Best Guitar Amp Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Neural Amp Modeler is ranked #1 of 25 as of 7 October 2026, ahead of Amp Locker and Amplifikation 360. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Amp Locker. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Amp Locker at $5/mo.
Guitar amp software lets you shape tones using virtual amplifiers, cabinets and effects. Compared on amp models, cabinet models and effects count, the options also differ in IR loader support and plugin formats. Check whether a standalone app is available and which platforms are supported, then weigh free-plan availability and paid-from pricing. Neural Amp Modeler, Amp Locker and Amplifikation 360 are among the options shown. Compare the listed setup and sound-shaping features with your playing or recording workflow.
25 guitar amp software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
8 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neural Amp ModelerWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 2 | Amp LockerWindows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $5/mo | 6.5 | |
| 3 | Amplifikation 360Windows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 4 | GENOMEWindows · Mac · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 5 | Helix Stadium NativeWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 6 | IK Multimedia ReSingWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 7 | AmpedWindows · Mac | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 8 | GuitarixMac · Linux | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 9 | AIDA-XWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 10 | TH-UWindows · Mac · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 11 | AmpForgeWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 12 | Blue Cat's FreqAnalystWindows · Mac | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 13 | GjallaWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 14 | Soundshed GuitarWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 15 | RustortionWindows · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 16 | Amp ONEiPhone | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 17 | BIAS XWindows · Mac | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 18 | MASCHINEWindows · Mac | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | $39/mo | 5.1 |
| 19 | ToneBytes PedalsWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 20 | AmpireWindows · Mac | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 21 | Soldano SLO-100 XWindows · Mac | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 22 | Amp RoomWindows · Mac | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
| 23 | Battery 4Windows · Mac | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
| 24 | Helix NativeWindows · Mac | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
| 25 | AmpKnob BDH IIIWindows · Mac | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 4.8 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Amp models | Cabinet models |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neural Amp Modeler | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 2 | Amp Locker | 6.5 | Free plan | $5/mo | Yes | — | 111 models | — |
| 3 | Amplifikation 360 | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | 25 one-time | — | — |
| 4 | GENOME | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | 24 models | 16 models |
| 5 | Helix Stadium Native | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | 99.99 one-time | 132 models | 46 models |
| 6 | IK Multimedia ReSing | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | 99.99 one-time | 13 models | 14 models |
| 7 | Amped | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | 2 models | 3 models |
| 8 | Guitarix | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 9 | AIDA-X | 5.6 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 10 | TH-U | 5.6 | No | — | — | — | 16 models | 15 models |
| 11 | AmpForge | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 12 | Blue Cat's FreqAnalyst | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 13 | Gjalla | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 14 | Soundshed Guitar | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 15 | Rustortion | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 16 | Amp ONE | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 17 | BIAS X | 5.1 | No | — | No | 149 one-time | 33 models | 25 models |
| 18 | MASCHINE | 5.1 | No | $39/mo | No | 199 one-time | — | — |
| 19 | ToneBytes Pedals | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 20 | Ampire | 5.0 | No | — | No | 59.95 one-time | 5 models | 16 models |
| 21 | Soldano SLO-100 X | 5.0 | No | — | No | — | 1 models | 1 models |
| 22 | Amp Room | 4.9 | No | — | No | 99 one-time | 3 models | 5 models |
| 23 | Battery 4 | 4.9 | No | — | No | 199 one-time | — | — |
| 24 | Helix Native | 4.9 | No | — | No | 99.99 one-time | — | — |
| 25 | AmpKnob BDH III | 4.8 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which guitar amp software is ranked first on Freedom251?
Neural Amp Modeler is ranked #1 of 25 with a score of 6.6. Amp Locker is second and Amplifikation 360 third.
How many of these have a free plan?
8 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Amp Locker has the lowest first paid tier we found: $5/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation.