Best Synth VST Plugins

Synth VST plugins have come a long way over the past decade, and now more than ever, they offer an incredible range of possibilities for sound synthesis.

As a sound designer and music producer with over 20 years of experience, synthesizers are my go-to tool.

I tested numerous VST instruments and selected 21 of the best synth plugins for music production and sound design.

Your taste in music will largely define the right soft synth for you. You can indulge in nostalgia for classic analog synth emulations or venture into more uncharted territories with modern waveform-manipulating synths. 

However, the true beauty is you don’t have to make a single choice – you can explore it all!

In the guide below, I included the best synth VSTs in various categories so that you can spend less time searching and more time making music.

Find more virtual instruments in our article about the best piano VSTs.

Best synth VST plugins 2024

These are the best synth VSTs of 2024:

1. Xfer Serum
2. Matt Tytel Vital
3. u-he Diva
4. Kilohearts Phase Plant
5. Arturia Pigments
6. Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2
7. AAS Chromaphone 3
8. VCV Rack Pro 2
9. Cherry Audio Sines
10. Audio Damage Continua
11. NI Massive X
12. Surge XT
13. Newfangled Audio Generate
14. Roland Zenology Pro
15. iZotope Iris 2
16. Minimal Audio Current
17. Baby Audio BA-1

Xfer Serum – Best Wavetable Synthesizer

As one of the most pivotal virtual instruments in the EDM world, Serum is an incredibly sophisticated wavetable synthesizer.

You get over 450 presets and 144 wavetables, offering many creative possibilities for wavetable synthesis. The versatile sound engine makes Serum an excellent synth for electronic music production and sound design.

Beyond the ability to design and import custom wavetables, you can take advantage of amplitude modulation, ring modulation, and frequency modulation, allowing for added manipulation.

The drag-and-drop modulation process is very straightforward, offering both control and the flexibility to refine parameters through the waveform display. If that wasn’t enough, with ten effect modules, Serum lets you completely transform its sound.

From novices to seasoned professionals, this synth is nothing short of sonic excellence. It works equally well as a bass synth and a versatile instrument for sound design.

MSRP: $189

Vital – Best Synth Interface

​​Vital synth is one of the most robust and adaptable wavetable synthesizers. Thanks to the sleek interface, we recommend Vital as one of the best synths for sound designers and music producers who like to make sounds from scratch.

The interface is exceptional, with an intuitive framework and effortless navigation, perfect for novices and seasoned professionals. The range of features includes diverse envelopes, LFOs, filter types, effects, and more.

But the interface isn’t Vital’s only strong point. It offers a diverse spectrum of waveforms and effects. Using its robust synthesis engine, you can create countless timbres and textures, all easily modifiable.

In my personal opinion, Vital excels across a spectrum of music styles, from modern dubstep to 80s-style synthwave. Plus, the option to import your wavetables and create new ones from samples provides incredible flexibility.

MSRP: Free / $25 / $80

u-he Diva – Best Virtual Analog Synthesizer

Diva perfectly captures the essence of the most coveted analog synths. It is an analog emulation masterpiece, and we highly recommend it as the best virtual analog synthesizer for classic synth sounds.

Within the synth, you’ll find five oscillator models, each reminiscent of a different hardware synthesizer. You’ll also find five filter models, distinct envelope types, and dual LFOs for skillfully shaping your sound.

The intention with Diva isn’t complexity. Instead, it embodies synthesis in its purest and most remarkable form.

You can fine-tune your sounds, introduce glide, expand to 16 voices, modulate the amplifier, or add arpeggiation. The synth also offers several effects, including delay and reverb.

This plugin’s brilliance lies in its ability to capture the essence of vintage analog synths while delivering a modern level of clarity and usability.

Diva is a must-have virtual analog synth plugin. It is a vintage synth in VST plugin form.

MSRP: $179

Kilohearts Phase Plant – Best VST Synth for Sound Design

Phase Plant is one of Kilohearts’ most popular synthesizer offerings, and it’s a true marvel for sound designers.

This remarkably potent modular synth offers immense power and exceptional sound quality in a user-friendly interface. It is my go-to synth for exploring abstract sounds.

