15 free synths you need

Hardware synths can be expensive. Even some soft synths can cost over £200. So, before you empty your wallet for that synth you think you need so badly, why not see what instruments the freeware community has cooked up?

We’ve handpicked some of our favourites, which include original soft synths, modular-based synths, software emulations of classic hardware and even emulations of other soft synths. Take a look and save money while you’re making music.

Free plugin synths at a glance:

Vital

Vital’s self-titled free synth, released in 2020, is a powerful spectral warping wavetable synth with tons of features. While there are paid-for versions with more presets, custom skins and a cool text-to-wavetable feature, even the free version of Vital is an absolute steal.

It has wavetable and spectral morphing, loads of modulation capabilities, advanced effects including distortion, chorus, delay, reverb, EQ and a compressor, and a vast library of presets. Vital also has a bright, user-friendly interface and high-quality sound, so you won’t struggle to get to grips with how the synth works.

macOS/PC. Find out more on Vital.

Digital Suburban Dexed

Frequency modulation (FM) synthesis has a bit of a rep of being difficult to master, mostly due to Yamaha’s DX7 – the hardware FM synth that defines the genre. The DX7 was incredibly popular in the 80s and 90s, though, and you can hear it presets on countless pop hits.

Dexed, created by Digital Suburban, is an open-source DX7 clone, and while it sports a bit of a seemingly complex interface, it’s much easier to navigate than the original hardware. You can also load in original DX7 patches so that you can grab more presets from those who have spent time mastering the hardware FM synth.

macOS/PC 32/64-bit. Download Dexed on GitHub.

discoDSP OB-Xd 2.0

The OB-X is a fat and warm-sounding, highly sought-after hardware polysynth, released by Oberheim in 1979. It barged its way to prominence in the 80s with the help of Jean-Michel Jarre, Herbie Hancock, Van Halen and Queen – among plenty of other artists.

OB-Xd by discoDSP faithfully emulates the renowned OB-X polysynth. It integrates modern features like randomised micro-tuning and a versatile multimode filter. OB-Xd 3.0 introduced exciting enhancements for richer sound design. Its new Unison Voices feature adds layers to notes, ideal for pads and leads and advanced oscillator features include pulse width modulation controls for intricate shaping. The 3.4 update was introduced in 2024, bringing with it an overhauled preset browning experience and resolved MIDI mapping capabilities.

macOS/PC/Linux, 32/64-Bit. Download ​​OB-Xd 3.4 on discoDSP.

Surge XT

Used by the likes of Roger Linn, Surge is a free, open-source software synth that was, until 2019, a paid product. Rebranded as Surge XT in 2020 and having gone through various updates since then, this subtractive hybrid synth features three oscillators per voice with eight oscillator algorithms plus oscillator FM/ring modulation to quickly mutate your sounds. Each patch is split into two Scenes for layering up different textures.

Surge has built-in effects, including a reverb based on all-pass filters and delays, a flanger with extreme tuning and feedback options, and Rotary Speaker, which models the iconic Leslie Rotary cabinet. Arguably its biggest update was 1.2.0 in 2023, which saw th introduction of a built-in oscilloscope and spectrograph, based on the S(m)exoscope plugin from Smartelectronix.

macOS/PC/Linux, 32/64-bit. Download Surge XT on Surge Synthesizer.

TAL Noisemaker

NoiseMaker builds on the success of TAL’s Elek7ro synth and is a relatively straightforward virtual analogue soft synth. Despite its simplicity, with three oscillators, several different filters and a pleasing amount of modulation capabilities, it can make some seriously powerful sounds. Built-in effects such as a reverb, bitcrusher and Roland Juno-style chorus mode make for some fat and heavy patches. We’ve created two workshops with TAL NoiseMaker – one on designing transition effects and the other on using it as a drum synth, to get you up and running.

macOS/PC, 32/64-bit. Download TAL NoiseMaker v5.0.3. on TAL Software.

Martin Lüders PG-8X

Roland’s synth legacy from the 1980s is impressive, and the freeware community has paid homage to the brand’s legendary line of instruments in abundance. The PG-8X is based on the popular JX-8P, an analogue subtractive six-voice synth with digitally controlled oscillators and a separate programmer, the PG-800. And it’s from this programmer that software gets its interface. Download the presets via the developer’s Facebook page, and you’ll have a very capable – and surprisingly varied – synth on your hands.

In its 2.0 update, PG-8X received enhancements like improved preset management and expanded modulation options.

macOS/PC, 64-bit. Download PG-8X on Martin Lüders’ VST site.

WaveWarden Odin 2

Reason’s legendary wavetable synth, Thor, gets the freeware treatment from TheWaveWarden with Odin 2. The 24-voice VST3 plugin is still in beta but features 11 oscillators, over 30 different waveforms and 12 different filters. The filters include emulations of Moog’s classic Ladder filter, Oberheim’s smooth low-pass filter and the aggressive Korg 35 filter found on the MS-20. Thor’s flexibility came not just from the oscillators and filters but from its modulation matrix, which TheWaveWarden has kept true to the original in Odin 2.

macOS/PC 64-bit. Find out more about Odin 2 on Plugin Boutique.

u-he Tyrell N6

u-he regards the Tyrell N6 as a “compact, sporty synth”. Inspired, the brand says, by design concepts for hardware, it’s a virtual analogue synth with two oscillators, noise, ring modulator, and twin filters reminiscent of the u-he’s aforementioned Diva model.

