Check out the best free Serum VST plugin alternatives to use if you are on a budget and don’t have the money to buy the popular Serum VST plugin by Xfer Records.
This roundup of free Serum alternatives includes lists of features, screenshots, and videos.
The Serum VST plugin has become a popular synthesizer plugin for music producers and musicians in the music industry. But the plugin can be pricey for some since it costs $189. I have some great free Serum alternatives that offer similar synthesizer sounds, and hundreds of audio presets below if you do not have the money to spare.
Free Serum VST Alternatives
- TyrellN6
- Dexed
- Tunefish V4
- Mono Fury
- Free Alpha
- TAL-NoiseMaker
- Helm
- Vital
- Odin 2
- Surge XT
- Synth1
- OB-Xd
- Zebralette
- Superwave P8
- Sonigen Modular
- Kairatune
What Are the Best Free Alternatives For Serum?
The best free Serum alternatives are “Vital” by Matt Tytel, “TyrellN6” by U-He, “Surge XT” by the Surge Synthesizer Team, “Dexed” by Jean-Marc Desprez, and “Tunefish V4” by Brain Control. These are the best free Serum synth alternatives that are cross-platform and packed with high-quality sounds.
From the hundreds of free VST plugins tested, these are exceptional Serum alternatives worth trying.
Instructions: Click the links below to visit each Serum alternative. Look around each website for the download link or button. Do not install any suspicious software.
Related: 18 Best Free Korg VST Emulator Plugins
1. TyrellN6
TyrellN6 is a free synth VST in which you can create some wonderfully pleasing and funky sounds.
The plugin has two oscillators, a noise, and a ring modulator setup with 2 LFOs that have eight waveforms.
An audio source mixer also has authentic overdrive and filter feedback. The envelopes are ADSR type and can be looped.
The user interface is skinnable, and there are over 580 factory presets.
Features:
- 580+ factory presets
- Two oscillators and a ring modulator
- Eight waveform LFOs
- Authentic overdrive, filter feedback
- Resizable, skinnable user interface
Pros:
- Compact, sporty synth design
- Classic architecture with extras
- Unison up to 8 voices
Cons:
- Limited modulation matrix
- Specific to analog sound
- It may be complex for beginners
TyrellN6 | PC & Mac
2. Dexed
Dexed is a free plugin synth that closely models the Yamaha DX7. It has 144 DAW automatable parameters available from one single panel, making it easy to tweak your sounds to perfection.
This makes it an ideal option for anyone looking for an Xfer Serum VST alternative.
Additionally, each operator has a realtime VU meter to see which one is active. This can be helpful when trying to create a specific sound.
You can also load/save any DX7 SysEx programs. This means that you can easily share your creations with other Dexed users.
Plus, it’s possible to save a single program into a different SysEx file, so you can keep your favorite sounds close at hand.
Features
- Cross-Platform
- 144 Automatable Parameters
- Realtime VU Meter
Dexed | PC / Mac / Linux
3. Tunefish V4
Tunefish V4 is a free, powerful Serum VST alternative that uses additive synthesis-based wavetable generation. It has a wide range of capabilities, including producing any noise frequency with any bandwidth.
Additionally, lowpass, highpass, bandpass, and notch filters are also available. Tunefish V4 is one of the best free Serum VST alternatives. A great alternative to some popular synth plugins by Native Instruments.
Features
- Visualize All Modulations
- Wavetable Generator
- Modulation Matrix
- Audio Effects: Chorus, Distortion, Delay, Reverb, EQ
Tunefish V4 | PC / Mac / Linux / AU
4. Mono Fury
Mono Fury is a software instrument that simulates the classic KORG Mono Poly analog synthesizer.
It has four band-limited oscillators, a four-pole zero-delay feedback lowpass filter with self-oscillation, and a resizable user interface.
The GUI of the plugin is customizable enough to make it easy for users to control the parameters.
The MIDI learn function also makes it possible to control all plugin parameters with a MIDI controller.
- 4 Band-Limited Oscillators
- Arpeggiator
- Resizable User Interface
- Midi Learn
Mono Fury | PC & Mac / VST2 / VST3 / AU
5. Free Alpha Serum VST Alternative
The Free Alpha synthesizer is a 32-note-polyphonic synthesizer based upon a classic subtractive design. It includes two oscillator modules, a filter module, two envelopes, 3 LFO modules, a chorus effect, and an easy-to-use, powerful Modulation Matrix.
Free Alpha | PC & Mac
6. TAL-NoiseMaker
TAL-NoiseMaker is a virtual analog synthesizer with great sound and low CPU usage.
It includes 128 factory presets to help you get started.
If you’re looking for free Serum VST alternatives, TAL-NoiseMaker is an excellent option.
TAL-NoiseMaker | PC / Mac / Linux / VST2 / VST3
7. Helm
If you’re looking for a free Serum VST plugin alternative, look no further than Helm. This easy-to-use plugin is perfect for creating those signature lead sounds.
With its simple interface, you can quickly create the sounds you need without spending a fortune on software. Helm is one of the most popular Serum alternatives available.
