Best Software Synthesizers in 2026
Updated
In short: SynthMaster One is ranked #1 of 34 as of 7 October 2026, ahead of Cardinal and DefleMask. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Cardinal. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Vital at $5/mo.
A software synthesizer can be a standalone instrument or part of a plugin-based music setup. Compared on synthesis engine, plugin formats, standalone app, supported platforms, MPE support, included presets, free plan, and paid from, these entries make it easier to compare practical fit as well as sound-making approaches. Cardinal and DefleMask are among the options, alongside Vital and VCV Rack. Check that the formats and platforms suit your setup, then consider which synthesis engine and preset collection match how you like to work. MPE support may also be relevant to your performance or controller needs, while plan details help frame the cost.
34 software synthesizers ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
34ranked
10free plans on this page
$5/molowest paid tier
7 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Software Synthesizers 25 channels on this page · 122 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromSynthesis enginePlugin formatsStandalone appSupported platformsIncluded presetsMPE support Spec sheet Score
01 SynthMaster One Free planNoPaid from49 one-timeSynthesis enginewavetablePlugin formatsVST, Audio UnitStandalone appYesSupported platformswindows macosIncluded presets1,250 presetsMPE supportnot stated 7/8spec lines stated 7.7
02 Cardinal Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSynthesis enginemodularPlugin formatsAudioUnit, CLAP, LV2, VST2, VST3Standalone appYesSupported platformsnot statedIncluded presetsnot statedMPE supportYes 5/8spec lines stated 7.4
03 DefleMask Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSynthesis enginenot statedPlugin formatsnot statedStandalone appnot statedSupported platformsnot statedIncluded presetsnot statedMPE supportnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.4
04 Vital Free planYesPaid from25 one-timeSynthesis enginenot statedPlugin formatsvst3, auStandalone appnot statedSupported platformsnot statedIncluded presets250 presetsMPE supportYes 5/8spec lines stated 7.4
05 VCV Rack Free planYesPaid from149 one-timeSynthesis enginemodularPlugin formatsVST2, VST3, Audio Unit, CLAPStandalone appYesSupported platformsnot statedIncluded presetsnot statedMPE supportnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 7.3
06 Dexed Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSynthesis enginenot statedPlugin formatsvst3, au, clap, lv2Standalone appYesSupported platformsnot statedIncluded presetsnot statedMPE supportYes 4/8spec lines stated 7.2
07 Repro Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSynthesis engineanalog modelingPlugin formatsvst3, au, aax, clapStandalone appNoSupported platformsnot statedIncluded presets2,420 presetsMPE supportYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.2
08 Helm Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSynthesis enginenot statedPlugin formatsLV2, VST, VST3, AU, AAXStandalone appYesSupported platformsnot statedIncluded presetsnot statedMPE supportnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 7.1
09 Sonic Pi Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSynthesis enginenot statedPlugin formatsnot statedStandalone appYesSupported platformsnot statedIncluded presetsnot statedMPE supportnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.1
10 Surge XT Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSynthesis enginenot statedPlugin formatsvst3, au, clapStandalone appYesSupported platformsnot statedIncluded presetsnot statedMPE supportYes 4/8spec lines stated 7.1
11 Synth1 Free planYesPaid fromnot statedSynthesis engineanalog modelingPlugin formatsVSTi 2.4, AU version 2Standalone appNoSupported platformswindows macosIncluded presets128 presetsMPE supportnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 7.1
12 SynthMaster 3 Free planNoPaid from99 one-timeSynthesis enginenot statedPlugin formatsVST2, VST3, AudioUnits, AAXStandalone appYesSupported platformsnot statedIncluded presetsnot statedMPE supportnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 7.1
13 Kilohearts Ultimate Free planNoPaid from199 one-timeSynthesis enginemodularPlugin formatsVST2, VST3, AAX, Audio UnitStandalone appNoSupported platformswindows macosIncluded presetsnot statedMPE supportYes 7/8spec lines stated 6.9
14 Falcon Free planNoPaid from299 one-timeSynthesis enginemodularPlugin formatsAudio Unit, AAX, VST, VST3Standalone appYesSupported platformswindows macosIncluded presets1,600 presetsMPE supportYes 8/8spec lines stated 6.7
15 MASCHINE Free planNoPaid from299 one-timeSynthesis enginenot statedPlugin formatsvst3, au, aaxStandalone appYesSupported platformsnot statedIncluded presetsnot statedMPE supportnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.7
16 Trilian Free planNoPaid from499 one-timeSynthesis enginenot statedPlugin formatsvst3, au, aaxStandalone appYesSupported platformsnot statedIncluded presets35,663 presetsMPE supportYes 6/8spec lines stated 6.6
