The Best Free Mixing Plugins Every Producer Should Use

March 23, 2025

Mixing is what takes a track from sounding amateur to professional, but not everyone has the budget for expensive plugins. The good news? There are tons of free mixing plugins that can do just as good a job as paid alternatives.

Whether you’re mixing drums, melodies, vocals, or full tracks, these free plugins will help you balance your mix, add warmth, and get that polished sound, without spending a dime.

Let’s break down the best free mixing plugins and how to use them in your tracks.

Step 1: Getting a Clean and Balanced Mix

Before adding effects, your mix needs a solid foundation. The two most important tools for this are EQ (equalization) and compression.

Best Free EQ Plugins

EQ helps remove muddy frequencies, boost clarity, and shape the sound of your mix.

✅ TDR Nova (Tokyo Dawn Labs) – A dynamic EQ that works like a combination of a parametric EQ and a multiband compressor. Great for removing harsh frequencies and adding clarity to melodies and drums.

✅ FabFilter Pro-Q 3 Alternative: LSP Parametric EQ – If you need a free graphical EQ with precise control, this is a great option. It lets you boost or cut frequencies visually like Pro-Q 3.

✅ MEqualizer (MeldaProduction) – Comes with 7 bands, saturation, and harmonic adjustments to add warmth to your sounds.

🔥 Pro Tip: Cut low frequencies below 150Hz on melodies to leave room for the 808 and kick.

Best Free Compressor Plugins

Compression controls volume levels and adds punch to drums, vocals, and instruments.

✅ TDR Kotelnikov – A clean, transparent compressor perfect for drums and master bus compression.

✅ MJUC Jr. (Klanghelm) – A vintage-style compressor that adds warmth and character to vocals and instruments.

✅ RoughRider 3 (Audio Damage) – A punchy, aggressive compressor for drums and 808s.

🔥 Pro Tip: Use parallel compression by blending a heavily compressed version of a sound with the original for more punch without losing dynamics.

Step 2: Adding Depth with Reverb & Delay

A dry mix can sound flat and lifeless—reverb and delay help add space and depth.

Best Free Reverb Plugins

✅ Valhalla Supermassive – One of the best free reverbs, perfect for huge, atmospheric sounds. Great for ambient melodies and giving synths a spacey feel.

✅ Dragonfly Reverb – A high-quality room, hall, and plate reverb for realistic depth. Perfect for vocals and snare drums.

✅ OrilRiver – A versatile reverb with a clean, natural sound—great for piano, vocals, and synths.

🔥 Pro Tip: Don’t drown your mix in reverb—use a small amount on drums to glue them together and a longer reverb on melodies for atmosphere.

Best Free Delay Plugins

✅ Valhalla Freq Echo – A pitch-shifting delay great for trippy, psychedelic effects.

✅ HY-Delay4 Free – A flexible delay with filters, modulation, and ping-pong settings.

✅ TAL Dub Delay – A simple but powerful analog-style delay for lo-fi and vintage effects.

🔥 Pro Tip: Use ping-pong delay on hi-hats to create wider, more interesting rhythms.

Step 3: Enhancing the Low End (808s & Bass)

The low end is one of the hardest parts of mixing...it needs to be deep, punchy, and clear without overpowering the mix.

Best Free Saturation & Bass Enhancer Plugins

✅ Softube Saturation Knob – Adds warmth and harmonic distortion to 808s and kicks.

✅ Voxengo Tube Amp – A tube-style saturator that makes basses sound more aggressive.

✅ Subfilter (LoAir Alternative) – Enhances the low-end presence of bass and 808s.

Step 4: Stereo Imaging & Width

A mix should have a wide stereo image, but not everything should be panned—drums and bass should stay centered, while melodies and FX can be wider.

Best Free Stereo Imaging Plugins

✅ Ozone Imager 2 (iZotope) – Helps widen sounds without causing phase issues.

✅ A1StereoControl – Allows precise width adjustments and has a mono compatibility mode.

✅ Flux Stereo Tool – A clean, free stereo widening plugin.

🔥 Pro Tip: Keep your 808s and kicks in mono for a punchier, more focused low end.

Step 5: Finalizing the Mix with a Free Mastering Chain

Mastering adds loudness and polish so your beat sounds professional on all speakers.

Best Free Mastering Plugins

✅ Youlean Loudness Meter – Helps check if your beat is at the right loudness (experts recommend aiming for -14 LUFS for streaming).

✅ Limiter No6 – A transparent limiter that boosts loudness without distortion.

✅ TDR Molotok – A free compressor that adds glue to the whole mix.

✅ LoudMax – A simple but effective limiter for maximizing volume.

🔥 Pro Tip: Don’t overcompress or over-limit—leave enough dynamic range for clarity.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need expensive plugins to get a professional mix. These free mixing tools cover EQ, compression, reverb, delay, stereo imaging, and mastering, so you can polish your beats without breaking the bank.

Want to take your beats to the next level? Grab some free melody and drum kits to mix with these plugins!