Soundflower Alternatives | Recommended in 2025 🆕

Many people are looking for a Soundflower alternative because it does not work on laptops or iOS devices. Therefore, this post introduces some modern Soundflower alternative programs to help you record and edit audio on your device, like Mac M1/M2.

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Alin

Updated on Dec 19, 2025

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Many Mac users once relied on Soundflower to route and record internal audio. Still, its outdated support, compatibility issues with newer macOS versions like High Sierra, and complex setup have led many to search for better options. If you're facing similar problems, it might be time to consider a Soundflower alternative that's easier to use and works seamlessly on modern systems. This guide will offer 7 options to Soundflower for Mac, iOS, and Windows.

How We Test Soundflower Alternatives
We carefully test each alternative on Mac devices running the macOS Sonoma (version 15), including MacBook Air (M2, 2022) and iMac (M1, 2021). Key factors include installation simplicity, internal audio recording quality, compatibility with Sonoma, system performance impact, and user interface design, ensuring the best picks for everyday Mac users.

All-in-One Soundflower Alternative for Screen Recording

Now, let's check the selected Soundflower alternatives for Mac and Windows devices, especially when Soundflower installation failed. The tools below are for non-technical users who want to record system audio without having to mess with drivers or audio routing.

1️⃣EaseUS RecExperts⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

  • Compatibility: macOS 10.13 or later, including the latest Sequoia and Tahoe; Windows
  • Best for: Novices and professionals recording screen record with internal & external audio without configuring virtual audio router

The first Soundflower alternative for Mac and Windows users is EaseUS RecExperts. It lets you capture both sounds from the computer system and microphones with one click. It works well on Apple Silicon M1/M2/M3/M4 and Intel chips. You can even use it to record sound from multiple sources, like record Zoom audio only, including streaming audio, online music, and YouTube audio.

After recording, you can extract, split, or trim the audio file before saving it in formats like MP3, AAC, FLAC, etc. This free audio recorder sets no time limit on recordings. Check more information on the pros and cons.

EaseUS RecExperts for Mac

✅Pros:

  • Record internal or external audio free
  • Trim or split audio files easily
  • Capture multiple audio sources
  • Soundflower alternative for Mac M1/M2/M3/M4

❌Cons:

  • No sound effects or filters

🔥Find it satisfying? Download it by clicking the button below now!

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2️⃣Audio Hijack

  • Compatibility: macOS 14.4 and Higher (supports Sonoma and Apple Silicon)
  • Best for: Versatile Mac audio routing + scheduled recording

Audio Hijack makes it easy to capture audio for macOS 14.4 to 26 or macOS 11 to 14.3.1. You can use it to record system audio and microphone at the same time if you want. You may choose to save audio from any website or application running on your Mac.

But its abilities aren't limited to recording. You can also use this Soundflower alternative Mac to discover live streaming, and internet broadcasting, and make audio adjustments for both mics and apps. After recording, you can find the files in the recording bin list.

audiohijack

✅Pros:

  • Record audio from the microphone, websites, or apps
  • Set the parameters of each audio source separately
  • Integrate the ID3 tag
  • Intuitive drag-and-drop interface
  • Real-time effects, scheduling & high-quality capture

❌Cons:

  • Premium priced, requires paid license
  • Dropped support for older 32‑bit plugins
  • Audio fidelity may subtly degrade

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Soundflower Alternative for Mac Free & Open Source

For technical users seeking a free, open-source Soundflower alternative for Mac, tools like BlackHole and Audacity provide reliable virtual audio routing and recording, giving full control over system audio without any cost.

3️⃣BlackHole

  • Compatibility: macOS 10.9+ including Apple Silicon/Sonoma; from macOS 10.10 Yosemite and newer
  • Best for: Free, low-latency internal audio routing

BlackHole is a modern open-source macOS soundflower alternative that can record MP3 on Mac. You can use it to record music or audio chatting from your device easily. This virtual audio driver allows applications to pass audio to other applications with zero quality loss.

It offers customizable channel count, latency, and hidden devices. With 16/64-channel system-level routing and 8 kHz–768 kHz sample-rate coverage, it handles any virtual patch you throw at it. BlackHole supports macOS Catalina and later versions, and offers native support for Apple Silicon, allowing users to confidently use it in various screen recording and live streaming scenarios.

Notice:
BlackHole does not have a graphical user interface (GUI) and requires manual configuration through macOS's built-in Audio MIDI Setup, which might be slightly complicated for non-technical users.

BlackHole

✅Pros:

  • Build 2, 16, 64, 128, 256 audio channels versions
  • Support for a hidden input or output
  • Zero driver latency

❌Cons:

  • No built-in monitoring - need set up inthe Audio MIDI Setup app
  • Setup unfamiliar to non-tech users

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4️⃣Audacity

  • Compatibility: macOS (all modern versions), Windows, Linux
  • Best for: Free audio editing & file-level recording

Audacity is a free, open-source, and feature-packed audio editor that can be used as a Soundflower alternative. It is also one of the best free MP3 recorders that can play, import, export, and record MP3 files. AIFF and WAV formats are also supported.

Moreover, the program lets you recording streaming audio and apply effects to recordings, mix multiple trackers, and copy, cut, and paste features to your audio recordings. It also offers many built-in effects like Noise Removal, Bass Boost, and VST plug-in effects. Although Audacity doesn't include a virtual audio driver, it can work with BlackHole or similar tools to capture and route system audio, effectively replacing Soundflower's core functionality.

audacity on mac

✅Pros:

  • Known for its ease of use and simplicity
  • Record a new file or open an existing files
  • Feature-rich for editing and batch processing
  • Free and open-source

❌Cons:

  • Dated GUI, basic recording UI
  • Desktop capture requires additional setup (drivers/plugins)

If you just want to "click and use" without having to deal with open-source compilation or virtual sound card drivers, EaseUS RecExperts for Mac is one of the simplest options.

