Every year we run a poll in our Faceboook Plugin Deals and Freebies group to work out what the best new free plugins were that year. The rules are simply that the plugin must have been released in 2024 and permanently free. This is a great way to discover which gems we may have missed over the year.
For reference, we also published a list of free plugins that we’ve added to our database in 2024.
Without further ado… here are the results.
- Newfangled Audio Obliterate
- Wave Alchemy Magic7
- Dawesome ZYKLØP
- Airwindows Consolidated
- Kilohearts Shaper
- Meldaproduction MDelay
- Freakshow Industries Dream Eater
- Minimal Audio Squash
- Full Bucket Music Broken Mini
- PSP Chamber Reverb
- Viator Monster Channel
Find out more about each plugin below.
Newfangled Audio Obliterate
Obliterate by Newfangled Audio is a free distortion plugin born from an accidental bug in a filter algorithm that evolved into something entirely unique. Over seven years, this unexpected glitch transformed into a powerful and chaotic resonant distortion tool, far removed from its origins. Perfect for creative sound design, Obliterate adds absurd, over-the-top digital distortion to your arsenal, ideal for destroying drums, creating insane basslines, or crafting chilling horror soundscapes. With built-in frequency and resonance controls, it offers a balance of chaos and precision for adventurous producers.
The plugin features two destruction algorithms, aptly named “TOO MUCH” and “TOO MOST,” alongside resonant multi-mode filters that morph between Lowpass, Highpass, Bandpass, Allpass, and Notch. Its intuitive interface allows you to control frequencies and resonances with ease via click-and-drag functionality. Obliterate captures the raw, unpredictable energy of its original bug, providing users with a free, experimental tool designed to push sonic boundaries and inspire creativity.
Find out more about Newfangled Audio Obliterate
Wave Alchemy Magic7
Magic7 by Wave Alchemy is a free reverb plugin that brings the iconic sound of the legendary Bricasti M7 directly to your DAW. Renowned for its stunningly natural and spatially rich reverbs, the M7 is a favorite among mixing and mastering engineers, and Magic7 delivers its full essence with 234 presets in pristine, true-stereo clarity. From tight drum spaces and airy vocal ambiances to expansive halls and lush chambers, Magic7 offers incredible versatility for adding three-dimensional depth to your music. The plugin is available as a free AU, VST3, and AAX plugin for macOS and Windows.
Magic7 enhances the classic M7 sound with modern controls like tempo-synced pre-delay, low and air EQ bands, reverb ducking, and two modulation styles—Flux for subtle movement and Ensemble for rich, warm chorus effects. Its Smooth parameter intelligently reduces transient loudness, creating thicker and lusher reverb tails without affecting the dry signal. With 11 reverb types, a powerful preset browser, random preset shuffling, and a resizable high-definition UI, Magic7 combines professional-grade reverb quality with user-friendly features, making it an indispensable tool for any producer or engineer.
Find out more about Wave Alchemy Magic7
Dawesome ZYKLØP
Dawesome ZYKLØP from Tracktion is the free-spirited little sister of MYTH, offering a playful yet powerful sound design experience. Powered by the same advanced Re-synthesis V2 engine, Zyklop combines intuitive features with creative potential. Its streamlined design revolves around a single IRIS oscillator for crafting mesmerizing, organic sounds, alongside 8-voice polyphony for lush chords and leads. A semi-modular interface, high-quality filters, and effects provide flexible sound shaping, while its simplified controls ensure accessibility for both beginners and experienced users. Zyklop’s lightweight, efficient design supports fast performance and smooth operation on all setups.
Packed with 125 premium presets by top-tier sound designers like Arovane, Simon Stockhausen, and Spektralisk, Zyklop excels in genres ranging from ambient to electronic. The fully free plugin (available as VST3 and AU for Windows and macOS) imposes no restrictions—no registrations, subscriptions, or hidden fees. Its community focus encourages users to connect and share their creations via the Dawesome Village Discord, making Zyklop an inclusive and inspiring tool for sonic exploration.
