If you’re recording podcasts, hosting Zoom calls, or shooting YouTube videos from a home office, background noise is the enemy. Keyboard clacks, air conditioning hums, and distant traffic can ruin otherwise perfect audio.
I’ve tested a handful of AI-powered noise cancellation tools that promise to clean up your microphone input in real-time. But do they actually work? And are they worth the subscription?
This review focuses on Krisp.ai, one of the most popular choices for software-based noise suppression. I’ll break down what it does well, where it falls short, and whether it’s the right tool for your specific workflow.
The Quick Verdict
Krisp.ai is exceptional at removing steady-state noise like fans, AC units, and keyboard typing without introducing digital artifacts. It works system-wide, meaning it cleans up audio for any app—Zoom, Teams, Discord, OBS, or even local recordings.
However, it struggles with transient noises like sudden dog barks or slamming doors. If your environment is chaotic rather than just noisy, hardware solutions or post-production editing might still be necessary.
For remote workers and content creators who need clean audio instantly, Krisp is arguably the best balance of ease-of-use and effectiveness available today.
What Is Noise Cancelling Software (And Why Do You Need It)?
Noise cancelling software uses AI to separate human speech from background sounds in real-time. Unlike traditional noise gates that only mute silence, these tools actively filter out unwanted frequencies while preserving voice clarity.
You need this if:
- You record in shared spaces (home offices, co-working spots).
- Your mic picks up computer fan noise or HVAC systems.
- You want to avoid lengthy post-production cleanup.
- You host live meetings where bad audio looks unprofessional.
Hardware mics help, but no consumer-grade microphone eliminates ambient noise perfectly. Software fills that gap by processing the signal before it hits your audience’s ears.
Pros and Cons of Using Krisp
Pros:
- System-Wide Integration: Works with any app that uses your microphone. No plugin hell.
- Real-Time Processing: Latency is low enough for live calls and streaming.
- AI Voice Cloning Protection: Prevents deepfake audio attacks during calls (unique feature).
- Simple Interface: One slider for noise reduction intensity. Easy to adjust on the fly.
Cons:
- Subscription Cost: Free tier limits call duration; Pro requires monthly payment.
- CPU Usage: Can impact performance on older laptops during heavy multitasking.
- Not Perfect for Transients: Sudden loud noises may leak through briefly.
- Voice Quality Trade-off: Aggressive filtering can make voices sound slightly robotic or thin.
Is It Worth the Price?
Krisp offers a free plan with limited minutes per day (usually 60 mins total). For casual users, this might suffice. But professionals will hit the cap quickly.
The Pro plan costs around $8–$12/month depending on billing frequency. Compare this to hiring an editor for 30 minutes of podcast cleanup ($50+) or buying a high-end dynamic mic ($150+).
If you save just one hour of editing time per week, the ROI is immediate. The convenience factor alone makes it valuable for busy entrepreneurs.
What You Actually Get in the Free Trial
Krisp offers a permanent free tier, not just a temporary trial. This is huge because it lets you test the core technology without entering credit card details or worrying about a countdown timer.
The free plan gives you 60 minutes of noise cancellation per day. For most people, this covers one or two short meetings. It’s enough to judge if the voice quality feels natural or robotic on your specific hardware.
You get access to both Noise Cancellation and Voice Isolation. The latter removes background chatter from other humans, which is surprisingly rare in free tools. If those 60 minutes aren’t enough for your daily workflow, upgrading is seamless.
The Good Stuff: Why Creators Switch to Krisp
Most noise gates are dumb. They mute everything below a certain decibel level, which cuts off your breaths and makes you sound like a robot. Krisp uses AI to distinguish between human speech and environmental noise.
This means you can keep breathing sounds intact while eliminating the hum of a refrigerator or the clatter of a mechanical keyboard. The result is audio that sounds recorded in a studio, even if you’re sitting next to a construction site.
It works system-wide. You install it once, and it creates a virtual microphone driver. Any app—Zoom, Teams, Discord, OBS, or Audacity—can select “Krisp Microphone” as its input source. No complex routing required.
Another standout feature is Voice Isolation. Standard noise cancellation handles static sounds well, but struggles with overlapping voices. Krisp’s AI specifically targets non-primary speakers, muting colleagues talking in the background during a call.
Pricing and Value: Is It Worth the Subscription?
The Pro plan costs roughly $8 to $12 per month depending on whether you pay annually or monthly. Compare this to hiring an audio engineer for post-production editing, which can cost $50+ per hour.
If you produce weekly content, the software pays for itself in saved time alone. You skip the tedious process of manually cutting out breaths and background hums in your editing timeline.
