Best Free Compressor Plugins Downloads

 

Compressors VST plug-ins are one of the most important tools in a music producer's library of VST plug-ins. These compressors are mostly used to control the dynamics of a soundtrack and as well as to add punch and presence to the sound. There are many compressor plug-ins available but which one is the best, depends on your specific needs and requirements. 

If you are just starting out or you are on a budget and as well as you do not want to spend money on buying expensive compressor VST plug-ins, there are several great free compressor plug-ins available.
Below the list contains the best and free options that would be a great starting point for beginners especially and if you are a seasoned and expert professional you can also find some useful to use in your music projects.

Free Compressor Plug-ins

Below is the list of the Best free compressor VST plug-ins.

TDR Kotelnikov


TDR Kotelnikov is a free compressor plug-in developed by Tokyo Dawn Labs. It is a very versatile compressor that can be used for Mixing and mastering both, It also features a transparent sound that does not color your audio files.
TDR Kotelnikov has the following features built-in to it, peak, RMS, and Hybrid. It has a sidechain dynamic compression input, A soft knee mode for more gradual compression, A mix knob for blending the compressed signal, and Variable attack and release controls, it also has a built-in limiter.
TDR Kotelnikov comes in 32-bit & 64-bit versions of VST & AU plug-ins for Windows & Mac.

Watch The Video Tutorial


PJos & Cons Of TDR Kotelnikov

Here are the pros and cons of TDR Kotelnikov.

Pros

  1. It has a transparent sound.
  2. It has versatile compression modes.
  3. It has sidechain compression input.
  4. It has soft knee mode.
  5. It has a Mix knob and Variable attack and release controls & a built-in limiter.
  6. It is free.

Cons

  1. It can be a little bit difficult for beginners.
  2. Its interface can be a little overwhelming for some users.
Overall, KDR Kotelnikov is a great compressor plug-in, it has a variety of features and it can do a lot of tasks in terms of compression from mixing to mastering.
If you are a music producer searching for a free & powerful compressor VST plug-in, I will strongly suggest trying it.

Klanghelm DC1A

DC1A is a simple compressor developed by Klanghelm. It is a compressor VST that is easy to use and can be used on a variety of sources including Vocals, Drums, and Guitars.
Here are some of the features of the Klanghelm DC1A Compressor plug-in. It has a simple interface with a few controls on it, a variety of compression modes including, hard, soft, and optical compression. It also has a sidechain input for dynamic compression. It has a Wet/Dry knob to blend the compressed signal with the dry signal. A variable attack and release times. It also has a built-in limiter,
into it.
Klanghelm DC1A comes in 32-bit and 64-bit versions of VST and AU for Windows and Mac.

Watch The Video Tutorial Of Klanhelm DC1A

Pros And Cons Of Klanghelm DC1A

Here are some pros and cons of the Klanghelm DC1A Compressor plug-in.

Pros

  1. It is very simple to use.
  2. It sounds great on a variety of sources like vocals drums and guitars.
  3. It has a sidechain compression input.
  4. It has a built-in limiter.
  5. And above all, it is available for free.

Cons

  1. It has limited features.
  2. It can be too simple for some users searching for a feature-rich option.
Overall DC1A by Klanghelm is a very good compressor VST plug-in that is simple and easy to use and works nicely on a variety of sources like vocals drums and guitars. It is a good choice for people who are just starting their musical journey or even for expert users but looking for a simple compressor plug-in. but if you are looking for a plug-in with more features you should go for another option. But because it is totally free, in my opinion, it deserves a try.

Thrill Seeker LA mkII

Thrillseeker LA mkII is a free digital stereo leveling amplifier VST plug-in that is developed by Variety Of Sound. It looks modern but it is based on a classic LA2A optical compressor with few modern features and a more streamed line interface.
Here are some of the features of the Thrillseeker LA mkII Leveling compressor, It has an optical compression emulation with a smooth and musical sound, a simple design with two large knobs for easy usage, it has switchable attack and release times, a mix knob to blending the compressed signal with the dry signal, It has output gain control, built-in limiter, and stereo linking features are also included into it.
Thrillseeker LA mkII is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of VST and AU plug-ins for Windows and Mac.

Watch The Video Tutorial Of Thrillseeker LA mkII

Pros & Cons Of Thrillseeker LA mkII

Here are some pros& cons of Thrillseeker LA mkII.

