Last updated on December 31st, 2023 at 08:05 pm
Electric guitar amp simulators have been around for quite some time now and there are lots to choose from. The question is, which one should you get? Are the free ones-, and even the paid ones any good? Should you spend money on one or should you save your hard-earned cash on an actual guitar amp?
I believe that amp simulators definitely have a place in modern music production, now more than ever, since they actually sound fantastic!
In this article, I will go over the best amp simulation software for electric guitar currently available (some of them for Bass as well), their pros & cons, how they sound, and more!
BIAS FX II
Best Amp Simulation software in terms of cost-efficiency. Sounds incredibly realistic.
Amplitube 5
Big Amp suite with multiple amps, cabinets, and effects. Easy to get a good & realistic sound.
Guitar Rig 6
Complete Amp Suite with multiple amps, cabinets, and effects. Needs some tweaking to sound realistic.
So, without any further ado, let’s get started!
Guitar Amp Sims vs. Real Amps
Both have their place, although there is no replacing real amps, at least not for now, especially in a live setting.
However, when we’re talking about the average musician who just wants to be able to record at home without ruining their neighbors’ day, spending a fortune, and having a huge amp in the middle of their room, then amp simulators win by a mile.
Plus, they are super cheap, with some of them even being free.
If you’re looking for a quick and good-sounding solution for your home, then definitely get an amp sim.
For live shows, I’d stick with the real amp, even though you can actually run an amp simulation software, or even use the amp sims built into some of the new wireless mixers which sound absolutely fantastic!
Definitely check those out.
Moving on…
Best Affordable Electric Guitar Amp Simulators
I will start this article off with the best affordable amp sims since I think that these provide the most bang for your buck and also allow you to upgrade to their more “premium” version down the line.
BIAS Amp2 and BIAS FX 2 (Under $100)
Best Amp Simulation Software in terms of Cost-Efficiency.
I already mentioned both of these right at the start of this article since they provide a free demo version which allows you to use virtually anything the plugins have to offer for about 5 min and then the audio cuts off.
If you tried any of them out and found that you really like them, then I’d highly advice you to upgrade to the paid version.
BIAS FX already provides you with loads of amps, stompboxes, cabinets, etc. but if you really want to take advantage of the full range of models they offer, then you should also get AMP 2.
You could, however, purchase one and then get the other one later down the line.
No matter which one you choose, both of them would be my top recommendation as far as affordable plugins go.
At this price point I don’t think that there’s any other amp sim that can beat these two.
Get BIAS FX II here: Pluginboutique, Reverb, Sweetwater.
Get BIAS Amp II Here: Pluginboutique, Reverb, Sweetwater.
Related: Here’s a list of the best free DAWs.
Matchlock by Kuassa ($25)
Designed for Blues (SRV-style)
Kuassa has been in the amp simulation business for quite some time now and their latest amp sim, the Matchlock, is absolutely fantastic.
Now, it’s not an amp designed to achieve heavy rock tones or anything like that…
It’s actually modeled around the earlier Fender amps which means that the blues tones it can crank out are just insane.
Just listen to this short demo of it and you’ll see what I mean;
The great thing is that it’s also super affordable, only setting you back $49 to get the whole thing.
Note: It’s usually on sale on Pluginboutique, so check to see if you can get it for even less.
Even better than this is that you can actually download it for completely free and use every single thing without limitations.
However, there will be noise generated every 40 seconds until you purchase the license key… at least you get to try out the tones before having to buy it.
If you are looking for an amp sim that has an amazing blues sound, then look no further!
Get Matchlock here: Pluginboutique, Reverb.
PRS SuperModels by Waves ($39)
Versatile, simple to use, and affordable!
The PRS SuperModels were created by Waves in collaboration with Paul Reed Smith.
Even though you only get three amps, they are actually quite versatile… allowing you to achieve loads of different tones which should fit in perfectly in nearly every mix.
The three amps you get are; The Dallas, Archon, and Blue Sierra/V9.
The Dallas and V9 are for more laid-back styles of playing, while the Archon is designed completely for metal and other heavy styles.
I actually like the V9 a lot for rock/metal guitar solos as well… the tone is just killer!
