BlackHole vs Voicemeeter (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Voicemeeter grades higher than BlackHole: 2.6 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
BlackHole grades higher on the free plan. Voicemeeter grades higher on features. They get the same grade on value for money, ease of use and 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
Voicemeeter
Virtual audio mixer for Windows, sold as donationware
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 Voicemeeter if
- Fits if you stream or record and need to route a mic and app sound on Windows
- Makes sense if you'd rather pay once than rent a mixer
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you use a Mac, since this is Windows software and the Mac apps are sold separately
- Tight if you want it simple, as there is a routing setup to learn
- Watch out: install and removal both need admin mode and a reboot
- Watch out: Banana and Potato are separate editions with separate prices, and work use is limited to levels P3 to P5
How we grade them
| 2.4GPABlackHoleFair | 2.6GPAVoicemeeterGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree, with a Homebrew or Discord route instead of donating. | A$15 one-time for the base edition and $30 for Banana, both under a year of the typical utility subscription. These are default amounts and the shop offers five levels. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree outright with no cap, under GPLv3. No cap, no trial and no donation needed. | BFree to use with every function, but after 30 days the About box asks you to buy a licence. Business use is limited to the higher contribution levels. |
| 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. | BA virtual device that mixes voice with other audio, plus EQ and recorder in Banana and effects and send/return in Potato. No gap shown in the core job. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record. Routing needs aggregate or multi-output devices to be set up by hand. | CNo rating on record, and you have to wire up inputs and outputs yourself. Setup runs in admin mode and needs a reboot after install and after removal. |
| Platforms and integrations | DMac only. The vendor's Windows page says it is not ready. | DWindows only. The Mac apps are listed separately in the shop. |
| Best for | routing audio between Mac apps for free | mixing mics and app sound with a virtual mixer on Windows |
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 Voicemeeter. How we grade
Where they differ
- BlackHole is open source, according to its own site.
- Voicemeeter can be bought with a one-time purchase.
At a glance
| BlackHole | Voicemeeter | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $15 one-time (default price; buyer picks from five amounts) |
| Free plan | Free: get it through Homebrew or the vendor's Discord instead of donating. | Free to use with all functions, except optional features; after 30 days the About box invites you to buy a license or keep evaluating. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Existential Audio | VB-Audio Software |
| Price read from | existential.audio | shop.vb-audio.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 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.
Voicemeeter
- Windows only; the vendor's shop lists its Mac apps separately.
- Prices shown are the shop's default amounts; the shop offers five contribution levels, and professional or business use is limited to levels P3 to P5.
- The setup program must be run in administrative mode and needs a reboot after installation and after removal.
- Banana and Potato are separate editions with their own prices; the Potato license is delivered as an activation code.
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.
Voicemeeter
- Virtual audio device
- Acts as a virtual input and output so any microphone, application or device can be routed to any other.
- Wide interface support
- Supports MME, DirectX, KS, WDM, WASAPI and ASIO interfaces on Windows XP through Windows 11, including ARM64.
- Mixing a voice with other audio
- The vendor lists mixing a voice with music or a game for a call, a live podcast or a recording.
- Banana: EQ and recorder
- Banana adds a parametric EQ on all buses, effects on input strips and a multi-format audio player and recorder.
- Potato: effects and send/return
- Potato adds two internal effects, reverb and multitap delay, and an external AUX send and return.
- No internet needed
- The vendor says the application does not need an internet connection and does not collect user data.
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.
Voicemeeter
Free use$0
Install and use the app first; payment is requested but not forced.
Voicemeeter$15
one-time, default price; permanent license for one PC configuration
Mixes 3 inputs to 3 outputs through 2 buses. The shop lets you choose from five contribution levels.
Voicemeeter Banana$30
one-time, default price; permanent license for one PC configuration
Advanced mixer with 3 physical and 2 virtual I/O, effects on input strips and a parametric EQ on every bus.
Voicemeeter Potato$35
one-time, default price; permanent license for one PC configuration
5 physical and 3 virtual I/O, internal reverb and multitap delay, and external send/return.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, BlackHole or Voicemeeter?
As of Nov 13, 2026, BlackHole is free, and Voicemeeter starts at $15 one-time (default price; buyer picks from five amounts).
Which has a free plan, BlackHole or Voicemeeter?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both BlackHole and Voicemeeter have a free plan.
Which platforms do BlackHole and Voicemeeter run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only BlackHole lists a macOS app and only Voicemeeter lists a Windows app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
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.