Best Audio Plugins in 2026
Updated
In short: LUNA is ranked #1 of 39 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Airwindows Consolidated and Buddi. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Airwindows Consolidated. The lowest first paid tier on this page is LUNA at $12.42/mo.
Audio plugins cover a range of effects and processing, so technical fit and product scope both matter when comparing options. Look at effect types alongside plugin formats, oversampling, and surround support to understand the listed capabilities. External sidechain support may be relevant to your signal chain, while license model, free-plan availability, and paid-from pricing clarify how access is described. LUNA, Airwindows Consolidated, and FabFilter Total Bundle are among the options shown. Compare these details with the audio work you have in mind and the formats and licensing approach that suit your setup.
39 audio plugins ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
39ranked
4free plans on this page
$12.42/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Audio Plugins 25 channels on this page · 129 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromPlugin formatsEffect types℗License modelExternal sidechainOversamplingSurround support Spec sheet Score
01 LUNA Free planYesPaid from49 one-timePlugin formatsVST3, AU, AAXEffect typespreamps, EQ, channel strips, compressors, limiters, reverb, delay, modulation, tape, saturation, vocal processing, guitar ampsLicense modelbothExternal sidechainYesOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 7.3
02 Airwindows Consolidated Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsCLAP, VST3, AU, LV2Effect typesambience, amp simulation, bass, brightness, clipping, console processing, distortion, dithering, dynamics, filtering, lo-fi, noise, reverb, saturation, stereo, tape, tone color, utilityLicense modelfreeExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 7.1
03 Buddi Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsnot statedEffect typeswah-wah, sustain, distortion, reverberation, echo, delay, tremolo, vibrato, chorus/flangerLicense modelfreeExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 7.1
04 FabFilter Total Bundle Free planNoPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsVST, VST3, Audio Units, CLAP, AAX Native, AudioSuiteEffect typesEQ, reverb, compression, multiband dynamics, limiting, de-essing, gate/expander, distortion/saturation, delay, filtering, synthesizerLicense modelperpetualExternal sidechainYesOversamplingYesSurround supportYes 7/8spec lines stated 6.9
05 Kilohearts Ultimate Free planNoPaid from399 one-timePlugin formatsVST2, VST3, AAX, Audio UnitEffect typesmodular synthesis, multiband effects, convolution, wavetable filtering, wavetable distortion, all-pass filtering, distortion, graphic EQ, parametric EQ, dynamicsLicense modelbothExternal sidechainYesOversamplingYesSurround supportnot stated 7/8spec lines stated 6.9
06 McDSP Everything Pack Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsAAX, AU, VST3Effect typesequalizers, compressors, channel strips, limiters, multi-band dynamics, noise reduction, reverb, delay, lo-fi, distortion, dialog processing, spectral processingLicense modelnot statedExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.9
07 sonible smart:bundle Free planNoPaid from399 one-timePlugin formatsVST, VST3, AU, AAXEffect typesequalizer, compressor, limiter, reverb, gate, de-esserLicense modelperpetualExternal sidechainYesOversamplingYesSurround supportnot stated 7/8spec lines stated 6.9
08 x42-plugins Free planNoPaid from49 one-timePlugin formatsLV2Effect typesequalization; metering; limiting; pitch correction; compression; convolution; phase rotation; speaker rotation; routing; signal generationLicense modelbothExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingYesSurround supportnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 6.9
09 Soundtoys 5 Free planNoPaid from599 one-timePlugin formatsAAX Native, AAX AudioSuite, VST 2, VST 3, Audio Units (AU)Effect typessaturation, compression, distortion, echo, delay, reverb, pitch shifting, formant shifting, chorus, widening, modulation, filtering, phasing, tremolo, auto-panning, EQLicense modelperpetualExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.8
10 Waves Ultimate Free planNoPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsAAX Native, Audiosuite, Audio Units, VST3Effect typesvocal production, analog modeling, mastering, compression, EQ, effects, instruments, saturation, channel strips, noise reduction, surround processingLicense modelsubscriptionExternal sidechainYesOversamplingnot statedSurround supportYes 6/8spec lines stated 6.8
11 Guitar Rig Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsVST3, Audio Units (AU), AAXEffect typesamplifier and cabinet simulation, distortion, delay, reverb, modulation, filtering, dynamics and EQLicense modelbothExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.7