The modular design that departs from the conventional modular synth plugin layout sets it apart from other synths. Phase Plant is a different synth, and you will love it if you enjoy experimenting with sounds.

Instead of fixed modules, Phase Plant introduces a dynamic approach with a blank canvas. This allows for extensive customization, as modules can be positioned precisely where you need them.

Phase Plant gives you access to a repository of 400 meticulously crafted sounds and four diverse signal generators, providing plenty of versatility regarding sound design possibilities.

MSRP: $199

Arturia Pigments – Best Workhorse Synth

Pigments seamlessly merges granular, virtual analog, wavetable, and sampling into a naturally flowing piece of software.

Right from the get-go, I was astounded by the user interface. Modulation takes center stage, graphically portraying each wave and curve.

The interface helps you get a clear understanding of all the synthesis elements that define the final sound.

Pigments uses two synth engines. You can layer the two engines to create complex synthesized timbres.

On the sampling side, you can load up to six sample slots and route them through a granular engine to extract grains and forge unique soundscapes.

You’ll also find numerous filter options, including Buchla and SEM low pass gates, which you can use to further sculpt your sounds, and a multifaceted modulation engine for creating intricate movement.

With stellar architecture and an approachable workflow, Pigments has been one of the most exciting and user-friendly synths over the past few years.

MSRP: $199

Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2 – Best Sample-Based Synth

Omnisphere 2 is one of the most popular VST synths in the game. As a sample-based synth, Omnisphere is one of the most influential virtual instruments on the market.

The source of Omnisphere’s vast potential lies in the engine’s intricate layering and blending of its sound sources. Each patch can use up to four sound layers and numerous waveforms, LFOs, and envelopes.

I also like Omnisphere for its sound design capabilities. It lets me import audio and deconstruct it into individual grains for modulation. An arsenal of 57 effects units propels those transformed sounds into new sonic variations.

Another standout feature is hardware synth integration. Omnisphere has mappings for numerous hardware synthesizers.

It lets you get the best of both worlds by using your hardware synth’s knobs and sliders to control Omnisphere’s parameters.

Top it off with an extensive library of over 14,000 presets, and you get one of the best soft synths for making music.

MSRP: $499

AAS Chromaphone 3 – Best Physical Modeling Synth

The developers at Applied Acoustic Systems are experts in crafting modeled virtual instruments. Their latest creation is one of the best physical modeling synths in 2024.

Chromaphone 3 is a dedicated percussion modeler. This unique synth offers endless sound design possibilities for generating percussive sounds.

As a creator, you can use Chromaphone 3 to shape realistic and imaginative percussive instruments, from open tubes to harps to marimbas and beyond.

You also get an intricate array of modeling parameters and a user-friendly interface, making crafting experimental instruments more enjoyable.

MSRP: $199

VCV Rack 2 Pro – Best Modular Synth

If you’re looking for a high-quality modular synth VST, look no further than VCV Rack 2 Pro.

VCV Rack is an excellent synthesizer for beginners to learn modular synthesis basics. Likewise, advanced users will enjoy its deep modular workflow and intricate patching capabilities.

You get individual module sections, which you can share, edit, save, and customize. VCV Rack also has an enhanced module browser, allowing you to zoom in and sort your module collection while learning more about each element.

Not only does the VCV Rack 2 sound incredible, giving you the flexibility to build and craft just about any synth sound you can imagine, but the interface is equally astounding.

This iteration of the synth introduces Dark Room mode, which essentially adjusts the “room” brightness so you can save your eyes while working at night.

MSRP: $149

Cherry Audio Sines – Best Innovation

Sines is on the low end of this list in terms of price. However, it’s also one of the most innovative polyphonic synthesizers to have come out in the past few years.

With four sine-wave oscillators, the VST allows users to bend and shape sounds in infinite directions. Sines utilizes diverse waveshaping methods to transform sine waves into complex timbres.

Combine that with the wide range of effects and modulation capabilities, and you can introduce new and unique dimensions to the already robust sounds.

Whether you’re looking for additive, subtractive, or classic DX-style FM synthesis, Sines has you covered.

It is one of the best synth plugins on the market for users who want to explore new types of synthesis.

