Best Synth 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.

  1. 1
    9.4
    Essential
    Spectrasonics · Editor's Choice

    Omnisphere 3

    Spectrasonics' flagship hybrid software synthesizer — 26,000+ patches, a standalone 93-processor FX Rack, and one of the deepest engines in software.

    $479 full / $199 upgrade

  2. 2
    9.2
    Essential
    Xfer Records · Editor's Choice

    Serum 2

    Serum 2 is Xfer Records' wavetable synthesizer plugin with five oscillator engines, flexible effect routing, an arpeggiator, and a clip sequencer.

    $249

  3. 3
    9.0
    Essential
    u-he

    u-he Zebra 3

    u-he's cult-favorite synth, rebuilt from the ground up with spline-based wavetables, additive synthesis up to 1,024 partials, and an adaptive modular interface.

    €249

  4. 4
    Arturia

    Arturia Analog Lab V

    Arturia Analog Lab is a software instrument that combines 2000+ presets from across the V Collection synths and keyboards in one plugin.

    $199

  5. 5
    Vengeance Sound

    Avenger 2

    VPS Avenger 2 is a software synthesizer by Vengeance Sound combining multiple oscillator types, modular routing, and built-in effects.

    $249

  6. 6
    u-he

    u-he Diva

    Diva is a virtual analogue synthesizer that models oscillators, filters and envelopes from classic hardware synths via circuit simulation.

  7. 7
    Synapse Audio

    DUNE 3

    DUNE 3 is Synapse Audio's software synthesizer combining virtual analog, wavetable and FM synthesis with a dual-oscillator-stack architecture.

  8. 8
    u-he

    u-he Hive 2

    Hive 2 is a u-he subtractive/wavetable software synthesizer with two stereo oscillator pairs, dual multimode filters, and onboard effects.

    €149

  9. 9
    AIR Music Technology

    AIR Hybrid 3

    Hybrid 3 is AIR Music Technology's high-definition virtual synthesizer combining analog warmth with digital manipulation across two simultaneous parts.

  10. 10
    Native Instruments

    Massive X

    Massive X is Native Instruments' polyphonic wavetable synthesizer plug-in built around two wavetable oscillators and a modular routing engine.

  11. 11
    reFX

    Nexus 5

    NEXUS5 by reFX is a ROMpler/synthesizer plugin with eight sound-generator types, thousands of factory presets, effects, and a built-in sample editor.

  12. 12
    Kilohearts

    Phase Plant

    Phase Plant is a semi-modular software synthesizer combining wavetable, sample, and noise generators with modular modulation and built-in effects.

    $199

  13. 13
    Arturia

    Arturia Pigments

    Arturia Pigments is a software synthesizer combining six synthesis engines, drag-and-drop modulation, filters, effects, and sequencing.

    $199

  14. 14
    u-he

    u-he Repro-5

    Repro-5 is u-he's component-level software model of a famous 1978 five-voice polyphonic analog synthesizer, sold within the Repro plugin.

    €149

  15. 15
    Reveal Sound

    Spire

    Spire by Reveal Sound is a polyphonic software synthesizer combining four multimode oscillators with a unison engine, filters, and built-in effects.

    $189

  16. 16
    LennarDigital

    Sylenth1

    Sylenth1 is a virtual analog software synthesizer with four unison oscillators, two filter sections, and built-in effects.

    €139

  17. 17
    IK Multimedia

    Syntronik 2

    Syntronik 2 is IK Multimedia's virtual synthesizer collection using a hybrid sample-and-modeling engine, offered in CS, SE, full, and MAX editions.

    $199.99

  18. 18
    Matt Tytel

    Vital

    Vital is a spectral warping wavetable synthesizer by Matt Tytel for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

    $25

Browse the full plugin database.