10 Great Mastering Plugins for a Pro Sound (Free and Paid Options)
Mastering is the final step in music production that ties up the whole song or album in a perfectly wrapped package.
We often recommend getting a specialist mastering engineer to master your music in most cases. However, many producers want to do it themselves for either financial reasons or to maintain creative control.
These plugins cover EQ, compression, limiting, stereo control and metering. Ozone Standard combines several jobs in one plugin; the free tools below are useful if you want to build a chain around your DAW’s stock effects.
Contents
- Mastering Plugins for a Complete Processing Chain
- 1. Ozone 12 Standard (Paid)
- 2. Oxford Limiter (Paid)
- 3. Ozone Imager 2 (Free)
- 4. FabFilter Pro-Q 4 (Paid)
- 5. The Glue by Cytomic (Paid)
- 6. PSP Xenon (Paid)
- 7. FLUX BitterSweet Freeware (Free)
- 8. FLUX Stereo Tool Freeware (Free)
- 9. Voxengo SPAN (Free)
- 10. Waves Abbey Road TG Mastering Chain (Paid)
- Conclusion
Mastering Plugins for a Complete Processing Chain
1. Ozone 12 Standard (Paid)
Ozone is a good starting point if you want EQ, compression, stereo imaging and limiting together in one mastering plugin. Ozone 12 Standard adds Bass Control and the newer Maximizer and Master Assistant workflow to that familiar approach.
Choose Standard for its integrated mastering chain. Stem EQ, Unlimiter, separate module plugins and Codec Preview belong to Advanced; do not buy Standard expecting all of those extras. Tonal Balance Control is also a separate entitlement, not an automatic part of this licence.
This link is the full Standard licence. Upgrade and crossgrade offers require an eligible earlier purchase. It runs inside a compatible 64-bit Mac or Windows DAW in AU, VST3 or AAX format, rather than as the old standalone Ozone application. VST2 is no longer supported. A trial does not grant a permanent free licence.
Choose Standard for its integrated mastering chain. Stem EQ, Unlimiter, separate module plugins and Codec Preview belong to Advanced; do not buy Standard expecting all of those extras. Tonal Balance Control is also a separate entitlement, not an automatic part of this licence.
This link is the full Standard licence. Upgrade and crossgrade offers require an eligible earlier purchase. It runs inside a compatible 64-bit Mac or Windows DAW in AU, VST3 or AAX format, rather than as the old standalone Ozone application. VST2 is no longer supported. A trial does not grant a permanent free licence.
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2. Oxford Limiter (Paid)
If there is one thing you need when mastering music, it is a good limiter. Your DAW already has one, but Oxford Limiter is worth considering if you want dedicated true-peak control and its Enhance section for adjusting perceived loudness.
Listen to the transients as you increase the level: a limiter cannot promise unlimited loudness without changing the sound. Use the input, output and true-peak meters to judge how much processing the track needs.
The native licence supports AU, VST3 and AAX in a compatible Mac or Windows host. AAX-DSP is a separate format choice. An iLok account is required, but a USB dongle is optional: the two activations can use a computer, compatible iLok or iLok Cloud. Cloud activation needs an internet connection.
Listen to the transients as you increase the level: a limiter cannot promise unlimited loudness without changing the sound. Use the input, output and true-peak meters to judge how much processing the track needs.
The native licence supports AU, VST3 and AAX in a compatible Mac or Windows host. AAX-DSP is a separate format choice. An iLok account is required, but a USB dongle is optional: the two activations can use a computer, compatible iLok or iLok Cloud. Cloud activation needs an internet connection.
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3. Ozone Imager 2 (Free)
Making a mix wider involves more than moving tracks left and right. Ozone Imager 2 gives you a width control, vectorscope displays and Stereoize modes to help hear and see the stereo field.
It remains a free plugin, rather than a trial of the full paid Ozone mastering suite. Its single-band controls are useful on individual tracks and for restrained changes to a master; the full Ozone Imager module offers a broader workflow. Check your mix in mono after widening it.
Download the free licence through the listed product route and follow the account and installation instructions. Imager 2 needs a compatible 64-bit Mac or Windows plugin host. It is not a standalone DAW or a free entitlement to Ozone Standard or Advanced.
It remains a free plugin, rather than a trial of the full paid Ozone mastering suite. Its single-band controls are useful on individual tracks and for restrained changes to a master; the full Ozone Imager module offers a broader workflow. Check your mix in mono after widening it.
Download the free licence through the listed product route and follow the account and installation instructions. Imager 2 needs a compatible 64-bit Mac or Windows plugin host. It is not a standalone DAW or a free entitlement to Ozone Standard or Advanced.
