Best Audio Plugins in 2026
Updated
39 audio plugins ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
39ranked
0free plans on this page
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Audio Plugins 14 channels on this page · 58 of 112 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromPlugin formatsEffect types℗License modelExternal sidechainOversamplingSurround support Spec sheet Score
26 D16 Group Decimort 2 Free planNoPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsVST2, VST3, AU, AAXEffect typesbit crusher, resampler, anti-alias filter, image filter, multimode filter, ditheringLicense modelperpetualExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.9
27 Devious Machines Infiltrator 2 Free planNoPaid from134.99 one-timePlugin formatsVST 2, VST 3, AudioUnit, AAXEffect typesfilters, distortion, spectral processing, modulation, delay, reverb, pitch shifting, FM, vocoder, EQ, gating, compression, time manipulationLicense modelperpetualExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingYesSurround supportnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 5.9
28 DMG Audio EQuilibrium Free planNoPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsVST, VST3, AAX, AU, RTASEffect typesparametric EQ, shelving EQ, high-pass filtering, low-pass filtering, notch filteringLicense modelperpetualExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingnot statedSurround supportYes 5/8spec lines stated 5.9
29 Filament Free planNoPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsAU, VST3Effect typesnot statedLicense modelperpetualExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 5.9
30 GNUitar 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 5.9
31 Klanghelm SDRR2 Free planNoPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsVST, VST3, AAX Native, AUEffect typessaturation, compression, EQ, bit-crushing, sample-rate reduction, stereo widening, transient shapingLicense modelperpetualExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingYesSurround supportnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 5.9
32 Liquid Music Free planNoPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsVST, AU, AAX, Max for Live (AMXD)Effect typesMIDI melody generation, harmony, chord sequencing, rhythm generation, bassline and beat creationLicense modelnot statedExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 5.9
33 Magenta Studio Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsnot statedEffect typesMIDI generation, continuation, interpolation, drum humanization, drum groove generationLicense modelfreeExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 5.9
34 NUGEN Audio Producer Bundle Free planNoPaid from499 one-timePlugin formatsAAX, VST3, AU, AudioSuite (64-bit)Effect typesreverb, EQ, stereo enhancement, stereo positioning, bass management, metering, analysis, limiting, signal modificationLicense modelbothExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 5.9
35 Sonnox Oxford Plugins Free planNoPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsVST3, AU, AAX Native, AAX DSPEffect typesEQ, dynamic EQ, compression, limiting, gating, expansion, transient shaping, loudness enhancement, reverb, de-essingLicense modelperpetualExternal sidechainYesOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 5.9
36 Wavesfactory Trackspacer Free planNoPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsVST, VST3, AU, AAXEffect typesdynamic EQ, spectral ducking, sidechain processingLicense modelperpetualExternal sidechainYesOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 5.9
37 Captain Chords Free planNoPaid from99 one-timePlugin formatsVST, AUEffect typesnot statedLicense modelperpetualExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.8
38 ToneBytes Pedals Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsVST 2Effect typesdelay, chorus, phaser, flanger, reverb, tremolo, vibrato, filter, equalizer, distortion, fuzz, noise gateLicense modelfreeExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.8
39 ixiQuarks Free planYesPaid fromnot statedPlugin formatsnot statedEffect typesdelay, reverb, distortion, chorus, octave, tremolo, equalizer, vocoder, panning, filters, spectral effectsLicense modelfreeExternal sidechainnot statedOversamplingnot statedSurround supportnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 5.5
Compare all 14 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | Free plan | Paid from | Plugin formats | Effect types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | D16 Group Decimort 2 | 5.9 | No | No | — | VST2, VST3, AU, AAX | bit crusher, resampler, anti-alias filter, image filter, multimode filter, dithering |
| 27 | Devious Machines Infiltrator 2 | 5.9 | No | No | 134.99 one-time | VST 2, VST 3, AudioUnit, AAX | filters, distortion, spectral processing, modulation, delay, reverb, pitch shifting, FM, vocoder, EQ, gating, compression, time manipulation |
| 28 | DMG Audio EQuilibrium | 5.9 | No | No | — | VST, VST3, AAX, AU, RTAS | parametric EQ, shelving EQ, high-pass filtering, low-pass filtering, notch filtering |
| 29 | Filament | 5.9 | No | No | — | AU, VST3 | — |
| 30 | GNUitar | 5.9 | No | Yes | — | — | wah-wah, sustain, distortion, reverberation, echo, delay, tremolo, vibrato, chorus/flanger |
| 31 | Klanghelm SDRR2 | 5.9 | No | No | — | VST, VST3, AAX Native, AU | saturation, compression, EQ, bit-crushing, sample-rate reduction, stereo widening, transient shaping |
| 32 | Liquid Music | 5.9 | No | No | — | VST, AU, AAX, Max for Live (AMXD) | MIDI melody generation, harmony, chord sequencing, rhythm generation, bassline and beat creation |
| 33 | Magenta Studio | 5.9 | No | Yes | — | — | MIDI generation, continuation, interpolation, drum humanization, drum groove generation |
| 34 | NUGEN Audio Producer Bundle | 5.9 | No | No | 499 one-time | AAX, VST3, AU, AudioSuite (64-bit) | reverb, EQ, stereo enhancement, stereo positioning, bass management, metering, analysis, limiting, signal modification |
| 35 | Sonnox Oxford Plugins | 5.9 | No | No | — | VST3, AU, AAX Native, AAX DSP | EQ, dynamic EQ, compression, limiting, gating, expansion, transient shaping, loudness enhancement, reverb, de-essing |
| 36 | Wavesfactory Trackspacer | 5.9 | No | No | — | VST, VST3, AU, AAX | dynamic EQ, spectral ducking, sidechain processing |
| 37 | Captain Chords | 5.8 | No | No | 99 one-time | VST, AU | — |
| 38 | ToneBytes Pedals | 5.8 | No | Yes | — | VST 2 | delay, chorus, phaser, flanger, reverb, tremolo, vibrato, filter, equalizer, distortion, fuzz, noise gate |
| 39 | ixiQuarks | 5.5 | No | Yes | — | — | delay, reverb, distortion, chorus, octave, tremolo, equalizer, vocoder, panning, filters, spectral effects |
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