Universal Audio is getting in on the Black Friday freebie action with a limited-time offer entailing one free plugin.
You can pick up one free plugin from Universal Audio between Black Friday and Cyber Monday (the offer ends on December 1, 2025).
Use the coupon code “BFPICK1FREE” at checkout to claim your free plugin.
Now, for the interesting part.
Some developers, like Waves and Air Music Tech, drop a new plugin on Black Friday, which is awesome, but that’s not what we have here.
Instead, Universal Audio asks you to choose one of ten existing plugins as your freebie.
Here are your choices (and their prices at Universal Audio):
- 1176 Classic FET Compressor ($29 – usually $49)
- Century Tube Channel Strip ($29 – usually $49)
- Galaxy Tape Echo ($29 -usually $49)
- Oxide Tape Recorder ($29 – usually $49)
- PolyMAX Synth ($29 – usually $49)
- Pultec Passive EQ Collection ($49 – usually $149)
- Pure Plate Reverb ($29 – usually $49)
- Showtime ’64 Tube Amp ($29 – usually $49)
- Teletronix LA-2A Tube Compressor ($19 – usually $49)
- Verve Analog Machines Essentials ($19 – usually $49)
Price isn’t everything, but it’s worth considering. There are always plugins we’d like to own, but not at the current price, and it feels great to get them for free.
Unless you have a specific plugin in mind, choosing can be tricky, even when we aren’t paying.
I’d start by thinking about which plugins are most often available for free, and I’d rule out the following:
- 1176 Classic FET Compressor
- Teletronix LA-2A Tube Compressor
These two plugins have been featured as freebies multiple times and will likely be again. I could say the same about the Pultec Collection, but I’m not ready to exclude it!
I’d then rule out Galaxy Tape Echo; I love it, but you can get it free with any purchase at Plugin Boutique until December 8, 2025 (buy something cheap for a few dollars, if you haven’t already).
I wouldn’t go for Verve Analog Machines Essentials (four analog tone machines) because the full version is currently available for $29 (usually ($99), and it features ten analog tone machines.
The Showtime ’64 Tube Amp has been free before, although not too often.
My reasons for ruling it out are that so many of us picked up Amplitube 5 during the IK Multimedia Group Buy promotion, and amp sims often appear for free, like Air Music Tech’s Amp Sim (free until December 31, 2025).
Lastly, I’d rule out the Oxide Tape Recorder for anyone who recently maxed out T-RackS 6 in the group buy; you’ll find enough tape emulations there.
My shortlist would be:
- Century Tube Channel Strip
- PolyMAX Synth
- Pultec Passive EQ Collection
- Pure Plate Reverb
Everything on my shortlist has been available for free, but they are either free less often, or I just love them.
If you don’t have the PolyMAX Synth and want amazing sounds without diving too deep, I highly recommend it.
In any case, whatever you choose will be a great freebie.
Universal Audio Native plugins for macOS and Windows require the UA Connect manager for installation, but it doesn’t have to be running during use. You’ll also need a free iLok account (a physical iLok USB is not required).
Check out the deal: Universal Audio Black Friday Freebie (Choose one plugin for FREE using code “BFPICK1FREE” at checkout until December 1st)
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