Producer Rack

Checked September 2026 · 22 picks · 22 compared

Best Mastering Tools for Windows (2026)

The best mastering tools for Windows are OTT, FabFilter Pro-L 2 and FabFilter Pro-R 2. OTT is best for aggressive multiband upward/downward compression (Free). FabFilter Pro-L 2 is best for transparent, loud mastering-grade limiting ($199 one-time). FabFilter Pro-R 2 is best for natural mastering and mix reverb with musical, non-technical controls ($199 one-time).

  1. #1Xfer Records

    OTT

    FREE

    Free three-band upward/downward multiband compressor originally from Ableton's Multiband Dynamics preset.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  2. #2FabFilter

    FabFilter Pro-L 2

    $199once

    Loudness limiter with eight limiting algorithms and true peak limiting for mastering.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPsupportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  3. #3FabFilter

    FabFilter Pro-R 2

    $199once

    Algorithmic reverb with musical Brightness/Character/Distance controls and Decay Rate EQ.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPsupportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  4. #4HoRNet

    HoRNet Magnus Lite

    FREE

    A free limiter and clipper.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  5. #5iZotope

    iZotope Insight 2

    $199once

    A metering plugin for loudness, levels, sound field and spectrogram analysis.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  6. #6iZotope

    Ozone 12 Advanced

    $499once

    AI-assisted mastering suite with 20 modules for finishing and polishing full mixes.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  7. #7iZotope (Native Instruments)

    Ozone 12 Standard

    $219once

    All-in-one mastering plugin with 14 pro modules and AI-powered mastering assistant.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  8. #8iZotope

    Ozone Imager

    FREE

    A free stereo imaging plugin with width control and vectorscopes.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  9. #9Softube

    Softube Weiss DS1-MK3

    £489once

    Software port of the Weiss DS1-MK3 hardware mastering processor.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  10. #10Softube

    Softube Weiss MM-1 Mastering Maximizer

    $199once

    A mastering limiter based on the Weiss DS1-MK3 algorithms with style selector.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  11. #11sonible

    sonible smart:limit

    €129once

    An intelligent limiter that parametrizes itself and predicts the impact of changes.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  12. #12Tokyo Dawn Records

    TDR Kotelnikov

    FREE

    Free wideband mastering compressor combining high fidelity control with musical flexibility.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  13. #13Tokyo Dawn Records

    TDR Kotelnikov GE

    €50once

    Dynamic range processor for transparent compression, suited to stereo bus work.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  14. #14Tokyo Dawn Labs

    TDR Limiter 6 GE

    €60once

    A six-module dynamics toolkit for compression, clipping and loudness control.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXsupported

  15. #15Tokyo Dawn Records

    TDR VOS SlickEQ

    FREE

    Free mixing/mastering EQ with four vintage-modeled EQ character options.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  16. #16Voxengo

    Voxengo Marvel GEQ

    FREE

    A free linear-phase 16-band graphic equalizer suited to mixing and mastering.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  17. #17Voxengo

    Voxengo MSED

    FREE

    A free mid-side encoder/decoder utility.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  18. #18Voxengo

    Voxengo Stereo Touch

    FREE

    A free mid/side stereo widener.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  19. #19Waves

    Waves Abbey Road TG Mastering Chain

    $49.99once

    A complete mastering chain modeled on the EMI TG12410 console.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  20. #20Polyverse Music

    Wider

    FREE

    A free stereo widener that stays mono-compatible.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  21. #21Youlean

    Youlean Loudness Meter

    FREE

    A free loudness metering plugin for measuring perceived loudness against TV, streaming and broadcast standards.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

  22. #22Youlean

    Youlean Loudness Meter 2 Pro

    FREEpaid $39+

    A loudness meter with streaming presets, dynamics graph and export.

    VST3supportedAUsupportedAAXsupportedCLAPnot supportedWINsupportedMACsupportedLNXnot supported

Comparison table

NamePriceFormatsRuns on
OTTXfer RecordsFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
FabFilter Pro-L 2FabFilter$199 one-timeVST3, AU, AAX, CLAPWindows, macOS
FabFilter Pro-R 2FabFilter$199 one-timeVST3, AU, AAX, CLAPWindows, macOS
HoRNet Magnus LiteHoRNetFreeAU, VST, VST3, AAXWindows, macOS
iZotope Insight 2iZotope$199 (MSRP)VST2, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Ozone 12 AdvancediZotope$499.00 one-timeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Ozone 12 StandardiZotope (Native Instruments)$219 one-timeVST3, AAX, AU, StandalonemacOS, Windows
Ozone ImageriZotopeFreeAU, AAX, VST2, VST3Windows, macOS
Softube Weiss DS1-MK3Softube£489 one-timeVST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Softube Weiss MM-1 Mastering MaximizerSoftube$199VST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
sonible smart:limitsonible€129 (MSRP)VST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
TDR KotelnikovTokyo Dawn RecordsFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
TDR Kotelnikov GETokyo Dawn Records€50 one-timeVST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
TDR Limiter 6 GETokyo Dawn Labs€60VST2, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS, Linux
TDR VOS SlickEQTokyo Dawn RecordsFreeVST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Voxengo Marvel GEQVoxengoFreeVST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Voxengo MSEDVoxengoFreeVST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Voxengo Stereo TouchVoxengoFreeVST, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Waves Abbey Road TG Mastering ChainWaves$49.99 (MSRP $149)VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
WiderPolyverse MusicFreeVST2, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Youlean Loudness MeterYouleanFreeVST2, VST3, AU, AAXWindows, macOS
Youlean Loudness Meter 2 ProYouleanFreeVST2, VST3, AU, AAX, StandaloneWindows, macOS

Questions people ask

OTT by Xfer Records. It is best for aggressive multiband upward/downward compression and costs Free.

TDR Limiter 6 GE.