# SoundSource

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

SoundSource is a macOS menu bar app from Rogue Amoeba for controlling audio per application. Each app can have its own volume, its own output device and its own effects, and the same controls apply to the system's output, input and sound-effects devices. Version 6 adds output groups and AirPlay streaming, so one app or all audio can play on several speakers at once. It is sold as a one-time license.

- **Category:** Desktop Utilities
- **Made by:** Rogue Amoeba Software, Inc. (since 2002)
- **Website:** https://rogueamoeba.com/soundsource/
- **Runs on:** macOS
- **Facts last checked:** Oct 9, 2026

## Pricing

SoundSource is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $49 one-time purchase.

- **Pricing model:** Free trial
- **Free plan:** None.
- **Free trial:** Free trial with every feature; after 20 minutes noise is overlaid on adjusted audio until the app is relaunched.

| Plan | Price | What you get |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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. |

Read from https://rogueamoeba.com/soundsource/buy.php on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with SoundSource before buying.

## Ways to pay less

- **Academic discount for students and educators** (Education): 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. Source: https://rogueamoeba.com/store/deals/AcademicDiscount.php
- **$25 upgrade from SoundSource 4 or 5** (Other savings): Owners of a SoundSource 5 or SoundSource 4 license can upgrade to SoundSource 6 for $25 instead of the $49 full price. Source: https://rogueamoeba.com/soundsource/buy.php
- **50% off for Airfoil owners** (Other savings): People who own an Airfoil license get 50% off when they move to SoundSource, applied after entering the Airfoil license key. Source: https://rogueamoeba.com/store/deals/AirfoilToSoundSource.php
- **Entire Rogue Amoeba Lineup bundle** (Other savings): The deals page offers a discounted bundle of every Rogue Amoeba product, SoundSource included, and says mailing-list members receive exclusive discounts. Source: https://rogueamoeba.com/store/deals/

## Key features

- **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.

## Good for

- Mac users who want a separate volume level for each app
- Sending one app's sound to different speakers or AirPlay devices than the rest
- People who want an equalizer or Audio Unit effects on all Mac audio

## Worth knowing

- 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.

## Works with

Apple Shortcuts, AirPlay, Audio Units, Sonos, HomePod

**Tags:** Menu bar app, One-time purchase

## Alternatives

- [EarTrumpet](https://toolgpa.com/tools/eartrumpet): Per-app volume mixer for the Windows system tray. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/eartrumpet-vs-soundsource)
- [MonitorControl](https://toolgpa.com/tools/monitorcontrol): Free, open-source brightness and volume control for Mac displays. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/monitorcontrol-vs-soundsource)
- [BetterDisplay](https://toolgpa.com/tools/betterdisplay): Display scaling, brightness and DDC control for Mac. [Compare](https://toolgpa.com/compare/betterdisplay-vs-soundsource)

## Sources

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026:

- https://rogueamoeba.com/soundsource/
- https://rogueamoeba.com/soundsource/buy.php
- https://rogueamoeba.com/soundsource/whatsnew.php
- https://rogueamoeba.com/support/knowledgebase/?showArticle=Misc-AboutAppTrials&product=SoundSource
- https://rogueamoeba.com/store/
- https://rogueamoeba.com/store/deals/
- https://rogueamoeba.com/store/deals/AcademicDiscount.php
- https://rogueamoeba.com/store/deals/AirfoilToSoundSource.php
- https://rogueamoeba.com/company/

Page: https://toolgpa.com/tools/soundsource
Listed by ToolGPA (toolgpa.com).