is to put together songs, podcasts, or other audio productions. A good DAW generally has a few different features. They include:
Of course, you may be looking for other features as well. Most have their flavor of special and unique features that help them stand apart from the rest. However, we think the three things listed above should be the minimum for making a DAW good.
Price: $9.99 with in-app purchases
Audio Evolution Mobile Studio is a fairly popular DAW on Android. It features multi-track audio, MIDI recording, various samples, drum editors, and more editing tools. There are also some recording tools, like a metronome. Some tertiary features include Google Drive backup and full support to move the project to the iOS version, in case you have an iPad. It’s reasonably decent and cheaper than most. The in-app purchases include some plug-ins that add extra effects.
Price: Free
BandLab is one of the better free audio editor apps on mobile. The app features a 16-track editor, a sampler to create custom instruments and a looper function to create beat loops. It also boasts over 300 virtual MIDI instruments, 180 effects, a looper, and even a video clip editor. It’s not quite as powerful as some others, but the price is right, and you can even publish stuff on BandLab’s social media service after you’re done.
Price: Free with in-app purchases
Make AudioLab your go-to choice for all your audio editing needs on Android. Renowned as a top-notch audio editor, AudioLab offers many features, including splitting, trimming, reversing, and merging audio files. Furthermore, it facilitates seamless conversion into formats such as MP3, OGG, OPUS, WAV, FLAC, and M4A. The app’s Batch Processing Tool allows efficient conversion of multiple files simultaneously while optimizing storage space. Additionally, its voice effects feature adds an element of fun by enabling users to modify their voices effortlessly. With AudioLab, editing audio becomes both efficient and enjoyable.
Price: Free trial / $19.99
Cubasis 3 is the mobile version of Cubase, the popular PC DAW from Steinberg. The mobile version isn’t quite as powerful but can do the job. It features unlimited audio and MIDI tracks (the trial has four of each), time-stretching, pitch-shifting, over a dozen effect processors, 550 audio loops, and more. Projects made here also work with the desktop version of Cubase. Steinberg is also very loose with the trial. It doesn’t last forever, but you can restart it as often as you want.
Price: $14.99
FL Studio Mobile is one of Android’s most popular audio editing apps. It features a full editor setup, plenty of effects, and many other features. It also supports Chromebooks. Some other features include hardware MIDI support, the ability to save in various file formats, and extras like drum pads in case you need to make your beat. There are in-app purchases for extra plugins if you want them, but they are optional. It’s a bit pricy, but it’s pretty effective.
Price: $4.99
