BlackHole review (2026): is it any good?
Virtual audio loopback driver for routing sound between Mac apps
BlackHole report card
Fair · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for routing audio between Mac apps for free
BlackHole is a free virtual audio driver for Mac that passes sound from one app to another. It has no mixer or window of its own, so you build the routing yourself.
Who BlackHole is for
- 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
Who BlackHole is not for
- 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
Why BlackHole gets a 2.4
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree, with a Homebrew or Discord route instead of donating.
- AFree plan and trialFree outright with no cap, under GPLv3. No cap, no trial and no donation needed.
- DFeaturesIt 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.
- CEase of useNo rating on record. Routing needs aggregate or multi-output devices to be set up by hand.
- DPlatforms and integrationsMac only. The vendor's Windows page says it is not ready.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Existential Audio's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/blackhole#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/blackhole.svg" alt="BlackHole: 2.4 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where BlackHole stands among desktop utilities
BlackHole's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 35 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 33.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 107 of 186) and worst on features (D, above 0).
BlackHole has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 187 desktop utilities we grade, cut by the letter each got. BlackHole’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 55 of 186, level with 131
- AFree plan and trialAbove 107 of 186, level with 79
- DFeaturesAbove 0 of 186, level with 1
- CEase of useAbove 5 of 186, level with 72
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 186, level with 110
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 103 desktop utilities. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
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
Keep BlackHole, or make your own?
Keep it
BlackHole is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 118 of the 186 other desktop utilities grade higher.
What you could not
- A real app for macOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. BlackHole’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is BlackHole?
BlackHole is a macOS virtual audio driver that lets one application send its audio to another with no added driver latency. It comes in 2-channel, 16-channel and 64-channel versions, and its source code is on GitHub under the GPLv3. The installer is offered for a suggested donation, or free through Discord or Homebrew.
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- 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.
BlackHole pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, BlackHole is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- Free: get it through Homebrew or the vendor's Discord instead of donating.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Read from existential.audio on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with BlackHole before you buy.
BlackHole alternatives
- BlackHole vs Voicemeeter
Free plan · from $15 one-time
- BlackHole vs eqMac
Free plan · from $3/mo
- BlackHole vs SoundSource
Free trial · from $49 one-time
Common questions
Does BlackHole have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. BlackHole is listed for macOS.
Does BlackHole have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. BlackHole is listed for macOS.
Is BlackHole open source?
Yes. BlackHole is open source, according to its own site.
Does BlackHole work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.