Soundflower vs Virtual Audio Cable : Which is Better?

Soundflower icon

Soundflower

Soundflower is a MacOS system extension that allows applications to pass audio to other applications. Developed by Matt Ingalls

License: Open Source

Categories: Audio & Music

Apps available for Mac OS X

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Virtual Audio Cable icon

Virtual Audio Cable

Virtual Audio Cable is a WDM multimedia driver that allows a user to transfer audio streams from one application to another. Developed by Eugene Muzychenko

License: Commercial

Categories: Audio & Music

Apps available for Windows

Soundflower VS Virtual Audio Cable

Soundflower is a free, open-source tool primarily for macOS that offers basic audio routing capabilities, while Virtual Audio Cable is a more advanced, professional-grade software available for both Windows and macOS, providing broader functionality but at a cost.

Soundflower

Pros:

  • Free and open-source
  • Easy to install and set up
  • Lightweight and low CPU usage
  • Compatible with macOS
  • Can route audio between applications easily

Cons:

  • Limited to macOS
  • No longer actively maintained
  • Can sometimes cause audio latency issues

Virtual Audio Cable

Pros:

  • Supports both Windows and macOS
  • High-quality audio transmission
  • Can create multiple virtual audio devices
  • Offers more advanced features for audio routing
  • Professional-grade performance

Cons:

  • Paid software (not free)
  • Can be complex for beginners
  • Requires installation of additional drivers

Compare Soundflower

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Compare JACK Audio Connection Kit and Soundflower and decide which is most suitable for you.
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Compare VB-Audio CABLE and Soundflower and decide which is most suitable for you.