Faders vs Sound Control
Sound Control 3 has been around for years, runs on much older Macs and has a serious EQ. Faders is newer, simpler and built around calls. Here's how to pick.
Short answer
Get Sound Control if you're on macOS 11.4 to 14.1, want a 10- or 31-band EQ per app, use Audio Unit effects, or want to try before you buy.
Get Faders if you want calls handled for you: music ducking, AirPods staying in high quality, and one key to mute every mic. Or if you want a simpler panel at a lower launch price.
At a glance
| Faders | Sound Control 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99 once (launch price, $15.99 regular) | $15 once direct, or App Store subscription ($1.99/mo, $14.99/yr) |
| Free trial | No, but there's a live demo in your browser | Yes (direct version) |
| macOS | 14.2 Sonoma or later | 11.4 Big Sur or later |
| Per-app volume and mute | ✓ | ✓ plus balance |
| Boost above 100 % | ✓ to 200 %, with limiter | Not listed |
| Equalizer | — (planned) | ✓ 10- or 31-band, per app |
| Headphone correction (AutoEQ) | — | ✓ |
| Audio Unit effects | — | ✓ per app |
| Send an app to another output | ✓ | ✓ |
| Volume keys for HDMI / DisplayPort | ✓ | ✓ “virtual volume” |
| Device priority | ✓ outputs and mics | ✓ input and output lists |
| Global mic mute | ✓ ⌃⌥⌘M | Not listed |
| Other apps duck during calls | ✓ automatic | Not listed |
| AirPods stay high-quality on calls | ✓ keeps the Mac mic | Not listed |
“Not listed” means we couldn't find it on Sound Control's site, not that it's confirmed missing. Checked October 2026.
Where Sound Control is better
If you need an EQ, effects or macOS older than 14.2, buy Sound Control.
- Older macOS. Sound Control runs on macOS 11.4 Big Sur and later. Faders needs 14.2 Sonoma, because it depends on audio APIs Apple added then.
- EQ and effects. A 10- or 31-band graphic EQ per app, AutoEQ headphone calibrations, and Audio Unit effects. Faders has no EQ yet.
- Balance per app. Pan individual apps left or right.
- Try it first. The direct version has a trial. Faders has a browser demo instead, and sales are final.
- Track record. Sound Control has been updated for years and is on version 3.4.1. Faders launched in 2026.
Where Faders is better
- Calls. Faders notices when Zoom, Teams, Meet, FaceTime, Slack or Discord is using your mic and turns other apps down until the call ends.
- AirPods on calls. Faders keeps the Mac's built-in mic in use, so AirPods stay at 48 kHz stereo instead of dropping into muffled call mode.
- One key mutes every mic. ⌃⌥⌘M mutes all physical mics and restores them exactly.
- Launch price. $5.99 while the launch batches last. At the $15.99 regular price, the two cost about the same.
- Simpler. One panel, a slider per app, few settings. If you don't want to think about EQ bands, that's a plus.
What they both do well
Both give every app its own volume and mute, send apps to different outputs, make volume keys work on HDMI and DisplayPort displays, and let you rank devices so macOS switches to the one you want.
Who should pick which
Pick Sound Control if you…
- Are on macOS 11.4 to 14.1
- Want a detailed EQ or Audio Unit effects per app
- Want to try before you buy
Pick Faders if you…
- Spend your day on calls
- Use AirPods for calls
- Want a mic mute shortcut for every mic
- Just want a simple slider per app
Questions
Direct or App Store version of Sound Control?
They're separate purchases. The direct version is $15 once with a trial. The App Store version is a subscription at $1.99 a month or $14.99 a year. Licenses don't transfer between them.
Can I run Faders and Sound Control together?
No. Both change the same apps' audio and will fight over the volume. Pick one.
Will Faders get an equalizer?
It's planned, but there's no date, and it won't be a 31-band EQ or a plugin host. If that's what you need, Sound Control is the better choice.
Want calls to sound right without extra settings?
Faders is $5.99 once at launch. Try the live demo on the homepage first.
More comparisons
Sources
- Sound Control product page (macOS 11.4+, EQ, AutoEQ, Audio Units, routing, priority devices, virtual volume, trial)
- Sound Control on the Mac App Store (subscription pricing)