Best Free Vst Amp Sims

Below is a round up of the best free and paid amp sims for playing guitar using a computer instead of the old school method of playing through a “real” amp.

1. Best Free Vst Amp Sim
2. Free Amp Simulator Vst
3. Best Free Vst Amp Simulator

The great winner of the survey is without any doubt LePou, who has been developing guitar amp simulation plug-ins for several years. They support both Windows and OS X platforms and are available in 32 and 64-bit VST and Audio Unit versions! Standalone + Vst Plugin. One of the best options you can find, and the easiest to use, are standalone programs that can act as a plug-in as well. They can do a variety of things besides just being an amp simulator if you want to properly record your guitar there is an options built-in. A robust pedalboard simulator, Guitar Rig 5 player is one of the best free VST plugins that comes packed with a Shoegazer’s dream effects: heavy reverb, delay, phaser, chorus, flanger, you name it. Guitar Amp 2 by Plektron is a fabulous guitar effects suite that comes with an inbuilt British amp, cabinet simulator and a thumping bass amp to cater to guitarists of all hues. What makes it one of the best free VST plugins is that it offers an all-around compact sound which can be laid over your guitar tracks without any tweaks. Soldano SP-77 Amplifier Simulation Juicy77 by BTE Audio is a free amp sim based on the legendary Soldano SP-77. The VST plugin features a separate preamplifier, a power amplifier, and a loudspeaker cabinet simulator section with seven classical cabinet types.

Amp sims have come a long way in recent years. Their realism and sound quality has improved immensely to the point where it can be impossible to distinguish them from the real thing.

Not all amp sims are on the same level, and none can achieve every possible guitar tone or specific kind of sound.

/studio-one-4-how-to-load-vst-plugin.html. Some sims are better than others for certain types of music, and some end up sounding great for things you wouldn’t expect.

Basically it all just comes down to a ton to testing to see which amp sims are the best for the particular sound that you are going for; there’s not one “best” amp sim for everything.

There are way more amp sims on the market for guitar (not so much for bass amp sims) than you’d think, so let’s get this list started.

Additionally, depending on the amp sim you are using, you may also need to use a separate cabinet loader and some impulse responses (cabinet simulations).

If you’re new to all this, here are some tips for making guitars sound better with amp sims. You’ll need a good equalizer (like the free DDMF IIEQ Pro EQ) and it helps to have a tubescreamer pedal in front with high gain amps (like the free TSE 808 pedal). And of course you’ll need a digital audio workstation to work in; here’s a list of free DAWs that can get you started making music in no time.

Free Amp Sims

LePou Amp Sims – There are five amp sims included in the LePou plugins package, including simulations of a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, an ENGL Powerball amp, and a Marshal amp. There’s also a free IR loader for cabinet simulations but it’s only available in 32-bit. A good alternative is NadIR from Ignite Amps.

Brainworx bx_rockrack V3 Player – The Brainworx V3 Player is the free version of their bx_rockrack V3 amp sim collection. It includes a bunch of presets for several amp sim models. The limitation with the free version is you can’t adjust any of the parameters other than the volume. But the presets cover a number of tones and sound really good, and you can always use other plugins and EQs to shape the tone outside of the plugin.

Amplitube 4 Free – You can get access to some free gear from IK by installing their AmpliTube Custom Shop, with the free version of AmpliTube 4 that includes 4 amps, 5 cabinets, 9 stomp boxes, 3 mics and 2 rack effects. But beware, it’s like a gateway drug that induces buying more gear from IK.

Voxengo Boogex – The Voxengo Boogex amp sim is one of the better options for a free amp sim plugin. It includes a built-in reverb module, a noise gate, a cabinet IR loader that supports 3rd party IRs, and a spectrum analyzer. It’s available in VST, AU, and AAX formats for PC and Mac.

Mercuriall Tube Amp Ultra 530 Free – Mercuriall Audio offers a free version of their U530 amp that simulates the ENGL E530 preamp. The free version has a number of limitations but it still works and sounds quite good with a very minimal amount of tweaking. Mercuriall also offers some other free amp sims, including ones for the Marshall JCM800.