With two LFOs featuring eight waveforms and host-syncing capabilities, you can churn out an array of wild sounds easily. Its audio source mixer boasts an authentic overdrive and a filter feedback, while analogue-type ADSR envelopes make for dynamic waveform shaping.

macOS/Windows/Linux, 64-bit. Find out more about the Tyrell N6 on u-he.

NUSofting Sinnah

One of our classic choices gets an inclusion again, thanks to an update to v1.1 a couple of years back. At first glance, Sinnah has a simple architecture, but also boasts a large delay matrix, plus five waveshapes and the ability to increase the level of harmonics for each. It’s able to sound both acoustic and very electronic, so can be used for a wide variety of tasks and genres. It comes with a good range of presets with 50 free extras from julianraymusic.com.

macOS/PC, 32/64-bit. Download Sinnah via NUSofting.

Matt Tytel Helm

Open source polyphonic synth Helm by Matt Tytel makes the list because its GUI stands head and shoulders above everyone else’s. Helm also sounds as good as it looks, especially when you tweak those inviting controls that include oscillators, envelopes and a step sequencer. It’s the effects that make it synth, with stutter and formant drama alongside traditional delay and reverb. It sounds rich and is fun to use, with loads of inspiring presets, too.

macOS/PC, 32/64-bit. Download at Tytel.

VCV Rack 2 Free

Modular presents a whole universe of synthesis, and it can seem pretty daunting. However, VCV Rack lets you dip your toes in that sweet sweet synthy water. VCV Rack is a free virtual Eurorack environment that will allow you to hook up virtual modules and create weird, otherworldly sounds and sequences.

This free synth plugin also boasts MIDI Output, a feature that lets you control MIDI hardware with new Rack modules like CV-Gate, CV-MIDI, and CV-CC.

In its 2.0 version, VCV Rack introduced improved performance, a redesigned user interface, and expanded MIDI capabilities, making it even more flexible and user-friendly. Some modules will cost you and the VCV Rack Pro version costs $149, but there’s still lots and lots of fun to be had with the free modules.

macOS/PC/Linux, 64-bit. Download the Rack 2 on VCV Rack.

Newfangled Audio Pendulate

Newfangled’s Pendulate synth looks cool but delivers sonically, which is of course the most important thing. Described as a “chaotic monosynth”, this free synth plugin has a unique double-pendulum-oscillator for creating peculiar sounds, ranging from biting basses to textures that have real grit to them.

With modulation options galore, every parameter is easily controlled by looping envelopes, LFOs, or MIDI sources. Pendulate has MPE support and an intuitive UI, so you can play with its 136 presets in a fun, easy way.

Download Newfangled Audio’s Pendulate synth on Plugin Boutique.

Sonicbits Exakt Lite

Super lightweight at under 5MB, Exakt Lite is designed to be easier to use than a typical FM synthesizer and comes in VST and AU formats for 64-bit hosts on macOS or PC. Its four operators can each use a different waveform, including classic waves from the Yamaha TX81Z, as well as each operator having its own amplitude envelope generator supporting the 5-point TX envelopes.

With 12-voice polyphony and a mod matrix, you have plenty of options for creating huge sounds, while a resonant filter and built-in chorus effect help to keep things interesting. You also get 90 presets grouped by category, and an expanded, paid version of the synth is also available for just $29 should you feel the need for more.

Download Exakt Lite on Sonic Bits.

VK-1 Viking Synthesizer

Inspired by an analogue classic, the VK-1 is a VST-only plugin for macOS and Windows with three continuously variable wave oscillators, two Ladder filters with high- and low-pass configurations, two mod busses and a multiple-wave LFO. Having variable wave oscillators means you can detune each of them for a more authentic, slightly psychedelic feel that you don’t get with fixed-wave models.

The filter can be overdriven to achieve a nice warm kind of grit to the sound, while the oscillators have drift and jitter options to further add to the sense of vintage character. There are 228 presets in total, covering a range of analogue bass, lead, pad, and SFX sounds. It does a remarkable job of sounding like a Moog Voyager, even if the developer can’t officially tell you that.

Download the VK-1 Viking Synthesizer on Blamsoft.

Cherry Audio Surrealistic MG-1 Plus

Cherry Audio’s freeware synth emulates the Realistic Concertmate MG-1, which was an analogue synthesizer designed by Moog, sold by Radio Shack in the early 1980s. It has a wonderfully fat analogue-style tone with a unique polyphonic oscillator section, ‘bell tone’ ring modulation and, as is par for the course with emulations, several improvements that expand its capabilities over the original.

Drawing on Cherry’s revered expertise in modelling, you get dual monophonic oscillators plus a polyphonic oscillator bank, 24dB ladder filter, 130 presets, tempo-syncable LFO and full automation capability. It comes in all major formats for Mac and PC and requires a 64-bit host, as well as coming in a standalone format.

Download Surrealistic MG-1 Plus on Cherry Audio. 

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