The best equalizer apps for Mac in 2026

DisclosureWe make TONO, so read this with that in mind. We compare only facts each vendor publishes on its own website (sources below), and we say where another app does something TONO doesn’t. Check the vendors’ sites before you decide. eqMac, Boom 3D, SoundSource and Rogue Amoeba are trademarks of their owners; TONO is not affiliated with them.

Quick picks

• A free, EQ-first app for almost any Mac: eqMac – up to ten fixed bands and headphone presets free, macOS 10.13+, Intel and Apple silicon.
• 3D surround with a booster and radio: Boom 3D – a 31-band equalizer with presets and custom presets, 3D surround, volume booster, per-app volume, internet radio; macOS 11+.
• Effects and plug-ins per app: SoundSource – per-app volume, output and effects including a 10-band EQ and Audio Units; macOS 15 to 27.
• One app for sound and screens: TONO – 10 faders free, up to 24 parametric bands in Pro, 3D and 8D with head tracking, per-app volume and outputs, recording, a noise-filtered virtual mic, a hearing test, brightness and window snapping; macOS 15+ on Apple silicon.

Overview

TONO

Good for: people who want the equalizer and everything around it in one window – 3D and 8D sound with AirPods head tracking, a fader and an output for every app, recording of system audio, one app or a call, a noise-filtered virtual mic for Discord, Zoom and OBS, a hearing test, a visualizer, brightness below the minimum and window snapping. It captures audio with the process taps built into macOS, without an audio driver for the sound.

Keep in mind: it needs macOS 15 and Apple silicon, has no Audio Unit hosting and applies one sound to all apps rather than effects per app. More about TONO’s equalizer.

eqMac

Good for: a free equalizer with headphone presets that also runs on Intel Macs and macOS versions back to 10.13. Pro adds unlimited bands, an app mixer, spatial audio, separate left/right EQ and Audio Unit hosting. Its older releases are open source.

Keep in mind: it routes system audio through its own audio driver. TONO vs eqMac in detail.

Boom 3D

Good for: a strong 3D surround effect and a volume booster with little setup, a 31-band equalizer with many presets and your own, per-app volume, 5.1 content on headphones, plus an audio player and internet radio. Available directly and on the Mac App Store.

Keep in mind: its focus is playback enhancement; recording, a virtual mic or display tools aren’t part of it. TONO vs Boom 3D in detail.

SoundSource

Good for: the most granular per-app control from the menu bar – volume, output and effects per app, Audio Unit plug-ins, Headphone EQ, Magic Boost, device groups and volume keys for HDMI and DisplayPort outputs. A one-time purchase.

Keep in mind: it doesn’t list 3D or 8D sound; recording and virtual audio devices come from Rogue Amoeba’s other apps. TONO vs SoundSource in detail.

The built-in options

• The Music app has an equalizer under Window → Equalizer. It shapes only the Music app.
• Spotify’s desktop app has an equalizer under your profile picture → Settings → Playback. It shapes only Spotify – see How to use an equalizer with Spotify on Mac.
• macOS itself has no system-wide equalizer. For supported AirPods and Beats it can spatialize stereo, but it doesn’t offer an EQ for everything the Mac plays.

How to choose

1. Check your Mac first. Intel or macOS older than 15 rules TONO out; eqMac and Boom 3D cover older systems.
2. Decide between one sound and per-app effects. One tuned sound for everything: TONO, eqMac or Boom 3D. Different effects on different apps: SoundSource.
3. Count the other apps you’d need. If you’d also install a recorder, a mic noise filter, a dimmer or a window manager, an all-in-one saves money and menu-bar space.
4. Use the trials. TONO has a free tier and one day of Pro; Boom 3D has a 15-day trial; SoundSource has a limited trial; eqMac has a free tier.

Questions

Sources

All checked on 28 September 2026.

• eqMac: eqmac.app and github.com/bitgapp/eqMac
• Boom 3D: globaldelight.com/boom, its FAQ and the Mac App Store listing
• SoundSource: rogueamoeba.com/soundsource and its purchase page
• Spotify’s equalizer: support.spotify.com
• TONO: fact sheet

Keep reading

• Comparison · EqualizerTONO vs eqMacTwo system-wide equalizers: an EQ-first app for many Macs, and an all-in-one for Apple silicon.
• Comparison · 3D soundTONO vs Boom 3D3D surround with a booster and radio, or an all-in-one with 8D, routing, recording and a clean mic.
• Comparison · Per-app audioTONO vs SoundSourcePer-app effects and Audio Units from the menu bar, or an all-in-one with 3D, 8D, recording and a clean mic.