This plugin bundle is super affordable, setting you back only about $39 (at the time of writing this article).
What are its Strengths; Simple to use yet versatile.
- Get the PRS Supermodels here: Waves, Reverb, Sweetwater.
Toneforge by JST (Starting at $59)
Excellent for Metal!
Toneforge by Joey Sturgis Tones is a line of amp simulators that are mainly focused on heavier tones.
All of the amps are original designs which, contrary to most other amp simulators out there, means that they aren’t emulating any of the classic amplifiers out there.
The sound quality is outstanding and the tones you can get out of them are also excellent!
Some of its signature amps are by Jason Richardson, Misha Mansoor, and more, and their prices range from $59 up to $129.
The only downside is that there doesn’t seem to be any demo/free trial version of any of the amps for you to try out.
What are its Strengths; Great for heavy-sounding tones.
The Toneforge amps are definitely worth a try.
- Get Toneforge here: Pluginboutique, Reverb.
Softube Vintage Amp Room ($99)
Vintage Amp Room emulates three classic guitar amps in a studio setting where you can choose the mic position in any way you like.
It’s the opposite of those huge amp simulation plugins like Helix Native, Amplitube 5, and others, in the sense that with Vintage Amp Room you only get three amps emulations.
They are straightforward and easy to use, just like real amps.
All you need to do is turn a couple of knobs and play… that’s it!
Sadly, the amps are not named, but they clearly are a Marshall stack, Fender Twin, and a VOX AC30.
With the Marshall you will be able to get great lead- and distorted sounds, while Fender will provide you with some extremely nice cleans.
The VOX can handle clean, crunchy, and distorted sounds.
The sound quality is very accurate and it doesn’t take too long to get any of the amps to sound pleasing.
However, if you want additional effects you will have to add some extra plugins or add them later on in your DAW.
If you are a fan of the sound of a Marshall Stack, Fender Twin, or VOX AC30, then this plugin is definitely for you.
What are its Strengths; Excellent Vintage Sound.
- Get Vintage Amp Room here: Pluginboutique.
Softube Metal Amp Room ($59)
Just like with the Vintage Amp Room, this one is also just an emulation of a couple of amps, two to be precise, and nothing more…
No effects, no stompboxes, nothing!
Again, you can set the microphones up however you want. You can even use a single one for a tightly focused sound, or use two panned microphones to take up the entire stereo width.
And that’s really it; no extras… which is both good and bad.
If you like great-sounding metal amps and want a simple setup that will sound great in a matter of seconds, then Metal Amp Room might be a good fit.
What are its Strengths; Great for heavy rock/metal tones and very easy to use.
- Get Metal Amp Room here: Pluginboutique.
Note: Softube also released the Bass Amp Room which emulates bass amps.
Amplion Pro 2 by Audified ($99)
Amp Simulation Suite for few features!
Amplion Pro features a simulation of 9 guitar amps, 7 cabinets, 12 speakers, 8 microphones, and 30 effects.
This basically means that you have loads of choices and ways of affecting your tone so that you can tailor it to your liking.
It can also be downloaded as a free stripped-down version which features 5 guitar amps, 2 cabinets, a metronome, an audio player, and a recorder.
However, the free version isn’t really that great, at least to me!
One Pro is that it can be used as a standalone program, which simply means that you won’t have to load it up in your DAW in order to be able to use it.
What are its Strengths; Good All-rounder.
- Get Amplion here: Pluginboutique, Reverb.
GTR3 by Waves ($129)
Amp Simulation Suite (more affordable than the rest)!
GTR3 features 25 stompboxes, 30 cabinets, and 30 amps (Clean, drive, and High Gain).
The amps were inspired by real Fender-, Marshall-, Mesa/Boogie-, Vox- amps, and more, and they all sound absolutely fantastic.
The stompboxes can be dragged and dropped into the effects chain, making it super easy to set up.
Like most other amp simulation plugins I listed so far, GTR3 brings a lot of versatility to the table since it’s designed to be able to sound however you like.
With all the amps, effects, and cabinets you get, you should be able to get almost any kind of sound out of it.
What are its Strengths; Good All-rounder.
- Gett GTR3 here: Waves, Sweetwater.
