It's 2026. Windows has had a per-app volume mixer since Vista in 2007. macOS still doesn't have one. If you want to lower Spotify without lowering your Zoom call, Apple's answer is still "you can't." So what are your actual options in 2026?
The current landscape
Here's an honest rundown of every approach available right now, with real trade-offs.
Free options
- Background Music — open-source, gives basic per-app volume sliders. The catch: it's community-maintained and has historically broken on major macOS updates. No boost above 100%, no profiles, no auto-ducking. If free is your only requirement and you're comfortable troubleshooting after OS updates, it's worth trying.
- FineTune — free, open-source, minimal menu-bar volume control. Lighter on features, but reliable for basic adjustments.
- eqMac — free EQ and system-wide volume control. Focused more on equalization than per-app mixing, but it has some per-app capabilities.
Paid options
- SoundSource (Rogue Amoeba, ~$39) — the pro-grade tool. Per-app volume, per-app EQ, output routing, effects. Installs an audio-capture component (not App Store). Overkill if you just want volume sliders, excellent if you need deep audio routing.
- SoundDial (€14.99, one-time) — per-app volume, mute, boost past 100%, savable profiles, auto-ducking. Mac App Store, sandboxed, no drivers. The middle ground between free tools and SoundSource.
- Audio Hijack (Rogue Amoeba, ~$72) — captures and routes audio between apps. Powerful for recording and complex routing, but it's a professional audio tool, not a simple volume mixer.
Built-in workarounds
- Some apps have internal volume sliders (Spotify, VLC, most games). But you're adjusting inside each app, nothing coordinates them, and many apps don't expose volume controls at all.
- Do Not Disturb mutes notification banners but doesn't control app volume.
- The system volume slider is all-or-nothing.
Which one should you pick?
Be honest about your needs. If you want free and don't mind occasional breakage, Background Music. If you need professional audio routing and EQ, SoundSource. If you want a reliable, simple volume mixer with profiles and boost at a fair price — with App Store security and no driver installation — SoundDial is the sweet spot.
Get SoundDial on the Mac App Store — €14.99 one-time purchase, no subscription, macOS 14.2+.