Waves Ultimate vs FabFilter Total Bundle

Waves Ultimate9.2Visit FabFilter Total Bundle8.8Visit

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

vs

FabFilter Total Bundle #4 in Audio Plugins 8.8/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 3 of 3 features Visit FabFilter

• Waves Ultimate fits best

  Producers and engineers who want a large plugin suite

• FabFilter Total Bundle fits best

  Mixers seeking a polished, all-round perpetual bundle

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Side by side

Feature	Waves Ultimate 9.2/10 Visit ↗	FabFilter Total Bundle 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	8.8
Ranking	#2 in Audio Plugins	#4 in Audio Plugins
Best for	Producers and engineers who want a large plugin suite	Mixers seeking a polished, all-round perpetual bundle
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	—	—
Free plan	—	—
Free trial	7 days	30 days
Free trial length	7 days	30 days
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	Windows, macOS	Windows, macOS
Integrations	11 integrations	5 integrations
Features Waves Ultimate 2/3 · FabFilter Total Bundle 3/3
External sidechain	✓	✓
Oversampling	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Surround support	✓	✓
Specs
Plugin formats	AAX Native, Audiosuite, Audio Units, VST3	VST, VST3, Audio Units, CLAP, AAX Native, AudioSuite
Effect types	vocal production, analog modeling, mastering, compression, EQ, effects, instruments, saturation, channel strips, noise reduction, surround processing	EQ, reverb, compression, multiband dynamics, limiting, de-essing, gate/expander, distortion/saturation, delay, filtering, synthesizer
License model	Subscription	Perpetual
Product scope	Suite	Bundle
Our review
Pros	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.	Covers EQ, dynamics, limiting, reverb, delay, saturation, filtering and synthesis Includes sidechain input, oversampling and surround support Supports VST, VST3, Audio Units, CLAP, AAX Native and AudioSuite
Cons	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.	There is no free plan; continued use requires a paid license Available only for macOS and Windows The bundle may be broader than needed for buyers seeking a single plug-in
Our verdict	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 →	FabFilter Total Bundle brings 14 plug-ins together for music production, mixing, mastering, recording and sound design. It suits mixers and producers who want tools spanning several stages of audio work rather than a single-purpose effect.… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• 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.

• FabFilter Total Bundle — where it wins

  • Covers EQ, dynamics, limiting, reverb, delay, saturation, filtering and synthesis
  • Includes sidechain input, oversampling and surround support
  • Supports VST, VST3, Audio Units, CLAP, AAX Native and AudioSuite

  Where it doesn't

  • There is no free plan; continued use requires a paid license
  • Available only for macOS and Windows
  • The bundle may be broader than needed for buyers seeking a single plug-in

• Waves Ultimate9.2/10 · 7-day trial

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

  Visit Waves UltimateFull verdict →
• FabFilter Total Bundle8.8/10 · 30-day trial

  A broad perpetual plug-in bundle for mixers who want tools across the signal chain.

  Visit FabFilterFull verdict →