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4. FabFilter Pro-Q 4 (Paid)
EQ is one of the most useful tools in mastering. It can clear space in the mix or make small tonal adjustments before limiting. Your DAW already includes an EQ, but Pro-Q 4 is worth considering for its detailed controls and clear spectrum display.
Pro-Q 4 keeps the 24-band dynamic EQ and Natural Phase and Linear Phase processing of its predecessor, then adds spectral dynamics, EQ Sketch and an instance list for working across several plugin instances. Spectral dynamics can react to particular frequencies within a band, rather than always changing the whole band together.
This is the full licence; existing Pro-Q owners should check their upgrade eligibility. It uses a personal licence key and a compatible Mac or Windows host, with VST, VST3, AU, CLAP and AAX formats as applicable. Installing version 4 leaves older versions available for existing sessions. The iPad version is sold separately.
Pro-Q 4 keeps the 24-band dynamic EQ and Natural Phase and Linear Phase processing of its predecessor, then adds spectral dynamics, EQ Sketch and an instance list for working across several plugin instances. Spectral dynamics can react to particular frequencies within a band, rather than always changing the whole band together.
This is the full licence; existing Pro-Q owners should check their upgrade eligibility. It uses a personal licence key and a compatible Mac or Windows host, with VST, VST3, AU, CLAP and AAX formats as applicable. Installing version 4 leaves older versions available for existing sessions. The iPad version is sold separately.
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5. The Glue by Cytomic (Paid)
The Glue is an analog-modeled bus compressor that can be useful for gentle compression across a complete mix. Choose it for that console-style compression role rather than expecting an all-in-one mastering suite.
Its Mix and Range controls help keep processing restrained, while the detector high-pass filter lets you reduce the compressor’s response to low frequencies. External sidechain support is available, including in the current VST3 version.
The current 1.9.3 release supports 64-bit Mac and Windows hosts through VST2, VST3, AU or AAX as applicable. Cytomic sells new licences directly. It is a one-time purchase with authorization-file activation, including an offline option, and allows two simultaneous computers. It does not require an iLok or hardware dongle. The restricted trial is separate from the full licence.
Its Mix and Range controls help keep processing restrained, while the detector high-pass filter lets you reduce the compressor’s response to low frequencies. External sidechain support is available, including in the current VST3 version.
The current 1.9.3 release supports 64-bit Mac and Windows hosts through VST2, VST3, AU or AAX as applicable. Cytomic sells new licences directly. It is a one-time purchase with authorization-file activation, including an offline option, and allows two simultaneous computers. It does not require an iLok or hardware dongle. The restricted trial is separate from the full licence.
Check it out: View Price
6. PSP Xenon (Paid)
PSP Xenon combines two-stage limiting with an integrated leveler, K-System metering and word-length reduction. It is a useful dedicated option when you want more control over the final limiting stage than a simple one-knob tool provides.
You can adjust how it handles transients, from gentler processing to harder clipping. Those controls need careful listening: increasing loudness changes the shape of the signal, so compare at similar playback levels instead of assuming that louder means better.
This is the full Xenon plugin, not an upgrade or another PSP processor. The current 1.6.2 version runs in compatible Mac and Windows hosts, with AU, VST, VST3 and AAX formats as applicable. An iLok account and License Manager are required, with three activation locations; a hardware iLok is optional. The trial lasts 30 days.
You can adjust how it handles transients, from gentler processing to harder clipping. Those controls need careful listening: increasing loudness changes the shape of the signal, so compare at similar playback levels instead of assuming that louder means better.
This is the full Xenon plugin, not an upgrade or another PSP processor. The current 1.6.2 version runs in compatible Mac and Windows hosts, with AU, VST, VST3 and AAX formats as applicable. An iLok account and License Manager are required, with three activation locations; a hardware iLok is optional. The trial lasts 30 days.
Check it out: View Price
7. FLUX BitterSweet Freeware (Free)
BitterSweet is a free transient processor. Turn the main control toward Sweet to soften attacks, or toward Bitter to emphasize them. It can help shape the attack of drums and percussion or make a restrained change to a full mix.
The free version includes different response modes and options for processing the stereo signal or its center and side components. It is a transient-shaping tool, so you still need a separate limiter for final peak control.
Keep the free BitterSweet edition if those controls cover your needs; BitterSweet Pro is a different paid product. Download through FLUX Center and use a compatible 64-bit Mac or Windows host. The current FLUX framework supports VST3 and native Apple Silicon. This freeware does not require an iLok, dongle or licence activation.
