Hearably vs Krisp
Krisp is the leading AI noise cancellation app. Hearably is a browser audio enhancement suite with noise gate, volume boost, EQ, live captions, and a full studio. Which is right for you?
Real-time enhancement via extension · Or upload a file for free in Studio
Krisp is a well-known AI noise cancellation application that processes both incoming and outgoing audio on your computer, removing background noise from video calls. It has built a strong reputation since its launch in 2018, particularly among remote workers who need clean audio on Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams calls. Krisp uses deep neural networks to separate voice from noise in real time, and it does this well — it is one of the best dedicated noise cancellation tools available.
Hearably takes a fundamentally different approach. Rather than focusing exclusively on noise cancellation, Hearably is a comprehensive browser audio enhancement suite that includes volume boost (up to 800%), 10-band parametric EQ, multiband compression, an adaptive noise gate, stereo widener, Ad Volume Guard, live AI captions (90+ languages), and a full studio for file-based audio processing. Noise reduction is one feature among many, using an adaptive noise gate rather than Krisp's neural network approach.
The choice between the two depends on what you primarily need. If your single biggest audio problem is background noise on video calls — your environment is noisy, your colleagues' environments are noisy, and you need the most aggressive noise removal possible — Krisp is purpose-built for this. Its neural network has been trained specifically on voice vs. noise separation and excels at removing complex, non-stationary noises (barking dogs, construction, children, keyboard typing) that a simple noise gate cannot fully handle.
If your audio needs are broader — you want louder browser audio, better EQ, live captions on any website, dynamic range control, ad volume protection, and a studio for file processing — Hearably covers all of these in a single extension. The noise gate handles steady-state noise (fan hum, air conditioning, electrical hiss) effectively, though it does not match Krisp's neural approach for complex transient noises. The advantage is that you get a complete audio toolkit rather than a single-purpose noise cancellation app.
There are also architectural differences worth considering. Krisp installs as a system-wide virtual audio device — it processes all audio applications (not just the browser), but requires admin installation, runs a background process, and uses significant CPU/GPU for neural network inference. Hearably is a browser extension under 300KB — zero installation risk, no drivers, no admin access, but only processes audio inside Chrome or Edge. Krisp costs $8/month (billed annually) or $12/month (monthly). Hearably offers a free tier (120% boost, 3-band EQ, noise gate) and Pro at $4.99/month (800% boost, 10-band EQ, all features, studio access).
Need the same fix elsewhere? See also AI Noise Reduction for Browser Audio, Zoom Volume Booster & Audio Enhancer and Google Meet Volume Booster & Audio Enhancer — all three use the same audio engine, tuned per platform.
Neural Network Noise Cancellation vs. Adaptive Noise Gate
The fundamental technical difference between Krisp and Hearably's noise reduction lies in their approach to identifying and removing noise.
Krisp uses a deep neural network (a variant of a U-Net or similar architecture) trained on thousands of hours of voice + noise combinations. The model learns to separate the voice "mask" from the noise "mask" in the frequency domain, effectively isolating the speaker's voice and suppressing everything else. This approach excels at complex, non-stationary noises (dog barking, keyboard clicks, door slams, background conversations) because the model has learned what voice sounds like and removes everything that is not voice. The tradeoff: significant CPU/GPU usage (5-15% of a modern processor), a proprietary model that requires regular updates, and processing limited to voice — music and other non-voice audio may be degraded.
Hearably uses an adaptive noise gate based on RMS envelope detection. The gate tracks the background noise floor using a slow-moving RMS average and opens when speech energy exceeds this floor by a threshold margin. During pauses (when only noise is present), the gate closes and the output is silence. This approach is lightweight (under 1% CPU), adds minimal latency (under 1ms), and works on any audio type (not just voice). However, it cannot remove noise that overlaps with speech in time — when someone is speaking and a dog barks simultaneously, the gate is open and both the voice and the bark pass through. Krisp's neural approach can separate these overlapping sources; the noise gate cannot.
For users whose primary noise problem is steady-state background noise (fan, AC, electrical hum), Hearably's noise gate is highly effective and uses a fraction of Krisp's resources. For users dealing with complex, unpredictable noise (shared living spaces, outdoor environments, noisy offices), Krisp's neural approach is superior at the cost of higher resource usage and a monthly subscription dedicated solely to noise cancellation.
How to get the best audio on Hearably vs Krisp
Choose Hearably if you need more than noise cancellation
If your audio needs include volume boost, EQ, live captions, dynamic range compression, ad volume protection, and a studio for file processing, Hearably covers all of these plus basic noise reduction. Krisp only does noise cancellation and meeting transcription.
Choose Krisp if aggressive noise removal is your top priority
If you work from a coffee shop, have children or pets, or deal with construction noise during calls, Krisp's neural network is specifically trained for these scenarios. Hearably's noise gate handles steady-state noise well but cannot separate overlapping voice and transient noise.
Choose Hearably for browser-only audio needs
If all your audio consumption happens in the browser (YouTube, Netflix, Spotify Web, Zoom Web, Google Meet), Hearably enhances everything with a single lightweight extension. No drivers, no admin access, no system modifications.
Choose Krisp for system-wide call processing
Krisp processes audio from all applications — desktop Zoom, Slack huddles, FaceTime, Discord, and any other app. Hearably only processes audio inside Chrome and Edge. If you use desktop conferencing apps, Krisp covers them all.
Consider the price difference
Hearably has a free tier with noise gate included. Krisp has no free tier — the cheapest plan is $8/month (annual billing). Hearably Pro at $4.99/month includes noise gate, volume boost, EQ, captions, and full studio access — a broader feature set for a comparable price.