Find out more about Dawesome ZYKLØP
Airwindows Consolidated
Airwindows Consolidated is the ultimate solution for accessing the extensive Airwindows DSP plugin library, which spans nearly 400 plugins crafted with minimalistic, efficient designs. Built as a response to the overwhelming complexity of the original collection, this all-in-one tool simplifies the Airwindows ecosystem by consolidating every plugin into a modern, user-friendly format. It supports multiple native formats, including CLAP, VST3, AU, and LV2, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of DAWs and workflows. The introduction of intuitive features like theming (light/dark mode), screen reader support for visually impaired musicians, and a robust menu system make navigating this vast library easier than ever.
The built-in Airwindopedia includes detailed explanations of each plugin, providing nearly 150,000 words of guidance, while curated menus like “Recommended,” “Basic,” and “Recent” help users find the best tools for their needs. With weekly updates to incorporate new releases, Airwindows Consolidated ensures you’re always up to date. Thanks to contributions from open-source collaborators like Baconpaul of the Surge XT project and others, this transformative plugin hub is a must-have for musicians and producers seeking lightweight, high-quality audio effects. Download it for free and explore the reimagined world of Airwindows.
Find out more about Airwindows Consolidated
Kilohearts Shaper
Kilohearts Shaper is a free waveshaper plugin that allows you to craft custom distortion shapes or use pre-designed options from its factory library. Unlike typical digital waveshapers, which often produce harsh, aliased sound, Shaper employs advanced processing to minimize aliasing for a smoother, more musical result. With its intuitive graph-based interface, you can visualize and manipulate the remapping of audio signals in real time. Additional controls include a drive knob for boosting input signal and intensifying distortion, a mix knob for blending dry and wet signals, a DC filter to address offset issues, and overflow modes for customizing behavior when signals exceed the wave shape curve.
As part of the Kilohearts Ecosystem, Shaper integrates seamlessly with Snapin Hosts like Phase Plant, Multipass, and Snap Heap, enabling modular combinations and advanced sound design. This lightweight, user-friendly plugin is available in VST, AU, and AAX formats, and it’s also included in the Kilohearts Essentials collection, a free suite of versatile plugins. Whether used standalone or as a Snapin, Shaper is a powerful tool for creating dynamic and distinctive distortion effects.
Find out more about Kilohearts Shaper
Meldaproduction MDelay
MDelay by MeldaProduction is a powerful and versatile free delay plugin included in the MFreeFXBundle. Designed for musicians, producers, and sound designers, MDelay offers a wide array of controls to create anything from subtle echoes to complex, experimental delay effects. It features three flexible delay modes, including Serial Mode for denser echoes, and two customizable tap units, each with controls for gain, panorama, time, and shuffle for unique rhythmic patterns. Whether you’re seeking vintage warmth or pristine digital clarity, MDelay provides the tools to suit your creative vision.
The plugin includes two delay algorithms: Tape Mode for vintage, pitch-shifting echoes and Modern Mode for clean, precise digital delays. Its three delay types—Default, Classic, and Ping-Pong—add further flexibility for crafting distinct effects, from traditional echoes to wide stereo ping-pong delays. Additional features include adjustable saturation for added warmth, a variety of high-pass/low-pass filters, resonance controls, and multiple syncing options. With an extensive preset library to jumpstart creativity, MDelay is a comprehensive and user-friendly delay solution for any audio project.
Find out more about Meldaproduction MDelay
Freakshow Industries Dream Eater
Dream Eater by Freakshow Industries is a cosmological multi-delay plugin that invites experimentation and discovery. With its mysterious design and creative possibilities, Dream Eater encourages users to explore its capabilities firsthand. Priced at $20 USD, the plugin also offers a unique “steal” option, allowing users to access it for free—an unconventional pricing model that reflects Freakshow Industries’ dedication to accessibility and inclusivity.
