effectAntares
Auto-Tune Pro
The original and industry-standard vocal pitch correction. Auto Mode for real-time tuning and the signature hard-tune effect, Graph Mode for detailed note editing, plus Flex-Tune and Humanize for natural results.
Best Pop VST Plugins
Polished vocals, bright synths and radio-ready mixing tools, the plugins behind contemporary pop production.
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effect
samplerSpitfire Audio
BBC Symphony Orchestra Core
A complete symphony orchestra recorded at Maida Vale Studios in its own dedicated plugin (no Kontakt required). The Core edition covers the full articulation set; a free Discover edition is a low-risk way in.
effectSoundtoys
Devil-Loc Deluxe
An extreme compressor and limiter modelled on the Shure Level-Loc, built for aggressive drum crush and parallel smash. Slam transients and add grit that cuts through a dense mix.
synthDigital Suburban
Dexed
A free, hyper-accurate emulation of the Yamaha DX7, six-operator FM synthesis with 32 algorithms that even loads original DX7 .sysex patches. The standard free route into classic FM tones.
synthu-he
Diva
A CPU-heavy but breathtaking analogue synthesizer emulation. Five oscillator models, four filter models, each borrowed from legendary hardware. The most realistic virtual analogue available.
synthSynapse Audio
DUNE 3
A powerful synth combining virtual analog, wavetable and FM with a huge unison engine. A trance and EDM workhorse known for fat supersaws, evolving pads and a clean, modern sound.
effectSoundtoys
EchoBoy
The studio-standard delay: four delay modes, 30 vintage echo styles (EchoPlex, Space Echo, Memory Man) and Groove/Feel controls that make repeats sit musically with the track.
effectFabFilter
FabFilter Pro-C 3
The studio-standard compressor with program-dependent styles and refined metering, from transparent bus glue to hard, punchy limiting.
effectFabFilter
FabFilter Pro-L 2
The mastering limiter of choice for commercial releases. True peak limiting, eight limiting algorithms, and loudness metering to LUFS standards.
effectFabFilter
FabFilter Pro-Q 4
The reference EQ, now with spectral dynamics, an instance list, EQ Sketch and vintage saturation. Linear phase, dynamic bands and a gorgeous spectrum display.
effectMcDSP
FilterBank HD v7
Three professional EQ and filter plug-ins in one, parametric, shelving and steep filter models with deep control for mixing and mastering.
effectAuburn Sounds
Graillon 3
A free live voice changer and pitch corrector with the instant hard-tune sound built in. The standard free entry into Auto-Tune-style vocals, with pitch-tracking modulation for creative voice design; a paid full edition unlocks the extras.
effectSoundtheory
Gullfoss
An intelligent EQ that listens to your audio and rebalances the spectrum in real time, bringing out clarity and detail while preserving natural dynamics. Two controls, instant results, a mix-bus and mastering favourite.
samplerSpectrasonics
Keyscape
A 77GB collection of meticulously sampled collector keyboards, rare electric pianos, the Rhodes, Wurlitzer and more, deeply playable. A staple for hip-hop, lo-fi, R&B and film keys.
effectKilohearts
Kilohearts Essentials
Kilohearts' free bundle: the Snap Heap modular effects host plus 30+ snap-in effects, filters, delays, choruses and more, patchable in any order with flexible modulation. A free construction kit for movement and multi-effect chains.
samplerNative Instruments
Kontakt 8
The industry-standard sampler platform that hosts thousands of factory and third-party instrument libraries. The universal engine behind most orchestral, drum and texture libraries.
effectMeldaProduction
MAutoPitch
MeldaProduction's free automatic pitch corrector: speed, depth and formant-shift controls for natural-sounding vocal tuning. The go-to free pick when the goal is transparent correction rather than an audible effect.
effectCelemony
Melodyne 5 Studio
The deepest pitch and timing editor, with note-by-note control and DNA polyphonic editing of chords. The studio standard for transparent, natural tuning and detailed audio manipulation.