Ignite Amps – There a number of really good free plugins available from Ignite Amps. They have everything from an IR loader, a bass amp, tube amps, pedals, and even a vintage tube equalizer.

AmpLion Free – Audiffex offers a free version of their AmpLion amp modeling software. One advantage with it over most other free amps is that it can be used as a standalone application without having to use a DAW. They also offer some other free gear, including a bass amp, and a bunch of simulated pedals, cabinets and microphones.

Vadim Taranov Amp Simulation – Vadim Taranov offers several free VST plugins in 32-bit that simulate amps such as the ENGL Invader, Marshall JCM800, ENGL E530, Peavey 5150, and more.

Paid Amp Sims

Amplitube 4 – Price: $149-$299, with frequent sales

Amplitube has been among the top brands for guitar amp sims for some time, with over two dozen available amps and a crapload of cabinets, speakers, mics, and effects. Amplitube 4 is a very comprehensive set of software with over a hundred paid add-ons and packages. The sheer number of choices and tweaking options with Amplitube can be overwhelming. See my AmpliTube 4 Review for more information and a video demo.

Scuffham S-Gear – Price: $129

A lot of people that use amps sims often and are familiar with the different brands consider S-Gear to be one of the best options around. S-Gear includes 5 amps, an IR loader with cabinet sims and a few effects. They offer a 15-day fully functional trial.

Thermionik – Price: $35 per 5-amp bundle, or $9 per amp

Thermionik includes 30 total amps to choose from. They come in sets of 5 amps for $35 with the option to make your own bundle or buy each individually for $8.99. There’s also a complete bundle package with everything for $149, which also includes an IR loader, cabinet sims, a clipper, and EQ as well. Kazrog’s plugins don’t have sexy graphics like the other brands but their sound quality is top notch. Amp models include Fender, Marshall, Peavey, Mesa Boogie, ENGL, Vox, and more.

BIAS – Price: $69-$169

BIAS is a bit different in that it also offers an amp matching feature to capture any miked amp or recorded track. 36 HD amp models are included in the amp package, plus effects cabinets, mics and tons of customization options.

Guitar Rig 5 Pro – Price: $199

Guitar Rig 5 from Native Instruments is a complete guitar amp modelling package that features 17 amp models, 27 cabinets, 8 microphones and 54 stompboxes and rack effects.

Brainworx Amps and Pedals – Price: $49-$249

There are several different guitar amp and pedal simulations available from Brainworx over at Plugin Alliance, but they are some of the more expensive options on this list.

Line 6 Helix Native – Price: $399

Helix Native has a ton of amps and effects that can be used in a DAW independently from Line 6 hardware. It includes over 60 guitar amps, 30 cabinets, and 100 effects. There is no standalone version so a DAW is required, but it can load 3rd party IRs. There is no free version to try but there is a 15-day fully-functional demo.

Waves GTR3 – Price: $129

The Guitar Tool Rack from Waves includes over 30 amps, 30 Cabs, and 25 stompboxes. The have models for Fender, Vox, Mesa/Boogie, Marshall, and others.

Avid Eleven MK II – Price: $499

If money is no object and you are a Pro Tools users, than Avid’s Eleven MK II amp modelling software may be just what you’re looking for. It includes over 30 amps, 18 cabinets and 10 microphones. Works with Pro Tools only.

Peavey Revalver – Price: $99

Revalver 4 is the latest version of Peavey’s own amp modeling software. You can buy amps separately or with a bundle package. As you’d expect, there are a bunch of Peavey amps available, along with a bunch of cabinets and some effects. You can get started with a couple of amp modules and some gear for free.

TSE X50 – Price: $69

TSE X50 includes two amp sims, the Peavey 5150 and ENGL E530. There’re also 3 pedals, an EQ, delay, and tuner. The built-in IR loader comes with some really nice cabinet simulations and you can load your own. See my TSE X50 Review for more information and a video demo.

Mercuriall Tube Amp Ultra 530 – Price: $59

The Mercuriall Tube Amp Ultra 530 is based on the ENGL E530 preamp. The plugin also includes 8 cabinet models and three tube choices.

