The Cheapest Way to Buy FabFilter Plugins

How to buy FabFilter plugins with up to 70% discount

FabFilter have an extensive range of plugin effects. They are well regarded and enjoy strong reviews, including our 5 star review of FabFilter Pro Q3. But they are expensive. Many cost $199, and the FabFilter Total bundle nearly $1000. So what are the best options to get your hands on those expensive plugins for the lowest possible price? And legally - without downloading a cracked version?

TLDR: The quickest way to buy FabFilter at the cheapest price

• ‍Are you a student? Then buy FabFilter for 50% off.‍
• Are you comfortable buying second hand? Then you can buy FabFilter second-hand for typically 50% off, and transfer the license to you.
• ‍‍Can you find FabFilter cheaper at the cheapest official retailer in your country? We found you can buy FabFilter at the cheapest official reseller to save up to 28%.

Also buying a DAW? Check our complete guides to the cheapest ways to buy FL Studio (free forever trial, up to 30% off at Black Friday) and the cheapest ways to buy Ableton Live (up to 39% off at official retailers).

Step by Step guide to buying any FabFilter plugin at the lowest price

We researched all options we could find, and listed them in order. To help guide you to the best option for Fab Filter plugins, just follow the decision tree.

Step 1 Trial Version: Try FabFilter plugins for free for 30 days

Do you fancy free, unlimited use of any and all FabFilter plugins for 30 days?

Then check out our free Fab Filter trial guide, covering how to access the standard 30-day fully functional trial of all FabFilter plugins.

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Planning ahead for Black Friday 2026? Our Black Friday plugin deals guide tracks FabFilter sales and hundreds of other brands.

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Step 2 Personal Offer: Save up to 70% on additional plugins

Do you own any Fab Filter plugins already?‍

Then you can save between 14% and 60% on your next FabFilter plugin using your personal discount offer from Fab Filter, increasing to 70% during a sale.

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Step 3 Student Version: Students and teachers save 50%

Are you a student or teacher?

‍Then use the education discount to save 50% on FabFilter plugins.

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Step 4 Second-Hand: Buy FabFilter "used" to save around 50%

‍Are you comfortable buying a license from someone else?‍

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

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Step 5 Sale: Black Friday Sale with 25% off

When will the next FabFilter sale be?

FabFilter confirmed their Black Friday 2025 sale with 25% off all plugins and bundles*, consistent with every Black Friday sale since 2018. We predict a Summer 2026 sale next.

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To get notified of future discounts and sales, why not sign up to the musicmanta newsletter.

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Step 6 Cheapest Retailer: Save up to 28% by buying from official Fab Filter retailers

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

We have done the hard work for you and regularly compare FabFilter prices across top retailers. EUR buyers save up to 28% at Thomann.de; GBP buyers save up to 16% at Thomann or Gear4Music. See our currency price comparison for full details.‍

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Step 7 Referral Coupon: Get a 10% FabFilter coupon

Can't do any of the above, and still want a 10% discount you can use at any time?‍

Then request a referral coupon code from musicmanta for 10% off at any time for anyone to redeem in the FabFilter shop.

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Don't want to miss the latest Fab Filter deals? Sign up to the musicmanta newsletter and we will send you a free 130 MB sample pack, the latest deals, plus exclusive competitions, latest news and reviews, and much more.

1. FabFilter Trial: 30 days for free

Before any potential purchase, we recommend you try any software first. But not every manufacturer offers this. Native Instruments, for example, does not offer trials of their plugins. And others limit functionality severely, such as intermittent white noise.

The company however offers a generous 30 days fully functional trial of all its products, including the Total bundle. Just head to the download page and install the plugins.

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Do you fancy owning Output plugins for up to 69% off? How about trying Output Arcade for free for 100 days? Then read our brand new guide on cheapest ways to buy Output.

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2. Personal Offers: up to 70% discount

50% off updates to FabFilter plugins you own

For major updates, such as FabFilter Pro Q 2 to Pro Q 3, or Timeless 2 to Timeless 3, a 50% discount applies. Log into your account to see the offer.

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Up to 60% off for additional plugins you buy

Once you have bought your first FabFilter plugin, you are eligible to a personalised discount between 14% and 60%, which increases with every incremental purchase:

1. The first discount depends on you - whether you buy at full price or at a sales discount from FabFilter, or another retailer. From the 2nd purchase onward, the following FabFilter personal discounts apply:
2. 14%
3. 40%
4. 45%
5. 50%
6. 55%
7. 60% - from 7th purchase onwards, a 60% discount applies

FabFilter orders the plugins from most expensive to cheapest, but you can select any combination for the best discount for you. Just log into your account to find out your personal discount offers.

