UAD Plug-Ins vs Waves Ultimate

UAD Plug-Ins9.4Visit Waves Ultimate9.2Visit

Higher score UAD Plug-Ins #1 in Audio Plugins 9.4/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 1 of 3 features Visit UAD Plug-Ins

vs

Waves Ultimate #2 in Audio Plugins 9.2/10 7-day trial Free trial✓ 2 of 3 features Visit Waves Ultimate

• UAD Plug-Ins fits best

  Producers wanting a broad, flexible plugin suite

• Waves Ultimate fits best

  Producers and engineers who want a large plugin suite

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Side by side

Feature	UAD Plug-Ins 9.4/10 Visit ↗	Waves Ultimate 9.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	9.2
Ranking	#1 in Audio Plugins	#2 in Audio Plugins
Best for	Producers wanting a broad, flexible plugin suite	Producers and engineers who want a large plugin suite
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	$149.99/yr	—
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	7 days	7 days
Free trial length	7 days	7 days
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	macOS, Windows	Windows, macOS
Integrations	7 integrations	11 integrations
Features UAD Plug-Ins 1/3 · Waves Ultimate 2/3
External sidechain	✓	✓
Oversampling	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Surround support	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Specs
Plugin formats	VST3, AU, AAX	AAX Native, Audiosuite, Audio Units, VST3
Effect types	preamps, EQ, channel strips, compressors, limiters, reverb, delay, modulation, tape, saturation, vocal processing, guitar amps	vocal production, analog modeling, mastering, compression, EQ, effects, instruments, saturation, channel strips, noise reduction, surround processing
License model	Both	Subscription
Product scope	Suite	Suite
Our review
Pros	Native UADx plug-ins run on a computer without UA hardware. Works in VST3, AU, and AAX formats across major DAWs. Combines effects, virtual instruments, perpetual licenses, and subscriptions.	More than 240 plugins span vocal work, mixing, mastering and sound design. Updates and newly added plugins are included with the subscription. Works with major DAWs and activates on two machines at a time.
Cons	UAD DSP plug-ins require Apollo or UAD-2 hardware. Spark subscription access is not the same as a perpetual license. The broad catalog may be more than producers seeking a narrow toolset need.	There is no free plan; access is subscription-based. The suite is limited to Windows and macOS. The Monthly plan does not include the Annual plan’s 30 mastering credits.
Our verdict	UAD Plug-Ins is Universal Audio’s collection of audio effects and virtual instruments for music production, recording, mixing, and mastering. Its catalog spans modeled preamps, equalizers, channel strips, compressors, reverbs, delays,… Read the review →	Waves Ultimate brings more than 240 Waves plugins together in a subscription for music producers, mixing and mastering engineers, vocal editors, post-production professionals and live-sound users. Its collection covers vocal production,… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• UAD Plug-Ins — where it wins

  • Native UADx plug-ins run on a computer without UA hardware.
  • Works in VST3, AU, and AAX formats across major DAWs.
  • Combines effects, virtual instruments, perpetual licenses, and subscriptions.

  Where it doesn't

  • UAD DSP plug-ins require Apollo or UAD-2 hardware.
  • Spark subscription access is not the same as a perpetual license.
  • The broad catalog may be more than producers seeking a narrow toolset need.

• Waves Ultimate — where it wins

  • More than 240 plugins span vocal work, mixing, mastering and sound design.
  • Updates and newly added plugins are included with the subscription.
  • Works with major DAWs and activates on two machines at a time.

  Where it doesn't

  • There is no free plan; access is subscription-based.
  • The suite is limited to Windows and macOS.
  • The Monthly plan does not include the Annual plan’s 30 mastering credits.

• UAD Plug-Ins9.4/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial

  A flexible plugin suite with native and hardware-DSP options, plus free and paid access.

  Visit UAD Plug-InsFull verdict →
• Waves Ultimate9.2/10 · 7-day trial

  A broad, regularly updated plugin suite for production, mixing, mastering and sound design.

  Visit Waves UltimateFull verdict →