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Best free AU synths for Logic and GarageBand

Logic Pro and GarageBand only load Audio Units. These free synths all ship an AU build for macOS, from wavetable monsters to faithful analog recreations.

37 synths · updated 2026-09-11

  1. Vital by Matt Tytel: plugin interface screenshot
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    Vital

    Matt Tytel · Wavetable · VST3, VST2, AU, LV2, Standalone · Windows, macOS, Linux

    The wavetable synth that made Serum optional. Spectral warping, drag-and-drop modulation, all of it free.

    Download from vital.audioDetails

  3. Dexed by Digital Suburban: plugin interface screenshot
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    Dexed

    Digital Suburban · FM · VST3, AU, CLAP, LV2, Standalone · Windows, macOS, Linux

    The DX7 in your DAW. Loads original sysex patches, so forty years of FM sound design is yours for nothing.

    Download from asb2m10.github.ioDetails

  4. Zebralette 3 by u-he: plugin interface screenshot
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    Zebralette 3

    u-he · Spectral · VST3, AU, CLAP, AAX · Windows, macOS, Linux

    One oscillator from u-he’s upcoming Zebra 3, and it is absurd: spline drawing, spectral effects, MSEGs and a mod matrix.

    Download from u-he.comDetails

  5. Odin 2 by TheWaveWarden: plugin interface screenshot
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    Odin 2

    TheWaveWarden · Virtual analog · VST3, AU, CLAP, LV2 · Windows, macOS, Linux

    A 24-voice analog-style synth with drawable waveforms and filters modelled on the Moog ladder and Korg 35.

    Download from thewavewarden.comDetails

  6. Cardinal by DISTRHO: plugin interface screenshot
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    Cardinal

    DISTRHO · Modular · VST3, VST2, AU, CLAP, LV2, Standalone · Windows, macOS, Linux

    VCV Rack as a plugin, with 1,382 modules baked in. Free, open source, runs in your DAW or in a browser.

    Download from cardinal.kx.studioDetails

  7. TyrellN6 by u-he: plugin interface screenshot
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    TyrellN6

    u-he · Virtual analog · VST3, AU, CLAP, AAX · Windows, macOS, Linux

    A Juno-flavoured dream synth designed by a magazine’s readers and built by u-he, with early Diva filters inside.

    Download from u-he.comDetails

  8. OB-Xf by Surge Synth Team: plugin interface screenshot
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    OB-Xf

    Surge Synth Team · Virtual analog · VST3, AU, CLAP, LV2, Standalone · Windows, macOS, Linux

    The Surge team’s open-source continuation of OB-Xd: Oberheim OB-X flavour, patch-compatible, GPL forever.

    Download from surge-synth-team.orgDetails

  10. RipplerX by Tilr (tiagolr): plugin interface screenshot
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    RipplerX

    Tilr (tiagolr) · Physical modelling · VST3, AU, LV2, Standalone · Windows, macOS, Linux

    Strings, beams, membranes, plates and tubes, coupled and struck. An open-source answer to Chromaphone.

    Download from github.comDetails

  11. Six Sines by BaconPaul: plugin interface screenshot
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    Six Sines

    BaconPaul · FM · VST3, AU, CLAP, Standalone · Windows, macOS, Linux

    Six sine operators that can all modulate each other at audio rate. Strange, deep and MIT-licensed.

    Download from github.comDetails

  12. Galdr by Sognevo: plugin interface screenshot
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    Galdr

    Sognevo · Virtual analog · VST3, AU, CLAP, Standalone · Windows, macOS, Linux

    2026’s new arrival: a black-metal-styled open-source synth with morphing wavetables and a granular Blizzard layer.

    Download from sognevo.comDetails

  13. Vaporizer2 by VAST Dynamics: plugin interface screenshot
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    Vaporizer2

    VAST Dynamics · Wavetable · VST2, VST3, AU, AAX, CLAP, LV2, Standalone · Windows, macOS, Linux

    A full commercial wavetable workstation, 220 mod destinations and all, handed to the world under GPL in 2023.

