The Cheapest Way to Buy Native Instruments | Native Instruments Sale

How to buy Native Instruments plugins with up to 66% discount

Native Instruments has an extensive range of software plugins and hardware*, which is one of the most popular brands in music production. Plugins such as Massive* were revolutionary, and the Komplete bundles* have grown into a comprehensive package for producers and musicians across most music genres. But they are expensive. The Komplete Ultimate* bundle costs $1,199.

So what are the best options for you to get your hands on Native Instruments plugins at the lowest price? And legally, without downloading a cracked version?

TOP TIP: Clever but legal way to buy Komplete 14 for around $200 (or 66% discount off $599 full price)

You can supercharge your Komplete discount by combining a few tips above:

1. First, buy an older version of a used Komplete license (Komplete version 2-12 is eligible).
2. Second, update your Komplete license to the latest Komplete 14.
3. Third, save even more when waiting to upgrade in a sale period for updates (such as Native Instruments Summer Sale called "Summer of Sound", currently live from 1-30 June 2022*).

For example, I found the following pathway to buy Komplete 14 for $200:

1. Buy Komplete 2-13 used with a license transfer from the existing owner, which costs around $100. I found Komplete 7 with a license transfer sold for $103 in May 2021 on eBay.
2. Update to Komplete 14 for $199, or save even more during Native Instruments Summer Sale* to update for $99.50.
3. TOTAL cost to buy Komplete 14: around $300, or only $200 (when upgraded during the Summer Sale).

Step by Step guide to buying Native Instruments plugins at the lowest price

Whether you want to buy Massive, Reaktor, Guitar Rig or the full Komplete bundle. We researched all options we could find to buy Native Instruments at a discount, and listed them in order. Just follow the step by step guide to find the best option for you.

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Step 1 Free Plugins: Download the free Native Instruments Komplete Start bundle

Download the free Native Instruments bundle Komplete Start, which comes with 18 synths, samplers and effects, 2,000 presets and 6GB of samples.

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Step 2 Free Trials: Try most Native Instruments plugins for free - for 30 minutes at a time, or Komplete Now for one month

Download any of the available demo versions, which you can use for 30 minutes. You can close and open the plugins to have another 30 minutes.

Or you can try the Native Instruments Komplete Now subscription* for free for 1 month.

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Step 3 Upgrade: Upgrade or update your Native Instruments plugins to save up to 66%

Do you already own a Native Instruments plugin?‍

Use your personal upgrade and update offer to save up to 66%.

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Step 4 Student Deals: Students save 50% on Reaktor 6

Students can use the Reaktor 6 educational offer to save 50%.

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Step 5 Second-Hand: Buy a used license to save around 50%

‍Are you comfortable buying a license from someone else?‍

Then buy a used license and get it transferred to you, to save typically 50%.

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Step 6 Sale: Save 50% of Kontakt 7*

Are any Native Instruments plugins on sale right now?

Yes. You can buy Kontakt 7 for half price* ($149 instead of $299).

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Or you can save 50% off Komplete Select* from 15 April to 12 May 2024.

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Don't want to miss the latest Native Instruments deals? Sign up to the musicmanta newsletter, and we will keep you up-to-date. Plus, you will receive a free 130 MB sample pack, exclusive competitions, the latest news and reviews, and much more.

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Step 7: Choose the cheapest retailer to save up to 9%

Are you OK to do some research on the cheapest reseller?‍

Then our research showed that you can save up to 9% compared to the Native Instruments Shop, from Thomman Music, one of the largest European music retailers, which sells world-wide.

1. Free Native Instruments plugins & samples: Komplete Start*

Komplete Start* is a comprehensive bundle that includes 18 plugins encompassing synths, samplers and effects. 2,000 presets are included, as well as 6GB of samples. All for free*. That is what I call a great deal.

9 Free Sampled Instruments

• Play Series: Analog Dreams, Ethereal Earth, Hybrid Keys
• Kinetic Treats
• Hypha
• Factory Selection 2: Acoustic, Band, Beats, Synth, Vintage
• Irish Harp
• Yangqin

2 Free Effect Plug Ins

• Guitar Rig 7 Player: cut down version of guitar effects from Guitar Rig 6 Pro
• Supercharger
• iZotope Ozone 11 EQ
• iZotope Vinyl
• Raum Reverb
• Replika Delay

Video: Getting Started with Native Instruments Komplete Start

You can find more video on Komplete Start on the Native Instruments YouTube channel.

2. Native Instruments Demos and Komplete Now Trial: try plugins for free

Native Instruments Plugin Demos

Before any potential purchase, we recommend you try any software first. Native Instruments offer demo versions of some of their plugins for free but not for all.

The demo versions are limited to 30 minutes. You can save presets, but cannot open them again.

