Dexed vs Surge XT
Specs, price and the Dubspot Score, side by side — with our verdict on which synth to buy.
Which should you buy?
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.
Specs compared
| Dexed | Surge XT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Dubspot Score | 8.3 | 8.7 |
| Formats | VST, AU, LV2, Standalone | VST3, AU, CLAP, LV2, Standalone |
| Type | FM synthesizer (Yamaha DX7 model) + SysEx librarian | Open-source hybrid synthesizer |
| License | Free / GPL v3 open source | — |
| Synthesis | 6-operator FM (DX7-style) | — |
| Cartridge tools | MIDI cartridge librarian/manager for DX7 SysEx | — |
| Formats | VST, AU, LV2 (platform-dependent); standalone builds | VST3, AU, CLAP, LV2, Standalone |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS (Intel/Apple Silicon), Linux |
| 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 |
See the full plugin database for more comparisons.