Best volume booster for Mac

See also the volume booster for Mac page for how boosting works in SoundDial.

The 8 best volume boosters for Mac at a glance

1. SoundDial: top pick, best per-app volume booster. 0% to 200% per app with a soft limiter, plus mute, equalizer and output per app.
2. SoundSource: best for the biggest boost. Up to 400% per app with Volume Overdrive; paid, macOS 15.
3. FineTune: best free per-app booster. 2x, 3x or 4x boost presets; open source, macOS 15.
4. eqMac: best for a system-wide boost on old and new Macs. Lists a boost beyond 100%; macOS 10.13 or later.
5. EQBase: best free system boost. A free boost of up to +6 dB; per-app boost to 200% is Pro.
6. Soundish: best other one-time purchase. 0% to 200% per app; macOS 14.6.
7. Boom 3D: best for a system-wide booster with effects. Volume booster, equalizer and effects; macOS 11.
8. Background Music: best open-source booster for older Macs. Boosts quiet apps above their maximum; alpha software.

Mac volume boosters compared

App	How it boosts	Price (vendor figures, checked 12 November 2026)	Try before buying	macOS	How it installs
SoundDial (top pick)	Per app, 0% to 200%, soft limiter above 100%, amber slider; also mute, 10-band equalizer, output per app	€14.99 one-time purchase, one-time on the Mac App Store, no subscription, no in-app purchases	no free trial; refunds go through Apple	macOS 14.2 or later	Sandboxed Mac App Store app; does not install a virtual audio driver
SoundSource	Per app, up to 400% (Volume Overdrive); also Magic Boost	USD 49 on Rogue Amoeba's store; USD 25 upgrade from version 4 or 5	Trial; noise is laid over the audio after 20 minutes until you relaunch	15	Installs the ARK audio plug-in; administrator password
FineTune	Per app, 2x, 3x or 4x presets; the vendor warns high boost can clip	Free, open source (GPL v3)	Free	15.0	Drag-install; audio driver not mentioned; Screen & System Audio Recording permission
eqMac	Lists "boost volume beyond 100%" (range not stated); Pro App Mixer for per-app volume	Free tier; Pro USD 3 a month, USD 30 a year or USD 40 lifetime for one Mac (eqmac.app, shown as "$", currency code not stated)	Free tier and a 7-day Pro trial	10.13	Installs an audio driver and a helper; administrator password
EQBase	Free: volume boost up to +6 dB. Pro App Mixer: per app up to 200%	Free tier; Pro USD 4.99 a month, USD 39.99 a year or USD 79.99 lifetime (eqbase.app)	Free tier, no time limit	14.4	Drag to Applications; one System Audio permission; two optional features install a user-space audio driver
Soundish	Per app, 0% to 200%; the vendor also states boosted sound can clip	USD 14.99 once (appish.app)	7-day trial, email needed	14.6	Does not install an audio driver (since version 1.5); System Audio Recording permission
Boom 3D	Volume booster that works system-wide (range not stated); also equalizer and effects	Mac App Store (US): free, in-app lifetime packs USD 19.99 and USD 49.99. Direct: sold with a trial; the price shown varies	15-day trial (direct)	11	Installs an audio driver
Background Music	Per app, "above their maximum" (range not stated); the README notes clipping above 50%	Free, open source (GPLv2 or later)	Free	10.13	.pkg installer with a virtual audio device; microphone permission

1. SoundDial: top pick, the best volume booster for each app

SoundDial lists every app that plays sound and gives each one a slider from 0% to 200%. The slider clicks into place near 100% and turns amber above it, and a soft limiter works on the sound whenever the gain is above 100%, so boosting a quiet video or a low call is a drag of one slider. Because each app has its own level, you boost one app and leave the rest alone. The same row has mute, a 10-band equalizer with 11 presets, left/right balance and an output device for that app.

Other helpful parts: SoundDial can remember each app's level the next time it opens, profiles save a whole mix, and other apps are lowered automatically during calls. It is sandboxed, does not install a virtual audio driver, runs on macOS 14.2 or later and costs €14.99 one-time purchase on the Mac App Store, once, with no subscription and no in-app purchases. Trial: no free trial; refunds go through Apple.

Limits, plainly. The boost is per app and tops out at 200%; SoundDial does not boost the whole Mac or system sounds as one. Audio is stereo only, it controls an app as a whole, not single browser tabs, and the equalizer is per app. See SoundDial facts.

