The 15 Best Drum VST Plugins (Free and Paid Options)

The right drum VST can make your beats sound amazing. These can help you create real-sounding drum tracks and e-drum machine sounds. There are plenty of emulators of iconic vintage instruments, samplers, step sequencers, all-in-one plugins, and virtual studio acoustic drum kits out there.

For acoustic drums, start with Addictive Drums 2 for flexible kits, EZdrummer 3 for songwriting, or Superior Drummer 3 for detailed mixing. For electronic beats, Battery 4 and Nerve let you work with your own samples. There are also free options below.

Note: These plugins do not all support the same formats. Check VST3 for modern VST hosts, AU for Logic, and AAX for Pro Tools. Older free VST2 downloads may need a compatible host or bridge; they are not automatically compatible with Apple Silicon.

Related: Check out our great list of the best drum samples.

1. Addictive Drums 2

Addictive Drums 2 is a very popular virtual drum production studio.

I like the interface on this one because you can choose the level of complexity you want to get into. You can get some great drum lines by just pressing a few buttons while also having a lot of options to really configure the sound you want.

Note: We received a copy of Addictive Drums 2 from XLN audio, but putting it on this list was certainly not a condition of receiving it!

It includes drum beats with many different styles of drum kits, from realistic-sounding classic drums to more modern punchy sounds, to electronic drum sounds and other types of percussion.

Here is our demo video of a few of the presets from this drum plugin:

It sounds very realistic, and it’s particularly good if you want to use this plugin with an electronic drum set via MIDI connection because they map very nicely together.

There are a bunch of different options to choose from when getting this drum VST, so make sure to check out our review of Addictive Drums 2 because we go through it in more detail there.

The linked Custom Collection includes the Addictive Drums 2 engine and your choice of three ADpaks, three MIDIpaks, and three Kitpiece Paks. An ADpak expansion on its own is a different purchase. Install the current 64-bit version through the XLN Online Installer; the engine supports VST3, AU, and AAX on Windows and macOS.

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2. EZdrummer 3 by Toontrack

EZdrummer 3 is the songwriting pick here. It comes with seven kits and extra kicks, snares, and cymbals, with mix-ready presets that make it quicker to build a drum part than starting with raw microphone channels.

This VST features onboard controls and effects, a step sequencer, a wide range of drums, cymbals, and percussion sounds, and an extensive MIDI library of grooves and fills. It’s the all-in-one solution for all your drum sound needs.

All the sounds are pre-recorded and mixed so they sound good right off the bat. The quality of this VST is superb, especially considering the elaborate recording process. With fully tweakable controls, you can bring out an amazing drum sound from this plugin.

Bandmate suggests grooves from an audio or MIDI part, while Tap2Find helps search by the rhythm you tap. E-drum presets, adjustable velocity response, and hi-hat controls make it useful for playing as well as programming. It supports VST3, AU, AAX, and standalone use on Windows and Intel or Apple Silicon Macs.

New buyers need a regular licence. The upgrade requires an eligible previous EZdrummer licence, and an EZX expansion does not include the EZdrummer engine.

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3. Superior Drummer 3

Another popular virtual drum VST is Superior Drummer 3. This includes some very high-quality drum kit emulations for recording. It was designed by award-winning engineer George Massenburg.

Superior Drummer 3 includes seven acoustic kits, with additional kicks and snares. You can mix the close, overhead, room, and bleed microphones separately. It is the pick here for detailed drum production, although learning the mixer takes more work than using EZdrummer’s ready-made presets.

The complete library is about 230 GB, with a smaller basic installation available. There are 35 mixer effects and additional electronic drum sounds. E-drum mapping and hi-hat controls suit players who want to adjust the response of their kit, while Tracker converts drum audio to MIDI.

Such additional features make this product suitable not only for traditional pop and rock genres, but for electronic producers as well.

Choose the regular full version if you do not own a qualifying EZdrummer licence. The crossgrade requires one. Windows and macOS versions include a standalone application, and Toontrack supports both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs.

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4. Steven Slate Drums 5.5

Steven Slate Drums 5.5 is a strong choice for punchy rock and metal drums, with acoustic kits for other styles too. The full version includes 148 kit presets and more than 2,400 MIDI grooves, so you can start with a finished sound or program your own performance.

MIDI Learn and mapping controls help connect an electronic drum kit. You can blend close and room microphones, adjust each drum’s dynamics, and import third-party samples. It is a drum instrument driven by MIDI; Slate’s Trigger 2 is the separate audio-replacement plugin.