MSRP: $39

Audio Damage Continua – Best Granular Synth

Continua is a virtual analog synth with a unique granular twist. It has three oscillators and an array of interconnected controls, giving you total agency over the sound.

The exciting thing about this synth is that you essentially have an unlimited waveform supply, especially when adding noise and modulation into the mix.

The sleek and gorgeous interface gives you access to countless modulation capabilities and morphing state variable filters.

However, I found that Continua can be a bit of an overwhelming synth to get used to. It took me several days to figure out its workflow fully and get control over the sound.

With that in mind, I’m glad Continua has an array of factory presets. The list includes designer presets from Sonalsystem, Glitch Machines, and Red Means Recording.

MSRP: $79

NI Massive X – Best Bass Synth

Native Instruments has had lots of success in the VST world with heavy hitters like Kontakt and Reaktor.

Massive X, one of the developer’s latest innovations, only reaffirms their reputation.

This exceptionally versatile wavetable synth has a diverse selection of over 170 wavetables, two oscillators, and several distinct sub-modules, many of which are great for crafting profoundly rich bass tones.

Massive X excels in modulation, providing the capacity to modulate each parameter effortlessly. Building upon the drag-and-drop modulation functionality that characterized the original Massive, this new version refines and enhances the approach.

You’ll also find an updated routing panel, six LFOs, three modulation envelopes, three performers, and four trackers. These features contribute to NI Massive X’s delivery of some of the most aggressive, sonically rich bass sounds.

MSRP: €199

Surge XT – Best Free Synth

There’s nothing quite like when a community of musicians comes together to create something beautiful. That’s exactly where a synth like Surge XT comes into play.

Surge is a free, open-source synthesizer with a wide range of filters, effects, and a powerful modulation engine. It is one of the best free synth VST plugins.

The sound engine uses a subtractive hybrid synthesis method to generate unabashed digital sounds.

You have more than 700 wavetables and 2,800 patches to choose from, as well as a category-based patch browser for searching for your desired sounds.

Surge’s interface might feel a little cluttered, though if you’re looking for flexibility and versatility, it’s a wonderful place to start. In terms of sheer synthesis capability, Surge is one of the few free synth VSTs that compare to paid plugins.

I highly recommend Surge as the best free VST synthesizer for music producers on a tight budget. It is a massive upgrade over most stock synth plugins.

MSRP: Free

Newfangled Audio Generate – Best Cinematic Synth

From warm, ambient keys to cosmically complex synth textures and pads, every piece of Generate offers beautifully cinematic chaos.

The synth is based on a group of what the developers call “chaotic generators.” These generators are a series of constant feedback loops and underlying patterns that are self-organized to create an expansive sonic territory to explore.

Generate allows you to create diverse musical textures, including noise, static, grunge, harmonics, and distortion, all of which can be modulated to your heart’s content.

Within the synth, you’ll find a vast array of presets from some of the top producers and composers in the game, as well as an innovative user interface that gives you complete control of the onboard effects and modulators.

MSRP: $149

Roland Zenology Pro – Best for Classic Sounds

Roland is one of the biggest names in the hardware synth world, often associated with classic sounds of the past. They offer a slice of that analog magic in the form of Zenology Pro.

Zenology Pro offers all of the warm nostalgia associated with the iconic analog sound. However, it’s equally versatile and forward-thinking as other modern synth VSTs.

Roland says that Zenology is one of the most powerful and advanced synth engines they’ve ever made. What I know for sure is that the instrument has an incredible sound.

I don’t particularly appreciate comparing digital and analog synthesizers, but Zenology Pro is undoubtedly one of the best analog synth emulations. It is my favorite synth for classic Roland sounds.

Zenology’s highly effective processing engine excels at recreating the sounds of yesteryear’s polyphonic synth legends, such as the JD-800, JX-8P, SH-101, and Juno-106.

MSRP: $229

iZotope Iris 2 – Best for Sample Manipulation

iZotope has been thriving over the past few years with its mixing and mastering plugins. However, its flagship VST synth is equally impressive.

When I first used Iris 2, I was blown away by its sample manipulation capabilities. It allows me to load any source sound and transform it into something completely new.

