Best Reverb Plugins: Free & Paid Options for Premium Results

In the dynamic world of music production and sound design, the quest for the perfect audio effect can be both thrilling and overwhelming. Among these effects, reverb holds a special place, adding depth, dimension, and a sense of space to your sound. This is where the search for the 'Best Reverb Plugins' becomes crucial for any audio enthusiast or professional.

Whether you're a seasoned sound engineer or a budding music producer, the importance of a quality reverb plugin cannot be overstated. It's the magic touch that can elevate your audio from mundane to mesmerizing.

Digital reverb plugins have made it possible to get stunning reverb at your fingertips, and many come at a lovely, affordable price point. So, with your DAW of choice loaded up, let’s go through this Headliner guide to the very best reverb plugins available today. There are absolutely loads of them, so we’ve whittled it down to the top 14 plugins for you to peruse. We’ve listed them from the lowest to the highest price — every budget, including free, is catered for.

Valhalla Super Massive

• Incredibly, it’s free

• 18 reverb and delay modes

When you think of the best free reverb plugins, your thoughts will likely turn to trying to get the best out of the reverbs that come free with a DAW. But, the gods of reverb be praised, there is a phenomenal free reverb plugin from one of the very best producers of reverb plugins out there. The Valhalla Supermassive won’t cost you a penny, and, as the name delicately suggests, you can get huge, expansive sounds out of it. There are 18 modes to play with, and it provides brilliant delays also. Give it a go — you quite literally have nothing to lose.

VIEW PRODUCT

Waves H-Reverb

• No hints of muddiness

• Huge dimensions

One of the most popular reverbs out there, and for very good reason. Waves H-Reverb is the first paid-for entrant for being the best reverb plugin for vocals, and is also one of the most affordable, only costing around £/$30. Packed with features, including real reverse, advanced analogue modelling with drive control and lots more.

To make the deal ever-sweeter, Waves offers a big, varied preset library of reverb presets. It’s an innovative reverb plugin with features which make it one of the most progressive plugins out there.

VIEW PRODUCT

Baby Audio Crystalline

• Beautiful user interface

• Excellent, clean sound

Crystalline could not be a more fitting name for this plugin; not only is it one of the best reverb plugins available, it’s one of the cleanest-sounding also. The user-interface is a dream to use, and it’s driven by an all-powerful algorithm. That said, you can have a look under the hood if you wish — you can alter the width parameters, edit modulation, and even when you push this reverb as far as it can go, somehow the tracks will still sound in time rather than muddy.

VIEW PRODUCT

Valhalla Plate

• Great warmth

• One of the best for dense reverbs

You’ll notice Valhalla are front-loaded in this article — that’s because, following the free Super Massive (they offer a few other freebies also), none of their plugins break their $50. Considering Valhalla are a go-to reverb brand for a lot of producers, it’s incredibly reasonable pricing on their part.

Plate earns its spot amongst the best reverb plugins with its wonderful shimmering sound. It’s another algorithmic reverb that fits into any mix incredibly fast without you needing to spend hours tweaking. And, as with all the Valhalla offerings, the UI couldn’t be easier to use. Join Thor and Odin in Valhalla by adding this reverb to your arsenal.

VIEW PRODUCT

Native Instruments Raum

• Lots of creative features

• Combines a simple interface with advanced tweaks to be made

Sleek and modern, Raum from Native Instruments also has some advanced features that put it amongst the best reverb plugins. There are three modes, and you can achieve a broad range of sounds, depending on what you’re looking to achieve. In fact, you can get really creative and get some outlandish sounds out of Raum. The BPM Sync option on the predelay means you can match the onset of the reverb to the tempo of your track, a lovely touch. Chuck it on your synths, percussion – it's fantastic on guitar also.

VIEW PRODUCT

Valhalla VintageVerb

• Natural and bright reverbs

• Ideal for vocals, drums and more

Next up is Valhalla once again; their incredibly popular VintageVerb is the same price as the Plate reverb plugin. VintageVerb simply had to be on the list. It’s perfect for vocals, leads, drums, or whatever sounds you want to sit at the front of your mix. Brilliant for natural tones that can also have a forward brightness to them.

VIEW PRODUCT

LiquidSonics Seventh Heaven

• Great reputation for good reason

• Plenty of presets to try out

A software model that faithfully reproduces the renowned Bricasti M7 hardware reverb unit, certainly one of the best hardware reverbs, Seventh Heaven is a great reverb plugin from LiquidSonics.

Seventh Heaven has a plethora of well-crafted presets, which encompass a wide range of reverb styles such as plates, chambers, concert halls, churches, and even some ambient spaces. If you want to get to musical heaven, give this plugin a go.

VIEW PRODUCT

Universal Audio Pure Plate

• Big and bright

• Great option for guitars, drums and vocals

As we creep ever closer to the £/£100 mark, enter Universal Audio. One of the biggest names in the plugin game was bound to turn up sooner or later, and this plate reverb plugin is a simple and straightforward reverb that delivers the goods. It isn’t packed with features, but it doesn’t need to be. UAD delivers a big-sounding reverb plugin with a full and bright tone. Stick it on guitars, snares, or vocals for impressive results.

