The Best EQ Plugins: Create a Mix That Stands Out From the Croud

EQ plugins, shorthand for equaliser plugins, are some of the most important servants you will find in your music production arsenal. They put you in command of your audio and tracks’ frequency spectrum, allowing you to shape sounds precisely as you wish. The several use cases include mixing, mastering, or just fine-tuning an instrument or sample.

EQ can be used for nitty-gritty mixing jobs, all the way to expressing your creativity, for example getting avant-garde and applying a weird and wonderful frequency that makes a sound dramatically more interesting to the ear. 

However, in 2025, there are an almost overwhelming number of EQ plugins available, and your own frequency spectrum might get frazzled trying to find the best EQ for your individual needs and taste. It’s all good though! Headliner is here to equalise your EQ anxiety and find the best EQ plugin with your name on it.

TDR Nova

Who knew that finding the best EQ plugin doesn’t necessarily have to cost a single penny or dime? Because TDR kicks off our best EQ list with a plugin that is completely free to download. Despite that, it’s packed with value: precise control of dynamic processing, a spectrum analyser, and four dynamic EQ bands. The sound is as premium as some paid-for EQ plugins and is the perfect entry point into the world of equalising.

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Focusrite FAST EQ

We keep speeding through the best VST EQ plugins apace, with Focusrite’s FAST EQ. Most famous for its budget-friendly audio interfaces, Focusrite takes a deserved place in the best EQ conversation that doesn’t break the £/$100 mark. If you’ve ever thought the world of EQ seems a tad intimidating, the FAST name refers to the simplified process in its analysis-based plugin. Choose an instrument profile (eg Drums, Bass, or Vocals) and then feed the audio through for three graded procession options. The 7-band EQ puts all the fine-tuning options at your fingertips, with adjustable high and low-pass filters, and high and low shelves.

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Waves H-EQ Hybrid Equaliser

If you want your EQ to make waves, then may I introduce you to the H-EQ Hybrid Equaliser. It’s a great choice if you love combining modern and vintage EQ aesthetics — you can blend digital and analogue styles at will, thanks to its dynamic EQ and spectrum analyser. Value is packed in with seven filter types per seven bands of EQ; H-EQ is the only equaliser plugin to offer this.

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Slate Digital Infinity EQ 2

To infinity, and beyond! We’re wiping the slate clean with the Infinity EQ, a parametric EQ plugin. It’s a stunning choice for experienced EQ-ers and veterans alike, as its clean and easy-to-use interface keeps things simple and intuitive. Dynamic processing, a real-time spectrum analyser, and infinite bands all ensure brilliant sound. Add to that dynamic filters, three new filter types, and a major GUI update in the latest version, and you have a certified winner.

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Waves SSL G-Equaliser

This second EQ plugin entry from Waves emulates the SSL 4000 G console EQ, wielding a four-band parametric EQ along with high and low pass filters. In other words, expect a punchy and clear sound emulating the SSL 4000 G Console, which is some of the best analogue crunch recreation you could possibly want. The G-EQ is modelled on the rack-mounted version of SSL’s G 292 EQ, which is legendary stuff. Bundles of character.

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Soundtoys Sie-Q

The next toy for you to play with is the Sie-Q from the music effects plugin maestros Soundtoys. It stakes its claim as one of the best software EQ plugins as an emulation of the Siemens W295b EQ, so expect the warmth and vintage audio aesthetics of a beloved bit of EQ hardware. If you want your sounds to ooze character, and to lift a slightly lifeless digital track, stick on the Sie-Q. Soundtoys say it “faithfully captures the hardware’s smooth curves, airy highs and ease of use”, and that’s no marketing spiel. It does each of those things with aplomb.

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iZotope Neutron 5 EQ

The iZotope Neutron 5 EQ is a versatile equalizer module within the Neutron 5 mixing suite, offering up to twelve EQ bands with static and dynamic processing modes. Each band can be independently configured with various filter shapes, and the module includes advanced features like sidechaining capabilities and a Masking Meter to identify and address frequency conflicts between tracks. New in Neutron 5, the EQ module introduces channel modes for mid/side and transient/sustain processing, providing enhanced flexibility for precise tonal shaping. With its intuitive interface and intelligent processing, the Neutron 5 EQ is a powerful tool for achieving clarity and balance in your mixes.

