Freedom251 › Audio Editing Software
Kwave
by Kwave
What Kwave is
Kwave is a free Linux sound editor for recording, playing, opening, and editing audio files. Its multitrack tools handle fades, custom amplitude curves, volume scaling, and normalization. Frequency processing includes lowpass, bandpass, and notch filters, plus pitch shifting. Other operations let you add noise or silence, change sample rate, reverse audio, insert audio from the clipboard, and export labeled audio blocks separately. A sonagram, or spectrogram, displays audio visually. Supported formats include WAV, Ogg/Opus, Ogg/Vorbis, MP3, FLAC, ASCII coded audio, and formats supported by libaudiofile; some are import-only. Kwave is licensed under GPL-2.0+ and developed openly by an international community. Linux installation is available through Discover or other AppStream stores, distribution package managers, and Flathub. KDE provides a handbook and community forum. The Kwave plan costs nothing.
Who it suits
Linux users who need multitrack audio editing, recording, filtering, visualization, and support for several common file formats. It also suits users seeking GPL-licensed software.
What it does well
- Free Linux application
- Multitrack editing
- Volume and frequency tools
- Sonagram visualization
- GPL-2.0+ license
What to know first
- Linux only
- Some formats are import-only
- No free trial listed
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Kwave | GPL-2.0+ · Linux app | Free |
As apps.kde.org lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Kwave provides a broad set of recording and editing tools in a free Linux package. Its format limitations and Linux-only availability matter when planning a workflow.
Facts from Kwave's own pages
- Community
- KDE describes the software as developed in the open by an international community. · apps.kde.org, 12 Oct 2026
- File formats
- Supported formats include WAV, Ogg/Opus, Ogg/Vorbis, MP3, FLAC, ASCII coded audio, and formats supported by libaudiofile; some formats are import-only. · apps.kde.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 1998 · apps.kde.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · apps.kde.org, 20 Sept 2026
- Frequency editing
- It offers lowpass, bandpass, and notch filters, plus pitch shifting. · apps.kde.org, 12 Oct 2026
- License
- Kwave is listed under the GPL-2.0+ license. · apps.kde.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Multitrack editing
- Yes · apps.kde.org, 20 Sept 2026
- Other editing features
- Features include adding noise or silence, changing sample rate, reversing audio, inserting audio from the clipboard, and exporting labeled audio blocks separately. · apps.kde.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Platform and install
- The KDE page lists Linux installation through Discover or other AppStream stores, distribution package managers, and Flathub. · apps.kde.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- KDE's software privacy policy says its software generally does not transfer information from users' devices except through explicit user action, with some exceptions such as optional periodic checks and opt-in telemetry where present. · kde.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Kwave is a sound editor for recording, playing, opening, and editing audio files. · apps.kde.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Support
- KDE links to the Kwave Handbook and a community forum for help. · apps.kde.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Supported platforms
- Linux · apps.kde.org, 20 Sept 2026
- Visualization
- Kwave can display a sonagram (spectrogram). · apps.kde.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Volume editing
- It supports fade in, fade out, custom amplitude curves, volume scaling, and normalization. · apps.kde.org, 12 Oct 2026
Where Kwave stands on Freedom251
- Audio Editing Software#62 of 131