synthSpectrasonics
Omnisphere
A flagship hybrid synth and sound library spanning synthesis, granular, and thousands of sampled sources. The go-to for cinematic textures, evolving pads and inspiring patches across every genre.
effectSonnox
Oxford EQ
A 5-band parametric equaliser descended from the EQ section of the Sony OXF-R3 console, with four selectable EQ types for transparent corrective and tonal shaping in mixing and mastering.
effectiZotope
Ozone 12 Elements
AI-powered mastering made simple. Master Assistant builds a starting chain with the IRC 5 maximiser, EQ, dynamics and imaging, streaming-loud masters in minutes.
synthArturia
Pigments 7
A flagship hybrid synth with six engines, wavetable, virtual analog, granular, sampling and more, and a colour-coded, drag-and-drop modulation workflow. The most-cited modern Serum alternative.
synthu-he
Repro-5
A faithful emulation of the Sequential Prophet-5, the synthesizer behind countless classic pop and new wave records. Warm, organic, and never clinical.
midiScaler Music
Scaler 3
A music-theory workstation that detects your key and scale, suggests chords and progressions, and performs them back, from beginner chord help to advanced harmonic exploration.
effectBaby Audio
Smooth Operator Pro
Resonance suppression, dynamic EQ and spectral shaping in one fast, intuitive plugin. Its FFT engine analyses audio thousands of times a second to lift harshness from vocals, busses and full mixes.
effectoeksound
Soothe 2
The industry-standard dynamic resonance suppressor: it tames harsh, ringing frequencies only when and where they occur, surgical de-harshing for vocals, busses and masters without dulling the source.
effectoeksound
Soothe 3
The successor to the resonance-suppression standard: a sharper, more musical algorithm with multichannel support, offset controls and a new detail knob for even more surgical, transparent de-harshing.
effectSoundtoys
Soundtoys Effect Rack
A modular rack that chains any of the Soundtoys effects into one signal path, with a global mix and per-effect controls. Build distorted delays, vibey vocal chains and parallel processing in seconds.
synthReveal Sound
Spire
Four oscillators, four filters, and a sound that sits in a mix without fighting for space. A go-to for progressive house and trance leads that cut through.
samplerToontrack
Superior Drummer 3
The acoustic-drum production standard, huge multi-mic sampled kits, a built-in tracker and a full mixer. As much a drum studio as a sampler.
synthLennarDigital
Sylenth1
The classic virtual analogue synthesizer that defined the EDM and house sound of the 2010s. Smooth, warm oscillators and a famously easy workflow.
effectTokyo Dawn Records
TDR Nova
A free parallel dynamic equalizer, four fully dynamic bands that work as EQ and multiband compressor in one. The budget answer to surgical, transparent tonal control beside Soothe and Gullfoss.
samplerSpectrasonics
Trilian
Spectrasonics' total bass module, acoustic, electric and synth basses in a deeply playable 34GB instrument. A reference for realistic and powerful bass across genres.
effectValhalla DSP
Valhalla Room
Twelve reverb algorithms that cover everything from tight rooms to infinite pads. The best price-to-quality reverb on the market, a permanent fixture in every producer's chain.
effectiZotope
Vinyl
iZotope's famous free lo-fi machine: dust, scratches, warp and mechanical noise that age any track into a worn record. The classic first stop for lo-fi character without spending anything.
35 curated Pop plugins.
Popular comparisons
Serum 2 vs DivaSerum 2 vs Sylenth1Soothe 2 vs GullfossAuto-Tune Pro vs Melodyne 5 StudioSerum 2 vs DUNE 3Vital vs DexedFabFilter Pro-Q 4 vs Oxford EQSerum 2 vs Pigments 7Diva vs Repro-5Sylenth1 vs SpireSoothe 2 vs Smooth Operator ProValhalla Room vs Valhalla SupermassiveOmnisphere vs Serum 2EchoBoy vs Valhalla DelayOmnisphere vs Pigments 7Phase Plant vs Pigments 7Diva vs OmnisphereDiva vs Pigments 7Gullfoss vs Smooth Operator ProMassive X vs Pigments 7