2025 was probably the best year ever for free VST plugins. And that’s not an exaggeration.
We covered well over 200 free plugins on BPB this year, ranging from simple utilities to genuinely mind-blowing tools that rival (and sometimes outperform) commercial software. Narrowing that list down wasn’t easy, but after months of testing, mixing, and daily use, I’ve picked my 15 favorite free plugins released in 2025.
These are all permanently free, with one very important exception that I’ll point out below.
I’m also inviting you to share your favorite free plugins from 2025 in the comments. I’ll update this article and add the five most-mentioned plugins to the list, so consider this a collaborative roundup shaped by the BPB community.
Alright, let’s get into it.
ZL Equalizer 2
If you asked me to name just one standout free plugin from 2025, this would probably be it.
ZL Equalizer 2 is, in my opinion, the best free dynamic EQ right now. It’s essentially a free alternative to FabFilter Pro-Q, and that’s not something I say lightly.
The workflow, the analyzer, the band handling, and the overall polish are shockingly good for a free plugin.
The EQ itself is deep and incredibly flexible. You’re getting a plugin that’s capable of handling serious mixing tasks and almost everything you could throw at it during the mastering stage.
If you’re building a streamlined free plugin setup and only have to pick two equalizers, ZL Equalizer 2 would be an absolute must-have along with TDR Nova.
Temperance Lite
This is the one exception on the list, and I’m putting it near the top so you don’t miss it.
Temperance Lite is only free until December 31st, but I felt strongly that it deserved a spot here (among other plugins that are permanently free).
This is not just another reverb; it’s unlike any other reverb plugin I’ve used. Eventide’s “modal reverb” concept lets you shape which notes bloom inside the reverb tail, which opens up completely new possibilities for sound design.
If you’re reading this before the deadline, do not miss it. Even if you’re overloaded with reverbs, this one brings something new to the table, and I couldn’t recommend it highly enough.
Zebralette 3
Zebralette has always been one of the most popular free synths around, and version 3 makes it even better.
Despite being “just” a single-oscillator synth, Zebralette 3 is insanely deep. The oscillator editor and MSEG alone can keep you busy for hours, and the sound quality is what you’d expect from u-he.
Being able to morph between envelopes and create evolving modulation makes Zebralette 3 perfect for cinematic textures and ambient sound design, which is what I used it for the most.
If you’re getting into synthesis and want a free instrument that can grow with you, Zebralette 3 is an easy recommendation.
Filtrr
Filtrr looks simple at first glance, but it’s so much more than a bread-and-butter filter plugin.
It’s built around a ladder filter, but the six saturation algorithms and non-linear behavior give it a ton of personality and plenty of wiggle room for making unique sounds. I use it a lot for subtle tone shaping in the mix, but it’s also amazing for full-blown sonic destruction in my sound design projects.
The modulation system is where things get super fun. Audio-rate modulation, tempo-synced LFOs, and envelope-following options make Filtrr a powerful modulation tool and not just a mixing utility. It’s simple to use, CPU-friendly, and sounds fantastic across a wide range of sources.
I also think the GUI is simply beautiful.
BlepFX continues to be one of those indie developers who quietly release ridiculously good tools for free, so I’m keeping my eyes peeled for their future releases.
Fury-68
Full Bucket Music had another year filled with freeware releases, and I’m sure that most readers would pick something else… but Fury-68 is the one that stuck with me.
The reason is personal. I used to own the synth that it emulates.
It’s a recreation of the Korg Poly-61, and while that synth isn’t insanely popular or praised, I’ve always had a soft spot for it. I owned it for a few years, played it a lot, sampled it, then sold it (and regretted that decision, of course).
So having a clean, flexible virtual version from Full Bucket Music in my DAW is amazing.
And again, it probably won’t be everyone’s favorite Full Bucket release from 2025, but for me, this one hits the nostalgia button.
TIME-12
Tilr released several excellent plugins this year, and choosing just one was far from easy (ask me tomorrow, and I’ll probably pick REEV-R).
I went with TIME-12 because it’s incredibly useful for rhythmic modulation, glitch effects, tape stops, and an insane variety of creative time-based tricks. If you like GrossBeat or ShaperBox Time, this one is absolutely worth your attention.
And if you like TIME-12, definitely check out Tilr’s other releases from 2025 as well.
XMLimiter V2
XMLimiter V2 doesn’t look like much, but it’s actually one of the best free limiters right now. I was blown away when I loaded it in Studio One for the first time because the screenshot made me expect something pretty average. But the algorithm here is top-notch.
It’s a transparent limiter that works beautifully for everyday use, both for mixing and mastering. I found myself reaching for it more and more instead of LoudMax and Limiter No6, especially when I just needed clean level control without any extra features.
So an excellent limiter with a simple GUI, great sound, and zero distractions (although I wouldn’t mind GR metering in a future update).
Pivot Lite
If you’ve ever wanted to dig into FM synthesis but found it too intimidating, Pivot Lite by Fors is a great entry point.
The playful GUI here makes FM-style synthesis far more approachable than what you’ll find in most traditional FM synths with dozens of knobs and weird parameters.
That said, Pivot Lite still brings all the goodness you’d expect from a deep FM synth, and it sounds fantastic. You also get a bunch of presets to help you get started.
