The 6 Best Rhodes VST Plugins of 2026 (Free and Paid Options)
Rhodes pianos have quite an iconic sound, and thankfully, there are plenty of great Rhodes VST plugins that can help you achieve that sound in your tracks.
The 70s saw many musicians like Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock using the Rhodes because of its unique sound. In 1987, it was sold to Roland, who produced digital versions of the sound. Now, you can find many VST plugins to emulate the warm, lush sound of a Rhodes piano.
Here is our list of top paid and free Rhodes VST plugins:
Contents
1. Arturia Stage-73 V
The Stage-73 V plugin is modeled after the Fender Rhodes Suitcase Piano and the Stage Piano. You can even choose between the 1973 and the 1974 models for the latter.
Apart from the piano emulation, you can also set up your pedalboard and an amp to customize your sound.
The plugin is compatible with both Windows and macOS machines and is available in 64-bit. You can use it either as standalone software with a MIDI keyboard or with your DAW.
Stage-73 V is available on its own or as part of Arturia’s V Collection, which includes other piano and synth sounds. The standalone instrument is a good choice if you mainly want a customizable Rhodes for songwriting or electronic music.
2. Waves Electric 88
The Electric 88 by Waves emulates this vintage piano quality and celebrates its imperfections, highlighting its character. The sampling process for this plugin was designed to “capture the non-linearity of the keys,” according to Waves.
You can create modifications to the sound with the ‘mix’ control. The sounds can be customized with transpositions, 3-band EQ adjustments, and effects like tremolo, auto-pan, phaser, chorus, and reverb. The plugin also has an amp and a compressor to fine-tune your mix.
The Electric 88 is compatible with major DAWs on Windows and macOS machines. You can also use it as a standalone instrument.
3. Lounge Lizard EP-5
The Lounge Lizard EP-5 by Applied Acoustics Systems is based entirely on physical modeling for accurate sounds. Its separate tine and reed engines cover Rhodes-style and Wurlitzer-style tones, and it responds well to changes in playing dynamics.
You can start with the factory presets, then make multiple modifications to your sound by controlling the hammer response, tone and decay, damper noise, and pickup placement. The simple view makes quick adjustments easy; the advanced view gives you more control over the instrument.
The effects rack includes a compressor and EQ to help the piano cut through a mix, along with delay, distortion, chorus, phaser, wah-wah, and reverb. MPE support is useful if you play an expressive controller, while a regular MIDI keyboard still works well.
Lounge Lizard EP-5 runs as a standalone instrument or a 64-bit VST, AU, or AAX plug-in on Windows and macOS. The full instrument license is the right purchase for a new user; an upgrade requires an eligible earlier version.
4. XLN Audio Addictive Keys Mark One
Addictive Keys Mark One was sampled with a Music Man 112 RD Combo Amp through a Telefunken U47 Tube Condenser, a Coles 4038 Ribbon, and a Shure SM57 Dynamic mic. But not just the amp; the samples are also a product of room recordings, direct outputs, and floor microphones.
This results in a warm and accurate sound that captures the essence of the Rhodes. This elaborate sampling process of the acoustic instrument sets this plugin apart from a host of available options.
The instrument runs in the included Addictive Keys player on Windows and macOS, with VST, AU, and AAX plug-in options and a standalone application. Choose the Mark One instrument if you want the Rhodes sound; the other Addictive Keys instruments are separate purchases.
5. AIR Music Technology Velvet 2
Velvet gives you access to 5 vintage piano sounds: Fender Rhodes Suitcase, Fender Rhodes MKI and MKII Stage Pianos, Wurlitzer 200A, and Hohner Pianet-T. All of these pianos are legendary in their own right and a great option for you if you are looking for that typical 60s and 70s sound.
Apart from the 350 presets and sound customization options, the MIDI Learn function automatically maps the plugin to your MIDI controller. This can be very helpful if you have a portable setup and want something other than a dedicated controller for electric piano tones.
Velvet supports Windows and macOS, with current updates adding VST3 and Apple Silicon support. Check AIR’s system requirements for your computer and DAW before buying.
6. NoiseAsh Sweetcase
Like most of NoiseAsh’s products, the Sweetcase, too, is a ready-to-mix instrument. This means that you don’t have to spend time adjusting any controls to get that vintage analog sound. This can be helpful for beginners looking for an easy-to-use Rhodes plugin.
However, you can adjust the tone using the bass boost, bell, and modulation effects, which include pan, tremolo, and pitch.
It has a resizable GUI and is light on CPU usage. Plus, the NoiseAsh Sweetcase is compatible with both Windows and macOS machines.
Sweetcase is a free download from NoiseAsh, with VST3, AU, and AAX formats. It is a useful starting point if you want a ready-made electric piano sound without buying another instrument.
What is the Rhodes Piano?
The Rhodes piano was invented by Harold Rhodes, and in 1959, he entered a joint venture with Leo Fender. The Rhodes thus came to be known as the Fender Rhodes piano.
While it quickly became a favorite among jazz musicians such as Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock, the Rhodes was also used extensively by Ray Manzarek of the Doors and can be heard on their hit song ‘Riders On The Storm.’
In the late 80’s, Roland bought it to create digital versions of the sounds, which made it even more popular. After that point, the Rhodes sounds were used in almost every genre.
Although the instrument was reissued in the 2000s, they are expensive and rare. But thanks to the technology, you can now download a plugin that emulates the warm, lush sound of a Rhodes to perfection.
Conclusion
The Rhodes is an incredibly versatile instrument that can be used in any genre of music.
If you need a plugin that has great playability and can be used as standalone software, then Arturia’s Stage-73 V is a good starting point. It can be bought on its own, while the V Collection includes other piano and synth sounds.
If you want a simple free option for your tracks, try NoiseAsh Sweetcase. For more control over the instrument itself, Stage-73 V and Lounge Lizard EP-5 offer deeper modeling controls.
