Faders vs eqMac
eqMac is an equalizer first. Faders is a volume mixer. They overlap only in eqMac Pro's App Mixer. Most people choosing between them really want one or the other.
Short answer
Get eqMac if you want to change how your Mac sounds: bass, treble, a 10-band EQ, headphone presets. The free version does that, and Faders doesn't do it at all.
Get Faders if you want a volume slider for each app. eqMac's per-app mixer needs Pro ($40 lifetime or $30 a year), and Faders adds call ducking, monitor volume keys and device rules.
At a glance
| Faders | eqMac | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99 once (launch price, $15.99 regular) | Free tier; Pro $3/mo, $30/yr or $40 lifetime |
| macOS | 14.2 Sonoma or later | 10.13 High Sierra or later |
| How it works | Apple's audio taps, no driver | Its own virtual audio device |
| Equalizer | — (planned) | ✓ free (3-band, 10-band); unlimited bands in Pro |
| Headphone presets | — | ✓ 4,600+ headphones, free |
| Spatial audio, Audio Units | — | ✓ Pro |
| Per-app volume | ✓ included | ✓ Pro only (App Mixer) |
| Boost above 100 % | ✓ per app, to 200 % | Not listed |
| Send an app to another output | ✓ | Not listed |
| Volume for HDMI / other devices | ✓ with volume keys and HUD | ✓ volume and balance for any device |
| Device priority rules | ✓ | Not listed |
| Other apps duck during calls | ✓ | Not listed |
| Global mic mute | ✓ ⌃⌥⌘M | Not listed |
| AirPods stay high-quality on calls | ✓ | Not listed |
“Not listed” means we couldn't find it on eqMac's site, not that it's confirmed missing. Checked October 2026.
Where eqMac is better
Faders has no EQ. Don't buy it for that.
- A free EQ. Bass, mids and treble, a 10-band EQ, and presets for over 4,600 headphones, all in the free tier.
- Deep sound shaping in Pro. Unlimited EQ bands, separate left and right EQ, spatial audio and Audio Unit hosting.
- Old Macs. eqMac runs on macOS 10.13 High Sierra and later. Faders needs 14.2.
- Open-source core. eqMac's code is on GitHub, and it's actively updated (1.9.2 in September 2026).
Where Faders is better
- Per-app volume without Pro. In eqMac, the App Mixer is a Pro feature at $40 lifetime or $30 a year. Faders is $5.99 once at launch, $15.99 after.
- No virtual audio device. eqMac routes your audio through its own audio device. Faders uses Apple's audio-tap APIs and leaves apps you haven't touched alone.
- Per-app boost and routing. Push one app to 200 %, or send it to your headphones while everything else plays on speakers.
- Calls. Automatic music ducking, AirPods kept in high quality, and one key to mute every mic.
- Device rules. Rank outputs and mics so macOS stops switching to the wrong one.
What they both do well
Both are menu-bar apps with a free or cheap way in, and both give HDMI and other devices without volume control a working volume. Faders also adds volume keys and an on-screen indicator for those displays.
Who should pick which
Pick eqMac if you…
- Want to tune your Mac's sound with an EQ
- Want headphone correction for free
- Are on a macOS older than 14.2
Pick Faders if you…
- Mainly want each app at its own volume
- Spend your day on calls
- Want monitor volume keys and device rules
- Prefer not to run audio through a virtual device
Questions
Can I use eqMac and Faders together?
We haven't tested every combination, and running two apps that both process system audio can cause problems. If you try it, use eqMac only for the EQ and Faders for per-app volume, and check for glitches.
Is eqMac's free version enough?
For an EQ, yes. For per-app volume, no: that needs Pro.
Will Faders get an equalizer?
It's planned, but there's no date. If you want an EQ today, use eqMac.
Want a volume slider for every app?
Faders is $5.99 once at launch. Try the live demo on the homepage first.
More comparisons
Sources
- eqMac website (free vs Pro features, pricing, macOS 10.13+)
- eqMac on GitHub (open-source core, v1.9.2 September 2026)