The linked Plugin Boutique product is the full licence, even though the retailer’s title says “Steven Slate Drums 5.” SSD 5.5 Free is a separate, never-expiring limited edition with one kit. Install through the Slate Audio Center and check your host’s format support before purchasing.

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5. Native Instruments Battery 4

Native Instruments Battery 4 is a drum sampler that comes from a renowned German company that is well-known for its software and hardware for audio creation, production, recording, DJ-ing, etc.

This plugin has a lot to offer. First of all, you can count on a huge library of samples with 143 top-quality kits. Despite tons of options, it seems quite easy to use since main parameters like L-R switching, Volume, Key Range, Reverse, Phase invert, and similar things are easily accessible.

It’s a great tool for electronic music producers who want to organize and process one-shots. Battery 4 is available separately and in selected Komplete bundles; check the actual bundle contents rather than assuming every edition includes it. Install updates through Native Access for current VST3 and Apple Silicon support.

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6. BFD 3.5

BFD 3.5 is a paid drum VST of BFD’s flagship software acoustic drum studio. It combines sampled acoustic kits with tom-resonance and cymbal-swell modeling. Mix-ready presets are included, but you can also shape the microphone channels yourself rather than being tied to one finished drum sound.

BFD 3.5 adds VST3 on Windows and Mac, native Apple Silicon AAX, and an updated microphone-editing panel. Its groove engine includes rudiments and performance editing. Current formats are 64-bit VST/VST3/AAX, with AU on Mac and a standalone application; RTAS is not a current buying requirement.

Install and authorize BFD through the inMusic Software Center. Existing users upgrading to 3.5 must also install the updated expansion content; libraries from 3.4 or earlier builds need that compatibility update. Allow about 55 GB for the core download and additional space while installing.

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7. Synthwave Drums V2

Synthwave Drums V2 is a paid VST plugin for 80s lovers who enjoy that signature sound. This plugin includes a variety of sounds and kits, more specifically, 1300+ drum sounds, 73 multi-drum kits, and over 100 presets.

You can employ the simple drag-and-drop procedure for samples in your DAW of choice. It also comes with a set of effects and filters like volume, pitch, pan, release, equalizer, and compressor. Not only that, but it’s also quite affordable.

Overall, it’s an all-in-one solution of a drum VST that is compatible with Mac and PC and comes in VST3, AU, and AAX formats on a 64-bit host.

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The retailer lists macOS Ventura as untested. Confirm support for your exact macOS version before buying, especially on a newer Mac; a VST3 plugin or an M1 installer alone does not guarantee operating-system compatibility.

8. Xfer Nerve

When it comes from Xfer, the maker of the much-loved “Serum” synth plugin, this is one to expect quality from. Xfer Nerve is a fantastic drum VST. It was designed by experienced dance music producers, and it’s great for use in many genres.

You can either create your own beats by using the sounds you already have or use some of the thousands of presets, patterns, and sounds that come with the product. You can count on a very rich effects section, as well as on up to 8 stereo outputs.

It is a perfect tool for pretty much every electronic music genre, offering excellent sound quality. Despite numerous options, it’s pretty simple to use.

Nerve is a sample-based beat sequencer, so it is a better match for electronic production than realistic acoustic e-drum performance. Xfer provides the current installer and demo directly. Check that demo in your DAW before buying, particularly if you need VST3, AAX, or native Apple Silicon support; the product page describes VST and Audio Unit formats.

Nerve developer page and demo

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9. MT Power Drumkit 2 (free)

The MT Power Drumkit 2 is a free drum VST plugin with high-quality drum sounds that are pre-recorded with equalizers and compressors, bringing you natural and realistic acoustic sounds. Choose the download that matches your DAW and operating system; format support differs between Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Its acoustic kit and MIDI groove library suit pop, rock, and metal. Windows and Mac downloads include VST3 options, with AU for Mac and AAX options for Pro Tools. Linux now has a native VST3 download, so a Windows bridge is no longer the only route.

If you want a free, realistic drum VST library with high-quality, pre-recorded, and processed sounds, the MT Power Drumkit 2 is an excellent choice.

The free edition shows a startup donation screen that you can skip. Donating removes that screen; it does not turn a short trial into the full instrument.

10. ML Drums (free)

ML Drums is yet another free drum VST and one of the easiest drum samplers out there. This drum VST may not offer a huge variety of drum sounds, however, it has all the basics like a snare, kick, tom, floor tom, ride, crash, hi-hat, and china sounds.