Here is how Krisp stacks up against common alternatives in terms of ease and effectiveness for remote work.
Swipe horizontally to compare every column →
| Tool | Best For | Main Drawback |
|---|---|---|
| Krisp | Real-time calls & streaming | Monthly subscription fee |
| NVIDIA Broadcast | Gamers with RTX GPUs | Requires specific NVIDIA hardware |
| Audacity (Free) | Post-production editing only | Cannot clean live audio in real-time |
Why You Need Real-Time Cleaning Over Manual Editing
If you record podcasts locally, you might think manual editing is fine. But when you host live webinars, client calls, or stream on Twitch, there is no undo button.
A single cough from a family member or a siren outside can ruin the professionalism of a live interaction. Post-processing cannot fix what the audience already heard in real-time.
Krisp solves this by filtering the signal before it leaves your computer. Your viewers hear clean audio instantly. This protects your reputation and reduces anxiety about unexpected noises interrupting important conversations.
Krisp vs. The Rest: Who Should Pick What?
You do not need to pay for software if your environment is already quiet. A $50 dynamic microphone with a foam windscreen might solve 80% of your problems for zero monthly cost.
But if you work in a noisy apartment, have kids running around, or deal with constant keyboard clacking, hardware alone will not save you. That is where software becomes essential rather than optional.
NVIDIA Broadcast is the closest competitor for gamers. It uses GPU acceleration to remove noise and echo. However, it requires an RTX graphics card. If you are on a Mac or a standard office laptop, this option is dead on arrival.
Adobe Podcast Enhance is excellent for post-production. You upload your file, and AI cleans it up. But it is not real-time. You cannot use it during a live Zoom call or while streaming. It is strictly for recorded content like podcasts or voiceovers.
The table below breaks down which tool fits your specific workflow best. Look at the "Best Choice When" column to make the final decision without guessing.
Swipe horizontally to compare every column →
| Tool | Main Strength | Main Drawback | Best Choice When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krisp | Works system-wide on any OS/hardware | Monthly subscription fee | You need clean audio for live calls, streams, AND recordings |
| NVIDIA Broadcast | Free with compatible hardware | Requires NVIDIA RTX GPU (Windows only) | You are a gamer with a high-end PC |
| Adobe Podcast Enhance | Industry-leading post-production quality | Not real-time; requires uploading files | You only record podcasts/videos offline |
| Hardware Mic Upgrade | One-time cost; no software latency | Cannot filter out non-audio noises like dogs barking | Your room is relatively quiet but mic quality is poor |
If you juggle multiple roles—client calls in the morning, streaming in the afternoon, and podcast recording at night—Krisp is the only tool that covers all bases seamlessly. You do not want to switch between Adobe for editing and NVIDIA for gaming.
Stick with hardware upgrades if your budget is tight and your environment is mostly silent. Choose Adobe if you never do live interactions. Otherwise, the flexibility of real-time processing makes the subscription worth it for most professionals.
My Honest Take: Should You Buy It?
Yes, if you value your time and professional reputation. No, if you can afford to spend hours editing audio manually or if you already own a powerful RTX gaming rig.
The biggest objection is the recurring cost. At roughly $10/month, it adds up to $120/year. Ask yourself what your hourly rate is. If you waste even one hour a year fixing bad audio, the software pays for itself.
Beyond money, there is the mental load. Knowing your mic is filtered reduces anxiety during important presentations. You stop worrying about the neighbor’s lawnmower drowning out your pitch.
For remote workers, content creators, and anyone who talks to clients online, this is a low-risk, high-reward investment. Start with the free tier to test compatibility, then upgrade if you hit the daily limit regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Krisp work with OBS Studio?
Yes. Krisp installs as a virtual audio device. In OBS, simply select "Krisp Microphone" as your audio input source instead of your physical mic. It works identically to how it functions in Zoom or Teams.
Will it slow down my computer?
Modern CPUs handle Krisp efficiently. On machines less than 5 years old, the performance impact is negligible. However, if you are using a very old laptop, you might notice a slight increase in CPU usage during heavy multitasking.
Can I use it on mobile devices?
No. Krisp is currently desktop-only (Mac and Windows). There is no iOS or Android app available for real-time noise cancellation on phones. You would need to rely on built-in phone features or wired headsets with inline controls.
Is my voice data sent to the cloud?
No. Krisp processes audio locally on your device. Your voice never leaves your computer unless you explicitly share it via an app like Zoom. This ensures privacy compliance for sensitive business discussions.
Try Krisp Free Today