Are you tired of scouring the internet for the best free VST plugins for your rig? Finding some decent Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugins can be a tricky beast especially when there are tons of lists to choose from.

But fret not for your dilemmas have come to an end! We dug deep into the Internet maze to handpick the best free VST plugins on the market right now. So, if you were looking for a solid list of free VST plugins to craft your sonic soundscape and take your music production endeavours to the next level, then stay posted because you are at the right place.

Our list of the 55 best free VST plugins encompasses tons of categories, namely: best Guitar VSTs, best Synth VSTs, best VST plugins for vocals, bass VSTs best drum VSTs and a horde of slick effects – that one can download for FREE!

No matter what your preferred genre is, we have got your back. Simply download any of these VSTs and emulate rich classic sounds right inside your DAW without splurging a dime on expensive gear. Just load up any instrument rig – be it guitar, synth, drums or bass, dial in some sick tones and revel in the cosmic aural pleasure that ensues.

So, fellas are you ready to have a good long gander at our roundup of the best free VST plugins and craft your next banger of a tune instantly? Happy riffage!

55 BEST FREE VST PLUGINS IN 2020

GUITAR VSTs: Best Free VST Plugins for Guitar

1) Nick Crow 8505 Lead

A formidable VST amp for heavy metal fanboys and shred aficionados, Nick Crow 8505 lead has been in the game for a while now. It comes in handy for adding that powerful and jaw-dropping raw punch to your guitar tone and makes it sound more intense and “heavy”.

2) LePou Amp Suite

Now recreate the magic of legendary amps such as Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier and ENGL E645 thanks to LePou Amp Suite. If you are fond of ridiculously high gain, this solid amp emulator won’t let you down. It’s a must have for metallers and die-hard shredders looking to crank things up by several notches.

3) TSE 808

What would a list of the best free VST plugins for guitar be bereft of TSE 808? One of the most renowned overdrive plugins on the market, the TSE 808 is a must-have in your arsenal if you want to spruce up the lead tone in metal tunes. Moreover, since the TSE 808 also adds up as a realistic tube screamer plugin, you definitely cannot afford to miss out on this one!

4) Guitar Rig 5 Player

A robust pedalboard simulator, Guitar Rig 5 player is one of the best free VST plugins that comes packed with a Shoegazer’s dream effects: heavy reverb, delay, phaser, chorus, flanger, you name it. Not to mention, you can cut out unwanted “noise” from your final tone through a splendid noise gate which makes those high octane delay swooshes tolerable.

5) TSE X50

The legendary Peavey 5150+ guitar amp blossoms to life on this freeware emulation called TSE X50 which provides an incredible sound with rich gain that lends much needed firepower to your guitar tone. Speaking of firepower, your CPU might not take too kindly to it at times.

6) LeCab 2.0

A very versatile plugin with one of the finest guitar/bass cabinet impulse loaders in the business, LeCab 2.0 also offers over 6 impulse slots, phase, volume, pan, delay and latency controls for each slot.

7) Shred by AcmeBarGig

Symbolic of its name, Shred by AcmeBarGig comes with a rich collection of six guitar amp heads handy for reproducing your own custom FrankenAmp. All together, it is a dream come true for shredders, heavy metallers, rock n’ rollers, and all the fusion blues and jazz guitarists out there.

8) Plektron Guitar Amp 2

Guitar Amp 2 by Plektron is a fabulous guitar effects suite that comes with an inbuilt British amp, cabinet simulator and a thumping bass amp to cater to guitarists of all hues. What makes it one of the best free VST plugins is that it offers an all-around compact sound which can be laid over your guitar tracks without any tweaks.

9) Voxengo Tube Amp

Want a no-frills attached plugin with a simple interface? Look no further than Tube Amp by Voxengo which applies asymmetric tube triode overdrive to your guitar recordings and makes them sound mega in no time.

10) SimulAnalog Guitar Suite

Mashing the sounds of the iconic Boss SD1 and DS1 pedals, Guitar Suite by SimulAnalog comes to the fore as a surefire must-have in your rig. What’s more, it offers plenty of simulations of stomp boxes including classic Marshall JCM900 amps, virtual Fender Twin, the Ibanez Tube Screamer, and the Univox Univibe. Get on it.

11) The Anvil and NRR-1 by Ignite Amps

Seeking only clean sounding and ambient guitar tones? The Anvil is right on the dot when it comes to calling up clean and bright sounds. Likewise, NRR-1 provides optimal high gain texture to your tone on the side. All together, these two beauties by Ignite Amps are truly worth their weight in gold.

12) FreeAmp3

If you are on the lookout for just one guitar VST with massive sound-scaping potential and an easy-to-use interface, then FreeAmp3 fits the bill just right. With over 5 clean amps, 19 drive amps, 4 bass cabs, noise gate and easy switching options this one’s as lucrative as it gets.