There is also an extension package, the ML Drums Essentials (paid package), which adds more drum sounds and variety. All the sounds come with inbuilt reverb, compressors, and EQs, so the level of detail is astounding, especially for a free plugin.

If you want the basics, the ML Drums free VST is one of the best free plugins out there that delivers a realistic acoustic drum sound.

The free kit is a usable starting instrument; Essentials, Luxe, and the other expansion packs are optional paid purchases. Current formats are standalone, VST3, AU, and Mac AAX. Windows AAX is not listed, so Windows Pro Tools users should choose another compatible option.

11. BFD Player (Free)

BFD Player is a current free acoustic drum instrument with a core kit, a groove browser, and a mixer. It runs as its own instrument, so you do not need Kontakt to use it.

Use the included grooves to build a part, or play the kit from MIDI. Separate outputs let you process drums in your DAW. You can add paid BFD Player expansions later, but those are optional and should not be confused with the free core download or BFD 3.5’s own expansion format.

BFD Player supports Windows and macOS, including Apple Silicon. It requires an internet connection for authorization. Check the current minimum operating system before installing; the developer lists Windows 10 22H2 and macOS Ventura or later.

12. Sitala 1 (Free)

Sitala 1.0 interface (earlier free version).

Sitala 1 is a simple free sampler with 16 pads. Drop your drum samples onto the pads, then adjust tuning, compression, tone, pan, and the shape of each hit. It is useful for building a kit from samples you already own, rather than buying another large acoustic library.

Download version 1.0 from the developer’s older-version section. Sitala 2 is paid software; its newer features and native Apple Silicon support should not be confused with the free version. Version 1 has Windows and macOS downloads, with a separate Ubuntu build. Check the listed format for your operating system.

The straightforward controls make it a good starting point for electronic beats. The tradeoff is that realistic acoustic playing still depends on the samples you load; it is not a replacement for Superior Drummer’s detailed articulations and microphone recordings.

13. Dub Turbo DrumTROOP (Free)

DrumTROOP is a good option if you can’t invest in a more fully-featured plugin. Although free, it offers pretty good quality and plenty of features.

DrumTROOP is a legacy rompler with 20 included kits and 16 outputs. If only the kick plays, check your host’s multi-output routing before assuming the remaining pads are empty. Its archive includes Windows VST and older macOS VST/AU downloads.

This is an option for an older compatible setup, rather than a first choice for a new Mac or VST3-only DAW. It has no AAX or VST3 download listed, and current macOS or native Apple Silicon compatibility is not established. Choose ML Drums or BFD Player if you want a more current free acoustic kit.

14. Djinndrum (Free)

Djinndrum is a pretty simple piece of software that emulates the iconic Linn LM-1. This classic drum machine was used by numerous pop icons, including Michael Jackson and Prince.

The graphics closely mimic the legendary unit, with almost identical controls and configuration.

Although it is free, it offers pretty decent sound quality. Ok, it might be a little dry for some, but nothing that a good EQ can’t fix. Definitely worth trying.

DJinnDrum is a legacy VST with archived Windows 32-bit/64-bit and older Mac downloads. There is no confirmed modern AAX, VST3, or native Apple Silicon version on the linked download page. Keep it for a compatible retro setup; a sampler loaded with licensed Linn-style samples is easier to fit into a newer DAW.

15. Full Bucket DrumTraqs (Free)

DrumTraqs is a free recreation of the Sequential Circuits Drumtraks drum machine. It uses factory ROM drum sounds and an old-school pattern and song sequencer, making it a good choice for retro electronic beats.

You can program patterns inside the plugin, mix the drum voices, and exchange MIDI or SysEx data. Its controls follow the original hardware, so expect a different workflow from a modern pad sampler. It is not a detailed acoustic drum library or a TR-606 emulation.

The current downloads include VST2, VST3, CLAP, and AAX for Windows and macOS, plus AU on Mac. The Mac installers support both Intel and Apple Silicon. Choose the regular resizable version; the separate “N” builds are intended for older systems and have a fixed interface.

Download DrumTraqs free

Conclusion

Drum sampling and synthesis have been around for decades. In the early days, these instruments were a synonym for electronic music. Today, these units are an integral part of many genres.

Choose by the part you need to make. EZdrummer 3 is quick for songwriting, Superior Drummer 3 gives you detailed acoustic mixing, and Battery 4 or Nerve suits sample-based electronic beats. ML Drums, MT Power Drumkit 2, and BFD Player give you useful free acoustic starting points.

Even traditional drum machine devices are not as frequent these days. Modern technology brings drum machines in the form of software, which makes things much more accessible to all.