S-Gear by Scuffham ($129)
I had not heard of this amp sim until very recently, but I’m very happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised with how it sounded.
It’s a bit more expensive than the ones I’ve listed so far, but it might be worth it for you!
Luckily, there’s a 15-day free trial…
So, download the free trial, see how you feel about it, and then decide!
All the amps and effects were designed by Mike Scuffham (former product designer for Marshall Amplification).
There’s not much else to say about this amp simulation plugin…
Here’s a video where you can see it in action;
You can download it here.
Archetype by Neural DSP & Plini ($119)
Plini is one of today’s best guitar players out there.
He teamed up with Neural DPS to work together on an amp sim that sounds absolutely amazing!
Archetype features three different amps: A Clean-, Crunchy-, and Lead one… and they all sound fantastic!
A compressor and booster/overdrive pedal are included to provide additional flexibility and adaptability to different styles and instruments.
A 9-band EQ is also included, as well as some Reverb and Delay effects.
Lastly, it includes a fantastic cab sim.
And that’s really it…
It’s a super simple amp simulation plugin that comes with a very clean and clear interface, making everything super intuitive… and the sound is just absurdly good!
Not only that but you can try it for free, since they offer a free 14-day trial.
Note: Neural DSP created a lot of other amp sims which you should also check out.
You can download it here.
More Neural DSP Amp sims
Neural DSP have upped the game as far as guitar amp sims go, and they developed not only the one I just listed (Plini), but also a lot more which were made for specific artists and tailored to their needs.
The ones I like the most are;
- Archetype Plini (just mentioned it previously).
- Archetype Cory Wong (Vulfpeck Guitarist)
- Archetype Petrucci
- Fortin Suite (Metal Amp and Pedal Suite).
Make sure to check them out here.
Premium Electric Guitar Amp Simulators
In this section, I will list a couple amp simulators that provide way more amps, cabinets, stompboxes, etc. with the only downside being that they are a bit more expensive.
To be honest, I don’t think that spending around $300 is worth it for most people.
The fact of the matter is that most of these plugins, even the free ones, already sound pretty darn good, and they already offer a huge variety of features.
Moving on…
BIAS FX 2 and AMP 2 Full Versions (From $259)
I know I mentioned both of these plugins quite a lot already, so I’ll keep this short.
Both of them are excellent, provide you with loads of amps, cabinets, stomp boxes, etc. and the full versions simply pack a lot more features than the free- and standard ones.
If you tried the free version and liked it, then by all means… upgrade to the full version.
Get BIAS FX II here: Pluginboutique, Reverb, Sweetwater.
Get BIAS Amp II Here: Pluginboutique, Reverb, Sweetwater.
Amplitube 5 ($299)
The full version of Amplitube 5 is completely amazing.
The great thing is that you can download the free version first, which I already described in the free amp sim section, and try the whole thing out for a couple of days…
If you like it, then simply upgrade to the full version.
Note: As I mentioned earlier, the trial of this software gives you access to everything…
Once this time period runs out you’ll lose access to some of the features unless you upgrade.
Amplitube is probably the most widely-used amp sim plugin out there, and even artists like Malcolm Young from AC/DC used it.
If this isn’t a testament to its quality, I don’t know what is…
Features
- Ultra-realistic virtual amplification for your guitar and bass
- Five new “British” amp models from ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s
- Acoustic Guitar Simulator
- UltraTuner – precise digital tuning accurate to 1/100th of a cent
- Power Amp/Speaker dynamic response
- 3D Cab Room with selectable room simulations
- Dual mic placement on any speaker
- Individual speaker selection
- Speaker interaction modeling
What are its Strengths; Great all-rounder.
Get Amplitube 5 here: Reverb, Sweetwater.
Guitar Rig Pro 6 by Native Instruments ($199)
To be honest, I haven’t gotten the best guitar sounds out of this amp sim.
It’s super easy to use since you just drag and drop whatever you need into the chain.
However, it did take me some time and a lot of tweaking to get a great tone out of it.
I’ve seen many people use Guitar Rig with far more success than I have, which is why I believe you should try Guitar Rig Player first, which is the free version I discussed earlier, and see how you like it.
