Home / Free plugins / Synths
Checked Nov 2026

Best free synth plugins. 15 free picks.

Free synths that hold up next to the paid ones: wavetable, analog-style, FM and modular.

SynthsInstrumentsDrumsReverbDelayCompressorsEQSaturationLo-fiChorus + stereoVocalsCreative FXMeteringGuitar

01Our pick

SCRAMBLE.

by Jordon Lumley

Glitch, stutter, tape stop, chops, reverb, delay and vocal tune in one free plugin. One button rolls a new FX chain: the cube has 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 positions. Not just for loops: drum buses, 808s, hats, vocals and the master bus. Mac + Windows.

Download free
02Our synth

MUTANT.

by Jordon Lumley

Not free, but worth knowing: a layering synth with a pedalboard, arps and phrases that loop in 1 or 2 bars. Pre-order $39, out Dec 15.

See MUTANT.
03

Vital

by Matt Tytel

Wavetable synth with a free tier full of presets and wavetables. The free Serum alternative most producers start with.

Get it from Matt TytelCompare with MUTANT. →
04

Surge XT

by Surge Synth Team

Open-source hybrid synth with hundreds of presets and a huge sound range.

Get it from Surge Synth TeamCompare with MUTANT. →
05

TAL-NoiseMaker

by TAL Software

Virtual analog synth for basses, leads and plucks. Light on CPU.

Get it from TAL SoftwareCompare with MUTANT. →
06

Synth1

by Daichi Laboratory

The legendary free analog-style synth, with thousands of user patches online.

Get it from Daichi LaboratoryCompare with MUTANT. →
07

Dexed

by Digital Suburban

Six-operator FM synth that loads classic 80s cartridge patches. Great for e-pianos and bells.

Get it from Digital SuburbanCompare with MUTANT. →
08

Odin 2

by The WaveWarden

Semi-modular hybrid synth with 24 voices, free and open source.

Get it from The WaveWardenCompare with MUTANT. →
09

Helm

by Matt Tytel

Polyphonic subtractive synth from the maker of Vital. Free and open source.

Get it from Matt TytelCompare with MUTANT. →
10

Tyrell N6

by u-he

Six-voice analog-style synth from the makers of Diva.

Get it from u-heCompare with MUTANT. →
11

Podolski

by u-he

Simple, CPU-light virtual analog synth from u-he.

Get it from u-heCompare with MUTANT. →
12

Zebralette 3

by u-he

Free single-oscillator version of u-he Zebra's sound engine.

Get it from u-heCompare with MUTANT. →
13

Triple Cheese

by u-he

Comb-filter synth with a metallic, plucky character.

Get it from u-heCompare with MUTANT. →
14

Ripchord

by Trackbout

Chord tool: play full chords from single keys. Loved in trap and R&B.

Get it from TrackboutCompare with MUTANT. →
15

Cardinal

by DISTRHO

Free modular synth with hundreds of open-source modules.

Get it from DISTRHOCompare with MUTANT. →

More free plugins

Free instruments pluginsFree pianos, strings, guitars, orchestras and sample players.Free drums pluginsFree drum kits, drum samplers and drum crushers.Free reverb pluginsFree plates, halls and huge ambient spaces.Free delay pluginsFree tape, dub, glitch and modulated delays.Free compressors pluginsFree compressors, limiters and transient shapers for punch and loudness.Free eq pluginsFree EQs, from surgical dynamic EQ to warm vintage-style tone.Free saturation pluginsFree saturation, tape and drive for warmth and grit.Free lo-fi pluginsFree vinyl, dust and broken-tape effects.Free chorus + stereo pluginsFree chorus, filters, auto-pan and stereo wideners.Free vocals pluginsFree auto-tune, doubling, vocoder and de-essing.Free creative fx pluginsFree effect bundles and glitch tools to mangle sounds.Free metering pluginsFree LUFS meters, analyzers and clippers to finish your mix.Free guitar pluginsFree amp sims, cab loaders and pedals.Every free pluginThe full listBlack Friday plugin deals2026 deals

audioplugins.org is run by producer Jordon Lumley, who makes SCRAMBLE. and MUTANT., so they're pinned at the top. Other products link straight to their makers. Some links may be affiliate links, which never change what you pay. Prices and terms change, so check the maker's site.