    Download from vast-dynamics.comDetails

  15. Helm by Matt Tytel: plugin interface screenshot
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    Helm

    Matt Tytel · Virtual analog · VST3, VST2, AU, LV2, Standalone · Windows, macOS, Linux

    Matt Tytel’s pre-Vital synth: 32 voices, formant filter, stutter effect. Archived in 2025 but still fantastic.

    Download from tytel.orgDetails

  17. Podolski by u-he: plugin interface screenshot
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    Podolski

    u-he · Virtual analog · VST3, AU, AAX · Windows, macOS, Linux

    u-he’s one-oscillator workhorse with WaveWarp morphing and a 16-step arpeggiator. Simple on purpose.

    Download from u-he.comDetails

  18. Triple Cheese by u-he: plugin interface screenshot
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    Triple Cheese

    u-he · Physical modelling · VST3, AU, AAX · Windows, macOS, Linux

    No oscillators at all: three comb filters make the sound. Won the 2006 KVR Developer Challenge for a reason.

    Download from u-he.comDetails

  19. Beatzille by u-he: plugin interface screenshot
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    Beatzille

    u-he · Modular · VST3, AU, AAX · Windows, macOS, Linux

    A pocket Bazille: two digital oscillators with FM, phase distortion and fractal resonance, patchable modulation.

    Download from u-he.comDetails

  20. OB-Xd 2 by discoDSP: plugin interface screenshot
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    OB-Xd 2

    discoDSP · Virtual analog · VST3, VST2, AU, LV2, AAX · Windows, macOS, Linux

    discoDSP’s long-running Oberheim OB-X emulation. Free for any use, no registration. OB-Xd 3 is a separate paid product.

    Download from discodsp.comDetails

  21. Nabla by Full Bucket Music: plugin interface screenshot
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    Nabla

    Full Bucket Music · Virtual analog · VST3, VST2, AU, CLAP, AAX · Windows, macOS

    The 1979 Korg Delta, a paraphonic strings machine, simulated down to its frequency-divider generators.

    Download from fullbucket.deDetails

  22. Mono/Fury by Full Bucket Music: plugin interface screenshot
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    Mono/Fury

    Full Bucket Music · Virtual analog · VST3, VST2, AU, CLAP, AAX · Windows, macOS

    Korg’s Mono/Poly with all four oscillators, the arpeggiator and a zero-delay-feedback filter.

    Download from fullbucket.deDetails

  23. FB-3300 by Full Bucket Music: plugin interface screenshot
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    FB-3300

    Full Bucket Music · Virtual analog · VST3, VST2, AU, CLAP, AAX · Windows, macOS

    A free simulation of the Korg PS-3300, the 1977 semi-modular polysynth that cost as much as a house.

    Download from fullbucket.deDetails

  32. amsynth by Nick Dowell: plugin interface screenshot
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    amsynth

    Nick Dowell · Virtual analog · VST2, AU, LV2, Standalone · Windows, macOS, Linux

    A classic two-oscillator subtractive synth developed since 2002, now with a JUCE interface and MTS-ESP tuning.

    Download from amsynth.github.ioDetails

  33. Analog Lab Play by Arturia: plugin interface screenshot
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    Analog Lab Play

    Arturia · Multi-engine · VST2, VST3, AU, AAX, Standalone · Windows, macOS

    100 presets from Arturia’s V Collection and Pigments engines in a free player. A taste of the whole catalogue.

    Download from arturia.comDetails

  37. Primer 2 by Audible Genius: plugin interface screenshot
    37

    Primer 2

    Audible Genius · Virtual analog · AU, AUv3, Standalone · Windows, macOS, iPad and iPhone

    A deliberately simple three-oscillator synth built to teach synthesis, and a perfectly good first instrument.

    Download from syntorial.comDetails

More guides

Best free VST synths · Free synths with CLAP support · Best free synths for Linux · Best free synth apps for iPad and iPhone · Best open-source synthesizers · Free FM synths · Free wavetable synths · Free virtual analog synths · Free modular synths