Helm | PC / Mac / AU
8. Vital
Vital is a powerful visual synthesizer that offers stunning animations and oscilloscope visuals. It is one of the few plugins that run at 60fps.
If you’re looking for an alternative to Serum that offers visual feedback, then Vital is your plugin.
Vital | PC / Mac / Ubuntu Linux
9. Odin 2
The Odin 2 VST plugin is a 24-voice polyphonic beast that can create some fantastic sounds. This plugin has it all with earth-shattering basses, exquisite leads, and mad FX.
Its high-quality emulations of legendary analog filters like the Moog-ladder or the Korg-35 further shape your signal. Odin 2 is available for both Windows and Mac users.
Odin 2 | PC / Mac / Linux
10. Surge XT
Surge XT is your best bet if you’re looking for a free Serum VST that packs a punch. This plugin features a wide range of synthesis techniques and effects, allowing you to create complex sounds easily.
Additionally, MPE and micro-tuning support make it perfect for modern productions.
Surge XT | PC / Mac / Linux
11. Synth1
Synth1 is a software synthesizer with two oscillators, FM modulation, ring modulation, sync, and modulation envelope. It also has four types of filters and two LFOs.
Additionally, the plugin has a tempo delay and 16 notes polyphony. There are also 128 presets available. It is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems.
Synth1 | PC & Mac
12. OB-Xd
OB-Xd is a free Serum VST emulation that recreates the synthesizer’s sound and behavior. OB-Xd features micro random detuning, which contributes to its signature tones.
OB-XD | PC / Mac / Linux
13. Zebralette
Zebralette is a synthesizer plugin that comes with some fantastic oscillators. Zebralette is a free Serum VST alternative with four oscillators that’s definitely worth trying out.
Zebralette | PC / Mac / Linux
14. Superwave P8
Superwave P8 is a virtual analog synthesizer with two oscillators, two amplifiers, and four envelopes. This plugin is perfect for leads, pads, and strings.
If you’re looking for a free Serum VST alternative, SuperWave P8 is the one for you.
Superwave P8 | PC
15. Sonigen Modular
Sonigen Modular is an excellent free Serum alternative that gives you the flexibility and freedom of classic modular synthesis.
With high-quality sound, a fast and intuitive user interface, and no lower “control” rate, Sonigen Modular is one of the best plugins available.
Sonigen Modular | PC
16. Kairatune
Kairatune is perfect for producing crisp, tight-sounding electric sounds at the heart of modern-day electronic music production.
The intuitive user interface takes a musician’s perspective to design using pitch and beat rather than frequency and time.
This plugin is perfect for those who need to push their sounds to extremes without compromising audio quality.
Kairatune features produce audio quality with fast workflow and cost nothing. It is available for Windows and Mac.
Kairatune | PC & Mac
17. Digits
This synth plugin allows you to quickly and easily create sounds.
It comes with over 70 presets and features like phase distortion, a luscious sound design-friendly interface, the ability to import audio file samples, and bass & lead synthesis for maximum usability.
Digits can create warm pads or glitchy sounds to dirty basses, filthy sweeps, or screaming leads.
It’s also very lightweight and easy to use, perfect for beginners and experienced producers alike. It is also available for both Windows and Mac.
- 100 Presets
- Aftertouch & Mod Wheel Mappingl
- Analog Filter Emulation
- Chorus & Flanger Effects
- Fade Envelopes
- Low Cpu Usage
Digits | PC / Mac / Linux
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Serum?
Serum is a popular synthesizer VST plugin by Xfer Records that allows users to create complex sounds with ease. It’s been used by artists like Deadmau5 and Skrillex and has become a staple in many music production studios. The plugin is available for both Mac and PC and comes with a variety of features that allow you to customize your sound.
Can I Get The Serum Plugin for Free?
You can get the Serum plugin for free as a demo trial from the Xfer Records website. The free Serum demo is available for both Windows and Mac and has a 15-minute use limitation. Besides that, you should look into free Xfer Serum alternatives as free options.
How Do I Get the Serum VST Plugin?
To get the Serum VST plugin by Xfer Records, you can purchase it on their website at https://www.xferrecords.com/products/serum/.
There, you can find more information about the plugin as well as pricing options.
Is Omnisphere Better than Serum?
No, the Omnisphere plugin isn’t necessarily better than the Serum VST plugin. They both have unique sounds and features that can be used to create different types of music. It ultimately comes down to what kind of sound you’re looking for, what kind of music you want to make, and your available budget.
Serum costs $189, while Omnisphere is almost double the price, costing $500.
The Spectrasonics website says Omnisphere comes with 14,806 sounds, while Xfer Serum has 450 presets and 144 wavetables.
If you don’t have the money to buy Serum, or you want to try out some different plugins, these are some great free alternatives that will give you similar results.
All of these plugins are available for download online, and most of them come with a variety of presets to get you started. So what are you waiting for? Start experimenting with these awesome free Serum VST plugin alternatives today.
I hope you found this list of free Xfer Serum VST plugin alternatives helpful.
Related: 16 Free Omnisphere VST Alternatives
