What Does SoundSource Do and Why Look for Alternatives?
We make LitPads and LitLink, so this page sticks to what each developer publishes; competitor facts were checked on November 5, 2026. Prices are US prices.
SoundSource by Rogue Amoeba lives in the Mac menu bar and gives every app its own volume, its own output device and its own effects. Rogue Amoeba sells it alongside Loopback ($99) and Audio Hijack ($69). LitLink Pro puts per-app volume, per-app EQ and per-app output routing into one $29 app, and its eight separate tracks let other apps pick up single apps, which overlaps with parts of both SoundSource and Loopback.
SoundSource installs Rogue Amoeba's audio component, ARK, which replaced the older ACE on macOS 14 and later. Installing ARK asks for your administrator password plus System Audio Access and Microphone Access.
How Does LitLink Pro Compare to SoundSource Feature by Feature?
| Feature | LitLink | SoundSource | Background Music |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free; Pro $29 one-time or $3.99/month | $49; upgrade from 5 or 4 $25 | Free, open source |
| Trial | 7 days of Pro, no payment needed | Noise overlaid after 20 minutes, resets on relaunch | Not needed, free |
| Per-app volume and mute | Free | Yes | Yes |
| Per-app EQ | Pro, with a live curve | 10-band EQ | Not in its docs |
| Per-app output device | Pro | Yes | Not in its docs |
| Audio Unit effects | Pro, per app | Yes | Not in its docs |
| Other built-in effects | Peak limiter and boost up to 400% per app (Pro) | Magic Boost, Headphone EQ, Balance and Pan, Volume Overdrive | Volume boost above maximum |
| Other extras | Virtual device for other apps, mic passthrough, recording | AirPlay per app, output groups, Super Volume Keys, Quick Configs | Auto-pause music, system recording |
| macOS | 14 or later; per-app routing 14.2 or later | 15 to 27 (version 6.1.6) | 10.13 or later (version 0.5.0, still alpha) |
Sources: SoundSource, SoundSource pricing, SoundSource manual, SoundSource trial, Background Music README, Background Music releases. “Not in its docs” means the developer does not list it.
SoundSource offers built-in effects (Magic Boost, Headphone EQ, Balance and Pan, Volume Overdrive) plus Audio Unit hosting, and its 10-band EQ works per app or for the whole system. LitLink Pro's per-app parametric EQ on Mac has a high-pass, an adjustable bell and a low-pass, shown on a live frequency curve.
LitLink Pro also hosts macOS Audio Unit effects in each app's chain, so Apple's built-in effects and third-party compressors, reverbs and saturators work per app (VST and VST3 are not supported). Every app also gets a peak limiter, and Pro can boost a quiet app up to 400%. Per-app volume and mute stay free without Pro. LitLink runs on macOS 14 Sonoma or later, with per-app routing on macOS 14.2 or later, while the current SoundSource release requires macOS 15 or later. LitLink Pro costs $29 one-time or $3.99 per month and includes a 7-day free trial.
What Free Alternatives to SoundSource Exist?
Background Music works by becoming your Mac's default output device when it runs. Because it takes over the default output, check how it combines with other routing tools if you also use one for per-app volume control alongside audio routing for OBS and Discord.
LitLink (the free version) provides a virtual audio driver for system-wide audio routing plus a free per-app volume mixer with a slider and mute for every app playing audio. Upgrading to LitLink Pro unlocks per-app EQ and routing in the same app.
When Is SoundSource Worth $49 Over LitLink Pro?
Users who apply system-wide compression to even out volume across apps can use SoundSource's Audio Unit hosting for that. Audio Hijack and SoundSource are both built on Rogue Amoeba's ARK technology.
If you need virtual devices for other apps as well as per-app control, Loopback ($99) plus SoundSource ($49) costs $148, while LitLink Pro ($29) includes its own virtual device and eight per-app tracks. The Loopback alternative comparison covers where Loopback still fits better.
How Do You Switch from SoundSource to LitLink Pro?
SoundSource keeps its per-app settings in its own preferences, so volume levels and output assignments need to be set again in LitLink Pro. If you have many per-app settings, note them before uninstalling. LitLink Pro saves its settings and restores them when apps relaunch.
To remove SoundSource, open its Options (gear) menu, go to Help and choose Uninstall SoundSource; it may ask for your administrator password. After that, LitLink Pro handles per-app audio, and LitLink's own virtual audio driver installs, updates and uninstalls together with the app.
SoundSource: Frequently Asked Questions
How much does SoundSource cost?
SoundSource costs $49, and the upgrade from SoundSource 5 or 4 is $25. The current version 6.1.6 requires macOS 15 or later.
Does SoundSource have a free trial?
Yes. After 20 minutes, the trial overlays noise on any audio SoundSource is adjusting. Relaunching SoundSource resets the trial.
Is there a free alternative to SoundSource?
Yes, for per-app volume. LitLink's free version gives every app playing audio its own volume slider and mute, and Background Music is a free, open-source app with per-app volume. For per-app EQ and output routing, LitLink Pro costs $29.
What does SoundSource need to install?
SoundSource installs Rogue Amoeba's audio component, ARK, which asks for your administrator password, plus System Audio Access and Microphone Access permissions.
How do I uninstall SoundSource?
Open SoundSource's Options (gear) menu, go to Help and choose Uninstall SoundSource. This also removes its background audio components and may ask for your administrator password.
Marcel Iseli is an indie developer, DJ, and music producer with over 20 years behind the decks and in the studio. Rooted in hip hop culture, he collects drum machines, samplers, and vintage audio gear. LitPads grew out of that obsession: decades of triggering samples on hardware led him to build the software equivalent he always wanted.