Should You Crack VST Plugins: Pros & Cons
If you’ve ever looked into producing music, you’ve probably encountered the age-old debate: should you pirate VST plugins? It’s a tempting prospect. After all, professional plugins can cost hundreds of dollars, and when you’re just starting out, that price tag can feel like an insurmountable barrier. For some, pirating plugins seems like the only way to access the tools they need to create music. But is it worth it? This post isn’t about wagging a moralizing finger at anyone who’s dabbled in piracy. Instead, we’re here to explore the pros and cons of cracking VST plugins, providing an honest discussion about why it might seem like a good idea and why, ultimately, purchasing your plugins is the better choice for ethical and practical reasons. Let’s dive in.
Should You Crack VST Plugins: Pros & Cons
The Pros of Pirating
The Cons of Pirating VST Plugins
Is Purchasing VST Plugins is the Better Choice?
The Alternative: Free VSTs and Trial Versions
When I Was A Pirate…
Walk the Plank or Pay the Price?
The Pros of Pirating
One of the most obvious reasons producers turn to piracy is the high cost of professional plugins. Tools from big names like Spectrasonics and Output can cost anywhere from $100 to $1,000. For a beginner with no income from music, that kind of investment can feel impossible.
Piracy allows access to these premium tools without the hefty price tag. Having access to plugins used by industry professionals is undeniably alluring. Many producers feel like they need these tools to compete in a crowded music scene, and piracy provides a way to get them—no credit card required.
Another argument in favor of piracy is that it allows beginners to learn and experiment with professional tools. Music production is a steep learning curve, and many want to test out different plugins to find what works for their workflow before committing to a purchase.
Piracy, in this context, feels like a trial run. After all, not every plugin offers a demo version, and even those that do often come with limitations like watermarks or time restrictions. For someone just dipping their toes into production, piracy seems like an easy way to explore.
Piracy might also appeal to those who are unsure of their long-term interest in music production. Buying plugins feels like a big commitment, especially if you’re not sure whether you’ll stick with it. With pirated plugins, there’s no upfront cost. For many, it feels like a low-risk option that lets them test the waters without breaking the bank.
The Cons of Pirating VST Plugins
While the arguments in favor of piracy might seem compelling, the downsides are significant. Here’s why pirating plugins often isn’t worth it.
Let’s start with the elephant in the room: piracy sucks.
While it’s easy to think of plugin developers as faceless corporations with unlimited resources, the reality is that most of them are small teams or even solo developers. These creators are a lot like indie artists, pouring their time, passion, and expertise into their craft. When you pirate their work, you’re directly undermining their livelihood.
Beyond the individual impact, piracy harms the music production industry as a whole. Developers lose revenue, which means they have fewer resources to create new tools, offer updates, and provide support. By pirating, you’re contributing to a cycle that makes it harder for developers to innovate—and ultimately hurts all producers.
Ethics aside, pirated plugins come with a host of practical problems. First and foremost, there’s the risk of malware. Downloading pirated software from unverified sources can expose your computer to viruses, ransomware, and other security threats. A cracked plugin might seem like a bargain until it crashes your system or compromises your personal data.
Then there’s the issue of instability. Pirated plugins are often cracked in ways that remove essential components, leading to bugs, crashes, and poor performance. When you’re working on a track and your DAW keeps freezing because of a dodgy plugin, it’s more frustrating than it’s worth.
Finally, pirated plugins don’t come with support or updates. Legitimate users get access to bug fixes, new features, and customer service. With pirated software, you’re on your own if something goes wrong.
One of the most overlooked downsides of piracy is how it can stifle your growth as a producer. When you have access to every plugin under the sun, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Instead of mastering a few tools and building a strong foundation, you’re constantly jumping between plugins, never fully learning how to use any of them.
Additionally, pirated plugins often lack user manuals and community support. Legitimate users can turn to forums, tutorials, and official documentation to learn their tools inside and out. As a pirate, you’re left to figure it out on your own, which can slow down your progress.
Is Purchasing VST Plugins is the Better Choice?