Whether you’re drawn by its enigmatic nature or its intriguing sound design potential, Dream Eater promises a distinct experience for adventurous musicians and producers. With no expiry on its pricing flexibility, it’s an open invitation to dive in and see what sonic landscapes you can create.
Find out more about Freakshow Industries Dream Eater
Minimal Audio Squash
Squash by Minimal Audio is a free, OTT-style compressor designed to deliver powerful compression with simplicity and precision. Built for modern production styles, Squash reimagines traditional OTT compression with a fresh approach that is easy to use yet sonically versatile. With intuitive controls, it allows you to shape loudness and achieve perfect spectral balance, from subtle enhancement to aggressive, over-the-top compression.
Under the hood, Squash features four bands of dual compression that adapt to your needs, whether you’re going for pristine clarity or extreme sound design. A unique tone control and essential dry/wet mix make it easy to fine-tune your sound, offering quick, professional results without the complexity of other compressors. Squash is an ideal tool for squeezing the most out of your sounds while maintaining creative momentum.
Find out more about Minimal Audio Squash
Full Bucket Music Broken Mini
Broken Mini by Full Bucket Music is a quirky, tongue-in-cheek software synth plugin that emulates a mysterious and obscure synthesizer from the 1970s. Designed to be intentionally “broken,” this plugin delivers an unconventional experience, complete with missing knobs, non-functional keys, and humorous warnings. While it’s compatible with Apple and Microsoft platforms in VST2/VST3/CLAP/AAX/AU formats, its true charm lies in its deliberately dysfunctional nature.
Despite its “useless” design, the Broken Mini includes a resizable interface, MIDI Learn functionality for parameter control, and plenty of playful disclaimers like “Wear safety gloves!” and “Use at your own risk!” Whether as a novelty or a source of unpredictable sound experimentation, Broken Mini offers a lighthearted addition to any plugin collection.
Find out more about Full Bucket Music Broken Mini
PSP Chamber Reverb
PSP Chamber is a free reverb plugin that delivers natural, rich-sounding reverberations, perfect for adding depth and dimension to your tracks. Modelled after classic hardware units, it emulates the acoustics of various physical spaces with a smooth and realistic decay. Its intuitive design makes it a versatile choice for both tracking and mixing applications, offering a go-to solution for creating immersive, spatial effects.
Available to anyone with a PSPaudioware account, PSP Chamber is an excellent addition to any producer’s toolkit. For those looking for even more flexibility, its “big brother,” PSP EasyVerb, offers nine additional algorithms, including Ambience, Hall, Plate, and Reverse, expanding creative possibilities.
Viator Monster Channel
Monster Channel by Viator DSP is a free distortion plugin that emulates the punchy, dynamic sound of a Class-D amplifier. Inspired by an open patent from a major manufacturer, this plugin combines the signature power of Class-D technology with versatile tone controls, offering a flexible tool for sound shaping. Designed to bring warmth, grit, and character to your audio, Monster Channel is ideal for musicians and producers seeking a high-quality distortion effect.
Packed with features, the plugin includes a preset browser with A/B logic for easy comparisons, oversampling for improved sound quality, and mid/side processing for precise stereo control. Additional user-friendly touches like tooltips and an info page ensure a seamless workflow. Compatible with Mac (Intel/ARM), Windows, and Linux in VST3/AU formats, Monster Channel is a powerful and accessible addition to any plugin collection.
Find out more about Viator Monster Channel
This list highlights the incredible innovation and generosity of the audio plugin community in 2024. From creative sound design tools to powerful utilities, these free releases demonstrate how much is possible without spending a dime.
It’s always exciting to see what developers come up with each year, and as we look ahead to 2025, we can’t wait to discover the next wave of groundbreaking plugins that will inspire and empower music makers around the world. Here’s to another year of creativity and exploration!
