While making music with an audio PC is relatively affordable, your budget may be stretched thin after investing in all the recording essentials. But don’t worry—we all have to start somewhere and fortunately, there is a lot of free and demo software out there. With so many free piano VSTs to choose from, which ones are worth installing?
The central tool in any music production setup is the DAW. Since most of them come with fairly extensive sound libraries, you’re not completely without resources if you already have a DAW. However, the built-in piano sounds in most DAWs aren’t that inspiring: They’re great for composing and arranging, but not ideal for expressive piano playing.
As you become more familiar with your DAW, you’ll probably want to upgrade to a dedicated piano VST. If you’re recording on a budget, a free piano VST or sound library is your best bet.
With a strong presence in online marketing, Spitfire Audio is known for creating exceptional sounds. In addition, co-founder Christian Henson is also heavily involved with the Pianobook platform. No wonder many of our recommendations come from here. One exception is Hammersmith Free, which Soniccouture occasionally offers free of charge.
While not a universal sound, it’s ideal for soft, dreamy piano passages. The excellent sound quality makes the more complex installation worthwhile. As the name suggests, the VSL Soft Imperial offers a smooth yet clear grand piano sound. Look forward to a soft piano that seamlessly adapts to different genres and playing styles.
Pros and Cons
…may not suit every musical context, but if you're specifically looking for a gentle, nuanced piano sound, perfect for soulful or neoclassical pieces, you'll love both the refined sound character and the authentic playing feel.
VSL Soft Imperial : Free
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A solid, clear grand piano sound? Check. A wide variety of effects? Check. Available as both a plug-in and standalone? Check. All that for free? Absolutely! Grand Piano 1 SE stands out as a pleasant surprise among free piano libraries. Highly recommended. Note: You’ll need the free CS version of IK Multimedia’s SampleTank software to use this library.
Overall, it's a solid piano plugin that not only offers a wide range of effects, but also includes a convenient standalone version.
Grand Piano 1 SE : Free
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Novel Piano offers a vibrant, character-rich upright piano. Exclusive to Steinberg’s HALion Sonic SE 3 sampler, it comes with three beautiful presets that capture a range of expressive sounds.
Pros and Cons
Novel Piano impresses with their spacious yet lively character. This makes it perfect for singer-songwriter accompaniments, as well as dreamy, cinematic piano arrangements.
Novel Piano : Free
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Like all of Soniccouture’s free offerings, Hammersmith Free is only available for a limited time. It’s worth checking out their website, as the free version includes a full-featured 5GB piano library in addition to the paid Hammersmith Pro Edition. A key benefit: Hammersmith Free can be licensed through Native Access and is compatible with the free NI Kontakt Player. However, you can also use it as a standalone application.
Pros and Cons
With its timeless sound, beautiful reverb spaces, and just the right balance of features, Hammersmith Free stands out as one of the best free piano libraries available.
Soniccouture Hammersmith Free : Free
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Melda Production offers this impressive grand piano VST along with another free VST in a single download. It’s a well-done piano plug-in with excellent sound quality.
One of the best free piano libraries available!
MonasteryGrand : Free
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Felt Piano made easy—a beautiful, atmospheric upright piano sound with felt damping. For those who want a more detailed version, there’s a premium version in the Originals series for just under $30.
LABS Soft Piano : Free
TO THE OFFERA clear upright sound. With its gnarly bass, the sound is truly old school, yet the pedal also delivers beautiful, spacey mids and highs.
User-generated piano samples—an idea from the makers of Spitfire Audio. On this platform, you can not only download a variety of sampling projects but also upload your own. The free Kristiansand Steinway Concert Grand offers a rich, atmospheric sound with plenty of character and charm. This library is compatible with Kontakt and EXS24.
A very soft-sounding grand piano with a relatively dry tone, recorded up close and characterized by a subdued tonal quality.
Kristiansand Concert Steinway : Free
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Sound Magic Piano One features a sampled Yamaha C7 grand piano. While the sound has some minor imperfections, it offers valuable editing options and effects. There are also many other piano VST libraries to explore.
Although there is no standalone version and the sound has a few minor shortcomings, you can still get a lot out of Piano One with a little tweaking.
Piano One : Free
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A Steinway Model B, available as a free piano library with about 6 GB of samples. The library is compatible with the free SFZ sampler or the full version of NI Kontakt.
A vintage Steinway offered as a free piano library. Ivy Audio Piano in 162 impresses with its warm, mellow tone, especially in softer passages. Its authentic character truly comes into its own when paired with the natural room ambience.
Piano in 162 : Free
TO THE OFFERThere are many free software instruments, plug-ins, and recording tools available. Unlike demo versions that expire after a few days, you can use free piano VSTs indefinitely at no cost.
However, “free” often comes with strings attached. For example, you may be asked to provide an email address, subscribe to a newsletter, or create an account to access the download. These requirements are standard and legitimate, as they help support the distribution of free software.
Some companies go above and beyond when it comes to adding value to their free products. For example, Spitfire Audio, a respected UK software company, not only provides excellent free piano VSTs but also offers valuable tutorials and insights on their blog. Their resources cover both their instruments and general recording techniques, making them an excellent example of how to improve the user experience beyond just providing free software.
Free VSTs often serve as teasers, offering a glimpse of the full capabilities of a paid product. These free versions typically include a limited selection of sounds or features, but they still provide excellent sound quality at no cost.
A prime example of this teaser model is Spitfire Audio’s LABS Soft Piano. If you like its unique sound, you might also enjoy the “Gwilym Simcock Felt Piano” (priced at just under $30). While the Soft Piano with its felt-muted strings offers a distinctive, focused range of expression, the Felt Piano offers a warm, intimate sound ideal for atmospheric pieces.
Aspiring developers rely on early feedback for growth, which is why many novice software designers offer their early creations as free downloads. The quality of these free piano VSTs can range from “promising” to “surprisingly good” and “very professional.”
Creating a piano VST is no small feat. It requires expertise in recording, piano sampling, piano construction, and access to high-quality instruments and recording environments. A lot of work goes into processing and optimizing hundreds of samples to produce a playable instrument using advanced scripting technology.
Considering the effort involved, the cost of a high-quality piano VST, which ranges from $150 to $400, seems reasonable. However, when it comes to free options, we don’t expect perfection. If it sounds decent and is available for free, it’s definitely worth exploring.
Testing free piano VSTs often requires more time and effort compared to testing software synthesizers. This is mainly because piano VSTs typically rely on extensive sample libraries that can be several hundred megabytes or more in size. As a result, they may take quite a while to download and install. Physical modeling-based piano VSTs are the exception, but they are rare and less common to find. Synthesizer plug-ins, on the other hand, use algorithms to generate sounds, so you can download and install them in just a few moments.
In addition to offering free piano VSTs, Christian Henson, co-founder of Spitfire Audio, has started the “Pianobook” project: A website dedicated to sampled pianos and the stories behind them. It allows anyone to share their piano samples and experiences with a vibrant community. The content on Pianobook is curated by Christian Henson and features piano samples from various projects. Note that you’ll need a software sampler to access and play these samples, typically Native Instruments Kontakt.
Digital audio workstations (DAWs) can be quite expensive, and if you only need to play and record a few piano sounds, the full feature set of a professional DAW can be overwhelming. Steinberg Cubase, for example, offers extensive features, but its complexity can be daunting for beginners. Fortunately, several manufacturers, including Steinberg, offer free or discounted entry-level versions of their DAWs.
Learn more in this “Free DAW Software” article.
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