Cardinal vs Spire
| Cardinal | Spire | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Free trial | No | Yes |
| Paid from | Free | — |
| Open source | No | No |
| Platforms | Linux, macOS, Web, Windows | macOS, Windows |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Synthesis engine | modular | — |
| Plugin formats | AudioUnit, CLAP, LV2, VST2, VST3 | AU, AAX, CLAP, VST2/VST3 |
| Standalone app | Yes | — |
| MPE support | Yes | — |
| Paid from | — | 189 one-time |
| Supported platforms | — | windows_macos |
| Included presets | — | 1,000 presets |
Both are listed in Best Software Synthesizers. On Freedom251, Cardinal scores higher on our published basis.