19 October 2025 | Leroi Fox
Black Friday and Black Week consistently offer significant discounts on VST plugins. Thinking about 2025, 2024 saw deals up to 96% off from major retailers like Plugin Boutique and Waves.com. Historical trends indicate that early November often marks the start of these sales, with some of the best deals appearing before the actual Black Friday date. For 2025, similar patterns are anticipated, with early bird discounts and substantial savings expected from key developers.
Introduction
Black Friday and the subsequent Black Week have become pivotal events for music producers and audio engineers seeking to expand their virtual studio arsenals. These periods are characterized by deep discounts on VST (Virtual Studio Technology) plugins, offering opportunities to acquire high-quality software at significantly reduced prices. The sales often extend beyond a single day, encompassing a full week or even the entire month of November, often dubbed "Black November." This article examines the trends observed in past Black Friday VST plugin sales, with a particular emphasis on 2024, and provides insights into what to expect for 2025.
Expected VST Plugin Deals for Black Friday 2025
Based on established patterns, Black Friday 2025, scheduled for November 28th, is expected to follow similar trends. We anticipate sales to commence earlier than the official date, likely in early to mid-November, as developers and retailers vie for early consumer attention. Websites like Waves.com and Plugin Boutique are almost certain to be at the forefront of these promotions.
Waves Audio will likely continue its strategy of offering substantial discounts on individual plugins and bundles, potentially with tiered savings for multiple purchases. It is also probable that they will offer a free plugin or attractive introductory deals to entice new customers. Given their history, discounts of 90% or more on popular bundles are a strong possibility.
Plugin Boutique is expected to again host a comprehensive collection of deals from numerous developers, including their own exclusive bundles. Their platform is a reliable source for discovering a wide range of discounted VSTs, from effects to instruments. Early indications for 2025 suggest sales from developers like Cableguys (55% off) and free plugin offers like the LANDR Guitar plugin with a trial.
Pluginboutique.com: Expect a wide array of deals from various developers, including exclusive bundles. Early deals for 2025 include Cableguys (55% off) and a free LANDR Guitar plugin with a trial. (To be fact-checked.) ;)
Pictured: Studer A800 reel-to-reel tape recorder from Universal Sounds (also found on Plugin Boutique).
yurtrock.com: Expect great deals on real drum stems to use in your music productions.
Waves.com: Anticipate significant discounts on individual plugins and bundles, potentially with tiered savings and free plugin offers. Discounts of 90% or more on popular bundles are highly probable.
Keep an eye on major developers like:
- Native Instruments
- Arturia
- Universal Audio
- IK Multimedia
- Sonnox
- BABY Audio
These VST plugin companies historically offer substantial discounts during this period.
Another one to look out for is:
- Desired Sounds! <- of course, I would say that :)
Falling on November 29th, Black Friday 2024 saw a continuation of the trend of aggressive discounting across the VST plugin market. Major retailers and developers initiated their sales well in advance of the official date, with some promotions beginning as early as the first week of November. This early start has become a common strategy, allowing consumers a longer window to take advantage of deals and often featuring "early bird" specials.
Waves Audio launched its Early Black Friday Deals with plugins starting from $19.99 USD. Additional tiered discounts were offered, providing 25% off a second plugin, 35% off a third, and 45% off subsequent purchases. Notably, the [Diamond Bundle] was available at a 90% discount for a limited time. Waves also offered a free plugin, IDX Intelligent Dynamics, as part of its 2024 Black Friday promotions. Historically, Waves has been known for frequent sales, though their Black Friday offerings often represent some of the deepest discounts of the year, sometimes making bundles like Platinum available for as low as $99 in previous years.
Plugin Boutique also featured a wide array of discounts, with some exclusive bundles reaching up to 96% off. Their offerings typically include a diverse selection from various developers, making it a one-stop shop for many producers. Other notable sales in 2024 included Universal Audio UAD, IK Multimedia T-RackS, Sonnox, and BABY Audio, all offering discounts of 85-90% or more on their products.
Historical Context and Price Differences
The landscape of VST plugin sales during Black Friday has evolved over the years. While deep discounts are a constant, the timing and specific offers can vary. In previous years, such as 2023, the first Black Friday deals were observed around October 21st, indicating a consistent pattern of early initiation. The aggressive pricing strategies, particularly from companies like Waves, have led to a perception that their Black Friday deals are often similar to their other frequent sales throughout the year, though the sheer volume and depth of discounts during Black Friday and Black Week often surpass regular promotions.
Consumers have come to expect significant savings, making it a prime time to invest in new tools or upgrade existing ones. The competitive nature of the market during this period often drives developers to offer unprecedented price cuts, sometimes reaching historic lows for popular plugins and bundles.
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DISCLAIMER:
I may (or may not) receive a small commission for directing people to some of the plugin websites listed on my site. The plugins are great, you get a deal, I get to live. :)
Much thanks!
- Leroi
PS Also let me know if your website (or a favorite one) has Black Friday VST plugin deals worth mentioning.
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