7 Of The Best Free Guitar Pedal Plugins?

Our top pick for the best free guitar pedal plugin is TSE808 2.0 Lite, a software recreation of the legendary Ibanez Tube Screamer 808—the overdrive pedal that has launched a thousand solos.

For metalheads who think "gain" is just a suggestion, Mercuriall Metal Area takes the crown for best metal guitar pedal plugin. This beast emulates the infamous BOSS Metal Zone, loved and loathed in equal measure.

If you’re after dreamy, swirling textures, Mercuriall Chorus WS-1 is a fantastic choice, bringing the legendary BOSS CE-2 Chorus Ensemble to your DAW.

Here’s our list of the 7 best free guitar pedal plugins:

1. TSE808 2.0 Lite (Best Overdrive) - Download Here

2. Mercuriall Metal Area (Best Metal Distortion) - Download Here

3. Ignite Amps Pro F.E.T. (Best JFET Emulation) - Download Here

4. Mercuriall Chorus WS-1 (Best Chorus) - Download Here

5. TSE R47 (Best RAT Emulation) - Download Here

6. Heptode Deep Crunch (Best Amp Distortion) - Download Here

7. Ignite Amps TSB1 Tyrant Screamer - Download Here

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Best TS Emulation: TSE808 2.0 Lite

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Why We Love It:

• Smooth, full overdrive that mimics the warmth of a cranked tube amp.

• Faithful recreation of the Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer—because some things never go out of style.

• Mono/Stereo processing and Hi/Lo quality mode.

View on TSE Audio

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Best MT-2 Emulation: Mercuriall Metal Area

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Why We Love It:

• Unique dual-gain circuitry for maximum face-melting distortion.

• 3-band EQ with semi-parametric midrange control (because mids matter!).

• Emulates the legendary BOSS Metal Zone (MT-2), the most divisive pedal in history.

View on Mercuriall Audio

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Best CE-2 Emulation: Mercuriall Chorus WS-1

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Why We Love It:

• Spot-on BOSS CE-2 Chorus emulation for lush, dreamy textures.

• Stereo processing for extra-wide goodness.

• Depth, Speed, and Mix controls—because you like options.

View on Mercuriall Audio

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Best JFET Emulation: Ignite Amps Pro F.E.T.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Why We Love It:

• Tube-like saturation with JFET-based gain stages—because tubes are expensive.

• 4-band EQ with Shape toggle for extra tweakability.

• Mono/Stereo processing and up to 8x oversampling for pristine tone.

View on KVR Audio

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Best RAT Emulation: TSE R47

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Why We Love It:

• RAT-style overdrive that goes from crunchy blues to searing distortion.

• Simple interface with Drive, Tone, and Output controls—no rocket science required.

• Stereo/Dual mode for flexible routing.

View on TSE Audio

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Best Amp Distortion: Heptode Deep Crunch

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Why We Love It:

• Emulates the Soldano SLO-100 amp distortion—legendary for a reason.

• 3-band EQ with cab sim switch for extra versatility.

• Great for everything from classic rock to high-gain mayhem.

View on KVR Audio

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Best TS for Heavy Music: Ignite Amps TSB1 Tyrant Screamer

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Why We Love It:

• Tube Screamer-inspired, but with an extra shot of aggression.

• Additional Sweep control for dialing in that perfect midrange.

• Mono/Stereo processing with oversampling options.

View on KVR Audio

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Final Thoughts

All of these plugins offer high-quality emulations of legendary guitar pedals—for the unbeatable price of free! Whether you want creamy overdrive, skull-crushing distortion, or a chorus that would make The Police jealous, these plugins will take your tone to the next level—without breaking the bank.

Tried any of these? Let us know in the comments! Got a favorite we missed? Share your secret weapons!

Song Creation, Step by Step

Well, the "Creating A Song: Step By Step" video series is over, and the newly created song "That I Might Live" has reached the final mix stage. If you have not followed along during the process of making the intangible idea a "tangible" song then head on over there and check that out.

There were some great take away points that I wanted to share with you though, when it comes to the process as a whole.

• The single best thing that someone could do for their recordings is to commit to their sounds and utilize some processing on the way in.
• Having an arrangement in mind long before recording can help but the arrangement should not be restricted to one "phase" of song production
• By using small moves in several places it does a whole lot more than huge moves in fewer places
• The best tones are not achieved inside a DAW but before they ever go in
• Attention to detail and timing makes a huge difference between a mediocre production and a professional sounding one

I hope you have enjoyed the series. If you have any questions hit me up!

A Thriving Home Studio

 A Thriving Home Studio

A Home Studio should be releasing things, and I have just released my newest seven song album, "In Pursuit"! Already, I must say, that I feel a great burden lifted and a sense of accomplishment. I released an album last year as well entitled "Absolutes", but I can definitely tell that my skills as a musician and an audio engineer have improved.

So what about those songs of yesteryear? Do I go back and "fix" them? Nope. Those songs were acceptable at that time when I released them, and I still play them live the same way I always have, but they also set a benchmark for me and others, a point of reference for all to see my growth and to learn from those experiences.

Along those same lines, I want to cover some things that I would've done differently on this album if I decided to go back and change anything, however I will not. You see there also has to come a point and time where we are honest with ourselves and we say "Ok, I have got this mix as good as I can get it with my current skills and knowledge. It is time to learn more and move on."

But how does that help?

Well what if... What if we continually tried to improve on our best at that time and NEVER released a thing?! That would be POINTLESS! The world is full of stagnant Home Studios that never release anything but talk about a lot. They boast of all these amazing things they've learned but never share it. They brag about all the songs they're "working on" but never can show someone their work because they are... Scared. Yep, I said it. Scared that someone is going to shoot them down or say something negative, scared to be critiqued, and due to their fear they end up quitting without ever displaying those God given talents for everyone to hear. That is an effort in futility and no fun at all.

I would much rather deal with a few negative comments  from people I don't know than to let down those who do know me and believe in me. I would much rather have a Home Studio that churns out my best at that time then nothing at all, and I would definitely not want to let my God down by burying my talents and not being a good steward of the gifts He has given me. 

Whatever project you're working on right now that you are afraid to release, just release it! It will free up your creative palette and give your gifts room to grow. Welcome the critique, because not everyone is intending to be nasty, and it could be that you could learn something in the process that would help you on you next endeavor. Ok, I am climbing down off my soapbox now. Below I have listed some thing that I would've done differently with this album if I had to go back. (But I won't)

Some things I would've done differently, if I had to go back:

• I would've put more automation on my tracks
• I would've taken more time to arrange and produce
• I would've taken more time on mic placement and tonality on the way in
• I would've recorded at lower levels
• I would've made sure I got better takes
• I would've experimented with more than one microphone (now that I can)
• I would've mic'd a few amps rather than just going DI all the time

There are other things I could write down here as well but you get the point. I am learning from the experience and applying what I know now to what I will do in the future! You can do the same thing! Inside you is locked away a ton of potential, you just need to release it!

 

I am here to help in anyway I can, just let me know if you need something. 

Download for FREE or give what you want.