Best synth plugins 2024: 10 of the best polyphonic synth plugins for all genresThere are loads of reasons to opt for a software synthesizer over a hardware one. Software can faithfully emulate and expand iconic models, offer brave new sounds, and even present fresh ways to synthesise audio – all at prices that are typically far lower than their physical counterparts.

READ MORE: 10 of the best freeware soft synths

From legendary models to complex modular setups and newfangled instruments, there are countless software polys to choose from. We’ve rounded up 10 of our favourites, all with their own quirks that will keep you busy for hours on end.
U-he Diva: A synth stalwart that still holds up today

Price: $173/£138
Synthesis: Virtual Analogue/Subtractive

Diva is, without doubt, one of the most popular soft synths out there.
Originally launched in 2011 by U-he – which shows how well it holds up – Diva is renowned for its various emulations of iconic synth components, such as the oscillator sections based on the Moog Minimoog, Roland Alpha Juno-2, Roland Jupiter series, Korg MS-20 and Roland JP-8000. There are also filters based on the Moog Ladder filter, Oberheim SEM filter and more.
Even now, ten years after its original release, producers are taken aback by its pristine, detailed sound, and its performance against vintage analogue synthesizers. The Trimmers panel allows you to go all-out on making Diva sound more analogue, with voice detuning per oscillator, voice drift and more. If you’re in the market for some retro synth flavours, Diva should be one of your first stops.
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Check the latest deals for Diva on Thomann.
Arturia Pigments 5: Inviting and powerful — one of our favourites

Price: $206/£164
Synthesis: Subtractive, wavetable, sample-based & additive

Arturia’s Pigments is now in its fifth iteration and more powerful than ever. This synth plugin looks and feels inviting to play thanks to bright and detailed visualisers and its drag-and-drop-style modulation stacking. It sounds rich and detailed, too, thanks to its five sound engines, which provide a wide range of sonic possibilities for users to explore and manipulate. You’ll also find loads of flexible filters and effects, including eleven filter models and 18 high-quality effects, so you can further shape your sound.
Pigments is so good, that its past three editions have all deservedly been awarded 10/10 by MusicTech. In our review of Pigments 5, we confirmed that it is still “one of our absolute favourite synths”.
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Check out the latest deals for Pigments 5 on Thomann.
GForce Oberheim OB-X: Fat, vintage sounds

Price: $139/£111
Synthesis: Virtual analogue/Subtractive

GForce’s OB-X is the first-ever officially endorsed emulation of Oberheim’s iconic OB-X synth, having been created in close cooperation with Tom Oberheim himself.
The GForce Oberheim OB-X captures its authentic sound, offering monophonic, polyphonic, legato, and unison trigger modes, as well as programmable Aftertouch. It goes further than the possibilities of hardware, with expanded Velocity controls and a robust preset browser offering over 400 production-ready presets. It also incorporates GForce’s X-Modifier technology for comprehensive sound modulation.
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Check the latest deals for OB-X at Thomann.
UAD x Moog Minimoog: The icon in your DAW

Price: $250/£199
Synthesis: Subtractive/Virtual Analogue

Oberheim and GForce aren’t the only brands to have worked together on a software emulation of a legendary synth. In 2023, Universal Audio and Moog officially launched a plugin version of the legendary Minimoog Model D, initially launched in 1970.
This plugin synth, you could argue, is as good as you’re going to get when it comes to recreating this classic synth. Using custom robotics for precise knob measurements, it accurately replicates module-to-module coupling and impedance, resulting in near-zero latency. Universal Audio has also effectively rebuilt Moog’s renowned ladder filters, oscillators and detailed pitch tracking anomalies, making for distinctive, distorted, off-kilter hardware Moog sonics.
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Check the latest deals for UAD x Moog Minimoog on Plugin Boutique.
Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2.8: Vast sound palette with an intuitive layout

Price: $479/£339
Synthesis: Sample, wavetable, granular, FM

Spectrasonics’ flagship soft synth is not to be overlooked. Omnisphere uses its unique STEAM synthesis and sampling engine to deliver over 14,000 inspiring sounds that you can manipulate using granular, wavetable and FM synthesis, among other timbre-warping techniques. You can load up to 20 oscillators per patch and modulate them using eight LFOs, 12 envelopes and 34 filter types, with the Flex-Mod modulation matrix helping you get detailed with sound design. There are then 58 modulatable effects units to further develop your patches.
In our review of the Omnisphere 2, we said: “Thanks to some genuinely innovative features, not to mention a wealth of extra sonic material to play with, it’s hard to imagine any software instrument delivering the same breadth and sheer sonic excellence as Omnisphere 2.”
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Check out the latest deals for Omnisphere 2 on Amazon.
Kilohearts Phase Plant: Endless playground of sound design