12 TDR Production Bundle Free planNoPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsVST, VST3, AU, AAXEffect typescompression, limiting, equalization, dynamic EQ, saturation, clipping, meteringLicense modelperpetualExternal sidechainYesOversamplingYesSurround supportnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 6.6
13 Acoustica Free planNoPaid from99 one-timePlugin formatsVST, VST3, AAX, AUEffect typesNoise reduction, hum and buzz removal, click/crackle/thump/plosive removal, declippingLicense modelperpetualExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingnot statedSurround supportYes 6/8spec lines stated 6.5
14 iZotope RX Free planNoPaid from99 one-timePlugin formatsAU, AAX, AAX Audiosuite, VST3, AU ARA, VST3 ARAEffect typesNoise reduction, de-clicking, de-clipping, de-hum, de-reverb, de-ess, de-plosive, de-rustle, dialogue isolation, spectral repair, EQ, loudness control, music rebalance, breath control, ambience matchingLicense modelperpetualExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingYesSurround supportnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 6.5
15 SynthEdit Free planNoPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsVST3, Audio Unit (AU); experimental JUCE export enables additional formatsEffect typesSynthesizer and audio effect plugins; specific built-in effect types not verifiedLicense modelperpetualExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingYesSurround supportnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.2
16 Kazrog KClip 3 Free planNoPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsVST, VST3, AU, AAX, LV2Effect typesclipping, saturation, loudness processingLicense modelperpetualExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingYesSurround supportnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.1
17 Soundtheory Gullfoss Free planNoPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsAU, VST, VST3, AAX NativeEffect typesequalizationLicense modelperpetualExternal sidechainYesOversamplingnot statedSurround supportNo 6/8spec lines stated 6.1
18 Zynaptiq ADAPTIVERB Free planNoPaid from149 one-timePlugin formatsAU, AAX Native, VST 2.4, VST 3Effect typesreverb, adaptive delay, cross-filtering, pitch processing, drones and padsLicense modelperpetualExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.1
19 Blue Cat's FreqAnalyst Free planNoPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsVST, VST3, AAX, Audio UnitEffect typesdelay, reverb, distortion, dynamics, EQ, filters, guitar, modulation, multi-effects, analysis, routing, mixingLicense modelnot statedExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.0
20 Eventide Anthology XII Free planNoPaid from999 one-timePlugin formatsAAX, AU, VST2, VST3Effect typesEQ, dynamics, reverb, delay, modulation, chorus, phaser, flanger, distortion, pitch shifting, channel strip, multi-effectsLicense modelnot statedExternal sidechainYesOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.0
21 MeldaProduction MCompleteBundle Free planNoPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsVST, VST3, AU, AAXEffect typesanalysis, creative effects, saturation and distortion, dynamics, equalization, filtering, limiting, pitch, reverb, stereo, time-based effectsLicense modelbothExternal sidechainYesOversamplingYesSurround supportYes 7/8spec lines stated 6.0
22 ShaperBox 3 Free planNoPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsVST2, VST3, AU, AAXEffect typespitch shifting, formant shifting, reverb, time manipulation, distortion, noise layering, filtering, bitcrushing, volume shaping, panning, stereo-width processingLicense modelperpetualExternal sidechainYesOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.0
23 Softube Volume 6 Free planNoPaid from899 one-timePlugin formatsAU, VST, VST3, AAXEffect typescompression, equalization, reverb, delay, modulation, flanger, saturation, distortion, transient shaping, mastering maximizationLicense modelperpetualExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.0
24 Valhalla DSP Plugin Collection Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsVST, VST3, Audio Units (AU), AAXEffect typesreverb, delay, echo, modulation, chorus, flanger, pitch shifting, frequency shiftingLicense modelperpetualExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.0
25 Accentize Restoration Bundle Free planNoPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsVST3, AU, AAXEffect typesnoise reduction, reverb suppression, speech restoration, codec artifact removal, voice/reverb/noise separation, parametric EQLicense modelperpetualExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.9
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which audio plugin is ranked first on Specifiction?
LUNA is ranked #1 of 39 with a score of 7.3. Airwindows Consolidated is second and Buddi third.
How many of these have a free plan?
4 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, LUNA has the lowest first paid tier we found: $12.42/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing. Paid placements never change a rank.
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