The Best Audio Restoration Plugins for Removing Noise and Hiss in Audacity

March 16, 2026

By: Audio Scene

Audio restoration is essential for improving the quality of recordings, especially when dealing with noise and hiss. Audacity, a popular free audio editing software, supports various plugins that can help clean up your audio files effectively. In this article, we explore some of the best audio restoration plugins for removing noise and hiss in Audacity.

Top Audio Restoration Plugins for Audacity

Using the right plugins can make a significant difference in the clarity of your recordings. Here are some of the top options available:

  • iZotope RX Elements – A powerful suite that offers noise reduction, hum removal, and spectral repair tools. Though it’s a paid plugin, it provides excellent results for audio restoration.
  • VST Noise Gate – Helps eliminate background noise by gating silent or quiet sections. It’s simple to use and effective for hiss reduction.
  • Audacity’s Built-In Noise Reduction – A free, easy-to-use tool within Audacity that allows you to sample noise and reduce it across your track.
  • GVerb – Though primarily a reverb effect, GVerb can be used creatively to mask residual noise in recordings.
  • DeNoise by KVR Audio – A free plugin designed specifically for noise reduction, compatible with Audacity via the VST interface.

How to Use Noise Reduction Plugins in Audacity

Applying noise reduction plugins involves a few simple steps:

  • Import your audio file into Audacity.
  • Select a segment of the audio that contains only noise or hiss.
  • Open the noise reduction tool and click “Get Noise Profile.”
  • Highlight the entire track or the section you want to clean.
  • Apply the noise reduction effect, adjusting the settings for optimal results.

Remember to preview the audio before finalizing to avoid over-processing, which can lead to unnatural sound quality.

Conclusion

Removing noise and hiss from recordings is crucial for producing clear, professional audio. With the right plugins and techniques, Audacity users can significantly improve their audio quality. Whether you choose built-in tools or third-party plugins, experimenting with settings will help you achieve the best results for your projects.