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Kush Audio Clariphonic DSP MkII

Our next best EQ is a kushty one. Kush Audio’s Clariphonic DSP MkII is an emulation of the company’s own rackmount hardware, and it specialises in enhancing those tricky high frequencies. Get ready to transform your top-end sounds with stunning results. The switch-driven selection system, in honour of the hardware, is a little quirky, but very much worth it for the EQ results.

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FabFilter Pro-Q 4

Building on the legacy of its predecessor, the Pro-Q 4 takes EQ plugins to the next level with enhanced dynamic EQ functionality, an improved spectrum analyzer, and features like auto-gain for seamless mixing. Its intuitive interface and precise, transparent sound make it indispensable for producers and engineers tackling everything from surgical cuts to creative tonal shaping. Whether you're mixing or mastering, the Pro-Q 4 ensures clarity and efficiency, solidifying its position as a must-have in any audio professional’s toolkit.

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Eventide SplitEQ

As well as making wonderful guitar and effects pedals, Eventide take a deserved place in the best EQ conversation thanks to SplitEQ. Eventide promises a plugin with a forte in “Repairing, Rebalancing, Enhancing, and Widening any musical source or audio signal”, and that it does. If you run into any tricky moments when producing, mixing, or mastering, think of this as a surgical tool within the EQ world. A brilliantly versatile EQ plugin.

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Universal Audio Mäag EQ4

Another example of the Best EQ plugins emulating a fantastic piece of EQ hardware, in this case it’s Universal Audio with the Mäag EQ4. Analogue hardware is famously pricey, and UAD offers an emulation at a snip of the price. Alternatively, it’s one of a huge number of free bundled plugins if you buy one of the company’s Apollo interfaces. The Mäag EQ4 is wonderfully easy to use, with five fixed-frequency bands, and an excellent air band which can be used for 20dB boosts.

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Universal Audio Manley Massive Passive EQ

We’re keeping things universal with another UAD entry, the brilliantly-named Manley Massive Passive EQ. It’s a parametric EQ plugin of the tube variety, emulating the hardware of the same name. That bit of gear is known for its tube-aesthetic sound and very nicely rounded, musical EQ curves. Mastering engineers will love this one. Universal Audio themselves describe it as an “ultra-boutique tube EQ” and that boojie description is deserved as the plugin lets you craft clarity, air, and sizzle to your heart’s content.

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oeksound soothe2

Last but absolutely not least is an EQ plugin that is challenging Pro-Q 3 for the equalising crown — oeksound soothe2 might be going all lowkey on us with its lowercase title, but this is a formidable EQ, or “dynamic resonance suppressor” as they put it themselves. The software interface is stunning and a joy to use, and it can uncannily remove harshness from whatever sound source you throw at it. It’s fantastic for managing vocal and spoken word sibilance and clearing any muddiness and boominess in your sounds and mixes.

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What is EQ, anyway?

An equalizer (EQ) is a tool used in music production to adjust the balance of different frequencies in a sound. Think of it as a way to shape how something sounds, allowing you to make it brighter, warmer, or clearer, depending on your needs. It works by boosting or reducing specific frequency ranges, such as the deep bass, the midrange where vocals often sit, or the crisp highs.

In mixing, engineers use EQs to create clarity, balance, and separation between all the elements of a track. For example, if a vocal feels muffled, the engineer might boost the higher frequencies to make it sound more present and airy. Or, if a kick drum is competing with the bass guitar, they might reduce the low-end frequencies of one instrument to let the other shine through.

Examples of EQ in Action

• Vocals: If a vocal recording has an annoying "s" sound (called sibilance), an EQ can target and reduce those specific frequencies while leaving the rest of the vocal untouched. Similarly, a slight boost in the midrange can help the vocal cut through the mix without turning up the volume.
• Drums: A snare drum might sound too dull in a recording. Using an EQ, the engineer can add some brightness by boosting the high frequencies, giving it more snap and presence in the mix. At the same time, they might cut unnecessary low-end rumble to keep the mix clean.

By using EQ effectively, mixing engineers can ensure that each instrument or element has its own space in the mix, resulting in a cohesive and professional sound. Whether you're fixing problems or creatively enhancing a track, EQ is one of the most powerful tools in any engineer's arsenal.