Best Audio Plugins in 2026
Updated
In short: LUNA is ranked #1 of 39 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Buddi and Airwindows Consolidated. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Buddi. The lowest first paid tier on this page is LUNA at $12.42/mo.
Choosing audio plugins starts with the work you need them to do, from particular effects to a broader set of processing tools. Compare effect types and product scope, then check plugin formats, oversampling, and surround support for technical fit. External sidechain support may matter for your signal chain. LUNA, Buddi, and Airwindows Consolidated are among the options to weigh; license model, free-plan availability, and paid-from pricing also help clarify access and cost. Match these details to your setup and the audio tasks you expect to handle.
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
#1 LUNA Top pick · 7.3 Free plan · $12.42/mo #2 Buddi Runner-up · 7.0 Free plan · Free
#3 Airwindows Consolidated Also great · 6.9 Free plan · Free
- Free plan macOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 49 one-time
- Plugin formats
- VST3, AU, AAX
- Effect types
- preamps, EQ, channel strips, compressors, limiters, reverb, delay, modulation, tape, saturation, vocal processing, guitar amps
- License model
- both
- External sidechain
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$12.42/mofirst paid tier About LUNAVisit site - Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Effect types
- wah-wah, sustain, distortion, reverberation, echo, delay, tremolo, vibrato, chorus/flanger
- License model
- free
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Plugin formats
- CLAP, VST3, AU, LV2
- Effect types
- ambience, amp simulation, bass, brightness, clipping, console processing, distortion, dithering, dynamics, filtering, lo-fi, noise, reverb, saturation, stereo, tape, tone color, utility
- License model
- free
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free trial macOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Plugin formats
- VST, VST3, Audio Units, CLAP, AAX Native, AudioSuite
- Effect types
- EQ, reverb, compression, multiband dynamics, limiting, de-essing, gate/expander, distortion/saturation, delay, filtering, synthesizer
- License model
- perpetual
- External sidechain
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan macOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Plugin formats
- VST3, Audio Units (AU), AAX
- Effect types
- amplifier and cabinet simulation, distortion, delay, reverb, modulation, filtering, dynamics and EQ
- License model
- both
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free trial macOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 399 one-time
- Plugin formats
- VST2, VST3, AAX, Audio Unit
- Effect types
- modular synthesis, multiband effects, convolution, wavetable filtering, wavetable distortion, all-pass filtering, distortion, graphic EQ, parametric EQ, dynamics
- License model
- both
- External sidechain
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free trial macOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 399 one-time
- Plugin formats
- VST, VST3, AU, AAX
- Effect types
- equalizer, compressor, limiter, reverb, gate, de-esser
- License model
- perpetual
- External sidechain
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free trial macOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 599 one-time
- Plugin formats
- AAX Native, AAX AudioSuite, VST 2, VST 3, Audio Units (AU)
- Effect types
- saturation, compression, distortion, echo, delay, reverb, pitch shifting, formant shifting, chorus, widening, modulation, filtering, phasing, tremolo, auto-panning, EQ
- License model
- perpetual
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free trial macOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Plugin formats
- AAX Native, Audiosuite, Audio Units, VST3
- Effect types
- vocal production, analog modeling, mastering, compression, EQ, effects, instruments, saturation, channel strips, noise reduction, surround processing
- License model
- subscription
- External sidechain
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$20.83/mofirst paid tier About Waves UltimateVisit site - LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 49 one-time
- Plugin formats
- LV2
- Effect types
- equalization; metering; limiting; pitch correction; compression; convolution; phase rotation; speaker rotation; routing; signal generation
- License model
- both
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - macOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 99 one-time
- Plugin formats
- VST, VST3, AAX, AU
- Effect types
- Noise reduction, hum and buzz removal, click/crackle/thump/plosive removal, declipping
- License model
- perpetual
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$149/mofirst paid tier About AcousticaVisit site - macOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 99 one-time
- Plugin formats
- AU, AAX, AAX Audiosuite, VST3, AU ARA, VST3 ARA
- Effect types
- Noise 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 matching
- License model
- perpetual
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$99/mofirst paid tier About iZotope RXVisit site - macOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Plugin formats
- VST, VST3, AU, AAX
- Effect types
- compression, limiting, equalization, dynamic EQ, saturation, clipping, metering
- License model
- perpetual
- External sidechain
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - WindowsmacOS
- Free plan
- No
- Plugin formats
- VST, VST3, AAX, Audio Unit
- Effect types
- delay, reverb, distortion, dynamics, EQ, filters, guitar, modulation, multi-effects, analysis, routing, mixing
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Plugin formats
- VST3, Audio Unit (AU); experimental JUCE export enables additional formats
- Effect types
- Synthesizer and audio effect plugins; specific built-in effect types not verified
- License model
- perpetual
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - WindowsmacOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Plugin formats
- VST, VST3, Audio Units (AU), AAX
- Effect types
- reverb, delay, echo, modulation, chorus, flanger, pitch shifting, frequency shifting
- License model
- perpetual
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - WindowsmacOS
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 999 one-time
- Plugin formats
- AAX, AU, VST2, VST3
- Effect types
- EQ, dynamics, reverb, delay, modulation, chorus, phaser, flanger, distortion, pitch shifting, channel strip, multi-effects
- External sidechain
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - LinuxWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Effect types
- wah-wah, sustain, distortion, reverberation, echo, delay, tremolo, vibrato, chorus/flanger
- License model
- free
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - macOSWindowsLinux
- Free plan
- No
- Plugin formats
- VST, VST3, AU, AAX, LV2
- Effect types
- clipping, saturation, loudness processing
- License model
- perpetual
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - macOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Effect types
- MIDI generation, continuation, interpolation, drum humanization, drum groove generation
- License model
- free
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - WindowsmacOS
- Free plan
- No
- Plugin formats
- VST, VST3, AU, AAX
- Effect types
- analysis, creative effects, saturation and distortion, dynamics, equalization, filtering, limiting, pitch, reverb, stereo, time-based effects
- License model
- both
- External sidechain
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - WindowsmacOS
- Free plan
- No
- Plugin formats
- VST2, VST3, AU, AAX
- Effect types
- pitch shifting, formant shifting, reverb, time manipulation, distortion, noise layering, filtering, bitcrushing, volume shaping, panning, stereo-width processing
- License model
- perpetual
- External sidechain
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - macOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 899 one-time
- Plugin formats
- AU, VST, VST3, AAX
- Effect types
- compression, equalization, reverb, delay, modulation, flanger, saturation, distortion, transient shaping, mastering maximization
- License model
- perpetual
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - macOSWindows
- Free plan
- No
- Plugin formats
- AU, VST, VST3, AAX Native
- Effect types
- equalization
- License model
- perpetual
- External sidechain
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Windows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Plugin formats
- VST 2
- Effect types
- delay, chorus, phaser, flanger, reverb, tremolo, vibrato, filter, equalizer, distortion, fuzz, noise gate
- License model
- free
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
Is your platform 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 The Geeks Club?
LUNA is ranked #1 of 39 with a score of 7.3. Buddi is second and Airwindows Consolidated 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 how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.
More in Design, Video & Audio
All design, video & audio listsVideo Editing Software 161Photo Editing Software 160Digital Asset Management Software 151Graphic Design Software 1503D modeling software 148Video Downloaders 137Live Streaming Software 136Screen Recording Software 133Audio Editing Software 130Animation Software 108Image Upscaling Software 100Data Visualization Software 98