The directory — 97 free plugins
Free instruments, effects and players, each with a direct link to the developer. Filter by type, category or what it needs to run.
Before you download
Sample libraries need a free player to run, and the green tag on each card tells you which one. Kontakt Player comes with Komplete Start. A few libraries tagged Kontakt need the paid full version, so check the product page first. Every link goes straight to the developer (no affiliate or tracking links). All were free when checked in November 2026, but deals change, so a few may ask for an email or a free account.
Starter kit — install these first
Ten free plugins that cover a whole production, and how each fits next to Ableton's own devices.
Vital · Vital Audio
A wavetable synth you'll use for basses, leads and pads, with a huge preset community.
Next to Live's WavetableKomplete Start (with Kontakt Player) · Native Instruments
Installs the free Kontakt Player, which unlocks most of the sample libraries on this page, plus sounds of its own.
A player, not a soundDecent Sampler · Decent Samples
Unlocks hundreds of free Pianobook and Venus Theory libraries.
A player, not a soundMT Power Drum Kit 2 · Power Drum Kit
A real acoustic kit with grooves you can drag straight into a track.
Next to Live's Drum Rack kitsSpitfire Symphony Orchestra: Discover · Spitfire Audio
A whole orchestra (strings, brass, woodwind, percussion) that's easy on your computer.
Something Live doesn't includeTDR Nova · Tokyo Dawn Records
A dynamic EQ: it only cuts the harsh or boomy frequency when it actually jumps out.
Next to EQ EightTDR Kotelnikov · Tokyo Dawn Records
A clean compressor for gluing the mix bus without squashing it.
Next to Glue CompressorValhalla Supermassive · Valhalla DSP
Enormous reverbs and delays for pads, vocals and transitions.
Next to Hybrid ReverbOTT · Xfer Records
The original over-the-top multiband compressor behind countless EDM and trap sounds.
Next to Multiband DynamicsYoulean Loudness Meter 2 · Youlean
Shows your master's loudness in LUFS, so you can hit streaming targets.
For the master trackInstall in Ableton
From download to dragging it onto a track, on Windows or Mac.
Download from the developer
Use the links in the directory. They all go to the maker's own page. Some ask for an email or a free account. Avoid re-uploads on random sites: that's how malware gets in.
Install the VST3 version
Run the installer and keep the default folder.
Windows: C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3
Mac: /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/VST3 (and /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components for Audio Units)
Tell Live where to look
Open Settings (Ctrl , on Windows, Cmd , on Mac) and go to the Plug-Ins tab. Turn on Use VST3 Plug-In System Folders. On a Mac you can also turn on Use Audio Units. Then click Rescan.
Find it in the Browser
Click Plug-Ins in Live's Browser and drag the plugin onto a track. Instruments go on a MIDI track and effects go after one. Right-click it and add it to a Collection so you can find it later.
Sample libraries: install the player first
For a library tagged Kontakt Player, install Komplete Start through Native Access, then add the library in Native Access or Kontakt's Library tab. For Decent Sampler, install the plugin, then load the library's .dspreset file. Load the player in Live like any other instrument.
Not showing up?
Rescan, and check you installed the VST3 (or AU) and not just a standalone app. Some older plugins only come as VST2. For those, turn on Use VST2 Plug-In Custom Folder in the same tab and point it at the folder you installed them to. On Apple Silicon Macs, a plugin without a native version won't load in Live unless you run Live using Rosetta.