Plugin comparison
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which synth to buy.
Independent score / workflow fit / buying signal
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, Dubspot may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects our scores or what we recommend — read our policy.
Contenders
Cherry Audio Sines by Cherry Audio. An additive/waveshaping synth with morphing power: deep harmonics without a modular headache.
Surge XT is a free open-source hybrid synthesizer with deep modulation, 12 oscillator algorithms, MPE, microtuning, and 2800+ factory patches.
Score verdict
On the Dubspot Score, Surge XT comes out ahead (8.7). That said, the right pick depends on your workflow and budget — read both reviews before deciding.
Technical matrix
| Signal | Cherry Audio Sines | Surge XT |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49 | Free |
| Dubspot Score | 8.2 | 8.7 |
| Formats | VST3, AU, AAX | VST3, AU, CLAP, LV2, Standalone |
| Type | Additive / waveshaping synthesizer | Open-source hybrid synthesizer |
| Developer | Cherry Audio | — |
| Version | — | 1.3.4 (stable) |
| Oscillators | — | 3 per scene; 12 algorithms (Classic, Modern, Wavetable, FM2/FM3, String, Twist, and more) |
| Factory content | — | 2800+ patches; 700+ wavetables |
| Scenes | — | Two full synthesis scenes for layer/split patches |
| Formats | — | VST3, AU, CLAP, LV2, Standalone |
| Platforms | — | Windows, macOS (Intel/Apple Silicon), Linux |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.