Editing Software
Updated 2026-09-08
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REAPER Review 2026

Highly customizable digital audio workstation known for its lightweight footprint, extensive scripting capabilities, and extremely affordable pricing. One license buys the full program: $60 for personal use or a business under $20,000 a year, $225 for everyone else, after a 60-day evaluation that is not feature-limited.

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Pricing

Free tier: 60-day evaluation with the full feature set

Discounted

$60/

  • Full features, no restrictions
  • Free updates through v8.99
  • Personal use, businesses under $20,000/year revenue
  • Educational and non-profit organizations

Commercial

$225/

  • Full features, no restrictions
  • Free updates through v8.99
  • Businesses over $20,000/year revenue

Pros

  • Exceptional value at $60 for personal use
  • Extremely lightweight and fast
  • Highly customizable with scripting
  • Frequent updates and active development
  • Full-featured 60-day trial

Cons

  • Steeper learning curve
  • Default interface is utilitarian
  • Requires customization for best workflow
  • Smaller user community than Pro Tools

Best For

  • Budget-conscious professionals
  • Power users who love customization
  • Those wanting pro features at indie prices
  • Podcasters who also produce music

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Frequently asked questions

How much does REAPER cost?
REAPER has two plans: Discounted at $60 as a one-time purchase and Commercial at $225 as a one-time purchase.
Is REAPER free?
No, but the trial is unusually generous. REAPER gives you 60 days of evaluation with full functionality and no feature locks. After that a license is $60 for personal use, or for an individual or business making under $20,000 a year, and $225 for any larger commercial use. Both are one-time purchases and include free updates through v8.99.
What is REAPER used for?
REAPER is a digital audio workstation used for music production, podcast and spoken-word editing, sound design, and post-production audio for video. It handles multitrack non-destructive editing, VST plugins, and video tracks, and its scripting and custom actions let people rebuild the interface around one workflow. Radio and podcast producers use it because it launches fast, runs on old hardware, and costs $60.
Is REAPER good for podcast editing?
Yes, with a setup cost measured in hours rather than dollars. REAPER handles interview assembly, multitrack cleanup, and batch export well, and $60 covers everything with no subscription. The default layout is built for music, so most podcasters install a theme and custom actions before it feels comfortable. If you want defaults that work on day one, Hindenburg PRO or Audacity gets you editing sooner.
What's the difference between REAPER's discounted and commercial licenses?
Only who is allowed to buy them. The $60 discounted license covers personal use, individuals or businesses under $20,000 a year in gross revenue, and educational or non-profit organizations. The $225 commercial license covers everyone else. The software is identical, and both are one-time purchases with free updates through v8.99.

Turn Episodes Into Content

REAPER handles the editing. PodRewind turns your episodes into a searchable archive you can chat with—then generates show notes, social clips, and blog posts automatically.

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