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Up to 70% off during FabFilter sales (during Black Friday and Summer Sale)

You can double up your personalised discount for existing users during Sales for even bigger savings. When FabFilter offers at 25% discount, your personalised discounts increase as follows:

• 2nd plugin: 35.5% off (was 14%)
• 3rd plugin: 55% off (was 40%)
• 4th plugin: 58.75% off (was 45%)
• 5th plugin: 62.5% off (was 50%)
• 6th plugin: 66.25% off (was 55%)
• 7th plugin onwards: 70% off (was 60%)

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Check out the musicmanta In-Depth Review of FabFilter Pro Q 3, with pros and cons, practical examples, alternatives, meta reviews, artist users, and much more.

3. Educational and Student Discount: 50% off

FabFilter offers a 50% student discount/education discount on all its products - indivdual plugins and bundles.

How can I get a student discount from FabFilter?

• Scan your educational proof document (such as a student card or enrolment letter).
• Complete the application form, attach your document and submit the form.
• The company will assess your application and, if granted, create a FabFilter account marked Educational for you.
• If you log in to that account, your prices in the shop will show the 50% discount.

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What restrictions apply to FabFilter plugins bought with a student/education discount?

• The discount will apply for one year, but you can extend this by submitting a new document.
• There are no restrictions on the number of plugins you can buy at a discount. There is nothing stopping you from buying the FabFilter Total bundle of all plugins at half price.
• There are no restrictions on creating commercial music, and you don't have to upgrade to a full license once you have left education.
• Licenses will be Not For Resale (NFR), preventing you from selling the plugins by license transfer.

Our musicmanta 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

4. "Used" or Second Hand FabFilter plugins via License Transfer: typically 50% discount

FabFilter allows license transfers, thereby enabling the selling and buying of "used" or second-hand plugins:

• The seller must initiate the license transfer from their account to the buyer via email, and pay a £9 license transfer fee.
• The license is then automatically transferred to the new owner's account (if he or she already has one) or will receive an email to set one up.

You can find offers to sell and transfer FabFilter licenses on forums such as KVR, VI Control, or Sound on Sound. Prices vary, but I have noticed offers at around 50% discount. Make sure you 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 account.

You could also try out knobcloud, a website that facilitates the buying and selling of plugin licenses. I discovered this website thanks to an email from a reader. knobcloud is a marketplace where sellers can list their licenses for sale, and buyers can purchase them using PayPal. knobcloud does not change 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 appealing 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 KVR, VI Control, or Sound on Sound. For example, I noted that FabFilter Pro Q 3 was offered for sale at €115, about a 22% discount off the usual €149 price.

5. FabFilter Sales: Black Friday and Summer Sales - 25% off

When will the next FabFilter sale be?

We predict that the next official FabFilter sale will be a Summer Sale in June or July 2026, with bundles 25% off. FabFilter has run a summer sale every year since 2019.

To get notified of future discounts and sales, why not sign up to the musicmanta newsletter.

Did FabFilter have a Black Friday sale in 2025?

Yes. FabFilter ran their Black Friday 2025 sale with 25% off all plugins and bundles, running through December 1, 2025. This is consistent with every Black Friday from 2018 to 2025.

What discounts has FabFilter offered in the past?

FabFilter have offered a 25% discount on all their plugins during one of their sale periods in the past. How much can you save? For example, when a FabFilter sale is live, you can buy their Pro-Q 4 EQ plugin for 25% off, reducing the price from $199 down to $149.

In recent years, the company has run two main sales periods: Summer Sale for 2 weeks in June or July, and Black Friday Sale, usually starting from the Monday before Black Friday, and lasting for 7 days.