With all the features it provides, like 17 different amps, 27 cabinets, a huge array of effects, stompboxes, etc., Guitar Rig is definitely worth the money and I know that loads of people love it!
What are its Strengths; Guitar Rig Pro 5 is a great all-rounder.
- Get Guitar Rig Pro 6 here: Native Instruments.
TH-U Full by Overloud ($299)
I’ve never seen any other amp sim out there that provides so many different amps, cabinets, etc.
Yes, it sounds absolutely fantastic, there’s no doubt about that…
But, is it easy to use? And is it worth the money?
As far as the ease of use goes, there’s definitely a learning curve.
More than with any of the other amp sims on this list actually.
The reason for this is that you can get a bit lost and overwhelmed due to the huge number of options that you have at your disposal.
As far as the price goes…
I think it’s a completely fair price simply because of everything you get with it… plus, it sounds great!
Features
- 89 guitar amplifiers and 4 bass amplifiers
- 50 guitar cabinets and 2 bass cabinets
- 77 pedal and rack effects
- 18 microphone models, with up to four mics on each cabinet
- More than 1000 presets covering all musical styles
Note: You can also download a free demo version of the TH-U.
Get TH-U Full here: Sweetwater.
Helix Native by Line 6 ($399)
Helix Native is definitely not geared towards the complete beginners.
I would only recommend this one if you already got some experience with amp simulators under your belt.
But if you do, this one can definitely help you improve your tone since the customization options are just insane.
The clean tones sound fantastic and the heavy metal tones are just amazing…
Now, is it worth the price?
With other amp sims being so much more affordable, I’d say that only if you feel like you can really take advantage of all its features, then it’s worth the price.
Otherwise, you would be much better off saving a couple of bucks and purchasing something cheaper since you won’t utilize all the features.
Get Helix Native here: Sweetwater.
And lastly…
Free Electric Guitar Amp Simulators
These ones, while not providing the largest number of features, cabinets, amps, etc., actually sound pretty damn good…
And best of all, they’re free!
Bias Amp 2 Demo by Positive Grid
This plugin is absolutely fantastic; it sounds amazingly well and the number of tones you can achieve is vast!
You can also download BIAS FX, which includes a huge array of stompboxes, cabinets, and amps.
I would honestly recommend you download both of them!
Now, when you download the demo version you can use everything…
However, presets cannot be saved, which isn’t too bad on its own.
But the sound will automatically cut off after five minutes of use until the first seven days have gone by.
After this period, you will only be able to use the plugin for 20 sec before it cuts off…
This is why I’d actually recommend you buy the plugin if you like it since it’s one of the most affordable ones out there.
Plus, I think that it’s the best one overall.
Features
- Amp Match
- Dynamic Touch Response
You can download it here.
Related: Here’s a list of the best free Bass Amp Sim VST Plugins.
Guitar Rig 6 Player
Guitar Rig Player is a stripped-down version of the famous Guitar Rig plugin.
While I don’t think it sounds as good as the new BIAS Amp 2, Guitar Rig Player definitely has a lot to offer.
First of all, you can use it indefinitely, without the amp simulation suddenly stopping… Like it does with BIAS Amp 2, and it also comes with quite a decent number of effects, stompboxes, amps, etc. With its simple drag-and-drop interface, you should be able to get a decent sound in no time.
However, getting some of those extremely realistic tones will require a bit of tweaking… but it definitely can be done.
Here’s what you get with the free version:
- Tuner
- One Amplifier
- One Cabinet
- 2 Delay pedals
- Compressor
- One tube screamer
- A limiter and a noise gate
- 2 Equalizers
- Noise reduction
- Volume Pedal
- 1 Pro filter
- Reverb and a couple more effects.
If you’re only looking for a heavy-sounding amp sim, then maybe this one might not be the right one for you since it only comes with one Tube Screamer and that’s it!
Heavy rock tones can’t really be achieved as easily and you’ll probably need to play around with some distortion plugins and put them in the chain in your DAW and hope for the best.
One issue with Guitar Rig Player is that they ask you to register in order to be able to use it.
After this, they send you an email with a serial key which you then have to authenticate using the Native Access program (Separate download).
If you don’t mind jumping through a couple of hoops, then definitely give this amp sim a try!