SYNTH VSTs: Best Free VST Plugins

13) Audjoo Helix

Don’t be dissuaded by the official website which says that Helix’s download is for a limited period only. The truth is you can still download it all you want. With Helix at the helm, you can craft soaring synth melodies along with deep bass grooves into your final mix.

14) Dexed FM Plugin Synth

Eerily reminiscent of the legendary Yamaha DX7, Dexed pretty much sums up as an effective frequency modulation synth. The fact it’ sound engine was modelled close on the heels of the DX7 gives Dexed some of its characteristic traits.

15) Tytel Helm Synth

Helm synth is a nifty synth VST that offers a lot of customization to pro users who can tweak its source code to suit their whims. What’s more, it can be run from anywhere inside your DAW. Fair and square.

16) Acoustica Nightlife

One of the best free VST plugins for budding EDM, hip hop and trance producers, Acoustica Nightlife comes loaded with beat–synced arpeggiated patterns and bone-rattling basses. Not to mention, it also boasts plenty of evocative preset patches for those who don’t like to fiddle around.

17) Brain Control Tunefish 4

Tunefish 4 is a nifty free VST synth that can recreate everything ranging from warm leads, pads, bass, and all other tasty sounds that your mix demands.

18) Synister

An easy-to-use and dexterous synthesizer, Synister boasts a built-in virtual keyboard that can be used to create layer-after-layer of ethereal synth richness.

19) Digits 2

Want to recreate that famous 80’s vibe in no time? Make room for Digits 2, your companion for producing dirty bass, fat-warm-synth-pad sounds, screaming leads and all that tackle.

20) Muon Tau Bassline

Tau Bassline may be a small VST plugin but its sound is monstrous. After all, it was modelled after the Roland 303, so you can expect the same old 303 groove that we have come to cherish over the years.

21) Pecheneg Tremolo

Despite being a through-and-through tremolo effects synth only, the Pecheneg Tremolo is pivotal for creating rhythmic modulations in your sound.

22) Martinic Combo Model F

Martinic’s Combo Model F might be an oddity on our best free VST plugins list. It is a splendid organ synth that provides a gamut of nostalgic 70’s sounds that are all but absent in the contemporary pop music scene.

23) DC Bazz::Murda

Another solid synth VST for fans of booming basslines, layered DnB drums and custom Hip hop kicks, DC Bazz:Murda is a must have in your plugin arsenal especially if you also like heavy and distorted hardcore sounds.

24) Arminator by Krakli Software

This free little synth boasts a lush interface and is often regarded as a nifty CS 80 emulator that packs in a full stack of sound design options including 128 default patches that harken us back to the 80s.

25) OSL Chorus

The OSL chorus is an essential freeware based on the chorus effect module of Roland Juno 60 synthesizer that comes in handy for creating euphoric choruses. Also, it sounds equally lush on guitar, and bass.

Best Free VST Plugins for Vocals

26) Melda MAutoPitch

Cannot pull off a high note without using a bit of autotune that bares your vocal prowess? That’s where MAutoPitch comes in and makes your vocals sound perfectly natural in the final mix.

27) Acon Digital Multiply Chorus

If you want to add more range and texture to your vocals, especially fry screams and growls, for your metal project then Acon Digital’s Multiply Chorus provides the right kind of punch to make your vocals shine in the mix.

28) Klanghelm DC1A Compressor

When there’s plenty of layers of distorted guitars and other instruments in the mix, clever vocal compression becomes the key. With the DC1A character compressor by your side smooth levelling and heavy pumping of vocal layers becomes a breeze.

29) Voxengo OldSkoolVerb Auto-Tune

Prefer some good ol’ reverb in your vocals? Voxengo by OldSkoolVerb takes care of your preferences by creating the perfect sonic space for vocals in your mix.

30) Fine Cut Bodies La Petite Excite

The mixing console behooves a lot of precision when you are dabbling with high-range vocals. But, what’s better than the Exciter plugin La Petite Excite that adds extra depth and subtle harmonics to your vocal melodies so that they shine in their own right?

Best Free VST plugins for Drums

31) MT Power DrumKit 2

With a pre-programmed groove library and many top-notch snare sounds under its belt, the MT Power DrumKit 2 ensures that the snare cuts right through the mix and thus stakes its claim as the one of the best free VST plugins.

32) StudioLinked Drum Pro

Boasting a diverse collection of over 20 built in drum kits, 12 pads and eclectic global effects, Drum Pro is a weapon of mass beats production. Definitely one of the best free VST plugins you ought to have in your VST rig!

33) MX Project T. Rex 606

Modelled after the vintage Roland TR-606 drum machine of yore, The T.REX 606 is a beast in its own right with some added bells and whistles.