Pros

  1. It is free to use.
  2. It has a smooth and musical sound.
  3. It is very easy to use.
  4. It has a built-in limiter.
  5. It also has stereo linking.

Cons

  1. It has a limited set of features.
  2. It is not as versatile as some other compressor plug-ins.
Overall, Thrillskeer LA mkII by Variety Of Sound is a good leveling compressor VST plug-in that provides a smooth and musical sound, it is easy to use and has a few features that make it a good choice for beginners and expert users alike.
Because it is a free VST plug-in I suggest you give it a try.

 TDR Molotok

TDR Molotok is a free Compressor VST plug-in developed by Tokyo Dawn Labs. It is a unique-sounding compressor that offers a variety of different options including aggressive compression harmonic distortion and unique hold. control that allows long sustained tones. 
Here are some of the features of TDR Molotok, It has a variety of compression modes including peak, RMS, and hybrid. A sidechain input for dynamic compression, A soft knee mode for more gradual compression, A mix knob to blend the compressed signal with the dry signal. A variable attack and release times, The hold control to create the long sustained tones, a built-in limiter, and harmonic distortion control.
TDR Molotok is available both in 32-bit and 64-bit versions of VST and AU plug-ins for Windows and Mac.

Watch The Video Tutorial Of TDR Molotok

Pros & Cons Of TDR Molotok

Here are some pros & cons of TDR Molotok.

Pros

  1. It is free.
  2. It has a creative and unique sound.
  3. It has a wide range of features.
  4. It has sidechain compression input. It has soft knee mode.
  5. It has a mix knob and variable attack and release times.
  6. It has the hold control, and a built-in limiter included.

Cons

  1. It can be complex to use for beginners.
  2. Some of its features may be overkill for some users.
Overall, TDR Molotok is a great free compressor VST plug-in that offers a unique and creative sound. In my opinion, it deserves a try
But if you are a beginner I think you should try another straightforward and simple option.

TLS 1295 LEA

TLS 1295 LEA is a free vintage compressor based on a classic Teletronix LA2A hardware unit developed by Tin Brook Tales. It offers a warm and smooth sound that is perfect for vocals and other instruments.
Here are some of the features of TLS 1295 LEA: It has optical compression emulation, a two knobs design for easy operation, switchable attack and release times, and a mix knob to blend the compressed signal with the dry signal. an output gain control, and a built-in limiter.
TLS 1295 LEA comes in both 32-bit & 64-bit VST & AU plug-in versions for Windows and Mac.

 Watch The Video Tutorial Of TLS 1295 LEA


Pros & Cons Of TLS 1295 LEA

Here are some pros and cons of TLS 1295 LEA.

Pros

  1. It is free to use.
  2. It has a warm and smooth sound.
  3. It is very easy to use.
  4. It has a built-in limiter.
  5. It is available in VST and AU formats.

Cons

  1. It is not as versatile as some other compressor plug-ins.
  2. It has a limited set of features.
Overall, TLS 1295 LEA is a great free compressor VST plug-in. It has a warm & smooth sound with some useful basic features that make it a good choice for beginners and experienced users alike.
In my opinion due to its nice sound quality with a warm and smooth sound its useful set of features and being a free compressor VST, it is well-deserved for a try.

Leveling Tool

Leveling Tool is a free compressor VST plug-in developed by ADHD. It is a tube-inspired compressor that is easy to use and sounds great on a variety of sources like vocals drums and guitars.  
Here are some of the features of Leveling Tool by ADHD, It has a simple interface with a few controls, It has a tube-inspired compression sound, It also has switchable attack and release times, a mix knob to blend the compressed signal with the dry signal, output gain control, and a built-in limiter.
Leveling Tool comes in both 32-bit & 64-bit VST & AU formats for Windows and Mac users.

Watch The Video Tutorial on the Leveling Tool


Procs & Cons Of  Leveling Tool

Here are some pros and cons of the ADHD Leveling Tool.

Pros

  1. It is free.
  2. It is easy to use.
  3. It has a tube-inspired compression sound.
  4. It has a built-in limiter.
  5. It is available in VST & AU formats.

Cons

  1. It is not as versatile as some other VST compressor plug-ins.
  2. It has a limited set of features.
Overall, Leveling Tool is a great free compressor VST plug-in that provides tube-inspired compression and works well on a variety of sources including vocals drums, and guitars. It is also easy to use and has some useful features that are good for beginners and experienced users alike. But if you are looking for more features and versatility, you might consider some other options.
In my opinion, the Leveling Tool with a good sound quality that is tube-inspired, its easy to easy-to-use interface, and has a set of basic and useful features, it is a good free compressor plug-in and well-deserved a try.