VIEW PRODUCT

Focusrite FAST Verb

• Amazing AI technology makes this a breeze

• Lots of use cases

Focusrite don’t just produce some of the world’s most popular audio interfaces, they also have fully earned their spot in this best reverb plugin conversation. Part of their FAST line, their Verb makes use of AI to deliver reverb that is brilliant for subtle and natural sounds. The user-experience is incredible — play some audio through the plugin, and the AI suggests the right reverb preset for the job. Included is a list for drums, keys, guitar, vocals and more.

VIEW PRODUCT

Liquidsonics & Slate Digital Verbsuite Classics

• Some of the very best reverbs in one package

• Brilliant emulation

If you’re seeking out the best reverb plugins out there, Slate Digital and Liquidsonics have gone one better with their VerbSuite Classics collection, which emulates a huge number of the best hardware reverb units the music industry has seen. So it could certainly be said that Slate is giving you a package of some of the very best reverbs.

The suite includes a convolution reverb plugin, and these digital models of hardware are deeply accurate. These are based on units such as the Lexicon 480L, Eventide SP2016, EMT 250, Quantec QRS, Sony DRE 2000, Neve RMX16, TC Electronic 6000, and, last but not least, the Bricasti M7. In other words, a big ol’ pile of physical gear that would potentially put you into substantial debt if you tried to buy them all. Instead, digitised and at an affordable price.

VIEW PRODUCT

FabFilter Pro-R

• Create the reverb sound of your dreams

• Features aplenty

A filter plugin in a list for the best reverb plugins?? Take a breath, because FabFilter offers lots more than their name might suggest. Their limiter, compressor and delay are very popular for good reason. The Pro-R reverb is a digital algorithmic reverb which gives you endless creative control to create the reverb sound you’re after. The brightness and distance knobs are highly user-friendly, and the user interface is a dream. The featured parametric ‘Decay Rate EQ’ provides huge flexibility also. A fabulous reverb plugin.

VIEW PRODUCT

Universal Audio Lexicon 224

• Another winner from one of the biggest plugin brands

• Based on famed hardware

UAD are renowned for producing high-end emulations of historic audio equipment, and their recreation of the Lexicon 224 reverb unit is no exception to this. You can hear the original Lexicon 224 all over hit songs since it was first unleashed in 1978. This plugin goes to big lengths to recreate its legendary sound to have it sounding as authentic as possible. UAD’s plugin models all the original parameters, right down to its charming noise and bug fixes in its chorus program (which can be enabled or disabled).

VIEW PRODUCT

Eventide Blackhole

• Gorgeous audio quality

• Impressive preset library

While many of the best reverb plugins excel at replicating realistic environments like rooms, halls and plates, Blackhole, originally an algorithm from Eventide's renowned H8000 Ultra-Harmonizer, stands out for its focus on creating entirely surreal spaces within Mac, PC, or iPad DAW setups. Its dynamic interaction between controls, especially the bipolar Size and Gravity knobs, encourages on-the-fly adjustments. The addition of the Hotswitch and Ribbon Controller allows for lovely transitions between two complete parameter states, enabling dramatic spatial shifts and evolving soundscapes.

VIEW PRODUCT

Audio Ease Altiverb 7

• One of the original convolution reverbs

• Perfect if you have very specific reverb tasks in mind

Altiverb is seen by many as the very original convolution reverb plugin and has garnered a big reputation as the go-to choice for studios, producers, and engineers. Its extensive preset library includes a great variety of venues, including Wembley Stadium.Whether you seek the ambiance of a bedroom to enhance your sound realism, or you’d rather imbue your sounds with the exact reverb characteristics of a favourite song, Altiverb excels in handling virtually any reverb task that you might come across.

VIEW PRODUCT

FAQ: Are Dedicated Reverb Plugins Better Than Stock DAW Reverb Plugins?

This is a common question among audio professionals and enthusiasts alike. The answer lies in understanding the differences between dedicated (often paid) reverb plugins and the stock reverb plugins that come included with your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).

1. Quality and Complexity: Generally, dedicated reverb plugins offer a higher quality and more complex reverb algorithms compared to stock plugins. These specialized plugins are developed by companies focusing exclusively on creating advanced audio processing software, which often results in a richer, more nuanced sound.
2. Customization and Control: Dedicated reverb plugins typically provide more customization options and finer control over various parameters. This allows for greater precision in tailoring the reverb to your specific needs, be it in terms of room size, decay, diffusion, and other characteristics.
3. Unique Features and Characteristics: Many dedicated plugins come with unique features not found in stock plugins, like the emulation of specific vintage reverb units, advanced modulation capabilities, or integrated impulse responses of real spaces. These features can add a distinct character to your sound that might not be achievable with standard stock reverbs.
4. CPU Usage: High-end reverb plugins can be more CPU-intensive than stock plugins. This is something to consider, especially if you are working with limited computing resources.
5. Cost vs. Value: While dedicated reverb plugins often come at a cost, the value they add in terms of sound quality and versatility can be significant. However, it's important to weigh this against your specific needs and budget.
6. Learning Curve: Dedicated plugins may have a steeper learning curve due to their complexity and range of features. Stock plugins, being more straightforward, can be more user-friendly for beginners.

In conclusion, whether dedicated reverb plugins are 'better' than stock DAW reverb plugins depends on your specific needs, the level of control you desire, and the uniqueness of the sound you're aiming to achieve. Stock plugins are great for straightforward applications and for those who are just starting out. However, for more advanced applications and for those seeking a particular sound character, dedicated plugins can offer significant advantages.

Further reading:

Ten Reverb Tips for Better Vocals

How much reverb do I need? Five tips!