Compare
Which Mac audio app do you need?
There is no single best one. Grouping speakers, shaping sound, routing between apps and recording are four different jobs, and most apps do one of them well. These are honest comparisons, including the cases where Chorus is the wrong answer.
Looking for an alternative
Alternatives
5 SoundSource alternatives for Mac in 2026
SoundSource costs $49 and does grouping, per-app control and an equaliser. FineTune, Sound Control, Boom 3D and Chorus each cover part of that job.
August 2026
Alternatives
4 Loopback alternatives for Mac in 2026
Looking past Loopback's $99 app-to-app routing? BlackHole is the free version, Audio MIDI Setup combines real devices, and Chorus solves a different problem.
August 2026
Alternatives
4 BlackHole alternatives for Mac in 2026
Looking past BlackHole? Compare Loopback, MultiSoundChanger and Chorus: what each one actually does, what it costs, and which one fits your real problem.
August 2026
Alternatives
4 Boom 3D alternatives for Mac in 2026
Boom 3D boosts volume and adds a 3D effect. SoundSource, FineTune and Sound Control all offer a real equaliser. Chorus does neither, an honest roundup.
August 2026
Alternatives
Rogue Amoeba alternatives for Mac audio routing
Rogue Amoeba makes four separate Mac audio apps that each do a different job. Here is a lighter or cheaper alternative for each one, honestly mapped.
August 2026
Working out what you need
Buying guide
The best audio routing apps for Mac in 2026
Audio routing on a Mac is really five jobs: grouping speakers, shaping sound, routing between apps, recording and streaming. The best pick for each.
August 2026
Buying guide
Is SoundSource worth the money in 2026?
SoundSource is $49 for output grouping, per-app control, an equaliser, effects and plugins. An honest verdict on who that price is worth it for.
August 2026
Buying guide
Free vs paid audio routing apps for Mac
Audio MIDI Setup, BlackHole and other free tools do one job by hand. Paid apps bundle several jobs with saved setups and shortcuts. What each side buys you.
August 2026
Chorus head to head
Head to head
Chorus vs SoundSource: which do you need?
SoundSource 6 is the bigger app, with an equaliser, effects and plugins for $49. Chorus does grouping and routing for $4.99. An honest comparison.
August 2026
Head to head
Chorus vs Sound Control: which one do you need?
Sound Control is a subscription, $1.99/mo or $14.99/yr. Chorus is $4.99 once. Both do per-app audio; only one has an equaliser. An honest comparison.
August 2026
Head to head
Chorus vs Loopback: which one do you need?
Chorus groups your Mac's speakers and mics for $4.99. Loopback builds virtual devices to route audio between apps for $99. An honest comparison.
August 2026
Head to head
Chorus vs Audio Hijack: which one do you need?
Audio Hijack records and captures sound for $69. Chorus groups your outputs and routes apps for $4.99. Different jobs, not really rivals. Here's the split.
August 2026
Head to head
Chorus vs Airfoil: which one do you need?
Airfoil streams your Mac's audio across the house for $29. Chorus groups and routes the outputs your Mac already sees for $4.99. An honest comparison.
August 2026
Head to head
Chorus vs BlackHole: which one do you need?
BlackHole is a free virtual audio driver with no interface. Chorus is a $4.99 menu-bar app that groups outputs and routes apps out of the box.
August 2026
Head to head
Chorus vs FineTune: which do you need?
FineTune is free, open source, and needs macOS 15. Chorus is $4.99, works on macOS 13, and has no equaliser. An honest comparison.
August 2026
Head to head
Chorus vs MultiSoundChanger: which one do you need?
MultiSoundChanger is free and fixes one thing: volume on a grouped Mac output. Chorus fixes that too, plus per-app routing and shortcuts, for $4.99.
August 2026
Head to head
Chorus vs Audio MIDI Setup: is the free route enough?
Audio MIDI Setup builds a Multi-Output Device for free, using the same mechanism as Chorus. Here is what $4.99 actually buys on top of it.
August 2026