34) Wavosaur DjinnDrum

Wavosaur stirs up the drum sounds ecosystem with its very own DjinnDrum plugin that can easily regurgitate the iconic sounds the Linn LM-1 drum machine is famous for.

35) Sean Pandy Drums Multi

This one is a surefire no brainer for all deathcore, extreme metal and heavy metal lovers. Without a doubt one of the best free VST plugins for fans of face-melting, whiplash inducing and foot stomping heavy drum sounds.

36) Sample Science Vintage Drum Elements

Craving for some vintage drum sounds of the 60s and 70s? Take the Vintage Drum Elements for a spin as it harkens us back to the classic rock era of droolworthy and warm analogue sounds produced by legendary drum machines.

37) Dub Turbo DrumTroop

Fans of fast paced beats and pounding drum kicks will definitely dig DrumTroop, which sounds massive by all means.

38) BeatSkillz BeatFactory Drums

The BeatFactory Drums plugin is pretty easy to tweak around, sounds mega and packs in solid drum sounds full of arena-esque stompers.

39) SM MegaReaper Drumkit

Thanks to an unholy amount of samples and the fact that its sampled from the 1960s Ludwig Oyster Blue Pearl Drum Kit, SM MegaReaper is one of the best free VST plugins on the market. Although its trademark “deepest sampled drum kit in the world” can only be used on Reaper, its 2GB worth of samples are compatible with other DAWs.

40) Real Drum Samples Line Of Legends

Boasting over 8 individual output channels, and around 47 high-quality samples with punch, release, & attack knobs, Line of Legends is in a league of its own and screams serious business.

Bassline Synths: Best Free VST Plugins

41) The Ample Bass P Lite II

So, you want a nice electric bass plug to boost your garage rock tune’s bass sound? Lo and behold, the Ample Bass P Lite II does what’s on the dot by laying down groovy basslines.

42) Steinberg Model E

A worthwhile 3 oscillator bass station, Steinberg Model E can spit out rich basslines by the minute. A must have bass scorcher in your rig.

43) JuceOPLVSTI

An enticing interface that hooks you right in at first glance, the real USP of this FM synth lies in churning out eclectic lead sounds as well as some sick bass drops.

44) LinPlug Free Alpha 3

The inbuilt presets of Free Alpha 3 are suffice to induce hypnotic bass grooves. What’s more, this plugin works with all kinds of bass and its 2 oscillators can pack some serious punch in your mix.

45) The TAL Bassline

TAL Bassline does boosts your trap and hip hop mixes with some thick and nice sounding warm analog sounds.

Effects Plugins: Best Free VST Plugins

46) TAL Stereo Chorus-LX

A simple yet powerful tool for adding beautiful chorus effects, TAL’s stereo Chorus-LX is inspired by the Roland Juno-60 chorus. Gotta snag this one!

47) U-He Protoverb 1.0

Don’t miss out on Protoverb 1.0 if you want a distinct reverb sound that lets users generate random reverb settings in a jiffy by fiddling around a bit.

48) Valhalla Freq Echo

Freq Echo is one of the best free VST plugins you can get your hands on for adding phaser, chorus and flanger effects to your mix. Not to mention, it also doubles up as a swanky frequency shifter with analog echo emulation.

49) Softube Saturation Knob

Our list of best free VST plugins would be incomplete without mentioning an analogue emulation plugin, right? And what plug better epitomises it than Softube’s Saturation Knob? Snag this plug and stay happy!

50) TDR Nova EQ

Add more flair to your equalizer tricks with one of the best free VST plugins in the game, the TDR Nova, which is a four-band dynamic Equalizer (EQ).

51) ToneBoosters TB Reelbus Tape Emulator

You can simulate everything that forms the core of a tape machine with the TB ReelBus- from warm saturation, wow and flutter to tape hiss.

52) Shattered Glass Audio SGA1566 Tube Preamp

Wanna boost the warmth of your track? The SGA1566 chimes in as a solid saturation compressor that adds richness to your final mix with its tube overdrive.

53) TDR Slick EQ

A true workhorse for fiddling with EQ settings in your final mix, this nifty three-band EQ very easy to use and reckons an amazing sound.

54) Tritik Krush Bit Crusher

A stylish bit crusher, Krush is a nifty plug that can quickly forge together digital bit reduction effects in real time.

55) CableGuys PanCake 2

Rounding off our lineup of the best free VST plugins is PanCake2, a flexible panning effect that can spruce up your panning game. What’s more, it lets you manually draw the curves of your panning modulation.

And…that’s a wrap fellas! Did you like our list of the best free VST plugins? Did we miss out on any great VSTs that you know of? Sound off in the comments.

SEE ALSO: Best Free Autotune VST Plugins

SEE ALSO: Best Free Piano VST Plugins