Free Native Instruments Synths Demos

• Massive X Demo
• ‍Pharlight Demo
• Reaktor 6 Demo
• Straylight Demo
• Massive Demo
• Form Demo
• Absynth Demo
• FM8 Demo
• Razor Demo
• Monark Demo
• Flesh Demo
• Rounds Demo
• Kontour Demo
• Reaktor Spark Demo
• Reaktor Prism Demo
• Retro Machines MK2 Demo
• Skanner XT Demo

Free Native Instruments Sampler Demos

• Kontakt 7 Demo
• Battery 4 Demo
• Polyplex Demo

Free Native Instruments Effects Demos

• Guitar Rig 6 Demo
• Raum Demo
• Crush Pack Demo
• Mod Pack Demo
• Molekular Demo
• Replika XT Demo
• Supercharger GT Demo
• Reverb Classic Demo (RC 24, RC 48)
• Vintage Compressors Demo (VC 2A, VC 76, VC 160)
• The Mouth Demo
• The Finger Demo
• Driver Demo
• Traktor 12 Demo
• Transient Master Demo
• Premium Tube Series Demo (Enhanced EQ, Passive EQ, Vari Comp)
• Rammfire Demo

Free Native Instruments Drums Demos

• Drumlab Demo

Native Instruments do not offer a demo version for their Play Series instruments, Solid Mix Series, Mysteria, or any of the Expansions, Keys, Drums, Guitars, Strings, Brass/Woodwinds, or World sample based plugins.

Native Instruments Komplete Now: one month free trial (normally $9.99)

Another way to try Native Instruments plugins for free is the Komplete Now trial subscription*. The company offers a free one month trial, which currently includes the following plugins:

• Massive X* + Bump & Fade preset packs: the rebirth of the electronic pioneer VST plugin instrument, with 150 new presets
• Battery* (Now Edition): special version of the drum sampler Battery, with 60 dedicated drum kits
• Playbox*, Melted Vibes*, Cloud Supply, Hybrid Keys*, Lo-Fi Glow*, Empire Breaks*, Deft Lines*: sample based instruments
• Studio Drummer*: Premium kits from Pearl, Yamaha and Sonor
• Retro Machines mk2*: 16 analog synths in a sampler instrument
• Bite: Bitcrusher
• Dirt: Distortion
• Freak: Frequency Shifter‍
• Raum*: Reverb‍
• Replika*: Delay
• Supercharger GT*: Compressor

3. Native Instruments Upgrades and Updates: up to 66% discount

Native Instruments offers highly discounted updates from older plugin versions to newer ones. For example, here are the prices of the full version of Komplete 14 Standard, compared to update and upgrade offers:

• Komplete Standard 14: $599
• Update from Komplete 2-13: $199 (66% off)
• Upgrade from Komplete Select: $399 (33% off)
• Upgrade for owners of Komplete Audio 6, Komplete Kontrol A Series, Maschine Mikro Mk3: $499 (17% off)

Similar update and upgrade paths are available to owners of individual plugins, such as Guitar Rig Pro, Massive X or Kontakt.

During the Summer Sale "Summer of Sound", updates and upgrades are 50% off. This sales event has been running every summer for a few years now, in 2020*, 2021* (from 1 to 30 June) and 2022 (from 1 to 30 June 2022*). If you missed it, but can wait until next summer, that is a big saving.

4. Native Instruments Educational/Student Discount: 50% off Reaktor 6 only

The only Native Instruments product with a student discount is Reaktor 6*. With the 50% discount, Reaktor 6 $199 full price is reduced to $99. None of the Komplete range, Traktor, Komplete, or Maschine hardware is offered at a student discount.

How can I get a student discount for Reaktor 6?

You can simply purchase the education version of Reaktor 6 at 50% discount in the Native Instruments shop*. As part of the purchase process, you will need to register for student status.

Find out more about the Native Instruments Education Program.

Our Ultimate Guide to Student Discounts lists top brands offering up to 66% discounts, including AVID Protools, Ableton Live, Native Instruments Reaktor, FL Studio, Antares Auto-Tune and many more

5. "Used" Native Instruments plugins via License Transfer: typically 50% discount

‍Native Instruments allows license transfers, thereby enabling the selling and buying of "used" or second-hand plugins.

How do you transfer Native Instruments licenses?

• The seller logs into their Native Instruments account* and selects the products they want to deactivate and transfer in the Transfer a License section.
• Their request will be sent to the registration support team, which will check if the transfer is eligible/possible.
• If yes, the product(s) with its serial(s) will be removed from their account, and they will receive a Transfer ID, which they can provide to the new owner.
• The new owner can log in to their account and import this Transfer ID on the Import Licenses page, which will import the products and serials to the NI account. The user can then activate the product(s) with the provided serials.
• Note that Native Instruments is not responsible for providing the product itself to the new user. Nevertheless, for most products, there is a download available in My Account.
• It is impossible to sell licenses under a single Transfer ID to multiple persons. If you need to split the products, generate separate Transfer IDs for each buyer.

Once Native Instruments has approved your license transfers, you can see a list of all Transfer IDs in your account.

What are the limitations of Native Instruments license transfers?

