The only ranking that matters — based on real producer reviews, not marketing budgets.
Last updated: January 2025
See Rankings ↓No BS. No paid placements. Just real ratings from real producers who are using the plugins.
| Rank | Company | Trust Source | Rating | Reviews | Last Verified | Official Site | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FabFilter | Trustpilot | 4.8/5 | 342 | 2025-01-15 | Visit | View |
| 2 | Arturia | Trustpilot | 4.5/5 | 567 | 2025-01-15 | Visit | View |
| 3 | Native Instruments | Trustpilot | 4.3/5 | 1,234 | 2025-01-15 | Visit | View |
| 4 | iZotope | Trustpilot | 4.2/5 | 456 | 2025-01-15 | Visit | View |
| 5 | Universal Audio | Trustpilot | 4.1/5 | 892 | 2025-01-15 | Visit | View |
| 6 | Plugin Alliance | Trustpilot | 4.0/5 | 423 | 2025-01-15 | Visit | View |
| 7 | Kilohearts | Trustpilot | 3.9/5 | 189 | 2025-01-15 | Visit | View |
| 8 | Splice | Trustpilot | 3.7/5 | 2,341 | 2025-01-15 | Visit | View |
| 9 | Waves | Trustpilot | 3.5/5 | 3,456 | 2025-01-15 | Visit | View |
| 10 | Roland Cloud | Trustpilot | 3.4/5 | 567 | 2025-01-15 | Visit | View |
Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Deep dive into what producers love (and hate) about each company.
Premium mixing and mastering plugins known for innovative interfaces and pristine sound quality.
Renowned for analog modeling synthesizers and faithful recreations of classic hardware.
Complete production ecosystem with Kontakt, Reaktor, and comprehensive sound libraries.
Extensive catalog of professional mixing and mastering plugins used in studios worldwide.
Premium plugins with DSP acceleration and meticulous analog hardware emulations.
Curated collection of boutique plugin brands with flexible subscription options.
Direct comparisons of popular plugin companies based on customer feedback.
| Criteria | Waves | Plugin Alliance |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 3.5/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Review Count | 3,456 | 423 |
| Pricing Model | Perpetual + Update Plan | Perpetual + Subscription |
| Plugin Count | 200+ | 150+ |
Plugin Alliance edges ahead with higher customer satisfaction and flexible subscription options, while Waves offers a larger catalog with more established industry standards.
| Criteria | Native Instruments | Arturia |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Review Count | 1,234 | 567 |
| Main Focus | Complete Production | Synthesis & Keyboards |
| Hardware Integration | Extensive | Moderate |
Arturia leads in customer satisfaction with superior analog modeling, while Native Instruments provides a more comprehensive production ecosystem.
BestMusicPlugins rankings are based on systematic analysis of publicly available customer reviews. We believe transparency and independence are crucial for helping producers make informed decisions.
We manually collect review data from verified platforms including Trustpilot, Google Reviews, and specialized music production forums. Only reviews from verified purchasers are included in our calculations.
Our ranking algorithm considers multiple factors: average rating (weighted 60%), total review count (20%), review recency (15%), and consistency of ratings over time (5%). This ensures both quality and quantity of feedback are represented.
All data is manually verified monthly. We cross-reference multiple sources and flag any suspicious patterns in reviews. Companies showing signs of review manipulation are noted and may be excluded.
Our rankings reflect customer satisfaction but may not represent technical quality or value. Review platforms have inherent biases—dissatisfied customers are more likely to leave reviews. Newer companies may have fewer reviews despite excellent products.
BestMusicPlugins is an independent comparison platform for music production software. We aggregate and analyze customer reviews to provide neutral, data-driven rankings of plugin companies.
Founded in 2024 by a team of music producers and data analysts, we recognized the need for unbiased information in an industry filled with sponsored reviews and affiliate marketing. Our mission is simple: help producers find reliable plugin companies based on actual customer experiences.
Questions or suggestions? Email us at contact [at] bestmusicplugins [dot] com
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