Just make sure you grab the Lite version, which is free (there’s also a paid version on the product page). And while you’re there, also check out the Sala reverb.
8TT
8TT takes the classic OTT concept and expands it into an 8-band multiband monster with a super smooth sound.
It gives you much more control than traditional OTT plugins while keeping the workflow approachable. And if you’re a sucker for minimal GUIs like me, you’ll love this one.
This one delivers that aggressive sound shaping for basses, drums, or synths, but with a much smoother and refined sound compared to what I was previously able to get from OTT-style plugins.
Fircomp 2
Fircomp 2 became one of my go-to compressors for mixing in 2025. It was originally a commercial plugin, but the developer re-released it as freeware earlier this year.
It’s incredibly clean, extremely transparent, and flexible enough to handle everything from subtle control to limiter-style duties. The learning curve is a bit steeper than average, but once it clicks, you’ll probably start using it a lot.
The fact that this is now free is kind of absurd considering how feature-packed it is.
FeenstaubTC
Whenever Variety of Sound releases something, it’s worth paying attention. FerricTDS is still my favorite tape saturation plugin, and the main reason I’m keeping my Windows-powered laptop around.
FeenstaubTC goes a bit broader than pure tape saturation. It delivers warmth, color, and depth in a way that very few plugins manage to pull off. It’s part tube compressor, part saturation tool, and it’s fantastic at both roles.
Windows-only (like all other VoS stuff), but absolutely worth it if you’re on that platform.
Phoenix LT
Phoenix LT is a spiritual successor to the legendary (and now discontinued) SGA1566 tube preamp plugin, which I used for years.
It uses a full real-time circuit simulation of an all-tube preamp built around two 12AU7 triodes, with automatic 4x oversampling to keep things clean when driven harder. In practice, the saturation stays smooth and controlled, even when you push it well into higher gain settings.
Feature-wise, it sticks close to the original formula: input, gain, and output controls, plus a three-band Baxandall-style EQ that can be placed before or after the preamp stage (or bypassed).
The interface is cleaner and resizable, but the most important upgrade for me is the addition of a dry/wet mix control, which makes parallel tube saturation effortless and far more flexible than before.
OB-Xf
OB-Xf by the Surge Synth Team is a revival of the free and open-source OB-Xd project, originally created by 2DaT. It brings fresh momentum back to a synth that many of us thought might slowly fade away.
The hardware inspiration here is obvious: the legendary Oberheim OB-X from 1979. OB-Xd was always a popular way to access that classic sound for free, but things changed when discoDSP took over the project and released a paid version.
Whether the commercial version was good value or not wasn’t really the point. The bigger issue was that the free version stopped evolving.
That’s where the Surge Synth Team stepped in. OB-Xf is a fork of the original open-source project, with no premium version and no monetization pressure on its development. It already sounds excellent, but it’s very much a work in progress, and I’d treat it as such for now.
That said, the team has already added some exciting improvements. The filter section now includes a new 4-pole mode and all the classic Oberheim Xpander filter types. Modulation has been expanded with a second per-voice LFO, morphable oscillator waveforms, and an inverted filter envelope mode. There’s also a new ring modulator, multimode noise options, and a redesigned programmer section at the bottom of the interface.
Body
Body by Playfair Audio tries to rethink how dynamic processing works, and actually pulls it off in a way that feels usable. Instead of being “just another free compressor,” Body offers a different approach, borrowing its core concept and DSP engine from the much more expensive Dynamic Grading plugin.
Rather than working with a single threshold like a conventional compressor, it uses two thresholds to define what Playfair Audio calls the body range. You then compress or expand only the material inside that range, leaving everything above and below untouched.
I love how clearly the plugin visualizes what’s going on. You get dynamic histograms for both the source and target signals, and the interface keeps things simple with just two main controls.
The Source Learn feature is super helpful. Since Body doesn’t behave like a traditional compressor, letting the plugin analyze your input and automatically set appropriate thresholds is a huge time-saver.
BPB Saturator Plus
I’m putting BPB Saturator Plus at the very end of this roundup because it’s our own free plugin, and it’s built around my own taste in saturation, so it’s no surprise that I end up using it a lot.
It is a refreshed and expanded version of our original BPB Saturator, which many of you have been using for years. The update kept everything people liked about the first release (tube drive, tape-style saturation, transparent filters, and very low CPU usage), while bringing the plugin up to date with features the community kept asking for.
The most significant addition is the Mix knob, which finally makes BPB Saturator suitable for parallel saturation. You can now push the saturation circuits harder while keeping transients and low-end clarity intact.
We also added a new Diode saturation mode, which has a smoother, rounder character compared to the tube mode. It’s slightly softer on transients and works beautifully when you want gentle harmonic weight rather than obvious distortion.
Your turn!
Those are my favorite free plugins of 2025, but I know I didn’t catch everything. That’s where you come in.
Please share your own favorite free plugins from 2025 in the comments. I’ll track the responses and add the five most-mentioned plugins to this article in an update.
Once again, huge respect to all the developers who made this incredible year for freebies possible. If 2025 is anything to go by, the future of free plugins looks brighter than ever.
Compatibility note: All plugins listed above are available for at least one major platform (Windows, macOS, or Linux) and come in standard formats such as VST3, AU, CLAP, AAX, or standalone, depending on the developer.
Last Updated on December 29, 2025 by Tomislav Zlatic.
