Finding a good lo-fi piano VST is harder than it sounds. The warmth, the tape hiss, the slight imperfection — it all has to feel right. Here are six plugins that actually deliver it, from free options to professional-grade tools.
So, Lofi? If you are here, then you are probably looking for a good Lofi piano VST plugin. Not an easy task. And, even when you do find a good piano, there’s a lot of work that needs to be done to get this warm, lo-fi sound. After, the magic of Lofi’s music largely comes from a warm piano sound.
Still, recently, I was on the hunt for a good Lofi piano VST. To find the sound I like, I was willing to spend a few hundred dollars to get a nice sound. And here’s my take – My six best piano VST plugins for Lofi Hip Hop:
Top 6 Lofi Piano VSTs Plugins – Free and Paid
So, here are my top 6 lofi piano VST plugins:
- Noir by Native Instruments
- Claustrophobic Piano by Christian Henson
- Alicia Keys by Native Instrument
- Soft Piano by Labs
- Lounge Lizard
- Addictive Keys by XLN Audio
Best 6 Lofi Piano VSTs Plugins Reviewed
Here are some short reviews about each one of my favorite lofi plugins:
Noir by Native Instruments
In my opinion, this is a must-have piano VST plugin for music producers. The sound is just perfect, especially for lofi, and mellow hip-hop beats. Don’t even think about the price. Totally worth it.
Price: $149
Claustrophobic Piano by Christian Henson
In one word – perfect. The problem is that the plugin was not available for such a long time. Just recently, I found it on one of the threads on Reddit. Also, not sure how it works on Kontakt Player. But anyway, it’s a very good lofi piano plugin.
Price: Free
Alicia Keys by Native Instrument
Personally, I love this plugin. When cutting the highs, it certainly can provide this smooth lofi sound. Have to admit – it’s not perfect, and I always find myself spending a lot of time making changes to get the sound I like, but still, it is one of my favorites.
Price: $99
Soft Piano by Labs
Yes, it’s free and super easy to use. Honestly, for a long time, I didn’t like the Soft Piano sound, although everybody around me was praising it. But lately, I redownloaded it and somehow found a good sound that I really like. So, why not? Even if it’s not gonna be your go-to plugin, you should still have it out there for diversification.
Price: Free
Lounge Lizard
Ok, Lounge Lizard is pricey, but it is worth it. This electric piano is perfect for playing mellow chords and getting this warm lofi sound. My word, though – If you are not sure you can purchase because of the price, download the demo version and see if you can get the sound you are hunting for before you buy the plugin.
Price: $199
Addictive Keys by XLN Audio
So, a lot of people say addictive keys is great. Have to say that I was not amazed by it. It’s good, but still, I cannot say it’s my favorite plugin. The good thing is that you can download the demo version and use it for a while before you decide to make a purchase.
Price: Depends on what you want to purchase
Final word
My final word – finding a good lofi piano sound is not an easy task. Even if you have managed to find the sound you like, you still need to make some tweaks to get this warm sound. This could be cutting the highs and using another vinyl plugin, such as RC-20 or iZotope Vinyl.
But the first step is to find a good piano VST. Not just this standard piano sound, but something that gives you this warm feeling. Surely, there are many plugins that haven’t been mentioned in this piece; however, any of the above plugins could provide a solid lofi sound if mixed and mastered properly.
One last thing to keep in mind: any of the above VSTs are permanent, meaning they will stay with you forever. These are not plugins that will not be available at some point in time, which is something that really disturbed me. I genuinely think that sometimes it’s better to purchase VSTs rather than use some free plugins that may disappear without any notice (which has happened to me before).