Audacity is a free audio recorder and editor for Windows, and REAPER on our alternatives list is the other name to compare it with. This page covers version 4.0.2.263060742, released on November 2, 2026. The download is 47.5 MB and the project uses the GPL-3.0-or-later licence.
Who makes Audacity and where it is going
The developer is listed as Audacity, with a website at audacityteam.org. The tags attach the project to Muse Group and its music studio tooling, and the changelog refers to a muse_framework repository for some fixes.
The 4.0.2 notes describe this release as a patch. The team says it is working on new features and on bringing back missing ones in the upcoming 4.1, so some familiar functions may still be absent in the 4.x line.
Recording, converting and analysing audio
Audacity is free software for recording and editing audio, aimed at people making music, podcasts or simply experimenting with sound. It also fits anyone who needs to edit or export a file quickly.
Format support is broad. You can convert WAV to MP3, FLAC, Ogg and other formats. Third-party plugins are supported, including VST3 and Nyquist.
For analysis, there is a Spectogram view for visualising frequencies, plus scientific Vamp analyzers.
Windows build and cross-platform support
This is the Windows build, with the package ID Audacity.Audacity and a 47.5 MB size. It is free. Audacity also runs on macOS and Linux.
What's new in 4.0.2.263060742
Version 4.0.2 fixes many crashes and project corruption issues, including corruption when loading projects with empty clips and when copying between projects. It also restores automatic saving during recording and brings back the trim, clear selection and zoom shortcuts.
Audacity pros and cons
Pros
- Free to use, with a GPL-3.0-or-later licence
- Records and edits audio, and converts between formats such as WAV, MP3, FLAC and Ogg
- Supports third-party plugins including VST3 and Nyquist
- Spectogram view and Vamp analyzers for frequency analysis
- Version 4.0.2 fixes several project corruption bugs and restores automatic saving during recording
Cons
- Some features are still missing in the 4.x line and are planned for 4.1
- No minimum system requirements are published here, so check the official project page before installing on older hardware
- The installer is 47.5 MB, which is a moderate download for a single editing tool
Is Audacity safe?
Audacity is open source under GPL-3.0-or-later and is developed by the Audacity team, so its code can be read by anyone. Version 4.0.2.263060742 is about 47.5 MB, and that size is a handy check against the file you received.
How to install Audacity
- Press the download button to get the official file.
- Run the installer you saved and confirm the Windows security prompt if the publisher matches.
- Follow the setup steps, then start Audacity from the Start menu.
