Best Virtual Instruments in 2026
Updated
In short: Pianoteq is ranked #1 of 25 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of IK Multimedia ReSing and BBC Symphony Orchestra. The best-ranked option with a free plan is IK Multimedia ReSing. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Vital at $5/mo.
Virtual instruments provide software-based sounds for composing, arranging, and performing. Compared on instrument focus, built-in samples, and included presets, they also differ in plugin formats, standalone app availability, and MPE support. These details can help you see what sounds and ways of working each option supports. Pianoteq, Surge XT, and Vital are among the instruments shown, with Dexed and BBC Symphony Orchestra also represented. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add cost context as you weigh the listed features. Think about the role you need an instrument to fill and how you want to use it, then compare the options on the details provided.
25 virtual instruments ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 Pianoteq iPhone only RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.0 Standalone app: YesInstrument focus: keys
- 2 IK Multimedia ReSing No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4Free Standalone app: YesInstrument focus: drums
- 3 BBC Symphony Orchestra No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Standalone app: NoInstrument focus: orchestral
- 4 Dexed No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Standalone app: YesInstrument focus: synth
- 5 Surge XT No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3Free Standalone app: YesInstrument focus: synth
- 6 Vital No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3$5/mo Instrument focus: synth
- 7 EZmix 3 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6 Standalone app: YesInstrument focus: drums
- 8 MASCHINE No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6$39/mo Standalone app: Yes
- 9 Repro No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6 Standalone app: NoInstrument focus: synth
- 10 Trilian No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.6 Plugin formats: vst3Standalone app: YesInstrument focus: synth
- 11 Efx FRAGMENTS No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.5 Standalone app: YesInstrument focus: synth
- 12 XO No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.5 Standalone app: YesInstrument focus: drums
- 13 PREMIER SOUND FACTORY No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.3 Standalone app: Yes
- 14 Magnus Choir No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Standalone app: No
- 15 Voltage Modular No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.2 Standalone app: YesInstrument focus: synth
- 16 Garritan Abbey Road Studios CFX Concert Grand No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.1 Standalone app: YesInstrument focus: keys
- 17 Kontakt 8 No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.1 Standalone app: Yes
- 18 KORG Collection No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.1 Plugin formats: vst3Standalone app: YesInstrument focus: synth
- 19 NotePerformer No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.1 Plugin formats: auStandalone app: NoInstrument focus: orchestral
- 20 Virtual Drummer No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.1 Standalone app: YesInstrument focus: drums
- 21 Virtual Guitarist No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.1 Standalone app: NoInstrument focus: guitar
- 22 EastWest ComposerCloud+ No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.0 Standalone app: Yes
- 23 OB-E No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.0 Standalone app: YesInstrument focus: synth
- 24 Virtual Pianist No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.0 Standalone app: NoInstrument focus: keys
- 25 VOCALOID3 Library kokone No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 5.0 Standalone app: No
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Plugin formats | Standalone app |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pianoteq | 7.0 | No | — | No | — | — | Yes |
| 2 | IK Multimedia ReSing | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | 149.99 one-time | — | Yes |
| 3 | BBC Symphony Orchestra | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | 449 one-time | — | No |
| 4 | Dexed | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 5 | Surge XT | 6.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 6 | Vital | 6.3 | Free plan | $5/mo | Yes | 25 one-time | — | — |
| 7 | EZmix 3 | 5.6 | No | — | No | 399 one-time | — | Yes |
| 8 | MASCHINE | 5.6 | No | $39/mo | No | 299 one-time | — | Yes |
| 9 | Repro | 5.6 | No | — | No | — | — | No |
| 10 | Trilian | 5.6 | No | — | No | 499 one-time | vst3 | Yes |
| 11 | Efx FRAGMENTS | 5.5 | No | — | No | 199 one-time | — | Yes |
| 12 | XO | 5.5 | No | — | No | — | — | Yes |
| 13 | PREMIER SOUND FACTORY | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | 81 one-time | — | Yes |
| 14 | Magnus Choir | 5.2 | No | — | No | 54.9 one-time | — | No |
| 15 | Voltage Modular | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 16 | Garritan Abbey Road Studios CFX Concert Grand | 5.1 | No | — | No | 199.95 one-time | — | Yes |
| 17 | Kontakt 8 | 5.1 | No | — | No | 299 one-time | — | Yes |
| 18 | KORG Collection | 5.1 | No | — | No | — | vst3 | Yes |
| 19 | NotePerformer | 5.1 | No | — | No | 129 one-time | au | No |
| 20 | Virtual Drummer | 5.1 | No | — | No | 119 one-time | — | Yes |
| 21 | Virtual Guitarist | 5.1 | No | — | No | 129 one-time | — | No |
| 22 | EastWest ComposerCloud+ | 5.0 | No | — | No | — | — | Yes |
| 23 | OB-E | 5.0 | No | — | No | — | — | Yes |
| 24 | Virtual Pianist | 5.0 | No | — | No | — | — | No |
| 25 | VOCALOID3 Library kokone | 5.0 | No | — | No | 77.84 one-time | — | No |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which virtual instrument is ranked first on Samsung Mobile US Press?
Pianoteq is ranked #1 of 25 with a score of 7.0. IK Multimedia ReSing is second and BBC Symphony Orchestra third.
How many of these have a free plan?
5 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Vital has the lowest first paid tier we found: $5/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked mobile-first: a phone app alongside the web or desktop product, a free tier and the depth of its documentation.