• Black Friday 2018 (22 to 26 November 2018): 25% off all plugins and bundles.
• Summer Sale 2019 (15 August to 1 September 2019): 25% off all plugin bundles.
• Black Friday 2019 (30 November to 2 December 2019): 25% off all plugins and bundles.
• Summer Sale 2020 (15 August to 1 September 2020): 25% off all plugin bundles.
• Black Friday 2020 (26 to 30 November 2020): 25% off all plugins and bundles.
• Summer Sale 2021 (12 July to 1 August 2021): 25% off all plugin bundles.
• Black Friday 2021 (25 to 29 November 2021): 25% off all plugins and bundles.
• Holiday Sale 2021 (15 December 2021 to 1 January 2022): 25% off all bundles.
• Summer Sale 2022 (11 July to 1 August 2022): 25% off all plugin bundles.
• Black Friday 2022 (21 to 28 November 2022): 25% off all plugins and bundles.
• Holiday Sale 2022 (15 December 2022 to 1 January 2023): 25% off all bundles.
• Summer Sale 2023 (16 June to 1 July 2023): 25% off all plugin bundles.
• Black Friday 2023 (20 to 27 November 2023): 25% off all plugins and bundles.
• Holiday Sale 2023 (18 December 2023 to 1 January 2024): 25% off all bundles.
• 20 Year Anniversary Sale (22 April to 1 May 2024): 30% off all plugins and bundles.
• Summer Sale 2024 (19 June to 1 July 2024): 25% off all plugin bundles.
• Black Friday 2024 (18 November to 2 December 2024): 25% off all plugins and bundles.
• Black Friday 2025 (through 1 December 2025): 25% off all plugins and bundles.

Do you already own any FabFilter plugins?

A FabFilter sale is a great way to add to your collection. You can double up any FabFilter sales discount with the Existing User discount for even bigger savings - saving up to 70%.

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6. Cheapest FabFilter Retailer: up to 28% discount

We compared FabFilter prices at all major retailers. The best deal depends on your currency.

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USD buyers: buy direct, no retailer discount

US retailers match FabFilter's own shop prices exactly. There is no consistent discount available at any major retailer for USD buyers. Buy at fabfilter.com/shop directly, or wait for the annual Black Friday sale for 25% off everything.

Current FabFilter direct USD prices (May 2026): Pro-Q 4 $199, Pro-C 3 $199, Pro-L 2 $199, Pro-R 2 $199, Pro-MB $199, Pro-DS $199, Pro-G $199, Saturn 2 $149, Timeless 3 $149, Volcano 3 $149, Twin 3 $149, One $55, Simplon $55, Micro $35. Total Bundle $1,069.

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EUR buyers: Thomann*, up to 28% off

For EUR buyers, Thomann.de discounts all FabFilter individual plugins below the FabFilter shop price, with the biggest saving on Pro-Q 4. Prices verified at thomann.de in May 2026.

• Pro-Q 4: €143 (FabFilter direct €199, 28% off)
• Pro-L 2: €162 (FabFilter direct €199, 19% off)
• Pro-R 2: €169 (FabFilter direct €199, 15% off)
• Pro-MB: €169 (FabFilter direct €199, 15% off)
• Pro-C 3: €169 (FabFilter direct €199, 15% off)
• Pro-DS: €169 (FabFilter direct €199, 15% off)
• Pro-G: €169 (FabFilter direct €199, 15% off)
• Saturn 2: €129 (FabFilter direct €149, 13% off)
• Timeless 3: €129 (FabFilter direct €149, 13% off)
• Volcano 3: €129 (FabFilter direct €149, 13% off)
• Twin 3: €129 (FabFilter direct €149, 13% off)
• One: €49 (FabFilter direct €55, 11% off)
• Simplon: €49 (FabFilter direct €55, 11% off)
• Micro: €29 (FabFilter direct €35, 17% off)
• Total Bundle: €879 (FabFilter direct €1,069, 18% off)

Other bundles at Thomann: FX Bundle €795, Pro Bundle €659, Mixing Bundle €599, Mastering Bundle €419, Essentials Bundle €349, Creative Bundle €339.

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GBP buyers: Thomann* for most plugins, Gear4Music* for Pro-R 2

For GBP buyers, the best retailer depends on the specific plugin. Prices verified at Thomann and Gear4Music in May 2026.

Best at Thomann (GBP), up to 16% off:

• Pro-Q 4: £125 (FabFilter direct £149, 16% off)
• Saturn 2: £111 (FabFilter direct £129, 14% off)
• Timeless 3, Volcano 3, Twin 3: £113 each (FabFilter direct £129, 12% off)
• One & Simplon: £43 each (FabFilter direct £49, 12% off)
• Micro: £25
• Pro-L 2: £144 (FabFilter direct £149, 3% off)

Note: Pro-R 2, Pro-MB, Pro-C 3, Pro-DS and Pro-G are all £149 at Thomann, matching the FabFilter direct price. No saving at Thomann for those.

