Cockos ReaPlugs is a collection of plug-ins that distributes some of the effects built into the DAW (recording and production software) “REAPER” for free. Its feature is that it is distributed in a form that people without REAPER, or people using other DAWs, can load. It has the basic tools of mixing, such as a compressor, an equalizer, a delay and a gate. This page covers how to get it, the included effects, where it fits and what to know before you download.
Disclosure: this site uses affiliate programs. Whether the plug-in is free, and its features and supported formats, were checked on the maker’s official pages around 2026-10-16. Terms of distribution can change, so please check the official page before you download.
How to get ReaPlugs
- Open the ReaPlugs official page (free).
- From “Download ReaPlugs” on the page, choose either the 32-bit or the 64-bit version to match your DAW and download it.
- Run the downloaded file to install it. The official site explains that a “portable” way of using it is also possible, in which you copy the installed files and run them as they are.
- Open your DAW and rescan for plug-ins.
- Load ReaComp, ReaEQ and the others on an effects track and start using them.
No request to register an account could be confirmed on the official page. Please download from the official website.
What is ReaPlugs?
The official site describes ReaPlugs as “a free package that includes many of the plug-ins REAPER has”. It is distributed for people who “are tied to another host (DAW) but want to use REAPER’s effects”. The official page lists as features that it is light (a small load on CPU and memory), has a clear window and easy-to-use meters, allows detailed settings and has no copy protection.
What is distributed is “ReaPlugs VST v2.36” (the official notation is 2 January 2016), in 32-bit and 64-bit versions. It looks less like a product under continued updates and more like a package that hands out finished tools as they are.
Main features of ReaPlugs
- ReaComp (compressor) (per the manufacturer): Described as a compressor with many settings, including soft knee, a sidechain filter and input, program-dependent auto release, oversampling, look-ahead and a wet/dry mix.
- ReaXcomp (multiband compressor) (per the manufacturer): There is no limit on the number of bands, and you can adjust ratio, threshold, attack, release and more for each band. There are meters for each band, and a solo mode that lets you hear only the current band.
- ReaEQ (equalizer) (per the manufacturer): An IIR-type EQ with no limit on the number of bands. You can use many types, including shelf, band, low-pass, high-pass, notch, band-pass and all-pass. It shows the frequency response and phase response, and a guide to note names and octaves. The update notes say a spectrum analyzer was added in version 2.36.
- ReaDelay (delay) (per the manufacturer): A multi-tap delay with effectively no limit on the number of taps. Each tap can be up to 10 seconds, and the length can be given in seconds, milliseconds or quarter notes. For each tap you can set feedback, low-pass/high-pass, stereo width, volume and pan.
- ReaFIR (FFT-based dynamics processing) (per the manufacturer): It has EQ, compressor and gate modes, and a “subtract” mode that captures the character of noise and subtracts it. Using it by building a noise profile and subtracting the noise from the signal is described.
- ReaGate (gate) (per the manufacturer): It has a sidechain, hold, hysteresis, look-ahead and more. It can also send MIDI events when the gate opens and closes.
- ReaStream, ReaJS and ReaControlMIDI (per the manufacturer): ReaStream is a tool for sending audio and MIDI between DAWs on the same network. ReaJS is a user-editable effects framework, and it is explained that hundreds of effects come with it, such as delays, compressors, limiters and distortion. ReaControlMIDI can automate MIDI control changes and bank/program switching.
Who ReaPlugs is for
- People who want to put together a full set of free compressors and EQs in a DAW other than REAPER
- People looking for light, stable basic effects
- People who want to try reducing noise picked up in vocal or instrument recordings with a free tool
- People who want to try processing they do not normally use, such as a multiband compressor or a detailed delay
- People who want to know how the effects handle before buying REAPER
On the other hand, people who want flashy looks or many presets may find it plain. It is built closer to a tool for craftspeople, where you assemble the items you need yourself.
Tips for using ReaPlugs
- With ReaEQ, try a low cut first (a filter that cuts the low range). Tidying up unneeded low end in vocals and guitars is well known as a mixing basic.
- With ReaComp, moving the threshold (the volume at which compression starts) and the ratio (how strong the compression is) a little at a time while watching the gain reduction (the amount the volume was lowered) meter may make the effect easier to understand.
- When you want to reduce noise, one way is to build a profile in ReaFIR’s subtract mode from a section where only the noise is sounding. Pushing it too hard tends to make the sound unnatural, so try it little by little.
- ReaDelay works as a simple delay with a single tap, and as an echo with complex rhythms as you add taps.
- For detailed explanations of how to use it, the REAPER user guide (provided on the official site) is a useful reference.
Things to know before you download
- Supported operating systems: The official page lists support for Windows 98/ME/2K/XP/Vista/7 and WINE (a mechanism for running Windows software on other operating systems). Distribution for Mac and Linux could not be confirmed on this official page. Whether it works on newer versions of Windows is not stated on the official page, so we recommend trying it in your own environment before relying on it.
- Format: The official download name is “ReaPlugs VST”. No statement of support for VST3, AU or AAX could be confirmed on the official page. Please first check whether your DAW can load VST-format plug-ins.
- 32-bit and 64-bit: Install the one that matches the bit depth of your DAW.
- Version: The v2.36 currently distributed is from 2016. It is a tool that has been used for a long time, but it is not something to expect new features from.
- Always get the files from the official website.
FAQ
Q. Can I use it without owning REAPER?
Yes. The official site explains that it distributes ReaPlugs for free for people using other hosts or who have not switched to REAPER.
Q. Is it really free?
The official page reads “for free” and “Freely usable”. No pointer to a paid version could be confirmed on this page. Note that the DAW REAPER itself is a separate product, and a purchase page is provided for it.
Q. Is it the same as the effects included in REAPER?
The official site describes ReaPlugs as “a package that includes many of the plug-ins bundled with REAPER”. Differences in individual details could not be confirmed on the official page.
ReaPlugs is available from the ReaPlugs official page (free).
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