Producer Rack

Checked September 2026 · 7 picks · 87 compared

Best Free VST Plugins (2026)

The best free VST plugins are Vital and Surge XT (synths), Spitfire LABS (sampled instruments), Valhalla Supermassive (reverb and delay), TDR Nova (dynamic EQ), OTT (multiband compression) and Dexed (DX7 FM synth).

  1. #1Matt Tytel

    Vital

    FREE

    Free wavetable synth, the go-to Serum alternative.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXnot supportedCLAPsupportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXsupported

  2. #2Valhalla DSP

    Valhalla Supermassive

    FREE

    Free reverb and delay for massive spaces.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  3. #3Surge Synth Team

    Surge XT

    FREE

    Deep open-source synth with thousands of presets.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXnot supportedCLAPsupportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXsupported

  4. #4Spitfire Audio

    Spitfire LABS

    FREE

    Free strings, pianos and textures.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  5. #5Tokyo Dawn Records

    TDR Nova

    FREE

    Free dynamic EQ and multiband compressor.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  6. #6Xfer Records

    OTT

    FREE

    Free multiband compressor behind the EDM sound.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  7. #7Digital Suburban

    Dexed

    FREE

    Free DX7-style FM synth.

    VST3not supportedAUsupportedAAXnot supportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXsupported

Comparison table

NamePriceFormatsRuns on
VitalMatt TytelFreeVST3, AU, CLAP, LV2, StandaloneWindows, macOS, Linux
Valhalla SupermassiveValhalla DSPFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Surge XTSurge Synth TeamFreeVST3, AU, CLAP, LV2, StandaloneWindows, macOS, Linux
Spitfire LABSSpitfire AudioFreeVST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
TDR NovaTokyo Dawn RecordsFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
OTTXfer RecordsFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
DexedDigital SuburbanFreeVST, AU, LV2, StandaloneWindows, macOS, Linux
PigmentsArturiaFreeStandalone, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
TyrellN6u-heFreeVST3, AU, AAX, CLAPWindows, macOS, Linux
Kontakt 8 PlayerNative InstrumentsFreeStandalone, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Komplete StartNative InstrumentsFreeStandalone, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Analog Lab ProArturiaFreeStandalone, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Odin 2TheWaveWardenFreeStandalone, VST3, AU, LV2, CLAPWindows, macOS, Linux
HelmMatt TytelFreeStandalone, VST, AU, LV2Windows, macOS, Linux
Synth1Ichiro Toda (Daichi Laboratory)FreeVST, AUWindows, macOS
TAL-NoiseMakerTAL Software GmbHFreeStandalone, VST, VST3, AU, AAX, CLAPWindows, macOS, Linux
Pianoteq 9ModarttFreeStandalone, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS
Decent SamplerDavid Hilowitz (Decent Samples)FreeStandalone, VST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS
BBC Symphony Orchestra DiscoverSpitfire AudioFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Graillon 3Auburn SoundsFreeVST, VST3, AU, AAX, LV2Windows, macOS, Linux
MAutoPitchMeldaProductionFreeVST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
BandLab MasteringBandLab TechnologiesFreeWeb app, iOS app, Android appWeb, iOS, Android
Valhalla Freq EchoValhalla DSPFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Valhalla Space ModulatorValhalla DSPFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Kilohearts EssentialsKiloheartsFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
MFreeFXBundleMeldaProductionFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
TDR KotelnikovTokyo Dawn RecordsFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
TDR VOS SlickEQTokyo Dawn RecordsFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
TAL-Chorus-LXTAL Software GmbHFreeVST3, AU, AAX, CLAPWindows, macOS, Linux
TAL-Reverb-4TAL Software GmbHFreeVST3, AU, AAX, CLAPWindows, macOS, Linux
Saturation KnobSoftubeFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
DC1AKlanghelmFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
SPANVoxengoFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
ToTape9AirwindowsFreeVST3, AU, CLAP, LV2Windows, macOS, Linux
BritChannelAnalog ObsessionFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
TDR MolotokTokyo Dawn RecordsFreeVST2, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Youlean Loudness MeterYouleanFreeVST2, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Voxengo OldSkoolVerbVoxengoFreeVST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Voxengo Marvel GEQVoxengoFreeVST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
SuperchargerNative InstrumentsFreeVST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
ReplikaNative InstrumentsFreeVST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
RaumNative InstrumentsFreeVST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
u-he Podolskiu-heFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS, Linux
u-he Protoverbu-heFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS, Linux
u-he Zebraletteu-heFreeCLAP, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS, Linux
CardinalDISTRHOFreeAU, CLAP, LV2, VST2, VST3Windows, macOS, Linux
TunefishBrain ControlFreeVST, AUWindows, macOS, Linux
Ample Bass P LiteAmple SoundFreeVST2, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Ample Guitar M LiteAmple SoundFreeVST2, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Chow Tape ModelChowDSPFreeVST3, AU, AAX, LV2Windows, macOS, Linux
ChowCentaurChowDSPFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS, Linux
ChowMatrixChowDSPFreeVST3, AUWindows, macOS, Linux
Chow KickChowDSPFreeVST3, AUWindows, macOS, Linux
ChowMultiToolChowDSPFreeVST3, AU, CLAPWindows, macOS, Linux
Dragonfly ReverbMichael WillisFreeVST, LV2Windows, macOS, Linux
Neural Amp ModelerSteven AtkinsonFreeVST3, AUWindows, macOS
DeelaySixth SampleFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Acon Digital MultiplyAcon DigitalFreeVST, AAX, AUWindows, macOS
Airwindows ConsolidatedAirwindowsFreeCLAP, VST3, AU, LV2Windows, macOS, Linux
WiderPolyverse MusicFreeVST2, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
SINE Player and SINEfactoryOrchestral ToolsFreeVST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Venn Audio Free SuiteVenn AudioFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS, Linux
iZotope VinyliZotopeFreeAU, AAX, VST3, VST2Windows, macOS
Ozone ImageriZotopeFreeAU, AAX, VST2, VST3Windows, macOS
sforzandoPlogueFreeVST3, AU, CLAP, AAXWindows, macOS, Linux
Bespoke SynthRyan ChallinorFreeVSTWindows, macOS, Linux
Voxengo BoogexVoxengoFreeVST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Voxengo Tube AmpVoxengoFreeVST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Voxengo Stereo TouchVoxengoFreeVST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Voxengo TEQ-421VoxengoFreeVST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Voxengo Tempo DelayVoxengoFreeVST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Voxengo Overtone GEQVoxengoFreeVST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Voxengo MSEDVoxengoFreeVST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
HoRNet AngleHoRNetFreeAU, VST, VST3Windows, macOS
HoRNet TreBandeHoRNetFreeAU, VST, VST3, AAXWindows, macOS
HoRNet HarmonicsHoRNetFreeVST3, AAX, AUWindows, macOS
HoRNet MollaHoRNetFreeAU, VST, VST3, AAXWindows, macOS
HoRNet TapeLiteHoRNetFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
HoRNet ValvolaHoRNetFreeAU, VST, VST3, AAXWindows, macOS
HoRNet MixCompHoRNetFreeVST3, AAX, AUWindows, macOS
HoRNet Magnus LiteHoRNetFreeAU, VST, VST3, AAXWindows, macOS
STL AmpHub LESTL TonesFreeVST, AU, AAX, StandaloneWindows, macOS
SitalaDecomposerFreeVST, AU, AAX, StandaloneWindows, macOS
ML Sound Lab ML Drums FreeML Sound LabFreeVST3, AU, AAX, StandaloneWindows, macOS
Cherry Audio Surrealistic MG-1 PlusCherry AudioFreeVST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Youlean Loudness Meter 2 ProYouleanFreeVST2, VST3, AU, AAX, StandaloneWindows, macOS
Kits AI MasteringKits.aiFreeWebWeb

