BlackHole vs SoundSource (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, BlackHole grades higher than SoundSource: 2.4 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 9, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
BlackHole grades higher on value for money and the free plan. SoundSource grades higher on features and ease of use. They get the same grade on platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
BlackHole
Virtual audio loopback driver for routing sound between Mac apps
SoundSource
Per-app volume, output routing and audio effects for the Mac
Which one is for you
Pick BlackHole if
- Fits if you record or stream your Mac's own sound
- Works for people who already use an audio app that can pick an input device
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want a mixer, since it has no interface of its own
- Skip it if you use Windows, as the vendor says it isn't ready there
- Watch out: projects that aren't GPLv3 need a licence from Existential Audio, and the readme gives no price
- Watch out: the readme advises against the AirPods microphone as the clock device
Pick SoundSource if
- Fits if you want a different volume level for each app on your Mac
- Works for sending music to other speakers while everything else stays on the laptop
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you're on Windows, or on a Mac older than macOS 15, which needs a legacy download
- Pricey if all you need is the odd volume tweak, at $49 for the license
- Not for you if you expect free upgrades for good: a license covers the current major version, and upgrades are $25
- Watch out: the trial overlays noise on adjusted audio after 20 minutes until you relaunch
- Watch out: refunds must be asked for within 14 days and are decided case by case
How we grade them
| 2.4GPABlackHoleFair | 2.2GPASoundSourceFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree, with a Homebrew or Discord route instead of donating. | B$49 once per user, on one or more of your own Macs, with no subscription. Against the $2.99 a month utilities here charge in the middle, that's inside two years' subscription. A license covers the current major version, and upgrading from 4 or 5 is $25. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree outright with no cap, under GPLv3. No cap, no trial and no donation needed. | CThere's no free version. The trial has every feature and asks for no card, but after 20 minutes noise is overlaid on any audio you've adjusted until you relaunch the app. Good enough to judge it, not to live on. |
| Features | DIt is a driver and not a mixer: sound goes to other apps or devices you set up, so it needs another product to be useful. | CMac audio is its one job and it covers it fully: per-app volume and mute, per-app output device, a 10-band equaliser and Audio Unit plugins, AirPlay to HomePods and Sonos, output groups, and Quick Configs that switch a whole setup in one click. It does nothing beyond audio. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record. Routing needs aggregate or multi-output devices to be set up by hand. | BNo store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up: it's one menu bar list of your apps with a slider each, which anyone can picture. Effects and output groups ask a bit more of you. |
| Platforms and integrations | DMac only. The vendor's Windows page says it is not ready. | DMac only. SoundSource 6 runs on macOS 15 to 27, and older systems need a legacy download. It has actions for Apple Shortcuts and plays to AirPlay, Sonos and HomePod speakers. No Windows version. |
| Best for | routing audio between Mac apps for free | a separate volume knob for every app on your Mac |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: BlackHole and SoundSource. How we grade
Where they differ
- BlackHole is open source, according to its own site.
- SoundSource can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- SoundSource also covers menu bar app.
At a glance
| BlackHole | SoundSource | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free trial |
| Starts at | Free | $49 one-time purchase |
| Free plan | Free: get it through Homebrew or the vendor's Discord instead of donating. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | Free trial with every feature; after 20 minutes noise is overlaid on adjusted audio until the app is relaunched |
| macOS | ||
| Made by | Existential Audio | Rogue Amoeba Software, Inc. |
| Price read from | existential.audio | rogueamoeba.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Worth knowing
BlackHole
- Mac only; the vendor's Windows page says BlackHole is not ready for Windows.
- It is a driver with no mixer of its own; sound is sent to other apps or devices that you set up.
- Projects that are not GPLv3 need a license from Existential Audio; the readme gives no price.
- The readme advises against using the AirPods microphone as the clock device in an aggregate or multi-output device.
SoundSource
- macOS only. SoundSource 6 runs on macOS 15 to 27; older systems need a legacy download.
- There is no free version. In trial mode, noise is overlaid on adjusted audio after 20 minutes until the app is relaunched.
- A license covers the current major version; owners of SoundSource 4 or 5 pay $25 to upgrade to version 6.
- Refunds must be requested within 14 days of purchase and are issued case by case.
Key features
BlackHole
- Audio loopback between apps
- Lets applications pass audio to other applications through a virtual device, with zero additional latency according to the vendor.
- 2, 16 and 64 channel versions
- The download page names 2-channel and 16-channel versions, and Homebrew offers blackhole-2ch, blackhole-16ch and blackhole-64ch.
- All standard sample rates
- Supports 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4 and 192 kHz.
- Customizable build
- The GitHub readme says channel count, latency and hidden devices can be customized.
- Intel and Apple silicon
- Built for both, and compatible with macOS 10.10 Yosemite and newer.
SoundSource
- Per-app volume control
- Sets the volume of each application relative to the others from one list, or mutes an app entirely.
- Per-app output routing
- Sends an individual app to a chosen output device, for example music to external speakers while everything else plays through the Mac's built-in output.
- Audio effects
- A built-in 10-band equalizer, Volume Overdrive, Magic Boost and Headphone EQ, plus Audio Unit plugins, applied to a single app or to all system audio.
- AirPlay and output groups
- Streams one app or all audio to AirPlay devices such as HomePods, Apple TVs and Sonos speakers. Output groups play to several devices at once.
- System devices and volume keys
- Volume, balance, input level and sample rate for the output, input and sound-effects devices. Super Volume Keys make the keyboard volume keys work with HDMI and DisplayPort outputs.
- Shortcuts and Quick Configs
- Actions for the Shortcuts app automate audio changes, and Quick Configs save a whole setup of devices, volumes and effects to switch to in one click.
Plans
BlackHole
Free$0
Open source under the GPLv3; the download page's button is a $10 donation that also gives the installer, and Homebrew and Discord are free.
SoundSource
SoundSource License Key$49
one-time purchase, per user (USD; local taxes may apply)
Unlocks the current version, SoundSource 6, for a single user on one or more personally owned Macs.
Ways to pay less
BlackHole
No public discounts listed.
SoundSource
- Education
Academic discount for students and educators
Rogue Amoeba gives an academic discount to students, educators and others affiliated with academia who enter a school email address. The page does not state the amount.
- Other savings
$25 upgrade from SoundSource 4 or 5
Owners of a SoundSource 5 or SoundSource 4 license can upgrade to SoundSource 6 for $25 instead of the $49 full price.
- Other savings
50% off for Airfoil owners
People who own an Airfoil license get 50% off when they move to SoundSource, applied after entering the Airfoil license key.
- Other savings
Entire Rogue Amoeba Lineup bundle
The deals page offers a discounted bundle of every Rogue Amoeba product, SoundSource included, and says mailing-list members receive exclusive discounts.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, BlackHole or SoundSource?
As of Nov 13, 2026, BlackHole is free, and SoundSource starts at $49 one-time purchase.
Which has a free plan, BlackHole or SoundSource?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only BlackHole has a free plan. SoundSource does not, though it has a free trial.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.