Best at Gear4Music (GBP):

• Pro-R 2: £129 (FabFilter direct £149, 13% off; saves £20 vs Thomann)
• Pro-C 3: £145 (FabFilter direct £149, 3% off)
• Most bundles: Thomann Total Bundle £769 is a starting point; Gear4Music is often cheaper on bundles, so check their FabFilter page before buying a bundle.

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7. FabFilter Referral Code/ Coupon: 10% discount

What if you don't want to wait and do not qualify for education discounts? You can still receive a 10% discount at any time via a referral. If you would like a 10% referral discount code/ coupon code, simply send a message to musicmanta with "FabFilter Discount" in the title, and we will send back a personal discount code to you.

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What are the limitations for the 10% FabFilter referral code?

• Existing FabFilter customers cannot use it - but use the much better Existing Customer Discount instead.
• You can only use one referral code per account/email. That means if you have already been invited on your email, you cannot again use another referral code. However, you can open a new account with a new email address.
• The referral code has a 2 month expiry.
• You cannot use the referral code during a sale, or combine it with the educational discount.

Keen on buying FL Studio with up to 50% off? Then find out the cheapest ways to buy FL Studio, one of the most popular musicmanta articles.

Buying FabFilter: Questions and Answers

Does FabFilter ever go on sale? When does FabFilter go on sale next?

We predict that Fab Filter will run their next sale in Summer 2026, with 25% off bundles. FabFilter has run a summer sale every year since 2019, plus a Black Friday sale.

If you sign up to the musicmanta newsletter, we will let you know of future sales.

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

Yes. You can apply for an educational discount of 50% on all FabFilter plugins by completing a form.

What is a Fab Filter?

Fab Filter, a brand generally spelled together "FabFilter", is a software company that creates audio plugins. The company was founded in the Netherlands, and is used by many famous musicians, such as Disclosure, Flux Pavillion, Hardwell and Sigala. Fab Filter is best known for their Fab Filter Pro-Q 4 EQ plugin (released December 2024), Fab Filter Pro-L 2 limiter plugin, and Fab Filter Pro-R 2 reverb.

When can I get a deal on FabFilter? When does FabFilter have sales?

We predict that Fab Filter will run their next sale in Summer 2026, with 25% off bundles. In recent years, FabFilter has always offered 25% off all bundles in the summer, plus 25% off everything at Black Friday.

If you sign up to the musicmanta newsletter, we will let you know of future sales.

Does FabFilter have Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales?

Yes. FabFilter ran Black Friday deals every year from 2018 through 2025, offering 25% off plugins and bundles each time. We expect them to run a Black Friday 2026 sale in November 2026.

‍Sign up to the musicmanta newsletter to get notified when the next sale takes place.

Is FabFilter the best EQ?

Well, the honest answer is "it depends". FabFilter Pro-Q 4 is a high quality EQ plugin. If you want to know why, read our in-depth review. We awarded Pro Q 3 5 stars - Pro Q 4 takes it further.

But if you are a beginner, or short of money, I would not recommend you invest $199 into Pro-Q 4*. Or if you want to add more character to your sounds, there are other EQ plugins I would recommend first, such as Maag EQ.

What plugins does Fab Filter offer?

• Fab Filter Pro-Q 4 EQ (released December 2024, $199)
• Fab Filter Pro-R 2 reverb
• Fab Filter Pro-L 2 limiter
• Fab Filter Pro MB multi band compressor and expander
• Fab Filter Pro-C 3 compressor (released January 2026, $199)
• Fab Filter Pro DS de-esser
• Fab Filter Pro G gate/expander
• Fab Filter Saturn 2 distortion/saturation
• Fab Filter Twin 3 synthesizer
• Fab Filter Timeless 3 tape delay
• Fab Filter Volcano 3 filter
• Fab Filter One synthesizer
• Fab Filter Simplon filter
• Fab Filter Micro filter

What are the best FabFilter plugins?

Here are our top 5 FabFilter plugins:

1. FabFilter Pro-Q 4 EQ: the industry standard EQ plugin (updated December 2024)
2. FabFilter Pro L 2 limiter: adds loudness while adding few artefacts
3. FabFilter Pro R 2 reverb: from subtle to spacious, this reverb has it all
4. FabFilter Saturn 2 distortion/saturation: nuanced warmth when you need it
5. FabFilter Simplon filter: the easiest to use filter

What products are included in the FabFilter bundles?

The FabFilter Total bundle includes all 14 plugins. Current pricing at fabfilter.com/shop (prices checked May 2026).

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