FxSound review (2026): is it any good?
Free open-source Windows equalizer and volume booster
FxSound report card
Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for a free equalizer and volume booster on Windows
FxSound is a free Windows equalizer with volume and bass boost and presets. It runs only on Windows and is kept going by donations and a small team.
Who FxSound is for
- Fits if you want a free equalizer for Windows speakers or headphones
- Works for people who just want sound louder with a bass boost
Who FxSound is not for
- Not for you if you use a Mac, Linux, Android or iOS, as it is Windows only
- Watch out: it is run by a small team of contributors and funded by donations
- Watch out: older paid versions are still on the site as legacy downloads, which can confuse which one you get
- Too light for studio work, since it is an equalizer and booster rather than a mixer
Why FxSound gets a 3.0
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for moneyFree with no paid tier, which is below any price the utilities category charges.
- AFree plan and trialThe whole app is free, with no cap and no trial. It asks for donations.
- BFeaturesEqualizer, presets, volume and bass boost, voice emphasis and audio routing. The listing shows no gap in the job.
- BEase of useNo rating on record. You install it and pick a preset; nothing to set up.
- DPlatforms and integrationsWindows only (Intel/AMD and ARM64). The vendor only hopes for Mac and Linux builds.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from FxSound's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
Make FxSound? Put this grade on your site
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/fxsound#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/fxsound.svg" alt="FxSound: 3.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where FxSound stands among desktop utilities
FxSound's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 154 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade, and level with 27.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 107 of 186) and worst on platforms and integrations (D, above 0).
FxSound has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 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. FxSound’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 55 of 186, level with 131
- AFree plan and trialAbove 107 of 186, level with 79
- BFeaturesAbove 113 of 186, level with 72
- BEase of useAbove 78 of 186, level with 108
- 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 FxSound, or make your own?
Keep it
FxSound is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 154 of the 186 other desktop utilities we grade.
What you could not
- Audio cleaned up live as you speak.
- A real app for Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. FxSound’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 FxSound?
FxSound is a Windows program that processes a PC's audio output with an equalizer, effects and presets, aiming to raise volume, bass and clarity on laptop speakers and other basic hardware. It was a paid product for over 20 years before becoming free in 2022 and open source in 2023. It is now funded by donations from users.
Worth knowing
- Windows only; the vendor says it hopes to build Mac and Linux versions if contributions allow.
- System-wide processing is not possible on Android or iOS because of operating system restrictions, the vendor says.
- Funded by donations from users and run by a small team of contributors.
- Older paid versions are kept on the site as legacy downloads.
Key features
- Equalizer and presets
- An equalizer with presets for tuning music, calls, games and spoken audio.
- Volume and bass boost
- Raises volume with controlled peaking, and a Bass effect adds low-end punch.
- Voice emphasis
- The vendor says it targets the frequency range of the human voice, which it presents as useful for transcription work.
- Audio routing and volume control
- Includes audio routing and volume control for matching the sound to your headphones or speakers.
- Windows Intel/AMD and ARM64 builds
- The download page offers installers for x86/x64 PCs and for ARM64, plus legacy DFX Audio Enhancer and FxSound Enhancer versions.
FxSound pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, FxSound is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- The whole app is free; the project accepts donations.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Full app with equalizer, effects and presets, funded by user contributions. |
Read from fxsound.com on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with FxSound before you buy.
FxSound alternatives
- FxSound vs eqMac
Free plan · from $3/mo
- FxSound vs Voicemeeter
Free plan · from $15 one-time
- FxSound vs SoundSource
Free trial · from $49 one-time
Common questions
Does FxSound have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. FxSound is listed for Windows.
Does FxSound have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. FxSound is listed for Windows.
Is FxSound open source?
Yes. FxSound is open source, according to its own site.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.