Best Sampler Plugins (2026)
Our ranked, scored picks — specs, prices and the Dubspot Score for every entry. Each links to a full review where we have one.
| # | Plugin | Developer | Price | Dubspot Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keyscape★ Editor's Choice | Spectrasonics | $399 | 9.1 |
| 2 | Modartt Pianoteq 9 | Modartt | €139–€399 | 9.0 |
| 3 | Spitfire LABS | Spitfire Audio | Free | 8.9 |
| 4 | Trilian | Spectrasonics | $299 | 8.9 |
| 5 | Spitfire Audio BBC Symphony Orchestra | Spitfire Audio | Free+ | 8.8 |
| 6 | Kontakt 8 | Native Instruments | $299 | 8.7 |
| 7 | MODO BASS 2 | IK Multimedia | — | 8.6 |
| 8 | XO | XLN Audio | — | 8.6 |
| 9 | EastWest Hollywood Orchestra Opus Edition | EastWest Sounds | $499+ | 8.5 |
| 10 | AAS Lounge Lizard EP-4 | Applied Acoustics Systems | $199 | 8.5 |
| 11 | Addictive Keys | XLN Audio | $99 | 8.4 |
| 12 | Output Exhale | Output | $199 | 8.3 |
| 13 | EZbass | Toontrack | $179 | 8.3 |
| 14 | Steinberg HALion 7 | Steinberg | €349 | 8.3 |
| 15 | Audio Imperia Nucleus | Audio Imperia | $449 | 8.3 |
| 16 | Output Substance | Output | $199 | 8.3 |
| 17 | Arturia Augmented Grand Piano | Arturia | $99 | 8.2 |
| 18 | Atlas 2 | Algonaut | $99 | 8.1 |
| 19 | UJAM Virtual Bassist | UJAM | $119.00 | 8.1 |
| 20 | Chopgrid | Broekn Labs | $29 intro / $49 full | 8.0 |
| 21 | Arcade | Output | $12.99 | 7.8 |
| 22 | EZkeys 2 | Toontrack | — | 7.8 |
| 23 | SampleTank 4 | IK Multimedia | — | 7.6 |
| 24 | Battery 4 | Native Instruments | $199 | 7.2 |
- 19.1EssentialCheck priceSpectrasonics · Editor's Choice
Keyscape
Keyscape (Spectrasonics) — flagship multi-sampled keyboard instrument. Score 9.1/10, price $399, formats and comparisons.
$399
- 29.0EssentialOfficial siteModartt
Modartt Pianoteq 9
Modartt Pianoteq 9 is a physically modelled piano (~50MB) for Mac/Windows/Linux/iOS—Stage €139, Standard €269, PRO €399—with morphing, mics, and per-note PRO editing.
€139–€399
- 38.9GreatOfficial siteSpitfire Audio
Spitfire LABS
Spitfire LABS is a free instrument platform of high-quality sampled sounds—pianos, strings, pads, and more—now also available via Splice INSTRUMENT as LABS' new home.
Free
- 48.9GreatCheck priceSpectrasonics
Trilian
Trilian (Spectrasonics) — deep multi-sampled bass instrument. Score 8.9/10, price $299, formats and comparisons.
$299
- 58.8GreatOfficial siteSpitfire Audio
Spitfire Audio BBC Symphony Orchestra
Spitfire BBCSO is a full orchestra library family—free Discover (~240MB), Core (~28GB, £399), and Professional (~630GB, £899)—recorded with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Free+
- 68.7GreatCheck priceNative Instruments
Kontakt 8
Kontakt 8 is Native Instruments' software sampler platform for hosting and building virtual instruments, available as a plugin or standalone app.
$299
- 78.6GreatCheck priceIK Multimedia
MODO BASS 2
A physically modeled electric bass virtual instrument that uses modal synthesis to recreate the sound and behavior of real bass guitars.
- 88.6GreatCheck priceXLN Audio
XO
XO by XLN Audio is a drum sampler and beat-making plugin that visually organizes one-shot samples and lets you build and audition drum patterns.
- 98.5GreatCheck priceEastWest Sounds
EastWest Hollywood Orchestra Opus Edition
EastWest Hollywood Orchestra Opus Edition by EastWest Sounds. Flagship cinematic orchestra in the Opus player—blockbuster scoring bread and butter for many media composers.
$499+
- 108.5GreatCheck priceApplied Acoustics Systems
AAS Lounge Lizard EP-4
AAS Lounge Lizard EP-4 by Applied Acoustics Systems. Physical-modeling electric pianos (Rhodes/Wurlitzer territory)—playable EPs without multi-gig sample libraries.
$199
- 118.4GreatCheck priceXLN Audio
Addictive Keys
Addictive Keys is XLN Audio's sample-based virtual instrument plugin featuring four recorded acoustic and electric keyboard instruments.
$99
- 128.3GreatCheck priceOutput
Output Exhale
Output Exhale is a modern vocal engine and sample instrument for playable vocal textures, phrases, and designed vocal sound design.
$199
- 138.3GreatCheck priceToontrack
EZbass
EZbass is bass software with two sound libraries, MIDI basslines, audio-to-MIDI conversion and tools for creating realistic bass performances.
$179
- 148.3GreatCheck priceSteinberg
Steinberg HALion 7
Steinberg HALion 7 by Steinberg. Steinberg's flagship sampler/synth workstation—deep sampling, synthesis, and sound design inside the Cubase family.
€349
- 158.3GreatOfficial siteAudio Imperia
Audio Imperia Nucleus
Audio Imperia Nucleus by Audio Imperia. Cinematic orchestra essentials designed for fast scoring—approachable full orchestra without the largest template footprint.
$449
- 168.3GreatCheck priceOutput
Output Substance
Output Substance is a multi-mode sample instrument for modern basses, designed hits, and hybrid low-end sound design.
$199
- 178.2GreatOfficial siteArturia
Arturia Augmented Grand Piano
Arturia Augmented Grand Piano by Arturia. Hybrid acoustic + synth piano from Arturia Augmented—playable grands that morph into designed piano textures.
$99
- 188.1GreatOfficial siteAlgonaut
Atlas 2
Atlas 2 is a sample organiser and drum machine combined that uses AI to scan and categorise drum samples for beat making.
$99
- 198.1GreatCheck priceUJAM
UJAM Virtual Bassist
Virtual Bassist is a collection of bass guitar virtual instrument plug-ins from UJAM for creating realistic bass lines in a DAW.
$119.00
- 208.0GreatOfficial siteBroekn Labs
Chopgrid
Chopgrid by Broekn Labs is a chance-based grid sampler that fills 16 cells from random files, with 14 synthesis engines, a drum machine, and glitch FX.
$29 intro / $49 full
- 217.8GoodOfficial siteOutput
Arcade
Output Arcade is a subscription-based playable sampler and instruments plugin with a continuously updated, royalty-free sound library.
$12.99
- 227.8GoodCheck priceToontrack
EZkeys 2
EZkeys 2 is Toontrack's virtual grand piano and songwriting software, built around a multi-sampled Fazioli F212 grand with chord and MIDI tools.
- 237.6GoodCheck priceIK Multimedia
SampleTank 4
SampleTank 4 is IK Multimedia's sample-based virtual instrument and sound workstation plugin with over 8,000 instrument presets.
- 247.2GoodCheck priceNative Instruments
Battery 4
Battery 4 is Native Instruments' drum sampler plugin for building, editing, and triggering drum kits from a cell-based sample grid.
$199
Browse the full plugin database.