More options

Questions people ask

Yes, when you download them from the developer's own site. Every plugin on this page links to its official download page. Avoid cracked or re-uploaded copies of paid plugins, which are a common way malware spreads.

VST3 plugins load in FL Studio, Ableton Live, Cubase, Studio One, Bitwig and REAPER. Logic Pro and GarageBand only load AU plugins, so Mac users should pick plugins that list the AU format. The formats for each plugin are in the table above.

A synth (Vital or Surge XT), a reverb (Valhalla Supermassive), an EQ or dynamic EQ (TDR Nova) and a multiband compressor (OTT) cover most of what a new producer needs.

Vital, Valhalla Supermassive, Surge XT, Spitfire LABS, TDR Nova, OTT, Dexed, Pigments, TyrellN6, Kontakt 8 Player, Komplete Start, Analog Lab Pro, Odin 2, Helm, Synth1, TAL-NoiseMaker, Pianoteq 9, Decent Sampler, BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover, Graillon 3, MAutoPitch, Valhalla Freq Echo, Valhalla Space Modulator, Kilohearts Essentials, MFreeFXBundle, TDR Kotelnikov, TDR VOS SlickEQ, TAL-Chorus-LX, TAL-Reverb-4, Saturation Knob, DC1A, SPAN, ToTape9, BritChannel, TDR Molotok, Youlean Loudness Meter, Voxengo OldSkoolVerb, Voxengo Marvel GEQ, Supercharger, Replika, Raum, u-he Podolski, u-he Protoverb, u-he Zebralette, Cardinal, Tunefish, Ample Bass P Lite, Ample Guitar M Lite, Chow Tape Model, ChowCentaur, ChowMatrix, Chow Kick, ChowMultiTool, Dragonfly Reverb, Neural Amp Modeler, Deelay, Acon Digital Multiply, Airwindows Consolidated, Wider, SINE Player and SINEfactory, Venn Audio Free Suite, iZotope Vinyl, Ozone Imager, sforzando, Bespoke Synth, Voxengo Boogex, Voxengo Tube Amp, Voxengo Stereo Touch, Voxengo TEQ-421, Voxengo Tempo Delay, Voxengo Overtone GEQ, Voxengo MSED, HoRNet Angle, HoRNet TreBande, HoRNet Harmonics, HoRNet Molla, HoRNet TapeLite, HoRNet Valvola, HoRNet MixComp, HoRNet Magnus Lite, STL AmpHub LE, Sitala, ML Sound Lab ML Drums Free, Cherry Audio Surrealistic MG-1 Plus, Youlean Loudness Meter 2 Pro.

Vital, Surge XT, Dexed, TyrellN6, Odin 2, Helm, TAL-NoiseMaker, Pianoteq 9, Decent Sampler, Graillon 3, TAL-Chorus-LX, TAL-Reverb-4, ToTape9, u-he Podolski, u-he Protoverb, u-he Zebralette, Cardinal, Tunefish, Chow Tape Model, ChowCentaur, ChowMatrix, Chow Kick, ChowMultiTool, Dragonfly Reverb, Airwindows Consolidated, Venn Audio Free Suite, sforzando, Bespoke Synth.