Pro-Level Soundflower Alternatives for Advanced Audio Routing/Mixing

Designed for content creators, podcasters, and audio professionals, tools like VoiceMeeter, AudioBus, and Loopback provide powerful virtual audio routing, multi-source mixing, and system-level audio control beyond basic screen recording needs. They're professional Soundflower alternatives for Mac.

5️⃣VoiceMeeter

  • Compatibility: Windows (MME, ASIO, WASAPI) only
  • Best for: Complex multi‑source mixing (gaming, streaming)

Voicemeeter is another internal audio recorder that can record audio on your Windowscomputer with ease. it is endowed with Virtual Audio Device to mix and manage any audio sources, from or to any audio devices and applications.

You don't need to worry if you haven't used it before. It offers a user manual to all of its users, novices or professionals. After recording and editing, you can export outputs in WAV, AIFF, MP3, M4A, MOV and other popular audio formats.

VoiceMeeter

✅Pros:

  • Contain a wide range of custom options
  • It is free to download and use
  • Support up to 5 audio sources

❌Cons:

  • It is relatively complicated to use
  • The OGG format is not supported
  • Can introduce audio glitches under load
Editor's Tip:
You can utilize VoiceMeeter on macOS but ways can be tricky. Run Voicemeeter in a virtual Windows machine or use VBAN features to send and receive audio to/from other computers on a local network.

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6️⃣AudioBus

  • Compatibility: iOS and iPadOS only
  • Best for: iOS/Mobile sound routing between music apps

AudioBus is a good audio editor that can adjust levels and balance for all audio sources to get that perfect mix. It controls everything from a MIDI controller with the MIDI Learn In-App Purchase. Users can use music apps together by passing live audio and MIDI around between them. To get the best performance of your audio files, you can save, recall and share your setups with presets.

AudioBus

✅Pros:

  • Turn your iOS device into an audio recorder
  • Create your own music by chaining effects
  • Compatible with over a thousand apps
  • Simplifies multi-app jams/routing
  • Saves templates for live setups

❌Cons:

  • You have to purchase it before downloading
  • Some functions are not free to use
  • Limited output channels unless paired with hardware
  • iOS-exclusive, not available on Mac

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7️⃣Loopback

  • Compatibility: macOS versions 11 (Big Sur) and higher
  • Best for: Advanced Mac audio routing with custom virtual devices

Loopback is a powerful macOS audio routing tool developed by Rogue Amoeba. It lets users create virtual audio devices to route sound between apps, mix multiple audio sources, and send them to recording or streaming software. Ideal for podcasters, streamers, and audio pros, Loopback offers precise control without needing physical audio interfaces.

loopback interface

(Credit: Rogue Amoeba)

✅Pros:

  • Build aggregate virtual devices from any source
  • Seamless with streaming/recording apps (OBS, Screenflow)

❌Cons:

  • Can be overwhelming to configure for beginners
  • Premium price point

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Soundflower Alternative FAQs

Check the related questions and their answers.

1. Is Soundflower still available?

Yes, Soundflower is still available; the latest version is 2.0B2. But it is deprecated and hasn't been updated for many years.. You can still find and download Soundflower, and it works on macOS Catalina (10.15) and earlier Intel-based Macs. However, it is no longer actively maintained, does not support Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3), and is generally unreliable or unusable on newer macOS versions. For modern Macs, alternative tools are recommended.

2. What is the difference between Soundflower and Soundflowerbed?

The biggest difference is that Soundflower creates a virtual "audio device" on your machine that your audio system can see, while Soundflowerbed allows you to monitor Soundflower's output through your computer's internal speakers or headphone output.

3. How do I record internal audio on my Mac without Soundflower?

If you want to capture Mac system audio without Soundflower, look no more than EaseUS RecExperts! It is an outstanding audio recording software that can capture internal audio or sound from a microphone or other external devices with a few simple clicks.

4. Is BlackHole the same as Soundflower?

No, Blackhole is a free Soundflower replacement for current Mac users, but they are not the same.

5. What is the best audio recording software for Mac?

If you want to record internal audio on your Mac with just one click, EaseUS RecExperts is one of the best audio recording software for macOS. Simply select your audio source and click the REC button to start recording immediately without configuring a virtual audio driver.

Final Words

If you're looking for a simple Soundflower alternative to record internal audio on Mac, EaseUS RecExperts is the most beginner-friendly choice. For free and open-source options, BlackHole is ideal for audio routing, while Audacity excels at audio editing. Advanced users who need full control over audio paths should consider Loopback or Audio Hijack as powerful replacements for physical mixers.

🚩Comparison Table of Top Soundflower Alternatives

Tool

macOS Compatibility (incl. Sonoma)

Internal Audio Recording

Ease of Use

EaseUS RecExperts

✅ Yes

✅ One-click capture

⭐ Easy

BlackHole

✅ Yes (incl. Apple Silicon)

✅ Requires setup

⭐⭐ Medium

VoiceMeeter

❌ No, Windows only

⭐⭐⭐ Hard

Audacity

✅ Yes

❌ Needs plugin support

⭐⭐ Medium

Audio Hijack

✅ Yes

✅ Custom routing

⭐⭐ Medium

Audiobus

❌ No, iOS only

✅ App-to-app routing

⭐⭐ Medium

Loopback

✅ Yes (incl. Apple Silicon)

✅ Flexible virtual routing

⭐⭐⭐ Hard

EaseUS RecExperts

One-click to capture anything on screen!

No Time Limit, No watermark

Start Recording

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