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Adobe Audition vs REAPER: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)

Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Adobe Audition and REAPER side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.

On the data: On the data below, REAPER leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.

Data comparison compiled by Toolradar, not hand-reviewed Methodology
Data comparison 752 user reviews compared Pricing checked Oct 14, 2026

Short on time? Here's the quick answer

Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:

Adobe Audition

Professional audio workstation

Best for you if:

  • • You want professional features

REAPER

Record, edit, mix, and master audio and MIDI with a customizable DAW

Best for you if:

  • • You want very affordable
At a glance: Adobe Audition vs REAPER
At a Glance
Adobe Audition Adobe Audition
REAPER REAPER
Starts at
From $22.99/mo, billed monthly Annual (Monthly) plan
Not published
Category
Audio Editing Video & Media
Audio Editing Music Production
Rating
4.5/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.6 664 reviews 4.7/5 Capterra 4.8 · G2 4.5 88 reviews
Free plan
No No
Watch out for
Cloud storage limited to 100GB on All Apps No overage fees or seat minimums.

Choose Adobe Audition or REAPER?

Adobe Audition

Choose Adobe Audition if

  • You want professional features
  • You want adobe integration
REAPER

Choose REAPER if

  • You want very affordable
  • You want lightweight

In-Depth Analysis

Adobe Audition Adobe Audition

Professional audio workstation

Fair value

Adobe Audition's pricing is on the expensive side for a single application, especially the $34.49/month 'Monthly' plan.

Watch out

Cloud storage limited to 100GB on All Apps

Strengths

  • Pro: Professional features
  • Pro: Adobe integration
  • Pro: Great for podcasts

Weaknesses

  • Con: Subscription required
  • Con: Overkill for simple editing

Key features

Multi-track editing Audio restoration Podcast production Sound effects Adobe integration Batch processing

REAPER REAPER

Record, edit, mix, and master audio and MIDI with a customizable DAW

Great value

REAPER's pricing is exceptionally fair and generous compared to the market.

Watch out

No overage fees or seat minimums.

Strengths

  • Pro: Very affordable
  • Pro: Lightweight
  • Pro: Powerful

Weaknesses

  • Con: Steeper learning curve
  • Con: UI takes getting used to

Key features

Multi-track recording MIDI support VST plugins Customizable UI Low CPU usage Affordable licensing

Plans and prices: Adobe Audition vs REAPER

Plans and prices of Adobe Audition and REAPER, as read on each vendor's pricing page. Each plan keeps its own billing unit.
Tool Plans and prices Source
Adobe Audition
  • Annual (Monthly): $22.99/mo, billed monthly
  • Monthly: $34.49/mo, billed monthly
  • Creative Cloud All Apps: $59.99/mo, billed monthly
adobe.com/plans read Oct 1, 2026
REAPER
  • Discounted: Usage-based, one-time or minimum-commitment pricing
  • Commercial: Usage-based, one-time or minimum-commitment pricing
reaper.fm read Oct 14, 2026

Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Adobe Audition pricing and REAPER pricing.

Key Takeaways

Adobe Audition

  • Choose if you want professional audio workstation

REAPER

  • Higher user rating: 4.7/5 vs 4.5/5

What the data shows

On the data below, REAPER leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.

  • REAPER has the higher user rating (4.5/5 from 664 reviews for Adobe Audition, 4.7/5 from 88 reviews for REAPER).
  • Adobe Audition starts at $22.99/mo, billed monthly; REAPER has no public paid plan price on file.

Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate

Frequently Asked Questions

How do Adobe Audition and REAPER compare in 2026?

On the data below, REAPER leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. REAPER has the higher user rating (4.5/5 from 664 reviews for Adobe Audition, 4.7/5 from 88 reviews for REAPER). Adobe Audition starts at $22.99/mo, billed monthly; REAPER has no public paid plan price on file.

What are Adobe Audition and REAPER used for?

Adobe Audition: Professional audio workstation. REAPER: Record, edit, mix, and master audio and MIDI with a customizable DAW.

What does Adobe Audition cost vs REAPER?

Adobe Audition's cheapest paid plan is Annual (Monthly) at $22.99/mo, billed monthly. REAPER has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 14, 2026.

What's the main difference between Adobe Audition and REAPER?

Adobe Audition's main strength: professional features. REAPER's main strength: very affordable.

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