Ranked plugin guide
Best Sampler Plugins
Our ranked, scored picks — specs, prices and the Dubspot Score for every entry. Each links to a full review where we have one.
Related plugins
Alternatives & comparisons
Dubspot Score
Best Sampler Plugins
- 019.2EssentialSampler / Editor's Choice
Ethno World 7 Complete
Ethno World 7 Complete is Best Service's world-music archive for Kontakt: 382 instruments and voices across roughly 1,000 patches and 53 GB of samples.
DeveloperBest ServicePrice€399 - 029.1EssentialSampler / Editor's Choice
Keyscape
Keyscape (Spectrasonics) — flagship multi-sampled keyboard instrument. Score 9.1/10, price $399, formats and comparisons.
DeveloperSpectrasonicsPrice$399 - 039.0EssentialSampler
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.
DeveloperModarttPrice€139–€399 - 048.9GreatSampler
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.
DeveloperSpitfire AudioPriceFree - 058.9GreatSampler
Trilian
Trilian (Spectrasonics) — deep multi-sampled bass instrument. Score 8.9/10, price $299, formats and comparisons.
DeveloperSpectrasonicsPrice$299 - 068.8GreatSampler
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.
DeveloperSpitfire AudioPriceFree+ - 078.7GreatSampler
Kontakt 8
Kontakt 8 is Native Instruments' software sampler platform for hosting and building virtual instruments, available as a plugin or standalone app.
DeveloperNative InstrumentsPrice$299 - 088.6GreatSampler
MODO BASS 2
A physically modeled electric bass virtual instrument that uses modal synthesis to recreate the sound and behavior of real bass guitars.
DeveloperIK MultimediaPrice— - 098.6GreatSampler
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.
DeveloperXLN AudioPrice— - 108.5GreatSampler
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.
DeveloperEastWest SoundsPrice$499+ - 118.5GreatSampler
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.
DeveloperApplied Acoustics SystemsPrice$199 - 128.4GreatSampler
Addictive Keys
Addictive Keys is XLN Audio's sample-based virtual instrument plugin featuring four recorded acoustic and electric keyboard instruments.
DeveloperXLN AudioPrice$99 - 138.3GreatSampler
Output Exhale
Output Exhale is a modern vocal engine and sample instrument for playable vocal textures, phrases, and designed vocal sound design.
DeveloperOutputPrice$199 - 148.3GreatSampler
EZbass
EZbass is bass software with two sound libraries, MIDI basslines, audio-to-MIDI conversion and tools for creating realistic bass performances.
DeveloperToontrackPrice$179 - 158.3GreatSampler
Steinberg HALion 7
Steinberg HALion 7 by Steinberg. Steinberg's flagship sampler/synth workstation—deep sampling, synthesis, and sound design inside the Cubase family.
DeveloperSteinbergPrice€349 - 168.3GreatSampler
Audio Imperia Nucleus
Audio Imperia Nucleus by Audio Imperia. Cinematic orchestra essentials designed for fast scoring—approachable full orchestra without the largest template footprint.
DeveloperAudio ImperiaPrice$449 - 178.3GreatSampler
Output Substance
Output Substance is a multi-mode sample instrument for modern basses, designed hits, and hybrid low-end sound design.
DeveloperOutputPrice$199 - 188.2GreatSampler
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.
DeveloperArturiaPrice$99 - 198.1GreatSampler
Atlas 2
Atlas 2 is a sample organiser and drum machine combined that uses AI to scan and categorise drum samples for beat making.
DeveloperAlgonautPrice$99 - 208.1GreatSampler
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.
DeveloperUJAMPrice$119.00 - 218.0GreatSampler
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.
DeveloperBroekn LabsPrice$29 intro / $49 full - 227.8GoodSampler
Arcade
Output Arcade is a subscription-based playable sampler and instruments plugin with a continuously updated, royalty-free sound library.
DeveloperOutputPrice$12.99 - 237.8GoodSampler
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.
DeveloperToontrackPrice— - 247.6GoodSampler
SampleTank 4
SampleTank 4 is IK Multimedia's sample-based virtual instrument and sound workstation plugin with over 8,000 instrument presets.
DeveloperIK MultimediaPrice— - 257.2GoodSampler
Battery 4
Battery 4 is Native Instruments' drum sampler plugin for building, editing, and triggering drum kits from a cell-based sample grid.
DeveloperNative InstrumentsPrice$199
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