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Updated Nov 2026

Best VST plugins (2026): 41 plugins producers actually use

The synths, mixing tools, vocal plugins and effects you hear on records every day. Each one links to its maker; check our Black Friday page before you buy.

Featured deal

SCRAMBLE. Full Bundle

by SCRAMBLE.

FX plugin + 2,800 presets for drums, 808s, vocals and the master bus. Black Friday price, pay in 4 available.

See the deal

Featured deal

MUTANT. synth

by SCRAMBLE.

Layering synth with a built-in pedalboard and arps that loop in 1 or 2 bars. Pre-order $39 (will be $69), out Dec 15.

Pre-order

Best synths plugins

Serum 2

by Xfer Records

The wavetable synth behind a huge share of modern trap, EDM and pop sounds.

See it at Xfer Records

Omnisphere 2

by Spectrasonics

Massive synth and sound library. A hip-hop and film-scoring staple.

See it at Spectrasonics

Keyscape

by Spectrasonics

Deeply sampled pianos, Rhodes, Wurlis and rare keyboards.

See it at Spectrasonics

Pigments

by Arturia

Wavetable, granular and analog engines in one colourful synth.

See it at Arturia

V Collection

by Arturia

Dozens of classic synths and keyboards recreated in software.

See it at Arturia

Diva

by u-he

Analog synth emulation known for its rich, warm sound.

See it at u-he

Hive 2

by u-he

Fast, punchy synth for EDM leads and basses.

See it at u-he

Phase Plant

by Kilohearts

Modular synth that lets you build any patch from scratch.

See it at Kilohearts

Massive X

by Native Instruments

Wavetable synth from the makers of the original Massive.

See it at Native Instruments

Best instruments plugins

Kontakt 8

#10

Kontakt 8

by Native Instruments

The sampler most sample libraries are built for.

See it at Native Instruments

Komplete 15

#11

Komplete 15

by Native Instruments

Native Instruments' giant bundle of instruments and effects.

See it at Native Instruments

#12

Arcade

by Output

Playable loop instrument with fresh content every week.

See it at Output

Best drums plugins

#13

XO

by XLN Audio

Drum sample organiser and beat maker that maps every sample you own.

See it at XLN Audio

#14

Superior Drummer 3

by Toontrack

Ultra-realistic acoustic drum software.

See it at Toontrack

#15

EZdrummer 3

by Toontrack

Easy acoustic drums with grooves and a song builder.

See it at Toontrack

Best mixing + mastering plugins

#16

Pro-Q 4

by FabFilter

The EQ most engineers reach for first.

See it at FabFilter

#17

Pro-L 2

by FabFilter

Transparent mastering limiter for loud, clean masters.

See it at FabFilter

#18

Pro-C 2

by FabFilter

Flexible compressor for vocals, drums and buses.

See it at FabFilter

#19

Saturn 2

by FabFilter

Multiband saturation and distortion.

See it at FabFilter

soothe2

#20

soothe2

by oeksound

Removes harsh resonances automatically. A modern mixing essential.

See it at oeksound

Ozone

#21

Ozone

by iZotope

All-in-one mastering suite with an AI assistant.

See it at iZotope

Neutron

#22

Neutron

by iZotope

Mixing suite with smart track analysis.

See it at iZotope

#23

RX

by iZotope

The industry standard for audio repair and cleanup.

See it at iZotope

#24

CLA Vocals

by Waves

Chris Lord-Alge's vocal chain in a few faders.

See it at Waves

#25

SSL G-Master Buss Compressor

by Waves

The classic glue compressor for drums and mix bus.

See it at Waves

Best vocals plugins

Auto-Tune Pro

#26

Auto-Tune Pro

by Antares

The original Auto-Tune. The sound of modern rap and pop vocals.

See it at Antares

#27

Melodyne 5

by Celemony

Note-by-note pitch and timing editing.

See it at Celemony

Nectar

#28

Nectar

by iZotope

Vocal mixing suite with an assistant that builds a chain for you.

See it at iZotope

#29

Little AlterBoy

by Soundtoys

Pitch, formant and robot voice effects.

See it at Soundtoys

Best creative fx plugins

#30

Decapitator

by Soundtoys

Analog saturation that makes everything sound bigger.

See it at Soundtoys

#31

EchoBoy

by Soundtoys

The go-to delay for vocals, with dozens of echo styles.

See it at Soundtoys

#32

RC-20 Retro Color

by XLN Audio

The lo-fi plugin: noise, wobble, distortion and space.

See it at XLN Audio

#33

ShaperBox 3

by Cableguys

Rhythmic volume, filter and time shaping.

See it at Cableguys

#34

HalfTime

by Cableguys

Instant half-time beats and slowed effects.

See it at Cableguys

#35

Portal

by Output

Granular effect that turns any sound into something new.

See it at Output

Gross Beat

#36

Gross Beat

by Image-Line

Time and volume effects for stutters, tape stops and half-time.

See it at Image-Line

Best reverb + delay plugins

Valhalla VintageVerb

#37

Valhalla VintageVerb

by Valhalla DSP

Classic 70s and 80s digital reverbs at a tiny price.

See it at Valhalla DSP

Valhalla Shimmer

#38

Valhalla Shimmer

by Valhalla DSP

Huge shimmer reverb for pads and ambient tails.

See it at Valhalla DSP

#39

Blackhole

by Eventide

Otherworldly giant reverb.

See it at Eventide

Spaced Out

#40

Spaced Out

by BABY Audio

Reverb, delay and modulation in one fun space machine.

See it at BABY Audio

Best daw plugins

#41

FL Studio

by Image-Line

The beatmaker's DAW, with lifetime free updates.

See it at Image-Line