17 Efx FRAGMENTS Free planNoPaid from199 one-timeSynthesis enginenot statedPlugin formatsvst3, au, aaxStandalone appYesSupported platformsnot statedIncluded presetsnot statedMPE supportYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.5
18 chipspeech Free planNoPaid from75 one-timeSynthesis enginenot statedPlugin formatsVST3, Audio Units, CLAP, AAXStandalone appYesSupported platformsnot statedIncluded presetsnot statedMPE supportnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.2
19 Aalto Free planNoPaid from99 one-timeSynthesis enginemodularPlugin formatsVST, AUStandalone appNoSupported platformswindows macosIncluded presetsnot statedMPE supportYes 7/8spec lines stated 6.1
20 DUNE 3 Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSynthesis engineanalog modelingPlugin formatsVST2, VST3, Audio Unit, AAXStandalone appNoSupported platformswindows macosIncluded presets1,000 presetsMPE supportYes 7/8spec lines stated 6.1
21 Abyss 2 Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSynthesis enginenot statedPlugin formatsAU, VST3, AAXStandalone appnot statedSupported platformswindows macosIncluded presets400 presetsMPE supportYes 5/8spec lines stated 6.0
22 ANA 2 Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSynthesis enginewavetablePlugin formatsVST, VST3, AU, AAXStandalone appNoSupported platformswindows macosIncluded presets500 presetsMPE supportnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 6.0
23 Battery 4 Free planNoPaid from199 one-timeSynthesis enginenot statedPlugin formatsnot statedStandalone appYesSupported platformsnot statedIncluded presetsnot statedMPE supportnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.0
24 RAPID Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSynthesis enginewavetablePlugin formatsVST 2, VST 3, Audio UnitStandalone appNoSupported platformswindows macosIncluded presets660 presetsMPE supportnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 6.0
25 SynthEdit Free planNoPaid fromnot statedSynthesis enginenot statedPlugin formatsVST3, Audio Unit (AU); experimental JUCE export enables additional formatsStandalone appnot statedSupported platformsnot statedIncluded presetsnot statedMPE supportnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.0
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Synthesis engine | Plugin formats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SynthMaster One | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | No | 49 one-time | wavetable | VST, Audio Unit |
| 2 | Cardinal | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | modular | AudioUnit, CLAP, LV2, VST2, VST3 |
| 3 | DefleMask | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 4 | Vital | 7.4 | Free plan | $5/mo | Yes | 25 one-time | — | vst3, au |
| 5 | VCV Rack | 7.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | 149 one-time | modular | VST2, VST3, Audio Unit, CLAP |
| 6 | Dexed | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | vst3, au, clap, lv2 |
| 7 | Repro | 7.2 | No | — | No | — | analog_modeling | vst3, au, aax, clap |
| 8 | Helm | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | LV2, VST, VST3, AU, AAX |
| 9 | Sonic Pi | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 10 | Surge XT | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | vst3, au, clap |
| 11 | Synth1 | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | analog_modeling | VSTi 2.4, AU version 2 |
| 12 | SynthMaster 3 | 7.1 | No | — | No | 99 one-time | — | VST2, VST3, AudioUnits, AAX |
| 13 | Kilohearts Ultimate | 6.9 | No | — | No | 199 one-time | modular | VST2, VST3, AAX, Audio Unit |
| 14 | Falcon | 6.7 | No | €20/mo | No | 299 one-time | modular | Audio Unit, AAX, VST, VST3 |
| 15 | MASCHINE | 6.7 | No | $39/mo | No | 299 one-time | — | vst3, au, aax |
| 16 | Trilian | 6.6 | No | — | No | 499 one-time | — | vst3, au, aax |
| 17 | Efx FRAGMENTS | 6.5 | No | — | No | 199 one-time | — | vst3, au, aax |
| 18 | chipspeech | 6.2 | No | — | No | 75 one-time | — | VST3, Audio Units, CLAP, AAX |
| 19 | Aalto | 6.1 | No | — | No | 99 one-time | modular | VST, AU |
| 20 | DUNE 3 | 6.1 | No | — | No | — | analog_modeling | VST2, VST3, Audio Unit, AAX |
| 21 | Abyss 2 | 6.0 | No | — | No | — | — | AU, VST3, AAX |
| 22 | ANA 2 | 6.0 | No | — | No | — | wavetable | VST, VST3, AU, AAX |
| 23 | Battery 4 | 6.0 | No | — | No | 199 one-time | — | — |
| 24 | RAPID | 6.0 | No | — | No | — | wavetable | VST 2, VST 3, Audio Unit |
| 25 | SynthEdit | 6.0 | No | — | No | — | — | VST3, Audio Unit (AU); experimental JUCE export enables additional formats |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which software synthesizer is ranked first on Specifiction?
SynthMaster One is ranked #1 of 34 with a score of 7.7. Cardinal is second and DefleMask third.
How many of these have a free plan?
10 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Vital has the lowest first paid tier we found: $5/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.
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