AmpLion Pro – Price: $99

The paid version of AmpLion’s amp software features simulations of 9 guitar preamps, 7 power amps, 12 speakers, 8 microphones and 30 effects.

TH3 – Price: $249

Overloud’s epic TH3 amp software includes an epic 203 models, with 69 guitar amplifiers and 3 bass amplifiers, 35 guitar cabinets and 2 bass cabinets, 75 pedal and rack effects, and 18 microphone models, with up to four mics on each cabinet.

Editor’s Note: In this article, we’ll go into the best amp simulator VST plugins in the market as of 2020. If you’re looking for the summarised version, check out the table below, for a full breakdown, read on:

Whatever musical direction you’re taking, there’s a high chance you’ll be using at least some distortion.

This effect was popularized back in the old days by blues and rock ‘n’ roll guitar players, who sometimes even damaged their equipment to get this tone.

Luckily for us today, achieving distortion is not that hard, and there are plenty of safe and affordable ways of doing it.

Of course, the first association is often the guitar-oriented music, but great-sounding distortion can be found even in electronic music.

Even EDM musicians resort to using guitar effects, actual distortion pedals or guitar amp sims.

But if we’re talking about music production, mixing, and working in any DAW, it’s definitely easier and way more practical to rely on plugins.

Sometimes, you can get some pretty great guitar tones, for whatever purposes, by using some great amplifier simulation plugins.

Whether you’re a guitar player, bassist, DJ, instrumentalist, or even a vocalist – here are the best amp sims for you to check out.

Although mostly focused on guitar-oriented music, you’re always free to experiment and use them for other purposes as well. Here it goes.

Positive Grid – Bias FX 2– Our Overall Choice

A new amp simulator by Positive Grid, the Bias FX 2 amp sim brings a whole universe of options in creating one’s tone.

It’s not a product focused on limited types of tones and musicians.

The newest in the Bias amp series brings an abundance of different amps, cabinet simulations, pedals, and microphones, all extremely realistically representing the respective models that they’re imitating.

There’s a wide variety of high gain amps for our metalhead readers, as well as a bunch of experimental effects to get your creative juices flowing.

Talking about amps and cabinets, Positive Grid teamed up with Celestion to bring digital replicas of the legendary speakers found in many of the prestigious cabinets. You can check the full list of amps here.

Overall, the Bias FX 2 brings some pretty advanced stuff with a surprisingly simple operation, making our favorite amp sim in the market right now.

It comes as a great option for any level of playing and musicianship. Even beginners will find it easy to use, and the Bias amp can be a great way for them to get acquainted with the world of guitar amps and pedals.

It’s also one of the most affordable VST plugins in this list, and includes a free demo.

Check out the video review below:

Overloud – TH3– Simple but Effective.

Overloud’s TH3 amp simulator and plugin works in a similar way compared to the Bias, with a bunch of amp, cabinet, pedal, and mic models.

When it comes to guitars, there are 89 different amps, as well as 50 cabinets. Bass players, however, don’t have that many options, since there are only 4 bass amplifier models and 2 bass cabinet models.

Going over to the pedals and other effects, there are 77 different emulations to choose from. The choice of microphones is decent, with 18 different models and the possibility to choose up to 4 mics per one cabinet.

In total, there are 1000 different presets that will help you get great amp simulations right out of the box.

What’s more, Overloud collaborated with some of the famous amp brands, including Randall, to recreate their guitar tones.

Ignite Amps – Emissary– Our Free Choice

Ignite Amps have a few interesting solutions for amp simulators, all of them giving some really solid tones, both for Clean and Distorted situations.

The one we found worth mentioning on this list is the Emissary plugin, a super fun high gain amp.

Although focusing on just one amp model, it still provides a solid amount of possibilities and great tube-oriented modern metal tones.

The physical amp that it replicates is also called Emissary and was made by Ignite for Ryan Huthnance.

It may not be as versatile as some of the other plugins here, but its strength lies in a very realistic representation of this tube amp.