Hearably uses far less CPU
Hearably's noise gate uses under 1% CPU. Krisp's neural network uses 5-15% CPU. On laptops with limited thermal headroom, the CPU difference affects battery life and fan noise — ironically, Krisp's CPU usage can increase fan noise on your end.
You can use both together
Krisp processes audio at the system level, Hearably processes audio in the browser. They operate at different layers and do not conflict. Use Krisp for outgoing microphone noise cancellation and Hearably for incoming audio enhancement and captions in the browser.
Built for this exact use case
Full Audio Enhancement Suite
Hearably is not just noise reduction — it includes 800% volume boost, 10-band EQ, multiband compression, stereo widener, Ad Volume Guard, and live AI captions. Krisp focuses exclusively on noise cancellation and meeting transcription.
Live AI Captions (90+ Languages)
Hearably adds Whisper-powered real-time captions to any website in 90+ languages. Krisp offers meeting transcription but only for calls, not for all browser audio content.
Lightweight Browser Extension
Under 300KB, zero drivers, zero admin access. Hearably runs entirely in Chrome. Krisp requires a desktop app installation with a virtual audio device driver.
Studio for File Processing
Hearably Studio processes audio and video files with volume boost, EQ, compression, caption generation, filler word removal, and voice dubbing. Krisp has no file processing capability.
Choose your method
Different situations call for different tools. Hearably gives you both.
Chrome Extension
Enhance audio live while you stream. The extension intercepts your tab's audio and processes it in real-time — volume boost, EQ, presets — without downloading anything.
- Streaming on Hearably vs Krisp, Netflix, Spotify
- Video calls on Zoom, Meet, Teams
- Any website with audio
- When you want instant, always-on enhancement
Free Online Studio
Upload an audio or video file, apply volume boost + 10-band EQ, preview in real-time, then download the enhanced WAV. Your file never leaves your browser.
- Downloaded videos or music files
- Podcast episodes you want to boost before sharing
- Voice recordings, lectures, interviews
- When you need a permanently enhanced file
Pro tip: Use a YouTube-to-MP3 tool to download the audio, then enhance it in Hearably Studio with EQ + volume boost. Perfect for offline listening, DJ sets, or sharing on social media.
Three clicks to better audio
Install
Add Hearably from the Chrome Web Store. Under 300KB, installs in seconds.
Enhance
Click the Hearably icon and tap "Enhance." Boost kicks in instantly.
Enjoy
Adjust volume, EQ, and presets. Works on any website with audio.
Hearably vs Krisp
| Feature | Hearably | Krisp |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free tier available. Pro: $4.99/mo or $49.99/yr | $8/mo (annual) or $12/mo (monthly) |
| Noise reduction approach | Adaptive noise gate (RMS envelope detection) | Deep neural network (voice/noise separation) |
| Noise types handled | Steady-state noise (fan, AC, hiss, hum) | All noise types including transient (dogs, keyboards, voices) |
| Volume boost | Up to 800% with look-ahead limiter | Not available |
| EQ | 10-band parametric (31Hz–16kHz, ±12dB) | Not available |
| Live captions | Yes — Whisper AI, 90+ languages, styled overlay | Meeting transcription only (limited languages) |
| Studio / file processing | Yes — boost, EQ, captions, dubbing, clip finder | Not available |
| Platform scope | Browser audio only (Chrome & Edge) | System-wide (all applications) |
| Microphone processing | No — incoming audio only | Yes — incoming and outgoing audio |
| Installation | Browser extension, 3 seconds, no admin | Desktop app + virtual audio driver, admin required |
| CPU usage | 1-3% (full DSP chain) | 5-15% (neural network inference) |
| Privacy | 100% local — no cloud processing | Local processing (noise cancellation), cloud for meeting AI features |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hearably's noise reduction as good as Krisp's?
For steady-state noise (fan hum, air conditioning, electrical hiss), Hearably's adaptive noise gate is highly effective. For complex transient noise (barking dogs, keyboard clicks, background conversations), Krisp's neural network is superior. They use fundamentally different approaches — signal-level gating vs. neural network source separation.
Does Krisp have volume boost or EQ?
No. Krisp is focused exclusively on noise cancellation and, more recently, meeting transcription and AI summarization. It does not offer volume boost, EQ, compression, stereo widening, ad guard, or file processing tools.
Can I use Hearably and Krisp together?
Yes. Krisp processes audio at the system level (virtual audio device), Hearably processes audio in the browser (Web Audio API). They operate at different layers. Use Krisp for outgoing microphone noise removal and Hearably for incoming browser audio enhancement.
Which is cheaper?
Hearably has a free tier with noise gate, 120% boost, and 3-band EQ. Krisp has no free tier — plans start at $8/month (annual). Hearably Pro ($4.99/month) includes the full feature set plus studio access. Both offer annual discounts.
Does Krisp work in the browser?
Krisp is a desktop app that installs a virtual audio device. It processes all system audio, including browser audio. Hearably is a browser extension that processes only browser audio. If you only use web-based conferencing (Zoom Web, Google Meet, Teams Web), Hearably handles these tabs directly.
Which uses more CPU?
Krisp's neural network uses 5-15% CPU during active processing. Hearably's noise gate uses under 1% CPU. On laptops, this difference affects battery life and thermal performance. Hearably's full DSP chain (including EQ, compression, and limiter) uses 1-3% total.
Does Hearably cancel microphone noise (outgoing)?
No. Hearably processes incoming audio from browser tabs. It does not process your microphone output. Krisp processes both incoming and outgoing audio at the system level, which is one of its key advantages for video calls.
Does Krisp offer live captions?
Krisp offers meeting transcription and AI notes for calls. Hearably offers live AI captions on any website using Whisper (90+ languages). Hearably's captions work on YouTube, Netflix, lectures, webinars, and any browser audio — not limited to video calls.