Every few weeks we will let you know about the latest free audio plugins. Check those expiry dates because some won’t be free forever. Join the Plugin Deals and Freebies Facebook Group, or check out r/newplugindeals and r/freeaudioplugins on Reddit if you want to find out about the latest deals and freebies as they happen.
Aries by Moonwave FX now free regularly priced at forty dollars
Expiry: May 28th
Aries by Moonwave FX is a dynamics-driven multi-effect plugin that combines dynamic saturation and transient shaping within a single processor. It is available as a free download for a limited time; the regular price is $40.
The plugin is provided in VST3 and AU formats for Windows and macOS. Pro Tools (AAX) is not supported.
Aries uses an analysis-based engine to shape transients and harmonic weight over time, with the goal of adding movement and cohesion to sources. Typical uses include tightening a drum bus, unifying layered percussion, and introducing a subtle rhythmic pulse to sustained parts such as synths or leads.
- Intelligent analysis system that adapts to the input source
- Controls for enhancing transients and managing harmonic content
- Low-latency architecture suitable for tracking and mixing
- High-resolution visual feedback for monitoring energy shifts
- Optimized for low CPU usage to enable multiple instances in large sessions
- Selection of factory presets to accelerate setup
- Streamlined interface intended to reduce menu-diving
- Works in major DAWs that support VST3 or AU formats
- Designed to add cohesion to drum groups and movement to static loops and synths
- Compatible with Windows and macOS systems
The download also includes construction kits and drum samples. Included content is royalty-free for use in commercial and personal projects. A $20 Moonwave gift card is part of the offer.
SampleScience offers Cazio Hero virtual instrument free for Mac and Windows use code FREEHERO26
Expiry: May 31st
SampleScience is offering Cazio Hero, a virtual instrument for music production, as a free download for macOS and Windows users. The offer is redeemed with the code FREEHERO26 at checkout.
Cazio Hero is designed to run inside compatible digital audio workstations on desktop systems. As a software instrument, it can be played via MIDI and recorded or sequenced within a project session.
The instrument provides a set of playable sounds that can be used for composition, arrangement, and sound design tasks. It is suitable for layering with other instruments, sketching ideas, or adding additional tonal elements to a mix.
The discount is applied by entering the code FREEHERO26 during the purchase process, reducing the price to zero for macOS and Windows versions.
VST Alarm makes WA Production Orchid chorus plugin available as free download
Expiry: June 4th
VST Alarm is offering Orchid, a chorus plugin by W.A. Production, as a free download for a limited time.
Orchid is a multi-voice chorus designed to thicken and widen audio using four parallel chorus modules. It can be applied to synths, bass, guitars, vocals, and drums to add depth and stereo spread. Certain processing stages operate per chorus module, enabling phase and comb-like textures when pushed.
Core controls include Speed and Depth for modulation, Feedback to set the amount returned to the input, and Spread to distribute the effect across the stereo field. A Shimmer control generates harmonics up to two octaves above the source with a slow phasing character. The Space control adds reverb to each chorus voice to blend the layers.
Processing can be delayed by up to 100 ms to create separation between the dry and effected signals. High-pass and low-pass filters are available to confine the processed band, useful for isolating low-end reinforcement or high-end sheen.
A central Mix control blends dry and wet signals for parallel-style treatments. The plugin also provides Input and Output level adjustments, a smoothed Bypass intended to minimize clicks during comparisons, and a Mute Source option to monitor only the processed signal.
A real-time visual meter displays the signal as it moves through the modules, assisting with gain staging and effect intensity monitoring. Factory presets are organized by instrument categories, ranging from subtle thickening to pronounced transformation, including presets that emulate comb filtering and phase effects.
- Four-way chorus processing
- Speed, Depth, Feedback, and stereo Spread controls
- Shimmer for harmonic generation up to two octaves
- Per-voice Space (reverb) to glue chorus layers
- Delay up to 100 ms
- High-pass and low-pass filters on the processed signal
- Mix control, Input/Output gain, smoothed Bypass, and Mute Source
- Real-time visual feedback meter
- Factory presets for guitars, bass, drums, synths, vocals, and special FX
- PDF manual and tutorial video included
Parish Audio launches free Insta Gate guitar noise gate with smooth tracking and extra tight response
Expiry: Unknown
Parish Audio has released Insta Gate, a free guitar noise gate designed to control unwanted noise while preserving playing dynamics.
The processor is described as offering smooth tracking, intended to follow input levels consistently, and an extra tight response to clamp noise quickly when the signal drops.
Insta Gate is aimed at reducing hiss, hum, and pedalboard noise, particularly in high-gain setups where idle noise can build up between notes and phrases.
Typical uses include tightening stop-start riffs, cleaning up palm-muted passages, and silencing gaps during rests without cutting off intentional sustain.
The tool can help lower the noise floor before further processing, aiding clearer recordings and more controlled live sound.
It is positioned for electric guitar signals but can be applied wherever fast, precise gating is needed to manage background noise and emphasize musical transients.
Growl Audio launches gFractor free spectrum analyzer plugin for Mac Windows and Linux
Expiry: None
Growl Audio has released gFractor, a free spectrum analyzer plugin for macOS, Windows, and Linux. The software is available in VST3 and AU formats, with a standalone build offered in the beta channel. There are no time limits or watermarks.
