Flangers can make a track swirl, swoop, or just feel more alive. If you’re looking for that vintage tape-style swirl or some subtle movement in a mix, the right flanger plugin can do the trick.
Here are the best flangers I’ve personally used and trust. But first, a quick recap for those new to the effect.
What Is a Flanger?
A flanger creates a sweeping, whooshing sound by mixing a signal with a slightly delayed version of itself. That delay changes over time, creating a series of peaks and notches in the frequency spectrum – kind of like a comb filter.
Back in the day, engineers would press a thumb on one of two tape reels, slowing it down slightly to create the effect. Nowadays, VST plugins can do it way easier and with more control.
Our Pick of The Best Flanger Plugins
| Plugin | Best For | Through-Zero | Envelope Follower |
| Arturia Flanger BL-20 | Creative sound design | ✅ | ✅ |
| A/DA Flanger by Brainworx | Classic guitar tones | ✅ | ❌ |
| BLEASS Flanger | EDM, rhythmic effects | ✅ | ✅ |
| Eventide Instant Flanger Mk II | Vintage tape-style flanging | ✅ | ✅ |
| Softube Fix Flanger & Doubler | Vocals, stereo doubling | ✅ | ✅ |
| D16 Antresol | Analog tone tweaking | ✅ | ❌ |
| Sinevibes Dipole | Stereo widening, clean flanging | ✅ | ❌ |
| Melda MFlangerMB | Advanced mix shaping | ❌ | ✅ |
| Valhalla Space Modulator | Experimental modulation | ✅ | ❌ |
| TAL-Flanger | Basic analog-style flanging | ❌ | ❌ |
| Audiority Flanger 117 | Raw analog textures | ✅ | ✅ |
| Waves MetaFlanger | Retro-style modulation | ✅ | ❌ |
Arturia Flanger BL-20
Best for producers who want deep control and analog warmth.
This one made me rethink flangers completely. It’s based on rare hardware, but goes far beyond that. Arturia added modern features like 3 modulation types (LFO, envelope, manual), stereo spread, and through-zero flanging. You also get a hi-pass filter, function generator, and 28 presets to play with. It’s a serious sound design tool.
A/DA Flanger by Brainworx
Best for classic guitar tones and smooth modulation.
This is a straight-up analog classic in plugin form. It nails that 70s/80s clean guitar tone. You can choose between two circuit models (1979 and 2009) and get wide stereo modes, wet/dry blend, and host sync.
BLEASS Flanger
Best for electronic music and sound design.
This one’s great for modern styles. Two LFOs, tempo sync, and tons of modulation shapes make it feel almost like a synth. Very fun to automate and it’s great for rhythmic modulation or glitchy FX.
Eventide Instant Flanger Mk II
Best for old-school tape-style flanging.
This is a digital emulation of the iconic 1975 rackmount flanger used by Bowie and Cyndi Lauper. I’ve tried a lot of flangers, but this one from Eventide really nails that rich, vintage vibe Bowie and Cyndi Lauper made famous. It’s reliable, inspiring, and adds a ton of character without getting in the way.
Softube Fix Flanger and Doubler
Best for Vocals, lush doubling, tape-like FX
Made by legendary designer Paul Wolff, this plugin offers two effects in one — flanging and doubling. Great on vocals, synths, and even full mixes. You get VSO-style flange control, servo bounce, and unique stereo tricks.
D16 Antresol
Best for detailed mix work, analog lovers
This one’s detailed and deep. It’s a modern recreation of a vintage stompbox, with stereo channel control, multiple LFO shapes, and BBD-style analog warmth. You can get super precise with this one.
Sinevibes Dipole
Best for subtle movement and stereo width.
Dipole is clean and easy to use. It’s a through-zero flanger that gives you both positive and negative feedback modes. Sounds smooth, airy, and wide. Great UI, low CPU usage.
Melda MFlangerMB
Best for full mixes, advanced FX chains
Multiband flanger with massive depth. You can split your audio into up to 6 bands and apply different flanger settings to each. Great for advanced users. Not the most beginner-friendly, but very powerful.
Audiority Flanger 117
Best for classic flanger pedal fans.
Based on the MXR M117. It sounds vintage and aggressive. You get through-zero flanging, stereo spread, and tempo sync. We recommend checking out the demo to see how it fits your workflow.
Waves MetaFlanger
Best for vocals, vintage FX.
A classic plugin with old-school vibes. It’s good for tape-style flanging, phasing, and doubling effects. It’s not the most modern UI, but it works – and the presets are solid.
Valhalla Space Modulator (Free)
Best for anyone. Just get it.
One of the best free plugins out there. You get 11 modulation modes, from classic flanging to strange, swirling echoes. It’s simple to use, sounds great, and works on anything.
TAL-Flanger (Free)
Best for quick setups, low CPU use.
Simple, CPU-friendly, and sounds great. You won’t get a ton of control, but it nails the basic flanger sound with ease.
Tips for Using Flangers
Flangers can be subtle or wild. Here are a few ways to use them effectively:
- Less is more. A tiny amount of flanging can add motion without being obvious.
- Try it on aux sends. Send part of a signal to a flanger and blend it back in for more control.
- Automate modulation depth or rate. You’ll get more natural movement across your track.
- Use on stereo busses. Add depth to guitars, synths, or even full drum loops.
- Layer it. Combine flangers with chorus plugins or reverbs for richer textures.
How We Picked The Best Flanger Plugins
I didn’t just grab the highest-rated ones. I used these plugins on guitars, vocals, synths, and drums. Some are expensive, some are free. But they all do one thing right: they sound good and are worth your time.
Here’s what I looked for:
- Sound Quality: Does it actually sound good? Can it sit in a mix?
- Ease of Use: Clear interface, fast workflow, not buried in menus.
- Range: Can it do both subtle and extreme effects?
- Reliability: No crashes, low CPU use, works in modern DAWs.
- Value: Price vs. performance. Includes free options that don’t suck.
FAQs
Can I use flangers on vocals?
Yes. It works great for subtle stereo width or doubling. Just don’t go overboard unless you want that robotic vibe.
What’s through-zero flanging?
It’s when the delayed signal “crosses” the original — resulting in total phase cancellation at one point. It sounds deep and dramatic.
Are free flangers worth it?
Some are excellent. Valhalla and TAL offer great free flangers. They’re simple, but they work.
About the author:
Noah Murray
Noah is a talented music producer hailing from Canada. With a deep-rooted passion for music and attention to detail, Noah has made a name for himself as a versatile producer.
Specializing in electronic music, Noah’s work resonates with authenticity and emotion. When he’s not producing, Noah enjoys watching games of the maple leafs and experimenting with sound design.
