SoundSource alternatives for per-app volume on Mac

SoundSource by Rogue Amoeba is a well-regarded audio control app, but it is a paid, full-featured mixer, and plenty of people only want simple per-app volume. These are the main options. Features and prices change, so check each site.

Background Music

Free, open source. Adds per-app volume sliders and can auto-pause your music player when other audio starts. It installs a virtual audio device, which some people find fiddly. Good if you want free and don’t mind a bit of setup.

eqMac

Free tier available. A system-wide equaliser with volume controls. Better if you care about shaping the sound than about balancing apps.

Loopback and other routing tools

Paid, for pros. Rogue Amoeba’s Loopback and similar tools route audio between apps. They are the right choice for streamers and podcasters building complex setups, and overkill for simply turning down a browser.

Gardner

One-time purchase, part of a wider Mac care app. Gardner puts Sound at the top of its menu-bar popover: every app currently making sound, each with its own volume and mute. Its signature feature is Quiet while I talk, which quiets other apps while an app is listening to your microphone. It also tidies Downloads, apps and clutter, and tells you when a restart is worth it, so it suits people who want one small app rather than a dedicated audio tool.

It isn’t a replacement for audio routing or an equaliser. If you need those, use a specialist.

Quick comparison

Need	Pick
Free per-app volume	Background Music
Equaliser first	eqMac
Audio routing for streaming	Loopback
Per-app volume plus auto-quiet and Mac tidying	Gardner
The most complete mixer	SoundSource

New to the idea? Start with how to control volume per app on a Mac.