Audacity is free, open-source, and has had a noise reduction tool for years -- but it's manual: you select a short stretch of pure noise, capture it as a "noise profile," then apply the effect to the whole recording. ClearVoice is AI-powered and automatic: upload the file, no noise sample to select, no settings to tune.
Pricing and free-tier limits change over time. The figures below were checked directly against each company's own pricing/help pages (or a recently dated third-party breakdown, linked below) in October 2026 -- if you're reading this later, it's worth double-checking the competitor's current page before deciding.
How they compare
| Audacity (Free) | ClearVoice | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 100% free forever, no subscription, ever | 15 minutes free, then $0.03/minute or unlimited from $6.99/month |
| How noise is detected | Manual -- you select a noise-only sample yourself | Automatic -- AI detects and separates noise from speech |
| Best for | Steady, consistent noise: hum, hiss, fan noise, buzzing | A wider range of noise, including some non-steady background sound |
| Learning curve | Requires learning the Noise Reduction effect and its settings | None -- upload and download |
| Software to install | Yes -- a desktop application | None -- runs in the browser |
Which one should you use?
If you're comfortable with audio editing software, only ever deal with steady hum or hiss, and want a permanently free solution with no per-minute cost ever, Audacity's manual noise reduction genuinely works well for that specific case -- and it costs nothing, forever. If you want a result without installing software or learning an effect's settings, or your noise isn't simple steady hum, ClearVoice's automatic approach gets you there faster, with the tradeoff that it isn't free past the trial.
Frequently asked questions
Does Audacity have AI noise removal now?
Audacity's core Noise Reduction effect is manual, not AI-based -- you supply the noise sample yourself. Some newer AI-related features exist through separate plugins, outside the scope of the free built-in effect this comparison covers.
Can aggressive noise reduction in Audacity damage the audio?
Yes -- pushed too hard, it can make speech sound "watery" or distorted. This is a common complaint with manual noise reduction tools generally, not unique to Audacity.
ClearVoice gives you 15 minutes of AI noise removal free, no signup required to try it, and no credit card upfront -- try it on your own file now. ClearVoice also has 9 completely free tools (video compressor, trimmer, silence remover, GIF maker and more) that need no account at all.