It has two channels, Clean and Drive, along with standard controls and some additional switches for additional EQ shaping.

And the best part?

Best Free Vst Amp Sim

It’s free!

IK Multimedia – AmpliTube 4– Our Mic Amp Simulator Choice

Made by IK Multimedia, AmpliTube has been around for quite some time now.

The fourth installment in the series takes things to a whole new level, with some of the modern guitar heroes expressing their admiration for this plugin.

Free Amp Simulator Vst

An abundance of great amps of all the different eras of modern music, stompbox models, cabinet models, mic models, as well as possibilities to create intricate and non-linear signal chains.

Things get pretty interesting with the virtual microphone and cabinet placement, providing some very realistic-sounding amplifier tones. You can place microphones in virtual 3D settings, which is a pretty exciting feature.

Universal Audio – Fender 55 Tweed Deluxe

Now, this plugin is a little different. First off, it focuses on just one amp which, expectedly, limits its versatility and leaves you with not many options. However, this was actually Universal Audio’s intention, to have just one amp and recreate it as realistically as possible.

The piece in question is Fender’s good old vintage gem, the ’55 Tweed Deluxe. This plugin was done in collaboration with Fender, who helped them out in digitally recreating this amp’s legendary circuitry.

It may have somewhat of a narrow use, mostly those who are looking for those sparkly vintage-oriented blues tone.

But the recreation is just astoundingly realistic, coming very close to the original. Take the good old Tweed Deluxe and mic it up with different microphone simulations.

Studio Devil – Amp Modeler Pro

Although intended for guitars, the Amp ModelerPro by Studio Devil will also give great amp models, distortions, and othereffects for electronic music makers as well.

There are about 15 different preamps that come with it, 32 cabinets, plenty of different pedals and rack-mounted effects, as well as different controls and elaborate EQs.

It’s a somewhat cheaper option compared to the other entries on this list, although it definitely manages to convincingly reproduce classic and modern amplifier tones.

Native Instruments – Guitar Rig 6– Our Overall #2 Choice

October 2020 update: Native Instruments just announced the new version of Guitar Rig- V6.

Best Free Vst Amp Simulator

Guitar Rig 6 comes with a new interface, pictured below, more effects, and new AI tech.

It’s been almost 5 years since the latest update to guitar rig, so the expectations were high within the music production community, and in our opinion, the new version lives up to the hype.

The first thing you’ll notice with Guitar Rig 6 is it’s brand new interface. It’s looking way cleaner and simpler to use.

In addition, 16 new effects were added, including the following softube amps: RC24, RC48, CV2A, VC2A, VC76, and CC160.

All in all, Native Instruments Guitar Rig 6 is one of the most diverse guitar amp sims at the moment.

At the same time, it’s very accessible and is one of the best options for beginners who want to learn more about amplifiers, cabinets, pedals, and other effects and units.

Comparable to AmpliTube and Bias products, there’s a fair amount of amp and cabinet simulations with more than 50 effects and an option to use up to 8 different microphone models on one cabinet at the same time.

This is one of the Native Instrument’s most popular products. Mallets vst free.

Line 6- Helix Native- Our High End Choice

Last but not least, we have the Line 6’s Helix Native.

This is a great model to get that vintage rock sound, perhaps even the best amp simulator on this list. It’s priced on the high-end though and not exactly beginner friendly, so unless you have some experience under your belt, we’d recommend trying out an easier to use guitar amplifier simulator such as the Bias FX 2.

However, if you do know what you’re doing, the Line 6 is a great piece of software.

It includes over 100 effects and 60 amps, including some of the legendary amps used by Hendrix et al (Mesa Boogie, etc).

If you’d like to have a go at the Helix Native, Line 6 does offer a 15 day free version.

Final Thoughts and Overall Winner

And there you have it, the very best amp simulator available for purchase right now.

Combined, they represent thousands of amps, cabinets, and stompboxes.

So take your time, read about the amps offered by each, and make your decision. If you’re looking for an expert opinion- We’d go with the Positive Grid Bias FX 2

Rock on!