Waves Ultimate vs iZotope RX

Waves Ultimate9.2Visit iZotope RX8.6Visit

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

vs

iZotope RX #6 in Audio Plugins 8.6/10 Paid ✓ 0 of 3 features Visit iZotope RX

• Waves Ultimate fits best

  Producers and engineers who want a large plugin suite

• iZotope RX fits best

  Editors and producers needing audio repair tools

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Side by side

Feature	Waves Ultimate 9.2/10 Visit ↗	iZotope RX 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	8.6
Ranking	#2 in Audio Plugins	#6 in Audio Plugins
Best for	Producers and engineers who want a large plugin suite	Editors and producers needing audio repair tools
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	—	$99 one-time
Free plan	—	—
Free trial	7 days	—
Deployment	Desktop	Desktop
Platforms	Windows, macOS	Windows, macOS
Integrations	11 integrations	12 integrations
Features Waves Ultimate 2/3 · iZotope RX 0/3
External sidechain	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Oversampling	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Surround support	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Specs
Plugin formats	AAX Native, Audiosuite, Audio Units, VST3	AU, AAX, AAX Audiosuite, VST3, AU ARA, VST3 ARA
Effect types	vocal production, analog modeling, mastering, compression, EQ, effects, instruments, saturation, channel strips, noise reduction, surround processing	Noise reduction, de-clicking, de-clipping, de-hum, de-reverb, de-ess, de-plosive, de-rustle, dialogue isolation, spectral repair, EQ, loudness control, music rebalance, breath control, ambience matching
License model	Subscription	Perpetual
Product scope	Suite	Suite
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.	Specialized tools handle noise, clicks, clipping, dialogue and spectral repair Standalone spectral editor works alongside plugins for DAWs and video editors Three one-time purchase tiers scale from six plugins to 50+ tools
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.	Advanced tools require the $1,399 RX 12 Advanced edition The $99 Elements tier has six repair plugins rather than the full suite Windows and macOS are the listed platforms
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 →	iZotope RX is a suite of audio repair and restoration tools for music producers, dialogue editors, re-recording mixers, broadcasters and audio post-production teams. Its standalone spectral editor and plugins address noise, clicks,… 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.

• iZotope RX — where it wins

  • Specialized tools handle noise, clicks, clipping, dialogue and spectral repair
  • Standalone spectral editor works alongside plugins for DAWs and video editors
  • Three one-time purchase tiers scale from six plugins to 50+ tools

  Where it doesn't

  • Advanced tools require the $1,399 RX 12 Advanced edition
  • The $99 Elements tier has six repair plugins rather than the full suite
  • Windows and macOS are the listed platforms

• Waves Ultimate9.2/10 · 7-day trial

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

  Visit Waves UltimateFull verdict →
• iZotope RX8.6/10 · Paid

  A broad audio-restoration suite with tiers for basic cleanup through advanced dialogue repair.

  Visit iZotope RXFull verdict →