Guitar Rig 6 Clean Guitar:
You can download it here.
Related: Here’s a list of the best free Drum VST Plugins.
Amplitube 5 Custom Shop
Amplitube Custom Shop is very similar to Guitar Rig Player in the sense that it’s just a stripped-down version of the full software.
I personally like this one a bit more simply because it sounds better to my ears (more realistic).
But this might not be the case for you, so trying them both out might be your best option.
One thing I really didn’t like about Amplitube is the same that I didn’t like about Guitar Rig Player… They make you register and jump through some hoops in order to download the software…
Still, nothing too crazy!
Here’s what you get with the free version:
- 3 Amplifiers
- One Cabinet
- Tuner
- Delay
- Overdrive
- Compressor
- Volume Pedal
- Equalizer
- Chorus
- Flanger
- Wah-Wah
- Tremolo
- And a couple more things.
All in all, Amplitube Custom Shop is a great free amp sim that you should definitely check out.
You can download it here.
Amped Roots Free by ML Sound Lab
Here is a guitar amp sim designed specifically for metal/heavy tones.
Amped Roots free is, basically, the free version of Sound Lab’s software bundle and it comes with one amp: The “5034 Fluff”.
However, to get three more amps: the “5151 Fluff”, the “Freeman Fluff” and the “Mega Fluff”, you need to purchase Amped Roots Full License.
Additionally, it also features a cabinet simulator and two pedals; A Noise Gate and a Drive.
The whole point behind this free amp simulation plugin is to be as simple as possible and to sound perfect right out of the box, and I think they nailed it.
No matter what preset you use, or how far right or left you turn the knobs, this amp sim makes your guitar tone sound insanely well (of course, clean tones aren’t even possible since it’s a high-gain amp).
Amped Roots and the Emissary are my top recommendations as far as heavy-sounding amps go. However, this one is far easier to use than the Emissary and it’s designed to sound great no matter what.
You can download it here.
LePou Amp Simulators
I don’t think you’ll find better heavy metal/heavy rock amp simulators than these… maybe just the next one on this list, but that’s up to you to decide!
All of the LePou amps are extremely lightweight and can create some extremely realistic heavy guitar tones.
Here are some of the amps you can download:
- LeCto, which is based on a Mesa Boogie’s dual rectifier.
- Le456 based on Engl Powerball
- LeGion, which is an Original of LePou.
There isn’t much more to say about these great amp sims, just download them and give them a try…
I promise you’ll love them.
You can download them here.
Related: Here’s a list of the best free Orchestral VST Plugins.
Emissary by Ignite Amps
If there’s one amp simulator that’s absolutely excellent for achieving extremely heavy tones, it’s got to be the Emissary.
It does still have a clean channel which ranges from clean to slightly overdriven tones that sound pretty darn good…
However, the lead channel is where this amp really shines.
You can definitely record some amazing djent, heavy metal, and more with this amp and it will be near impossible to think that it’s not the real thing.
The emissary plug-in bundle also includes the NadIR dual impulse response convolver, which is designed to be used as a cabinet simulator both for guitar and bass preamplifiers.
Features
- Three Routing Modes: Mono, Dual Mono, and Stereo
- Automatic high-quality resampling for IRs with different sampling rates
- High-quality analog shaped filters
- Selectable delay
- Continuous morphing control between loaded IRs
- Global input level and single IR level controls
- Fully automatable controls
You can download it here.
Freeamp by Fretted Synth Audio
This is not your traditional amp simulation plugin…
Freeamp sounds completely different from a regular amp sim, even though it provides all the same effects, stompboxes, etc. as many other ones, however, it does have a very unique sound to it.
This is why it’s on this list…
It’s so different that I had to include it, plus you won’t be able to achieve these tones with almost any other amp sim.
You can download it here.
Conclusion
Is it really worth spending money on an electric guitar amp simulator?
I believe so, yes!
Most of the free ones will work just fine, but sometimes you’ll need that little extra which you will only be able to get from a premium one.
There’s no need to spend a fortune though; the BIAS ones are great and pretty affordable, so is Archetype by Neural DSP, and a bunch of the others as well.
I hope this information was useful!
Have a great day!
