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Alternatives · Utilities

eqMac alternatives

As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded eqMac alternative is FxSound (3.0 GPA). It's also the best free one.

eqMac compared with 4 alternatives: SoundSource, BlackHole, FxSound and Voicemeeter.

eqMac has a free plan. Paid plans start at $3 per month, or $30 per year. 3 of the 4 alternatives are free or have a free plan. One more offers a free trial.

Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from

Black Friday: is there a eqMac sale?

At a glance

ToolPriceFree planRuns on
eqMacThis toolFree plan · from $3/moYesmacOS
SoundSourceFree trial · from $49 one-timeTrial onlymacOS
BlackHoleFreeFreemacOS
FxSoundFreeFreeWindows
VoicemeeterFree plan · from $15 one-timeYesWindows

Price against what you get

eqMac starts at $2.50 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 1 of the 2 alternatives on this chart scores higher and starts lower: FxSound.

BlackHole starts lower without scoring higher.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

D1.0C2.0B3.0A4.0Free$0.5$1$2$5$10$20$50$100More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lesseqMacBlackHoleFxSound

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

  • The best score at each price
  • Has a free plan
  • No free plan
The full chart of desktop utilities, and the best at every price

How each one differs from eqMac

  1. SoundSource

    Per-app volume, output routing and audio effects for the Mac

    • SoundSource starts at $49 one-time purchase.
    • SoundSource has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike eqMac.

    Suits: Mac users who want a separate volume level for each app

  2. BlackHole

    Virtual audio loopback driver for routing sound between Mac apps

    • BlackHole is free.
    • BlackHole is open source, according to its own site.
    • BlackHole does not cover menu bar app, which eqMac does.

    Suits: Streamers and podcasters capturing one app's sound in another

  3. FxSound

    Free open-source Windows equalizer and volume booster

    • FxSound is free.
    • FxSound also lists a Windows app.
    • FxSound lists no macOS app, which eqMac has.
    • FxSound is open source, according to its own site.
    • FxSound also covers noise cancellation.

    Suits: Windows users with quiet laptop speakers or basic headphones

  4. Voicemeeter

    Virtual audio mixer for Windows, sold as donationware

    • Voicemeeter starts at $15 one-time (default price; buyer picks from five amounts).
    • Voicemeeter also lists a Windows app.
    • Voicemeeter lists no macOS app, which eqMac has.
    • Voicemeeter does not cover menu bar app, which eqMac does.

    Suits: Streamers and podcasters mixing a microphone with music and game audio

Limits worth knowing in eqMac

  • The unlimited-band equalizer, app mixer and spatial audio are Pro only.
  • Recording, hotkeys, cloud sync, virtual output and remote control are listed as in development, not available yet.
  • The Pro Lifetime License covers one Mac and current Pro features only.
  • The public GitHub repository holds only v1.3.2 without Pro features; newer releases are developed in a private fork, so the current app is not open source.
eqMac pricing and details

Common questions

What are the alternatives to eqMac?

The alternatives to eqMac in this directory are SoundSource, BlackHole, FxSound and Voicemeeter. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with eqMac.

Is there a free alternative to eqMac?

Yes. BlackHole and FxSound are free to use. Voicemeeter has a free plan alongside paid ones.

Which eqMac alternatives work on Windows?

The eqMac listing does not include a Windows app. FxSound and Voicemeeter list one.

Is there an open-source alternative to eqMac?

BlackHole and FxSound are described as open source on their own sites.

When were these prices checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 9, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.

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