Plugin Subscriptions: Who’s Switching and Who’s Not

In the last three years, many music software companies have started offering subscriptions. Subscriptions let you pay a small fee each month or year to use lots of plugins, instead of buying each one. But not everyone is on board. Let’s look at who switched to subscriptions, who stayed with one-time purchases, and what people think about it.

Who Switched to Subscriptions?

Here are some big names that now offer subscriptions:

• Waves Audio – Offers “Creative Access” with over 200 plugins. Costs about $15–$25 per month.
• Reason Studios – “Reason+” gives you the full Reason DAW and all its Rack devices for $20/month or $200/year.
• PreSonus – “Sphere” includes Studio One Pro, Notion, all Presonus plugins, and cloud tools for $19/month.
• Universal Audio – “UAD Spark” gives native versions of classic UA plugins and new instruments for $20/month or $150/year.
• Slate Digital – “All Access Pass” has 70+ plugins and tutorials for $15/month (annual plan) or $25 month-to-month.
• Plugin Alliance – “MEGA Bundle” lets you use 180+ plugins and keep some forever. Plans start at $14.99/month up to $29.99/month.
• iZotope – “Music Production Suite Pro” has Ozone, Neutron, RX, Nectar, and more for $20/month or $200/year.
• Native Instruments – “NI 360” offers a starter set of NI products for $12.50/month. 
• Roland – “Roland Cloud” gives access to 50+ Roland instruments. Ultimate plan is $20/month or $200/year, plus you can buy “lifetime keys” for some instruments.
• EastWest – “ComposerCloud+” includes 40,000+ orchestral sounds for $20/month, with a higher tier for extra mic positions.
• Avid Pro Tools – Switched to subscriptions in 2022: $10–$100 per month depending on the plan (Artist, Studio, Ultimate).

Quick Comparison Table

Who’s Sticking with One-Time Purchases?

Some big developers decided not to switch to subscriptions:

• Ableton – Only sells Live as Intro, Standard, or Suite with one-time fees.
• Steinberg – Continues to sell Cubase and Nuendo as perpetual licenses.
• Image-Line – FL Studio owners get free updates forever after one purchase.
• Spectrasonics – Omnisphere, Keyscape, and Trilian remain one-time purchases.
• U-He – Synths like Diva and Zebra are sold with a one-time license.
• Valhalla DSP – All plugins are cheap and updated for free after purchase.
• FabFilter, Soundtoys, and many small developers also stick with one-time sales.

What Do Users Think?

People have strong opinions about subscriptions:

• Negative Views: Many users hate “renting” software forever and prefer to own it. They worry about paying forever and losing access if they stop subscribing.
• Positive Views: Others like the low monthly cost and having all plugins available anytime. Subscriptions can be cheaper for short-term needs or for trying out new tools.
• Middle Ground: Most companies now offer both options. This way, users can choose a subscription or buy a license one time.

Conclusion

Subscription plans are now common in the plugin world, but they are not for everyone. If you like always owning your tools, stick with one-time purchases. If you want flexible access and updates, a subscription might be for you. The good news is that most companies let you choose.