The Best Free Plugins You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of
How to build a pro-level plugin toolkit without spending a dime.
Hey—It’s Matthew from BeatsbyVanityTV.
Estimated read time: 1 minute, 53 seconds.
I recently put out a video on my top 6 free plugins. Afterwards, a question kept circling in my mind:
Could I produce a full track using only freeware?
Of course it’s possible in the literal sense. But would it cost me something creatively? Would I lose quality, fidelity, flexibility?
Most DAWs ship with a solid set of stock tools. But we often overlook them, distracted by the shiny new plugin on YouTube promising to be a “game changer.”
Everyone’s heard of FabFilter Pro-Q. But almost no one I speak to has heard of NOVA by Tokyo Dawn Labs. One costs $179. The other? Free.
I own both. And while Pro-Q 4 is a more comprehensive tool, I use NOVA just as often. In some cases, I prefer it. It sounds more transparent to my ears—likely because of its parallel dynamic processing, which blends the processed signal with the original.
So why haven’t more people heard of it?
Simple. Free plugins don’t get ad budgets. There’s no marketing campaign. No affiliate codes.
There’s nothing wrong with investing in your craft. I’ve spent thousands on plugins. But I might have spent thousands less if I’d paid more attention to freebies first.
If you’re building a free plugin toolkit, my recommendation is to start by closing the gaps with your DAW’s stock offerings.
Start with the low-hanging fruit—the all-in-one bundles:
MeldaProduction’s MFreeFXBundle gives you over 30 tools, including EQs, compressors, modulators, and meters.
Kilohearts Essentials is a modular set of utility effects—perfect for shaping sounds without getting in your way.
AirWindows Consolidated is overwhelming at first—around 900 plugins—but filled with gems if you take the time to explore.
Once you’ve got the basics, start filling in the specialty roles:
KClip Zero by Kazrog is an excellent free clipper. Super clean and usable on mix buses or individual tracks.
SPAN by Voxengo and Prism by Tokyo Dawn Labs are two of the best spectrum analysers out there—free or paid.
NOVA by Tokyo Dawn is absurdly powerful. EQ, dynamic EQ, compressor, multiband compressor—it’s a Swiss Army knife. They also make Kotelnikov, a transparent mastering compressor that rivals many paid options.
For saturation, try Klanghelm IVGI, Softube Saturation Knob, Voxengo Tube Amp, or Caelum Audio Tape Cassette 2.
Wavesfactory Flash is a great transient shaper (the Kilohearts bundle contains another solid option).
Valhalla Supermassive is my go-to for an endlessly creative reverb and delay hybrid.
Voxengo MSED lets you solo the mid or side signal—perfect for mix troubleshooting or creative MS processing.
For stereo width adjustments, try Voxengo Stereo Touch or Polyverse Wider—both effective, both free.
Collect these, learn them, and you’ll have a production toolkit that rivals most paid setups—without spending a dime.
See you next Thursday,
—Matthew