2. SoundSource: best for the biggest boost

SoundSource by Rogue Amoeba lets you "drive up" an app's volume to 400% with Volume Overdrive, per the vendor, and also lists a Magic Boost effect. It adds per-app and system-wide effects, Audio Units, AirPlay per app and more. It costs USD 49 on Rogue Amoeba's store (checked 12 November 2026), needs macOS 15 and installs the ARK plug-in with your administrator password. The trial lays noise over the audio after 20 minutes until you relaunch. Details: SoundDial vs SoundSource.

3. FineTune: best free per-app booster

FineTune is a free, open-source (GPL v3) menu-bar mixer. Its README lists 2x, 3x and 4x gain presets for each app, mute, a 10-band equalizer per app and output per app. It needs macOS 15.0. The vendor's troubleshooting page states that high boost levels can cause clipping, and that audio processors, DAWs and call apps may not work well with process taps. Version 1.9.0 is dated 9 July 2026. Details: SoundDial vs FineTune.

4. eqMac: best for a system-wide boost on old and new Macs

eqMac lists "Boost volume beyond 100%" among its features, with the range not stated on the vendor's pages. It is mainly a system-wide equalizer with a free tier. Pro adds an App Mixer for per-app volume, and costs USD 3 a month, USD 30 a year or USD 40 lifetime for one Mac (eqmac.app, checked 12 November 2026; the page shows "$" without a currency code). It installs an audio driver and a helper, may ask for your administrator password, and states support from macOS 10.13. Details: SoundDial vs eqMac.

5. EQBase: best free system boost

EQBase includes a free volume boost of up to +6 dB (vendor's pricing page) together with a system-wide equalizer, and a free tier without a time limit. Its Pro App Mixer raises any app up to 200%. Pro costs USD 4.99 a month, USD 39.99 a year or USD 79.99 lifetime (eqbase.app, checked 12 November 2026). It needs macOS 14.4 and is English only.

6. Soundish: best other one-time purchase

Soundish by Appish costs USD 14.99 once (appish.app, checked 12 November 2026) with a 7-day trial. It gives each app a volume from 0% to 200% and a mute button, with clipping protection mentioned by the vendor; its limits list also notes that boosted sound can clip. It adds a 10-band equalizer per app, output per app and profiles, and needs macOS 14.6.

7. Boom 3D: best for a system-wide booster with effects

Boom 3D from Global Delight describes a volume booster that "works system-wide", together with a 10 or 31-band equalizer, headphone EQ and sound effects, and an app volume controller. The boost range is not stated on the vendor's pages. It is sold directly with a 15-day trial and on the Mac App Store, where the app is free and lifetime packs cost USD 19.99 and USD 49.99 (US storefront, checked 12 November 2026). It needs macOS 11 and installs an audio driver. The vendor warns it may not work while AirPlay and FaceTime are running. Details: SoundDial vs Boom 3D.

8. Background Music: best open-source booster for older Macs

Background Music is a free, open-source utility whose README says you can "boost quiet applications above their maximum volume", with no percentage given, and warns that setting an app above 50% can cause clipping. The README also calls it "still in alpha". It supports macOS 10.13 and later and installs a virtual audio device with a .pkg. Details: SoundDial vs Background Music.

Mixers that do not boost

Some Mac volume mixers only turn apps down. Vitals states that its levels go "from mute to 100%" and that it does not boost an app. KE Volume Mixer's preview can only turn apps down, with 100% being the app's own level. They suit you if you only want to quiet things. Compare them in the best volume mixer for Mac list.

Which one fits you

• If one app is too quiet and you want a slider that goes past 100%, take SoundDial.
• If your Mac is on macOS 14 and you want a per-app boost, take SoundDial.
• If you want one Mac App Store purchase, no subscription, take SoundDial.
• If you need more than 200% on an app, take SoundSource or FineTune.
• If you want the whole Mac louder, take eqMac, EQBase or Boom 3D.
• If you want it free and run macOS 15, take FineTune.

See all Mac audio comparisons for equalizer and mixer lists.

How we chose

This list covers Mac apps whose own pages describe a volume boost, and compares them on three things: where the boost applies (one app or the whole Mac) and how far it goes as the vendor states it, price model with a way to try first, and macOS version and install method. Boost figures are only as each vendor states them; none was measured. SoundDial comes first because it combines a per-app boost with a soft limiter, mute, equalizer, output and call lowering in one menu-bar app from macOS 14.2 for a single Mac App Store price. The "best for" labels name the need each other app fits best.

SoundDial's column comes from the app itself (see SoundDial facts). Competitor details last checked on 2026-11-12, on each vendor's own pages: SoundSource, FineTune, eqMac, EQBase, Soundish, Boom 3D and Background Music. Prices are each vendor's own US figures; direct-sale and Mac App Store prices are different channels and are not set against each other. "Not stated" means the vendor's pages do not say. None of these apps was run for this page; features are as the vendors describe them.