Want to add some dirt, grit and character to your sounds, or maybe just a little bit of subtle added warmth – then look no further than our selection fo the 5 best free distortion plugins available to you today!

Lets dive into our list!

IVGI

IVGI offers soft, subtle saturation that’s perfect for the master bus, as well as dense, dirty distortion effects for individual tracks. The plugin responds dynamically to your input, with modeled fluctuations that adapt based on the drive setting, ensuring the sound remains clear. Stereo tracks benefit from its modeled crosstalk behavior, and the plugin’s Controlled Randomness adds a lively, realistic saturation character by modulating internal processes. IVGI provides easy-to-use controls, including an ASYM MIX knob for adjusting signal symmetry and a RESPONSE control for tweaking saturation frequency. Best of all, IVGI is free, so give it a try!

Saturation Knob

Saturation Knob is an easy-to-use, analog-style tool for adding distortion to your tracks. The knob controls the amount of saturation, and you can choose from three distortion styles. In Neutral mode, the whole sound gets distorted. Keep Low mode, only the low frequencies are affected, keeping the high end clear. In Keep High mode, the treble is distorted while the low end stays clean. This gives you a range of distortion options to fit your needs.

Krush

Krush is a free bitcrusher plugin that blends the sharpness of digital bit crushing and downsampling with the warmth of analog-style drive and resonant filters. It includes a modulation section to easily add movement to any parameter. Krush can create a wide range of sounds, from gritty digital effects to crunchy, modulated tones, covering both classic and unique bitcrusher effects.

FuzzPlus 3

FuzzPlus3 is a revamped version of the popular FuzzPlus series, offering the same classic vintage fuzz pedal model with new features like a resonant low-pass filter inspired by the MS20 analog synthesizer, and a self-feedback control for unique sound experimentation. It includes a cross-platform preset system for easy sharing, an animated OpenGL-based user interface, and supports surround sound formats up to 7.1, making it a versatile tool for both stereo and multi-channel distortion needs.

TAL-Tube

TAL-Tube is a saturation plugin that mimics the warm character of tubes and includes an extra amplifier mode. It’s great for adding higher harmonics, giving digital sounds or drums more excitement and an analog feel. At higher settings, it can also be used as a gritty distortion effect.

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