The short version
Searching for a SoundSource alternative usually means one of two things: you want the same toolkit for less money, or you only need part of what SoundSource does and would rather not pay for the rest. The four apps below split roughly along that line, and none of them matches SoundSource feature for feature, so the table is worth reading closely before you pick one.
SoundSource alternatives at a glance
| App | Price | Grouping | Per-app control | Equaliser |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SoundSource 6 | $49, or $25 upgrade | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Chorus | $4.99 once | Yes | Yes | No |
| FineTune | Free | Some | Yes | Yes |
| Sound Control | $1.99/mo or $14.99/yr | Not a focus | Yes | Yes |
| Boom 3D | $19.99-$49.99 | No | Basic | Yes |
Two of the table's middle cells deserve a little more context than a single word gives. FineTune lists multi-device output among its features, but the app is built primarily around per-app volume and EQ rather than around combining several outputs into one group the way Chorus and SoundSource do, which is why it shows as "some" rather than a plain yes. Sound Control's listing mentions priority device settings, not output grouping as such, which is why it shows as "not a focus" here.
Going through the options
Prices below were checked against each app's own listing in August 2026.
Chorus
Chorus is Theodore HQ's own menu-bar app for grouping outputs, routing individual apps to different devices, and switching whole setups with a keyboard shortcut. It costs $4.99 once, with a 30-day free trial that needs no account or card details, and one licence covers up to three Macs on macOS 13 or later. It is genuinely good at the routing job: no driver, no kernel extension, and setups you can save and swap without digging through System Settings. The honest limitation is that there is no equaliser and no audio effects, so if shaping the sound itself is what you are after, look further down this list.
FineTune
FineTune is a free, open-source per-app volume and EQ tool for Mac, built by developer Ronit Singh (github.com/ronitsingh10/FineTune), and it is described by others as a free alternative to SoundSource. It runs from the menu bar with per-app volume control, multi-device output, a 10-band equaliser with 20 presets, AutoEQ headphone correction, and volume boosting up to 4x, and it restores each app's device, volume and EQ automatically when a device reconnects. Its equaliser and per-app control genuinely compete with SoundSource's, for nothing. The catch is that it requires macOS 15 Sequoia or later, so older Macs are shut out.
Sound Control
Sound Control, from Static Z Software, is free to download with a subscription for the full feature set, $1.99 a month or $14.99 a year on the Mac App Store. It gives you per-app volume and mute, an equaliser with Audio Units support, a choice of 10 or 31-band graphic EQ, and priority device settings. It is built around shaping and prioritising sound rather than combining outputs, so grouping several speakers into one isn't really what it's for. If an ongoing subscription for EQ control suits you, it is a capable option.
Boom 3D
Boom 3D, from Global Delight, is free to download with in-app purchases: a Lifetime Base Pack at $49.99 and a Lifetime Discount Pack at $19.99, per its App Store listing. It is a volume booster and equaliser first, with 10 and 31-band presets and a 3D surround-sound effect, plus basic per-app volume control. Worth knowing upfront: Boom 3D is not an output-routing tool. Its job is boosting and shaping the sound coming out of your Mac, not grouping speakers or sending different apps to different outputs, so it solves a different problem to SoundSource despite showing up in the same searches.
Every feature free for 30 days. No account, no card details.
Download for MacSo which should you pick?
Want the fullest SoundSource-style toolkit for less, or for free? FineTune covers grouping, per-app control and an equaliser at no cost, provided you're on macOS 15 or later. Want an equaliser on a subscription rather than a one-time buy? Sound Control does that from $1.99 a month. Want volume boosting and a 3D sound effect rather than output routing? Boom 3D is built for that.
Want grouping, per-app routing and keyboard-shortcut setups with no equaliser, for $4.99 once? That's Chorus, and it's worth trying free for 30 days before you decide either way.
None of these four is a straight swap for SoundSource, and that's really the point. SoundSource bundles grouping, routing, an equaliser and effects into one $49 app, while the field below it is made up of tools that each do a slice of that job well. Matching the slice to what you actually use is worth more than chasing the biggest feature list.
For the full detail on its equaliser, effects and plugin support, see SoundSource's own product page.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to SoundSource?
Yes. FineTune is a free, open-source per-app volume and EQ tool for Mac, built by developer Ronit Singh, and it covers most of what SoundSource does: per-app control, multi-device output and a 10-band equaliser. The catch is that it requires macOS 15 Sequoia or later, so it is not an option on older Macs.
Does Chorus have an equaliser like SoundSource?
No. Chorus groups outputs, routes individual apps and switches setups with a keyboard shortcut, but it has no equaliser and no audio effects. If shaping the sound itself matters to you, SoundSource, FineTune, Sound Control or Boom 3D all have an equaliser and Chorus does not.
Which SoundSource alternative is closest to matching it feature for feature?
FineTune covers the most ground for the least money: per-app control, multi-device output and a 10-band equaliser, all free. It requires macOS 15 Sequoia or later, which is the one thing standing between it and being a full free replacement.
Does Boom 3D group multiple speakers together like SoundSource?
No. Boom 3D is a volume booster and equaliser first, with 10 and 31-band presets and a 3D surround-sound effect, plus basic per-app volume control. Grouping several outputs to play as one is not what it is built for.
What does Chorus cost and what does it cover?
Chorus is $4.99 once, with a 30-day free trial that needs no account and no card details. One licence covers up to three Macs, and it runs on macOS 13 or later on both Intel and Apple Silicon.
