Synesthesia
Synesthesia: A deep live-visual toolkit for custom scenes, routing and performance control. Ranked #4 of 35 in Audio Visualizer Software by our editors (8.9/10); pricing: Paid; best for high-end custom live visual scenes.
At a glance
- Editor score8.9 / 10
- PricingPaid
- Best forHigh-end custom live visual scenes
- Free planNo
- Paid from$60/yr
- Video exportNo
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Live shader coding with Shadertoy and ISF imports
- MIDI, OSC, Syphon, Spout and NDI support
- Projector, LED wall and livestream output workflows
Where it doesn't
- Standard costs $199 one time
- Trial output includes a watermark
- No native video-file export
Our verdict on Synesthesia
Synesthesia is desktop VJ software for DJs, VJs, musicians and creative coders who need real-time visuals that respond to music. It runs on macOS and Windows and supports media inputs including video, images, logos and webcams. The software is designed for live output to projectors, LED walls, livestreams and other VJ applications rather than for a narrow, preset-only visualizer workflow.
Its strongest area is creative and technical control. Users can map controls through MIDI, send and receive OSC, create custom shader scenes with live coding, and import Shadertoy and ISF shaders. The scene marketplace and 100+ built-in and free scenes give Standard users a starting library, while Pro adds full Syphon, Spout and NDI support, OSC input and output, custom resolution and two active devices. Pro also supports a 4K option. These capabilities make Synesthesia a strong fit for live performers and visual artists who want to shape scenes and connect them to a broader production setup.
Pricing is license-based. The Trial has unlimited access, requires no sign-up and adds a watermark to output. Standard costs $199 one time and includes one active device plus one year of updates. Pro costs $399 one time and includes two active devices and one year of updates. Additional updates are listed at $60 per year, although the pricing notes say paid updates are currently not being enforced. Synesthesia suits buyers prioritizing custom live visuals, routing and performance control. It is less suitable for projects centered on native video-file export or non-desktop platforms.
Your product? Our editors can test Synesthesia in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Synesthesia pricing
All 4 Synesthesia plans and prices →
Synesthesia fact sheet
| Free plan | No |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $60/yr |
| Waveform visuals | Not verified |
| Spectrum visuals | Not verified |
| Video export | No |
| Transparent export | No |
| Max resolution | 4k |
| Platform coverage | Desktop |
| Max audio length | Not verified |
| Deployment | Desktop |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 8 integrations: Syphon, Spout, NDI, MIDI, OSC, Shadertoy … |
| Pricing | Paid (source) |
| Website | synesthesia.live |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
Synesthesia integrations
Synesthesia lists 8 integrations on its own site.
- Syphon
- Spout
- NDI
- MIDI
- OSC
- Shadertoy
- ISF
- OBS Studio
Alternatives to Synesthesia
- FosforaA cross-platform VJ engine for layered, audio-reactive live visual production.9.4
- BeatVisualiserA flexible visualizer maker with a useful free tier and local browser rendering.9.2
- Magic Music VisualsA deep desktop visualizer for VJs and audiovisual creators who need real-time control.9.0
See all Synesthesia alternatives →
Synesthesia vs the competition
- Synesthesia vs Fosfora
- Synesthesia vs BeatVisualiser
- Synesthesia vs Magic Music Visuals
- Synesthesia vs SYQEL
- Synesthesia vs Le Biniou
- Synesthesia vs Radiance
Compare Synesthesia with any tool side by side →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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