Moises is the best AI tool for vocal removal: it separates 27 stem types, including lead and backing vocals, and has a free tier. LALAL.AI is #2 with 10 stem types from $0, and Gaudio Studio is #3 with its own GSEP model.
Mac $199.99 one time; or $12.99 a month or $129 a year in Apple Creator Studio
Mac and iPad musicians who want stems in a full DAW
Pick by what you want
Best overall
Moises
Best with clear prices
LALAL.AI
Best free
Ultimate Vocal Remover
Best live
VirtualDJ
Best to clean up the vocal
SpectraLayers
The ranking
1
Moises
Answrs VerdictThe widest stem menu of any dedicated separator.
Price: Not published; the pricing page says to log in to see plans, and offers a free tier with a limited number of uploads each monthStem types: Separates into 27 stem types, including vocals, guitar, bass, drums, piano, keys, winds and stringsVocal options: Stem Separation panel lists Vocals, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Female Vocals and Male VocalsUsers: Trusted by +80 million artists worldwide
Moises separates a song into 27 stem types, including vocals, guitar, bass, drums, piano, keys, winds and strings, and its Stem Separation panel lists Vocals, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Female Vocals and Male Vocals. It has a free tier with a limited number of uploads each month; paid prices are not published on its pricing page, which says to log in. It says it is trusted by +80 million artists.
Go ifMusicians who want to mute or solo any part of a song, not only the vocal
Skip ifYou need a published price before you sign up
Why #1 over #2: It lists far more stem types than LALAL.AI, though LALAL.AI posts its prices.
2
LALAL.AI
Answrs VerdictThe most polished vocal remover, with a free tier and a clear price list.
Price: Starter $0 (10 minutes); Lite $7.5 a month and Pro $10.5 a month, both billed annually ($90 and $126)Stem types: 10 selectable stem types, including vocal and instrumental, drums, bass, guitars, piano, synthesizer, strings and windNeural networks: 4 models: Phoenix, Orion, Perseus and Andromeda, its most advancedWhere it runs: Web, desktop apps for Windows, macOS and Linux, iOS and Android apps, VST plugins and an API
LALAL.AI offers 10 selectable stem types, from vocal and instrumental to drums, bass, guitars, piano, synthesizer, strings and wind, using 4 models (Phoenix, Orion, Perseus and Andromeda). Starter is $0 for 10 minutes; Lite is $7.5 a month and Pro $10.5 a month, both billed annually. It runs on the web, desktop, iOS, Android, as VST plugins and as an API.
Go ifFast vocal and instrumental splits in the browser or a desktop app
Skip ifYou want a one-time purchase instead of a subscription
Why #2 over #3: Its prices are posted and its apps cover every platform, while Gaudio Studio does not publish prices.
3
Gaudio Studio
Answrs VerdictA focused web separator with its own model and a developer API.
Price: Not published for the Studio plans; there is a free trialStems: Vocal, drum, piano, electric guitar and bass tracks, plus vocal removal for karaoke or instrumentalsModel: Built on GSEP (Gaudio source SEParation), a model from Gaudio LabAPI price: $0.065 a minute for the gsep_music_hq_v1 stem model
Gaudio Studio is built on GSEP, a separation model from Gaudio Lab. It splits vocal, drum, piano, electric guitar and bass tracks and removes vocals for karaoke or instrumentals. Studio plan prices are not published and there is a free trial; developers can use the model through an API at $0.065 a minute.
Go ifKaraoke and instrumental tracks from a web app backed by Gaudio Lab’s own GSEP model
Skip ifYou need a posted consumer price list
Why #3 over #4: It runs in a web app with its own model, while Ultimate Vocal Remover is a desktop app you install.
4
Ultimate Vocal Remover
Answrs VerdictThe free local option, with a learning curve.
Price: Free and open source (MIT license)Platforms: Windows 10 or higher, macOS Big Sur or higher and LinuxModels: Runs MDX-Net, Demucs and VR Architecture separation models in one desktop appVersion: v5.6
Ultimate Vocal Remover (v5.6) is a free, MIT-licensed desktop app for Windows 10 or higher, macOS Big Sur or higher and Linux. It runs MDX-Net, Demucs and VR Architecture models, so you can pick the model and settings for each song.
Go ifFree, offline separation with the most control over models and settings
Skip ifYou want a one-click web page with no settings
Why #4 over #5: It costs nothing, unlike VirtualDJ, which is a paid subscription.
5
VirtualDJ
Answrs VerdictThe best pick for pulling vocals out live in a DJ set.
Price: Home $4 a month or $44 a year; Pro $19 a month or $199 a yearStems: Real-time stem separation on any track, with instant acapella and instrumental during the mixStem pads: Pads let DJs build live mashups and remixes from a track’s vocals, instruments, kicks and hi-hatsBusiness plan: $99 a month or $999 a year
VirtualDJ separates stems in real time on any track, with instant acapella and instrumental during the mix, and stem pads for live mashups from vocals, instruments, kicks and hi-hats. Home is $4 a month or $44 a year; Pro is $19 a month or $199 a year.
Go ifDJs who want an acapella or instrumental live, mid-mix
Skip ifYou want files you can export and edit
Why #5 over #6: It is built for live use, while SpectraLayers is built for careful editing.
6
SpectraLayers
Answrs VerdictThe spectral editor that finishes the job a splitter starts.
