Best Compressor VST plugins in 2023
A compressor is an essential audio effect for controlling dynamics and adding punch to mixes. With so many compressor plugins on the market, it can be tricky to determine which ones are truly the best for your needs. We tested and compared many of the top compressor VSTs to pick the ones that rise above the rest in 2023. Our handpicked selection offers surgical dynamic control, characterful analog emulations, versatile workflows, and hit-making thunder – all in plugin form. Whether you produce EDM, hip-hop, rock, or any other genre, these compressor plugins will carve out the perfect sonic space for your tracks. Read on as we break down exactly why these compressors deliver elite-level mixing capability to your DAW. With insightful reviews of each plugin’s unique strength, you’ll learn which one is best suited for your music production needs. Let’s dive in and discover the best compressor VST plugins available today!
11 Best Compressor VST plugins
1. LOLCOMP by Mixing Night Audio – $149.00
LOLCOMP from Mixing Night Audio is a powerful multi-purpose compressor that goes beyond just compression. It packs 5 carefully designed compression chains plus an intuitive tone shaping LMAO section for top-level sonic polish. LOLCOMP is a plugin that is meant to get users out of tech mode and into creative flow, using their ears instead of eyes for better mixes. LOLCOMP helps beginners dial in pro-grade compression without complicated controls. At the same time, it helps pros achieve results faster than reaching for multiple plugins. Industry leaders like Dave Pensado and DJ Swivel praise LOLCOMP’s ability to deliver Billboard-ready compression with speed and creativity. With 100 hand-crafted presets optimized for a wide range of uses, even faster results are possible. Developed by a former Brainworx engineer, LOLCOMP brings hit-making compression to all.
Buy Here
| Hot Pick: New Sounds of Techno Sample Pack – Click here to checkout
2. FabFilter Pro-MB – $169.00
FabFilter’s Pro-MB main weapons are Dynamic Phase filtering – there’s no phase shift unless dynamic processing is actually taking place, but there’s also no latency or pre-ringing, and a new approach – plugin enables you to create a new band at the frequency range you want to work on. Its key features are also: multiband display, processing mode for Linear Phase, high-quality audio processing algorithms, perfectly tuned knobs, and a lot more.
Buy Here
3. Cramit by IntegrAudio & Sixth Sample – FREE OTT-Style Compressor
Integraudio Cramit is a plugin that was made in partnership with Sixth Sample, and it’s completely free. It works like a distortion effect, but it’s also a compressor that can function in three different ways: downward, upward, and multiband compression. Downward compression reduces the volume of the loudest parts, multiband compression splits the sound into different frequency bands that can be individually adjusted for compression levels, and upward compression boosts the volume of the quieter parts. Cramit comes with several knobs that can be used to adjust parameters such as Distortion, Drive, Speed, Gain, and Depth, allowing you to customize the sound to your preferences. This user-friendly multiband compressor is straightforward to use and can deliver quick and effective results. Being a free plugin, it’s a must-have for any music producer.
4. Waves C6 Multiband Compressor – $59.99
For quite a long time, the C4 has been the most loved multiband compressor of producers and mixing engineers the world over, and in live solid, it has immediately become an unquestionable requirement for music producers. To make the C6, Waves took the proven elements of the C4, and included two extra skimming groups in addition to a sidechain highlight, for one-stop vocal and instrument molding.
Buy Here
5. UAD Precision Multiband – €249.00
The Precision Multiband module for UAD-2 equipment and Apollo interfaces is a technical mastering device that provides five spectral bands of energetic range control. Compression, amplify, or gate can be chosen individually for each of the 5 bands for unparalleled elasticity, and the plug-in’s simple controls make it the perfect tool for the novice, as well as the seasoned mastering sound engineer. You can use Precision Multiband for literally everything, from control of dynamics to de-essing.
Buy Here
6. iZotope Ozone 10 – $499.00
iZotope Ozone 10 is a flattering all-in-one high-class mastering system, intended to provide all the tools you need to produce professional-quality masters. With Ozone, which has a well-developed Maximizer, Dynamic EQ, Vintage Limiter & Compressor, you can stick a mix together, add rich character, and control flush range. Click the “Buy Now” button to purchase Ozone 10 – the latest and most extensive version of Ozone.
Buy Here
7. Vengeance Sound Multiband Compressor – $119.00
Vengeance Sound’s product is an ideal choice for a punchy, harsh but yet dynamic mix; you may also use it to create special effects elevating sound to a completely another, higher level! You have the option to choose between 1 band, 2, 3 up to 4 band mode, and experience high-quality filters without any issues in the phasing plane. Multiband Compressor has also a realtime FFT analyzer, anti-distortion filters, graphical Ratio, optional autogain, & four independent compressors!
Buy Here
8. SSL G Series Bus Compressor – $29.99
The Waves SSL G-Master Buss Compressor, which is based on the famed master buss center compressor of the SSL 4000 G console, reproduces the distinctive sound of the original’s IC input and twin VCA gain-reduction amplifier design. The SL 4000 G master buss centre compressor, prized by renowned engineers for its ability to “glue together” songs, is perfect for controlling piano dynamics or giving drums and percussion more punch. You can now own the ultimate finalizer, which turns a mix into a polished album, right in the box.
Buy Here
9. Brainworx bx_digital V3 – $299.00
The first Mid/Side equalization plugin to be sold commercially is the bx digital by Brainworx. Fully parametric filters with dual mono, stereo, and M/S modes are included in this 11-band EQ. For mastering work, it offers a stereo widener, a mid/side decoder, the innovative “Mono Maker” summing tool, spectrum-balancing Bass and Presence Shifters, and sophisticated monitoring and metering options. The most recent version of bx digital, V3, introduces even more tools, such as a new Dynamic EQ module, API-style Proportional Q filters, notch filters, an enlarged high-frequency band, and even more adaptable Bass and Presence Shifters to assist in revealing the hidden elements in your mixes.
Buy Here
10. McDSP MC2000 – $149.00
MC2000 mimics the sounds of both vintage and modern-day compressors. It is comprised of 3 plugins: MC202 (two-band compression), MC303 (three-band compression), and MC404. It provides total control over multi-band dynamic compression to the user. Unusual and unparalleled articulation of compression characteristics is possible because of non-standard Knee and BITE controls. Flexibility previously only possible by owning a number of compression units is now provided by having a variety of peak detection circuit types.
Buy Here
11. Sonible smart:comp 2 – € 129,00
Smart:comp 2 is the newly furnished version of the smart:comp that came out in 2019. The latest addition has tons of interesting new features along with a massive upgrade to the AI performance of the plugin. Smart: comp 2 comes with 31 new profiles to start with as compared to 9 in the first version. The plugin has a much cleaner and more interactive user interface. There are tons of interesting features in the plugin such as the mid/side compression, eight different settings to try out side by side, gain reduction meter etc. Definitely one of the best compressors out there equipped with modern technology and useful features.
Buy Here
Image Credit: FabFilter