So, if pirating comes with so many downsides, why should you buy your plugins instead? Here are a few reasons.
When you purchase plugins, you’re supporting the developers who create them. This allows them to continue innovating and improving their products, which benefits everyone in the music production community. By choosing to buy your tools, you’re contributing to a sustainable industry that values creativity and quality.
One of the biggest advantages of legitimate plugins is access to full features and support. With a purchased license, you get updates, bug fixes, and customer service—all of which ensure that your tools work smoothly and reliably.
When you invest in your tools, you’re more likely to use them intentionally. Instead of downloading dozens of plugins you barely touch, you’ll focus on mastering the ones you’ve purchased. This leads to a more focused and productive workflow, which is essential for growth as a producer.
The Alternative: Free VSTs and Trial Versions
Keep an eye out for sales and bundles, which can make premium plugins much more affordable. Many developers offer discounts during holidays or special events. Websites like Plugin Boutique and ADSR regularly feature deals on popular plugins.
There are countless high-quality free plugins available that can rival their paid counterparts. Tools like Vital, Surge XT, and LABS by Spitfire Audio are excellent options for beginners and pros alike. These plugins offer professional-grade features without costing a dime.
There’s also the fact that most major DAWs come loaded with a ton of amazing stock plugins and tools. I used to work in Logic Pro, and some of their effect processors and instruments can rival the best third-party VSTs out there. Now I’m in Ableton Live, and at first, I made the mistake of underestimating its stock plugins. Behind their deceptively simple interfaces, they pack a serious punch.
These days, I use them almost exclusively, even over a collection of third-party software worth several thousand dollars! If I had known how good they were, I could have saved myself a lot of cash.
Many developers offer trial versions of their plugins, allowing you to test them out before making a purchase. While these trials often come with limitations or a time limit, they’re a legitimate way to explore your options without breaking the bank.
When I Was A Pirate…
When I started making music in the mid-2000s, purchasing software seemed like an absurd idea. I was completely broke, and the thought of spending hundreds of dollars on plugins was out of the question. Back then, free plugins were rudimentary at best, and the idea of creating polished tracks with them felt impossible. Like many producers at the time, I cracked a lot of software. My way of justifying it to myself was to say, “If I ever make money with my music, I’ll uninstall the cracks and buy everything I use.”
With the help of pirated software, I managed to reach a point where my music got featured on mainstream radio and even in magazines like Rolling Stone. That’s when I decided it was time to go clean. (There may or may not have been an incident involving a torrented copy of Sylenth1 and a malware that *ahem* might have scared me straight also…)
Long story short, I erased all my illegal VSTs and began purchasing a few essential VSTs each year during sales. To my surprise, it was actually fun. It felt good to invest in myself and support the people creating these amazing tools. For someone who rarely allowed themselves to splurge, this was one area where I felt justified in spending a bit of money.
Nowadays, I have more plugins than I could possibly use. Ironically, I often reach for stock plugins over third-party ones because I know how to get the most out of them. While I like to keep up with new tools, I’ve learned to stick with my core arsenal unless something truly game-changing comes along. It’s a balance that keeps me creative without overwhelming my workflow.
Of course, as a tech blogger, I do get the occasional free NFR copy of a hot new plugin… I get my jollies wherever I can! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Walk the Plank or Pay the Price?
At the end of the day, the temptation to pirate VST plugins is understandable. The high costs of professional tools can feel like a barrier, especially for beginners. But as we’ve explored, the downsides of piracy—from ethical concerns to practical issues—far outweigh the short-term benefits.
Purchasing your plugins isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s the smart thing to do. By investing in your tools, you’re supporting the industry, accessing reliable features and support, and setting yourself up for success as a producer.
Luckily, with so many affordable and free options available today, there’s no need to turn to piracy. Whether you’re taking advantage of sales, exploring free plugins, or trying out demo versions, you can build a professional-grade toolkit without breaking the bank—and without compromising your integrity.
Disclosure: This blog contains affiliate links, which means Internet Tattoo may receive a commission if you purchase through these links at no additional cost to you.