Guitar Rig
Native Instruments' paid amp, cabinet and effects suite for guitar and other sources, as plugin or standalone.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Windows, macOS
Is Guitar Rig free?
No, it's a paid product
- Price (Pro):
- $199
Checked on Guitar Rig's site Oct 30, 2026
2 alternatives with a free optionSwitch from Guitar Rig to
All 2
Neural Amp ModelerOpen source
guitarixOpen source
- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 2
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Guitar Rig
Guitar Rig is Native Instruments' long-running amp and effects suite for Windows and Mac. Guitar Rig 7 Pro bundles 26 modelled guitar and bass amplifiers with matching cabinets, a wide range of pedals and studio effects, a cabinet impulse-response loader for your own IRs, and Loop Machine Pro for looping and live use. Its newer amps and pedals are built with machine-learning based circuit modelling. Although it is aimed at guitarists, it is also used on vocals, synths and drums as a creative multi-effect. It runs as a standalone app or as a VST3, AU or AAX plugin inside a DAW. It is a one-time purchase, sold on its own and as part of the Komplete bundles, and it suits players and producers who want one large, ready-to-use rig rather than assembling models. There is no Linux or mobile version, and the full Pro edition costs more than many rivals.
Best for: Guitarists and producers who want a large all-in-one amp and effects rack inside their DAW.
Guitar Rig pricing (checked Oct 30, 2026)
Each line is quoted from Guitar Rig's own site, with the page it came from.
| Plan or term | What it says | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (Pro) | $199 | Oct 30, 2026 | native-instruments.com |
Pros and cons
What works
- 26 amps with matching cabinets plus a large effects collection
- Loads your own cabinet impulse responses
- Built-in looper for practice and live sets
- Works standalone and as VST3, AU and AAX plugin
Why people leave
- Paid product with a higher price than many rivals
- No Linux, iOS or Android version
- The large interface takes time to learn
Guitar Rig vs Neural Amp Modeler and guitarix
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Guitar Rig | Neural Amp Modeler | guitarix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Open source | Open source |
| Verified price | $199 | — | — |
| Free plan | No | Free app | Free app |
| Open source | No | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS | Linux |
Top Guitar Rig alternatives
See all 2- 1Neural Amp Modeler64.8
Free and open source, with community captures of real amps that many players find more realistic.
- 2guitarix61.8
Free open-source amp and effects rack for guitarists who have moved to Linux.
Why people left Guitar Rig
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
No switching stories yet. If you moved away from Guitar Rig, review the app you switched to and tell us why.
Reviews
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Guitar Rig: common questions
What is Guitar Rig?
Guitar Rig: Native Instruments' paid amp, cabinet and effects suite for guitar and other sources, as plugin or standalone. Best for guitarists and producers who want a large all-in-one amp and effects rack inside their DAW. Available for Windows and macOS.
Is Guitar Rig free?
No, Guitar Rig is a paid product. Price (Pro): $199 (checked on Guitar Rig's own site).
How much does Guitar Rig cost?
Guitar Rig is a paid product. Price (Pro): $199. Checked on Guitar Rig's own site, October 2026.
Is Guitar Rig open source?
No, Guitar Rig is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Neural Amp Modeler and guitarix.
What platforms does Guitar Rig run on?
Guitar Rig is available for Windows and macOS.
What are the best alternatives to Guitar Rig?
The highest-ranked Guitar Rig alternatives right now are Neural Amp Modeler and guitarix. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Guitar Rig vs Neural Amp Modeler: what's the difference?
Guitar Rig is a paid product; Neural Amp Modeler is free and open source. Neural Amp Modeler is open source and Guitar Rig is not. Both run on Windows and macOS.