Iris 2 is a fantastic synth VST plugin for cinematic sound design. It offers a depth of sample manipulation I haven’t encountered in any other software synth.

It is an incredibly powerful tool for making sound effects.

The instrument is beautifully integrated with the visual technology you’d expect from iZotope. The interface is complicated but not overwhelming, and I find it easy to locate the sound engine parameters when creating a new patch.

You’ll find hundreds of beautifully crafted patches that you can manipulate. Of course, you can build new patches from scratch using an almost 11GB factory of classic filters, effects, and samples.

Iris 2 is perfect for music producers and sound designers looking for the best instrument to create unique sounds. It’s an audio mad scientist’s dream.

MSRP: $249

Minimal Audio Current – Most versatile Synthesizer Plugin

Current is Minimal Audio’s flagship synthesizer plugin. It is available as a rent-to-own ($15 per month or $120 annually) or a single-payment product ($199).

The developer Minimal Audio is known for their popular plugins like Fuse Compressor, Morph EQ, and Rift. The latter is one of my go-to effects for cinematic sound design.

Some of their offerings, such as Rift Filter Lite, were even available for free during their launch periods.

Current, however, is designed to be more than just a virtual synthesizer. It integrates various elements from Minimal Audio’s plugin and sample library ranges into a comprehensive package.

The plugin features a powerful synth engine and a user-friendly interface, combining an expansive instrument and a complete effects suite in a single unit.

It’s also a cloud-connected content platform that allows users to store and share sounds and presets with each other.

Minimal Audio Current is notable for its seamless integration of these components, offering one of the most versatile single-plugin tools for music production and sound design.

The synthesizer’s Engine view provides a range of sound creation tools, including Wavetables, Granular Sampling, an additive Sub-Oscillator, and a time-stretching Sampler. The Wavetables tab offers spectral manipulation and wave shaping capabilities, while the Granular tab excels in transforming samples into new textures, ideal for atmospheric sounds in films or games.

Current also includes intuitive features like Rhythmic Grain Layering and Multi-Position Playback.

MSRP: $199

Baby Audio BA-1 – Best Synth VST for beginners

BA-1 by Baby Audio is one of the best synthesizer plugins for beginners who want to learn synthesis. It is priced at $99, providing a solid entry point for budget-oriented music producers.

As you may guess from the GUI, this analog-modeled synth plugin was inspired by the Yamaha CS01, a cult favorite from the 1980s.

Though not the most famous 80s synthesizer, the Yamaha CS01 is renowned for its unassuming appearance and surprisingly epic sounds for such a small package. BA-1 maintains the essence of the CS01 while offering modern enhancements for deeper sound design.

Baby Audio’s take on the CS01 features two oscillators with an X-Fade slider and a third FM-based oscillator, extending the original single oscillator setup of the original. These additions cater to the contemporary sound designer while retaining the classic 80s vibe.

BA-1 also integrates modern features such as syncing the Envelope’s Attack and the LFO to the host DAW’s BPM, aligning with today’s production needs.

The effects section of BA-1 includes Tone, Drive, Delay, Reverb, and Chorus modules. The built-in effects add to the plugin’s nostalgic charm, with lo-fi tones that are based on cheap 80s effect units.

Notably, the Chorus effect is an adaptation of a classic Juno-style chorus, adding to the authentic 80s sound.

MSRP: $99

Best Synth Plugins – Final Thoughts

No matter what kind of music you’re making or in what fashion, there’s a perfect digital synth waiting for you. I’m sure the article above will help you choose the best new synth to bring your creative visions to life.

With such a wide realm of modern synth plug-ins, you have total power over crafting any sound you can dream up.

Try out as many of the above synth plugins as possible and see what magic you can churn up! Remember that, at the end of the day, the best VST synthesizers are the ones that give you the best sound.

Forget about the latest features, the fancy GUIs, and the analog synth myths. Focus on finding a plugin synth that sounds exactly how you want.

I tested many synth plugins but always returned to using a select few. I enjoy knowing a synth inside out, which helps me make complex sounds with minimum effort.

If you’re a beginner, read our articles about installing VST plugins and what VST plugins are.