The free version includes different response modes and options for processing the stereo signal or its center and side components. It is a transient-shaping tool, so you still need a separate limiter for final peak control.
Keep the free BitterSweet edition if those controls cover your needs; BitterSweet Pro is a different paid product. Download through FLUX Center and use a compatible 64-bit Mac or Windows host. The current FLUX framework supports VST3 and native Apple Silicon. This freeware does not require an iLok, dongle or licence activation.
Check it out: View Price
8. FLUX Stereo Tool Freeware (Free)
Stereo Tool combines stereo controls with a vectorscope, peak meters and a correlation display. It is useful when you want to inspect the stereo field while adjusting width, left/right gain, pan or polarity.
Its A/B settings and parameter morphing let you compare and move between two setups. Watch the correlation meter and check mono playback when making width changes; an impressive wide image is not automatically a better master.
This is the free FLUX Stereo Tool, not a paid bundle or a similarly named product from another developer. It runs in a compatible 64-bit Mac or Windows plugin host and is downloaded through FLUX Center. The current framework includes VST3 and native Apple Silicon support. Freeware users do not need an iLok or licence activation.
Its A/B settings and parameter morphing let you compare and move between two setups. Watch the correlation meter and check mono playback when making width changes; an impressive wide image is not automatically a better master.
This is the free FLUX Stereo Tool, not a paid bundle or a similarly named product from another developer. It runs in a compatible 64-bit Mac or Windows plugin host and is downloaded through FLUX Center. The current framework includes VST3 and native Apple Silicon support. Freeware users do not need an iLok or licence activation.
Check it out: View Price
9. Voxengo SPAN (Free)
SPAN is a free spectrum analyzer that helps you inspect a mix or master. It displays the frequency spectrum alongside level statistics, true-peak and clipping information, correlation and loudness metering.
Its configurable spectrum display, channel routing and K-System and EBU R128 metering make it useful for comparing tonal balance and checking levels. It is an analyzer: it does not EQ, compress or widen the sound by itself.
The current 3.24 release is available directly from Voxengo. Keep the free SPAN edition if you do not need the additional features of paid SPAN Plus. Use the appropriate AU, VST, VST3 or AAX build for your Mac or Windows host; native Apple Silicon is supported. RTAS is not a current format to choose for this recommendation.
Its configurable spectrum display, channel routing and K-System and EBU R128 metering make it useful for comparing tonal balance and checking levels. It is an analyzer: it does not EQ, compress or widen the sound by itself.
The current 3.24 release is available directly from Voxengo. Keep the free SPAN edition if you do not need the additional features of paid SPAN Plus. Use the appropriate AU, VST, VST3 or AAX build for your Mac or Windows host; native Apple Silicon is supported. RTAS is not a current format to choose for this recommendation.
Check it out: View Price
10. Waves Abbey Road TG Mastering Chain (Paid)
Abbey Road TG Mastering Chain models the EMI TG12410 mastering console. Choose it for a chain of tone-shaping and dynamics controls inspired by that hardware, rather than for the wider Abbey Road Collection bundle.
The plugin has five main modules: Input, Tone, Limiter, Filter and Output/Spread. You can reorder the processing and use stereo, duo or mid/side operation. The separate TG Meter Bridge provides metering alongside the chain.
This link is the full single TG Mastering Chain product. Register the serial to your Waves account, then install and activate it through Waves Central. Native AU, VST3 and AAX operation in a compatible Mac or Windows DAW does not require a SoundGrid server. A perpetual licence and a Waves subscription are different purchase options; a perpetual purchase does not include every future major upgrade. Check Waves’ current host requirements before installing a new major version.
The plugin has five main modules: Input, Tone, Limiter, Filter and Output/Spread. You can reorder the processing and use stereo, duo or mid/side operation. The separate TG Meter Bridge provides metering alongside the chain.
This link is the full single TG Mastering Chain product. Register the serial to your Waves account, then install and activate it through Waves Central. Native AU, VST3 and AAX operation in a compatible Mac or Windows DAW does not require a SoundGrid server. A perpetual licence and a Waves subscription are different purchase options; a perpetual purchase does not include every future major upgrade. Check Waves’ current host requirements before installing a new major version.
Check it out: View Price
Conclusion
If you want your music to get anywhere, you need to master it properly. It helps you bring out the correct tones, loudness, and audio quality that will bring it to industry-standard quality.
If you are looking to get serious about mastering, then be sure to get deep into the process. Treat your room, get some great studio monitors, and really try to understand what it’s all about. Then, these plugins can really help you along with that process.