The plugin provides three analysis perspectives: Mid/Side, Left/Right, and Transient/Tone. Users can solo individual components to examine specific parts of a signal, such as separating transients from tonal content or monitoring mid and side channels independently.
A sidechain comparison mode allows visual analysis of a main signal against a reference input. The display overlays both spectra, and a single key command swaps main and sidechain sources for fast A/B checks.
Stereo analysis tools include a goniometer for phase and imaging, a correlation meter for mono compatibility, and a per-octave stereo width view. A band-pass filter is available to focus the display on selected frequency regions.
gFractor features an oscilloscope for real-time waveform visualization. In the current beta, a Split Scope view can be toggled to compare channels within the scope display.
A target matching workflow lets users capture any Peak Hold curve as a reusable reference, save it to disk, and recall it in other sessions. The target overlay supports comparing the current track’s tonal balance against a saved curve or external reference.
The 1.0.8 beta, released on May 21, 2026, adds a LUFS meter compliant with ITU-R BS.1770-4 and EBU R128. The update also introduces an update-available indicator and the Split Scope view (shortcut: X).
Beta improvements include oscilloscope colors that follow channel assignments and decoupling channel visibility from mute status. The 16,384 FFT size option has been removed, and hover hints have been added for controls such as zooming and band selection.
A fix in the beta addresses an issue where the plugin did not appear in some hosts, including Logic Pro and Ableton Live. Internal changes cover testing for parsing, updates, LUFS, and Split Scope behavior. The beta notes compatibility with macOS 10.13 or later (universal) and Windows, with Linux packages also provided. The beta remains compatible with 1.0.x sessions.
gFractor is designed for tasks across sound design, mixing, and mastering. Typical uses include visualizing spectrum and dynamics by component, comparing tracks via sidechain to identify spectral masking, checking stereo width distribution and phase alignment, validating mono compatibility, and matching tonal targets across projects.
Unfiltered Audio releases BattleFX free multi FX plugin for Mac and Windows
Expiry: None
Unfiltered Audio has released BattleFX, a free multi‑effects plugin for macOS and Windows.
BattleFX brings the Shatter Delay and Headspace Reverb from the Battalion drum synth into a standalone processor that can be inserted on any track or used on send/return channels. Each effect can be monitored and used independently.
The plugin includes a set of mix controls with Solo and Mute for isolating delay or reverb. It also features the Maximize and EQ section from Battalion’s master module.
BattleFX adds an automatic choke system for both delay and reverb buffers. Chokes can occur at repeating intervals set by a Euclidean pattern control. Timing can be tempo‑synced or free, with independent settings for the delay and reverb engines, and optional nudge to shift events slightly ahead of or behind the beat.
This setup enables rhythmic gating and ducking effects without external sidechain routing. The developer notes it can produce complex patterns, including with noisy inputs and higher Maximize settings.
According to the product information, the full Battalion drum synth includes these effects and controls, with the exception of the automatic choke system, which in that instrument can be replicated by sidechaining drum hits.
BattleFX is available at no cost.
GullDSP Phathom releases free open source bass guitar preamp and distortion plugin for Windows VST three only
Expiry: None
GullDSP has released Phathom, a free, open-source bass preamp and distortion plugin for Windows in VST3 format. Version 1.0.6 was published on May 16, 2026 under the MIT license.
Phathom targets modern fuzzy and growly bass tones using a hysteretic, transformer-like saturation stage that responds to both current and recent input levels and frequencies. Pre-saturation filtering allows users to emphasize or reduce low or high content before distortion to shape how the circuit reacts to playing dynamics and timbre.
- Hysteretic, stateful saturation that reacts to dynamics and frequency content.
- Pre-saturation low or high boost/cut to alter distortion character.
- Optional inversion of the wet signal’s polarity and equalization of the dry path.
- Automatic oversampling: 4x below 80 kHz host rate; 2x from 80 kHz to 160 kHz.
- Resizable interface with right-click size selection.
The plugin supports parallel processing and tone shaping for aggressive, articulate bass sounds. Users can combine the dry path with the distorted path, adjust phase interaction, and tailor the dry signal when chaining into other effects.
Key parameters:
- Input: Adjusts incoming level; includes an overload indicator.
- Drive: Sets the level feeding the saturation module.
- Mix: Blends dry and wet signals.
- Out: Sets output level; includes an overload indicator.
- P (Polarity): Flips the distorted signal’s polarity to change interaction with the dry path. This can create scooped responses and, in some cases, reduce bass or low mid content.
- Dry EQ: Applies the same pre-saturation filtering to the dry signal, useful when feeding subsequent distortion stages.
Phathom is intended for 64-bit Windows hosts that support VST3. A demo video is available, featuring bass performance by Rich Gray.
The project is built with the Steinberg VST 3 SDK. VST is a trademark of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.
The installer and source code are available on the project’s releases page.
Thanks for reading. We hope you found some cool and useful new tools!
Check out previous FREE Plugins Reports for even more freebies! You can also browse a range of free effects, free instruments, and free studio tools available from our partner Plugin Boutique, so check those out too. For everything else you can find lots of audio plugin deals on this website.