Tenacity review

Tenacity is a multitrack audio editor and recorder developed by volunteers as open source software, and it covers the same core jobs as Audacity: recording from real or virtual devices, editing on a multitrack timeline at arbitrary sample rates, and importing and exporting a wide range of formats that FFmpeg can extend. It supports VST, LV2 and AU plugins and audio up to 32-bit float. Two areas set it apart. Accessibility is a stated priority, with editing by keyboard, screen reader support and narration support. Automation is the other: you can script it in the built-in Nyquist language or drive it from Python, Perl and other languages over named pipes, which suits people who batch process episodes. Tenacity has absorbed earlier forks such as Audacium and Saucedacity. The trade-offs are practical: builds come from the releases page of its Codeberg repository, the project is smaller than Audacity, and there are no cloud or AI features. For most people Audacity is the simpler start; Tenacity suits those who want a community-run alternative.

Who it is for

open source users who want scripting and accessibility features

Price

Free and open source; no paid plan.

is developed by a group of volunteers as open-source software.
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Multitrack timeline with recording from real or virtual audio devices
• Up to 32-bit float audio
• VST, LV2 and AU plugin support
• Scripting in Nyquist, or in Python, Perl and other languages through named pipes
• Keyboard editing, screen reader support and narration support

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Open source and developed by volunteers, with no account or online services
• Strength: Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and other operating systems
• Strength: Import and export formats can be extended with FFmpeg
• Weakness: Pre-packaged builds come from the repository releases page rather than a simple installer page
• Weakness: Smaller community and slower release cadence than Audacity
• Weakness: No cloud saving, transcription or AI cleanup tools

Key facts

• Price: Free, open source
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux and others
• Plugin formats: VST, LV2, AU
• Audio quality: Up to 32-bit float

Where it ranks

Tenacity is No. 5 in our Best Free Audio Editing Software verdict.