MUUC Jr

MJUC Jr is a free optical compressor plug-in developed by Klanghelm. It comes with two knobs design that is simple and easy to use and provides good sound quality on a variety of sources like vocals drums and guitars.
Here are some of the features of MJUC Jr. two knobs designed for easy operations, threshold and output gain controls, optical compression emulation, switchable attack & release times, and a mix knob to blend the compressed signal with the dry signal.
Klanghelm MJUCJr is available in VST and AU formats in 32-bit and 64-bit versions for Windows and Mac users.

Watch The Video Tutorial Of Klanghelm MJUC Jr

Pros And Cons Of MJUC Jr

Here are some pros & cons of MJUC Jr.

Pros

  1. It is free to use.
  2. It is easy to use.
  3. It sounds great on a variety of sources.
  4. It is available in 32-bit & 64-bit VST and AU plug-ins.
  5. It also provides a warm and smooth sound.

Cons 

  1. It has a limited set of features.
  2. It is not as versatile as some other compressor plug-ins.
Overall, MJUC Jr is a great free compressor plug-in that offers a warm and smooth sound and an easy-to-use interface that makes it a good choice for beginners as well as for experienced users who are looking for a simple and easy-to-use option.
In my opinion, if you like tube-inspired warm & smooth sounding, simple and easy-to-use compressor plug-ins, give MJUC Jr. a try.

D16 Frontier


Frontier is a free limiting compressor VST plug-in developed by D16 Group. It is a versatile compressor and can be used for a variety of tasks from mixing to mastering. It features a transparent sound that will not color your audio. 
Here are some of the features of the D16 Frontier. configurable controlled input, automatic output gain makeup, controllable release characteristics, optional soft clip, tag based presets browser, MIDI learn functionality throughout, 
D16 Frontier is available in 32-bit and 64-bit VST and AU plug-in versions for Windows and Mac users.

Watch The Video Tutorial Of D16 Frontier

Pros & Cons Of D16 Frontier

Here are some Pros and Cons of the D16 Frontier.

Pros

  1. It is free to use.
  2. It is easy to use and simple.
  3. It has a transparent limiter.
  4. It has MIDI learn functionality.

Cons

  1. It has limited features in comparison to other compressor plug-ins.
  2. It may not be suitable for all genres of music.
Overall, the D16 Frontier is a good free limiter plug-in. it is especially good for music producers looking for a transparent-sounding limiting compressor that has a simple and easy-to-use interface. 
In my opinion, for being an easy-to-use and simple interfaced VST plug-in, it is equally good for beginners and experienced producers looking for a  limiting compressor with a transparent sound, and being a free VST it is well worth checking out.

Rough Rider 3

Rough Rider 3 is a free compressor VST plug-in developed by Audio Damage. It is a classic compressor VST plug-in that provides a punchy and aggressive sound. It is great for adding excitement to drums and vocals.
Here are some features of Rough Rider 3, It has a simple interface with a few controls, aggressive compression sound, sidechain input, a mix knob to blend the compressed signal with the dry signal, output gain control, and a built-in limiter.
Rough Rider 3 comes in both 32-bit & 64-bit versions of VST & AU plug-ins for Windows and Mac users.

Watch The Video Tutorial

Pros & Cons Of Rough Rider 3

Here are some pros & cons of Rough Rider 3.

Pros

  1. It is free to use.
  2. It provides a punchy and aggressive sound.
  3. It has an easy-to-use and simple interface.
  4. It has a sidechain input.
  5. It is available in 32-bit & 64-bit VST & AU formats.

Cons

  1. It is not as versatile as some other compressor plug-ins are.
  2. It has a limited set of features.
Overall, Rough Rider 3 is a good VST compressor plug-in for beginners and experienced users searching for punchy and aggressive sound, and also it has a simple and easy-to-use interface.
In my opinion, being a free VST compressor it deserved a try.

Conclusion

I think there are a lot of free compressor VST plug-ins available each with its own pros and cons. Each compressor provides a unique sound some of them give a soft and warm sound, and others give a punchy and aggressive sound, some of them add a lot of color to your audio and others give a transparent sound output.
It is up to you to try out some of them and then keep the one that is well-suited to your style and thinking.