The best noise removal software depends on when the noise gets in. For live calls, use real-time noise cancellation; for recordings you've already made, use a plugin or app that removes noise and reverb after the fact. Always record as cleanly as you can first, because removal works best on light noise, not a noisy room.
Every recording has some noise: the hum of a fridge, traffic, a laptop fan or the echo of a bare room. Modern AI tools are remarkably good at separating voice from all of that, but they work best when the problem is mild. Push them too hard and voices start to sound thin, watery or robotic.
This list covers live noise cancellation, standalone apps and plugins for editors. If you want a quick free fix, see my guide to cleaning up audio with AI for free, and if the noise is on your calls, here's how to test your Zoom audio.
Noise removal tools at a glance
Here's what each tool is, what it's good for and whether its own site names a free plan, a trial or neither. The list is alphabetical and in no particular order.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accentize | Dialogue plugins | Film and TV dialogue repair | Trial only |
| Acon Digital Restoration Suite | Restoration plugins | Hiss, hum and clicks | Trial only |
| Antinode Clear | Voice plugin | Noise and room echo in one pass | No |
| Cleanvoice | AI audio cleaner | Podcast clean-up online | Trial only |
| CrumplePop | Video editor plugins | Quick fixes inside the edit | Trial only |
| Hush | Mac app | Dialogue clean-up on a Mac | No |
| iZotope RX | Pro repair suite | Detailed spectral repair | Trial only |
| Krisp | Live noise cancellation | Calls and live meetings | Trial only |
| Waves Clarity Vx | Vocal plugin | Fast voice clean-up in a mix | No |
Noise removal apps and plugins
Accentize
Best for: Post-production editors cleaning location dialogue who want AI dialogue restoration plugins inside their editing or mixing software.
Acon Digital Restoration Suite
Best for: Audio editors restoring older recordings or noisy sessions who want classic de-noise, de-hum and de-click tools in one bundle.
Antinode Clear
Best for: Creators recording in untreated rooms who want a simple plugin that separates voice from noise and reverb with a few controls.
Cleanvoice
Best for: Podcasters who want background noise, filler sounds and mouth clicks cleaned up online without learning audio plugins.
CrumplePop
Best for: Video editors who want AI noise and echo fixes as plugins inside the editing apps they already use for their projects.
Hush
Best for: Mac users cleaning interviews and voiceovers who want a standalone app with separate noise and reverb controls and real-time preview.
iZotope RX
Best for: Audio engineers and post houses who need detailed repair of individual noises, clicks and hums on professional film, music and podcast projects.
Krisp
Best for: Remote workers and call teams who need background noise removed live during calls, before it ever reaches the other person.
Waves Clarity Vx
Best for: Music and podcast mixers who want quick vocal noise reduction inside their mixing session without a long chain of separate plugins.
A clean-up order that sounds natural
- Cut obvious problems first, such as bumps, coughs and long silences.
- Remove steady noise like hum and hiss, using a short section of room tone as a reference where the tool allows.
- Reduce room echo with a de-reverb step if the space was bare.
- Apply gentle EQ and compression to bring the voice forward.
- Listen on headphones and on a phone speaker, then back off any setting that makes the voice sound processed.
How quiet should background sound be?
The W3C's Understanding WCAG Success Criterion 1.4.7 says background sounds in prerecorded speech should be at least 20 decibels lower than the foreground speech, which it describes as roughly four times quieter. The aim is that people who are hard of hearing can separate speech from background sound.
It's a useful benchmark even if you're not producing for accessibility rules. Keep music beds and ambient noise well under the voice, and remove noise that competes with it, and your content becomes easier for everyone to follow, especially on phone speakers.
Live cancellation or post-production?
Live tools work during calls and recordings, removing noise before anyone hears it. They're ideal for meetings and remote interviews, but you can't undo what they've removed. Post-production tools work on files afterwards, so you can compare before and after and adjust strength.
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For anything important, record a clean original and clean a copy. That way, if the processed version sounds wrong, you still have the raw recording to try again.
Noise you can stop before it starts
- Turn off fans, air conditioning and fridges near the microphone while you record.
- Hang a duvet or add cushions in a bare room to soften echo.
- Move the microphone closer to your mouth and turn the input gain down.
- Unplug chargers if you hear electrical hum.
- Record a few seconds of room tone at the start of every session.
Ten minutes on the room saves an hour of clean-up, and the result sounds better than any plugin can make a noisy recording sound.
When to stop processing
Listen for the warning signs of over-processing: a watery or metallic tone, breaths that vanish, words that sound clipped at the end. When you hear them, reduce the strength of the noise removal until the voice sounds natural again, even if a little background remains.
It also helps to take a break and listen again later. Ears adjust quickly to processed audio, so a voice that sounded fine after an hour of editing can sound odd the next morning.
Do you make noise removal software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My advice on choosing noise removal software
Try each tool on the same short clip of your worst recording and compare them on headphones. Noise removal is easy to judge side by side and hard to judge from a feature list.
Use less than you think you need. A little background noise sounds natural; a voice stripped of every trace of the room sounds artificial, and listeners notice.
Before cleaning up, you need a good capture, and our list of recording software looks at tools for recording.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best noise removal software for podcasts?
Podcasters often use an online cleaner or a voice plugin that removes noise and echo together. Try a few on the same clip and compare.
Can AI remove background noise completely?
AI can remove a lot, but heavy noise often leaves artefacts. It works best on light noise in an otherwise clean recording.
Should I remove noise during recording or after?
Live cancellation suits calls and meetings. For recordings you'll edit, capture a clean original and remove noise afterwards so you can adjust it.
How quiet should background music be under speech?
WCAG 1.4.7 says background sounds should be at least 20 decibels lower than speech, roughly four times quieter.
Can noise removal fix echo?
Many tools include de-reverb, which reduces room echo. It's easier to soften the room with furnishings before you record.