Price: Elements 13 $89.99; Pro 13 $359.99, or $289.99 as an upgradeVocal unmixing: Elements includes AI-assisted vocal unmixingAI separation: Automatically unmixes tracks into stems, and stems into component partsDAW link: Launches inside Cubase and Nuendo through ARA 2
Steinberg’s SpectraLayers 13 shows sound on a spectrogram and uses AI to unmix tracks into stems and stems into parts. Elements 13 is $89.99 and includes AI-assisted vocal unmixing; Pro 13 is $359.99, or $289.99 as an upgrade. It launches inside Cubase and Nuendo through ARA 2.
Go ifEditors who want to clean up a separated vocal by hand on a spectrogram
Skip ifYou only need a quick karaoke track
Why #6 over #7: Its entry price is below RipX DAW’s, and its spectral editing suits cleaning up a vocal.
7
RipX DAW
Answrs VerdictThe deepest editor once the vocal is out.
Price: Starting at $99, with a 21-day free trial of RipX DAW PROStems: 6+ stem separationNote editing: Breaks mixed audio down to the core notes so you can edit audio like it’s MIDI
RipX DAW from Hit’n’Mix offers 6+ stem separation and breaks mixed audio down to the core notes so you can edit audio like it’s MIDI. It starts at $99, and RipX DAW PRO has a 21-day free trial.
Go ifProducers who want to fix or replace single notes in a separated vocal
Skip ifYou want a one-click vocal remover
Why #7 over #8: It edits at note level, while iZotope RX 12 is built around repair.
8
iZotope RX 12
Answrs VerdictThe pro repair suite with stem splitting built in.
Price: Elements $99; Standard $399; Advanced $1,399Stems View: Splits stems in post-production sound mixes and fully mastered tracksEditing: Paint problems away on a spectrogram, with a Repair Assistant that proposes fixesAdvanced: Complete suite with 50+ tools
iZotope RX 12 adds Stems View, which splits stems in post-production mixes and fully mastered tracks. Elements is $99, Standard $399 and Advanced $1,399, the complete suite of 50+ tools. A Repair Assistant proposes fixes you can tweak.
Go ifAudio engineers who need separation and repair in one pro suite
Skip ifYou only want vocals out of a song on a small budget
Why #8 over #9: It is a repair suite first, while FL Studio gives you stems inside a DAW.
9
FL Studio
Answrs VerdictStems inside a lifetime-license DAW.
Price: Producer Edition $179 is the lowest edition with stem separation; Fruity $99 has noneEditions: Signature Bundle $269; All Plugins Edition $449; all lifetime licensesStem separation: AI-powered split of any song into vocals, drums, bass and instrumentsUses: Remixing, sampling or karaoke versions
FL Studio’s AI-powered stem separation splits any song into vocals, drums, bass and instruments, for remixing, sampling or karaoke versions. It starts at the Producer Edition at $179; the $99 Fruity Edition has none. Signature Bundle is $269 and All Plugins Edition $449, all lifetime licenses.
Go ifBeat makers who want stems inside the DAW they already use
Skip ifYou do not need a full DAW
Why #9 over #10: Its lowest stem-capable edition costs less up front than Logic Pro for Mac.
10
Logic Pro
Answrs VerdictA built-in splitter in a full Mac DAW.
Price: Mac $199.99 one time; or $12.99 a month or $129 a year in Apple Creator StudioStem Splitter: Separates drums, bass, vocals, guitar, piano and other instrumentsStem count: Splits into 6 stemsPlatforms: Mac and iPad (the subscription covers both)
Logic Pro’s Stem Splitter separates drums, bass, vocals, guitar, piano and other instruments, 6 stems in all. Logic Pro for Mac is $199.99 one time, or $12.99 a month or $129 a year inside Apple Creator Studio, which covers Mac and iPad.
Go ifMac and iPad musicians who want stems in a full DAW
Skip ifYou are on Windows
How we ranked these
We put dedicated stem separators first and ranked them by the number of stem types each maker’s own page lists (Moises 27, LALAL.AI 10, Gaudio Studio 5, then Ultimate Vocal Remover, whose page lists models rather than a stem count). Then came software where separation is one feature, ranked by the lowest price on each maker’s own page. Prices come from official pages; where a maker does not publish one we say so. Demucs by Meta was replaced with Logic Pro’s Stem Splitter because we could not source an app or price page for it (UVR does run its models), and the old iZotope and SpectraLayers picks were updated to their current versions, RX 12 and SpectraLayers 13. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
What is the best AI tool for vocal removal?
Moises, because it separates into 27 stem types, including lead, backing, female and male vocals. LALAL.AI is #2 with 10 stem types and a free Starter plan.
Is there a free AI vocal remover?
Yes. Ultimate Vocal Remover is free and open source, LALAL.AI Starter is $0 for 10 minutes, and Moises has a free tier and Gaudio Studio a free trial.
How much does LALAL.AI cost?
Starter is $0 for 10 minutes; Lite is $7.5 a month and Pro $10.5 a month, both billed annually at $90 and $126.
Can I remove vocals live while DJing?
VirtualDJ does real-time stem separation with instant acapella and instrumental during the mix, from $4 a month on its Home plan.
Stem types each maker’s page says it can separate at a glance
Gaudio Studio5 stem types
Logic Pro6 stem types
LALAL.AI10 stem types
Moises27 stem types
Stem types each maker’s page says it can separate, as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.