Price: $201/£160
Synthesis: Wavetable, FM, Granular, Subtractive, Sample

From the old and trusty to the new and fresh-faced: Phase Plant is an award-winning, cutting-edge semi-modular soft synth by Swedish brand Kilohearts that lets you modulate your sound in plentiful exciting directions.
Its open modular architecture lets you create everything from simple synth riffs to complex and diverse patches. With Kilohearts’ built-in effects and advanced modulation capabilities, including FM modulation and MPE compatibility, Phase Plant is a solid choice of soft synth if you’re looking to shape your sound in cool new ways.
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Check out the latest deals for Phase Plant on Plugin Boutique.
Vital: Unbelievable free synth

Price: FREE
Synthesis: Wavetable

The 2020-launched spectral-warping wavetable synth Vital by Vital Audio, maintaining itself as a free-to-download piece of software years since its launch, remains one of music tech’s biggest mysteries. Yes, the Basic package doesn’t cost a dime (Pro costs $80, unlocking 400+ presets and 25 wavetables), but even in its free form, it seriously holds up against other high-end soft synths in this list, delivering sonics of a similar quality. That makes Vital a – dare we say it – vital asset for your soft synth library.
The synth is known for its wavetable synthesis capabilities, intuitive user interface, and vast number of modulation options. With features like custom wavetable creation, spectral warping, and intuitive modulation, it acts as a no-brainer for music producers on a budget – or not, frankly.
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Download Vital for free at vital.audio.
Xfer Records Serum: Essential synth for EDM

Price: $189
Synthesis: Wavetable

Deadmau5 and Steve Duda’s Xfer Records spawned a powerful go-to synth for a myriad producers in 2014. Ten years on, it’s still an essential synth for many in the EDM world. It’s consistently top on Splice’s plugins chart, and is used by Deadmau5 himself, Flume, What So Not and Marshmello, among others.
Serum is an advanced wavetable synth with 144 wavetables, 10 effects modules, drag-and-drop modulation routing and custom wavetable creation. Its pristine sound and intuitive interface make Serum a dream to navigate and create with, whether it’s big EDM leads or thick pads. It’s known to be a little heavy on the CPU, though, so do try before you buy and check if your system can handle it.
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Find out more about Serum at xferrecords.com.
Synplant 2 – Best AI-assisted synth

Price: €149
Synthesis: Subtractive

When Sonic Charge released Synplant in 2009, it was hard to tell whether its rather unique approach to synthesis was gamechanger or gimmick. But at the very least, its organic and intuitive approach helped the instrument stand out in the crowded world of synth plugins — and 2023 was the year we finally saw a sequel announced.
Unlike conventional methods, Synplant 2 lets you ‘grow’ sounds by planting seeds and adjusting parameters through a unique interface, assigning various mutations of the original sound to your keyboard so you can rapidly compare them. Find one you like? Simply plant it as a new seed and develop it further.
A particularly exciting feature new to Synplant 2 is its Genopatch technology, which creates synth patches based on user-supplied audio. It’s akin to sampling — except instead of playing back an audio file, Synplant uses artificial intelligence to synthesize the sound. It may not get it right all the time, but with a little serendipity, you could land on something entirely new and unexpected. Read our full review of Synplant 2.
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Find out more about Synplant 2 at soniccharge.com.
Softube Model 84 – Everyone needs a Juno

Price: $159
Synthesis: Virtual analogue, subtractive

Softube’s Model 84 may not be the first software iteration of the Roland Juno-106, but it’s definitely one of the best, capturing the character of the beloved synthesizer with remarkable precision. This plugin doesn’t just mimic the sound of the original hardware — it enhances it with modern capabilities such as additional modulation options, and an expanded filter section and envelope controls.
From silky pads to punchy basslines to shimmering leads, the Model 84 delivers buckets of authentic Juno tone, including a faithful reproduction of the instrument’s chorus effect that’s famed for its lush, wide stereo presence. Check out our full Model 84 review for all the details.
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Find out more about the Model 84 at softube.com.
Softube Model 77 – Best way to get the Yamaha CS synths

Price: $71
Synthesis: Virtual analogue, subtractive

The second Softube plugin in our list, this developer knows a thing or two about recreating hardware synths in the digital realm. The Model 77 takes inspiration from Yamaha’s iconic CS series, delivering the same expressive sound that has defined countless classic tracks.
At the heart of the plugin is a meticulous recreation of the original analogue circuitry found in three models — the CS-50, CS-60, and CS-80.
The plugin goes beyond emulation by adding features like flexible modulation routing and more detailed envelope controls. What’s more, the intuitive interface makes patch programming more accessible than it was on the original CS instruments. If you’re looking for a workhorse that excels in rich pads and ethereal textures, the Model 77 is an excellent choice. See our full review of the Model 77 for more information.
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Find out more about the Model 77 at softube.com.
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