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Head-to-head · Audio Plugins

Waves Ultimate vs Sonnox Oxford Plugins

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Waves Ultimate #2 in Audio Plugins 9.2/10 7-day trial Free trial✓ 2 of 3 features Visit Waves Ultimate
Sonnox Oxford Plugins #8 in Audio Plugins 7.8/10 15-day trial Free trial✓ 1 of 3 features Visit Sonnox

Waves Ultimate leads on 0 checks, Sonnox Oxford Plugins on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreWaves Ultimate · 9.2/10
  • Free trialboth
  • Most featuresWaves Ultimate · 2 of 3

Waves Ultimate scores higher on our rubric for audio plugins: 9.2 against 7.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #8.

On license model, Waves Ultimate gives you Subscription where Sonnox Oxford Plugins offers Perpetual.

Waves Ultimate is the better fit for producers and engineers who want a large plugin suite. Sonnox Oxford Plugins is the better fit for pro Tools users needing precise mixing processors.

  • Waves Ultimate fits best

    Producers and engineers who want a large plugin suite

  • Sonnox Oxford Plugins fits best

    Pro Tools users needing precise mixing processors

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Side by side

Feature Waves Ultimate 9.2/10 Visit ↗ Sonnox Oxford Plugins 7.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 7.8
Ranking #2 in Audio Plugins #8 in Audio Plugins
Best for Producers and engineers who want a large plugin suite Pro Tools users needing precise mixing processors
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price — 15-day trial
Free plan — —
Free trial 7 days 15 days
Free trial length 7 days 15 days
Deployment Desktop Desktop
Platforms Windows, macOS macOS, Windows
Integrations 11 integrations 10 integrations
Features Waves Ultimate 2/3 · Sonnox Oxford Plugins 1/3
External sidechain ✓ ✓
Oversampling Not checked yet Not checked yet
Surround support ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Specs
Plugin formats AAX Native, Audiosuite, Audio Units, VST3 VST3, AU, AAX Native, AAX DSP
Effect types vocal production, analog modeling, mastering, compression, EQ, effects, instruments, saturation, channel strips, noise reduction, surround processing EQ, dynamic EQ, compression, limiting, gating, expansion, transient shaping, loudness enhancement, reverb, de-essing
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.
  • Covers EQ, dynamics, transient shaping, de-essing and reverb
  • AAX DSP support for compatible Pro Tools and Avid systems
  • Perpetual licenses allow two simultaneous activations per plug-in
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.
  • The Oxford range is sold as individual plug-ins, not one suite price
  • Paid product with no free plan
  • AAX DSP support is limited to compatible Pro Tools and Avid systems
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 →

Sonnox Oxford Plugins is a collection of audio processors for music production, mixing, mastering, live sound, broadcast, film and games. Its 11 listed products include Oxford EQ, Dynamics, Limiter, Reverb, Dynamic EQ, SuprEsser and Drum…

Read the review →
  1. Waves UltimateAudio Plugins 9.27-day trial
  2. Sonnox Oxford PluginsAudio Plugins 7.815-day trial

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.

  • Sonnox Oxford Plugins — where it wins

    • Covers EQ, dynamics, transient shaping, de-essing and reverb
    • AAX DSP support for compatible Pro Tools and Avid systems
    • Perpetual licenses allow two simultaneous activations per plug-in

    Where it doesn't

    • The Oxford range is sold as individual plug-ins, not one suite price
    • Paid product with no free plan
    • AAX DSP support is limited to compatible Pro Tools and Avid systems

More comparisons

All audio plugins comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update