• Hardware that comes with software can only be sold as a whole. For example, you cannot sell Komplete Select, which comes with Komplete Kontrol keyboards separately. You have to sell both as one bundle, and the software activation required hardware activation first.
• Educational and not-for-resale (NFR) licenses cannot be transferred.
• If a product is removed from your account, any upgrades based on that product become invalid.

‍Where do I find used licenses offered for sale?

First of all, check the seller's credentials before you part with your money, and ensure the buyer pays for the license transfer fee, which is essential for the legitimate transfer via their FabFilter account.

Forums

You can find offers to sell and transfer Native Instruments licenses on forums such as KVR, VI Control, or Sound on Sound. Asking prices by sellers typically offers at around 50% discount.

Examples of offers for I found at the time of writing included:

• Replika XT for $35 (50% off $69)
• Electric Sunburst Deluxe for $75 (50% off $149)
• Komplete 13 Standard for $350 (40% off $599)

eBay

eBay obviously is a vast market place to buy pretty much anything. This includes used music software. You should find Komplete licenses on auction, including license transfer from the existing owner.

You need to take some precautions, such as checking out the listing detailed description, the buyer's feedback, confirming with the seller they own the full version (not an update version or not-for-resale version), and that Native Instruments have authorised a license transfer.

Bear in mind, the eBay Money Back Guarantee can provide some redress if the deal turns sour.

knobcloud

You could also try out knobcloud, a website that facilitates the buying and selling of plugin licenses. knobcloud is a marketplace where sellers can list their licenses for sale, and buyers can purchase them using PayPal. knobcloud does not charge a fee for the service, but the seller is still accountable for the accurate description and smooth transfer of licenses. That means the vigilance I advised above still applies.

I have not used knobcloud myself but it looks like an interesting concept, saving some effort to trawl through forums. Reviews on KVR generally report a positive experience from both buyers and sellers, but prices seem a bit more expensive than less what sellers ask for on forums‍. For example, I saw Native Instruments Komplete 11 offered for sale for €399, a 32% discount off the usual €589 price. You can always update to the latest version.

6. Native Instruments Sale: Save 50% of Kontakt 7* or save 50% off Komplete 14 Select*

You can buy Kontakt 7 for half price* ($149 instead of $299).

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Or you can save 50% off Komplete Select* from 15 April to 12 May 2024 ($99.50 instead of $199).

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Don't want to miss the latest Native Instruments deals? Sign up to the musicmanta newsletter, and we will keep you up-to-date. Plus, you will receive a free 130 MB sample pack, exclusive competitions, the latest news and reviews, and much more.

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Historic Native Instruments Sales: Black Friday and Summer Sale "Summer of Sound"

Native Instruments has had two major sales periods per year for many years, Summer of Sound, and Black Friday/Cyber Monday. The plugins included vary:

• Summer of Sound 2020*: 50% off updates and upgrades, including bundles such as Komplete.
• Black Friday 2020: 50% off most individual plugins and expansions, but bundles such as Komplete were excluded.
• Summer of Sound 2021*: 50% off updates and upgrades, including bundles such as Komplete.
• Black Friday 2021: 50% off most individual plugins and expansions, but bundles such as Komplete were excluded.
• Summer of Sound 2022*: 50% off updates and upgrades, including bundles such as Komplete.
• Black Friday 2022: 50% off most individual plugins and expansions, but bundles such as Komplete were excluded.
• Summer of Sound 2023*: 50% off Komplete 14, Traktor Pro 3, individual plugins. Save Komplete 14 when bought with Komplete Kontrol, Maschine, or Komplete Audio hardware.

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7. Research the cheapest Native Instruments retailer: up to 9% discount

Some retailers choose to sell Native Instruments plugins at a lower price than the Native Instruments shop.

Thomann* - up to 9% off

At the time of writing, we found Thomann* to be the cheapest official Native Instruments reseller. Here is what we found for Komplete 14 in our research:

USA: Save up to 9%

• ‍Komplete 14: $275* (8% off $299)
• ‍Komplete 14 Ultimate: $551* (9% off $599)
• ‍Komplete 14 Ultimate Collector's Edition: $829* (8% off $899.50)

(Prices last checked and updated: 11 January 2024)

As prices change, here are the best selling Native Instruments products with live prices from Thomann*:

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Buying Native Instruments plugins: Questions and Answers

Do Native Instruments plugins ever go on sale? When does Native Instruments go on sale?

We cannot predict the future, but in recent years Native Instruments has always offered a sale, reliably around Black Friday in November every year. In addition, the Native Instruments Summer Sale called Summer of Sound has been running in June for many years. Discounts have always been around 50%, but did not include all plugins and bundles. Just sign up to the musicmanta newsletter and we will let you know when the next sale is on.

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Does Native Instruments offer a student or educational discount for students and teachers?

Yes, but only for Reaktor. You can simply purchase the education version of Reaktor 6 at 50% discount in the Native Instruments shop*. As part of the purchase process, you will need to register for student status.

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Do you have a question not covered here, or found another way to buy Native Instruments plugins at a discount? Help us help others by letting us know.