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VST Plugin Labs

What “80% off” actually tells you

List prices, intro offers and sale cycles: how to read a plugin discount before it reads you.

· 6 min read · VST Plugin Labs

A discount is a ratio, and a ratio is only as honest as the number underneath it. Before you decide whether a deal is good, work out what it's being measured against.

Start with the reference price

Every percentage needs a starting point. In plugin retail that's usually one of three things:

  • The list price the developer publishes on its own store.
  • A "regular" price a retailer uses that may not match the developer's.
  • An introductory or launch price that was never meant to last.

They aren't interchangeable. A plugin listed at $199 that spends most of the year on sale for $49 has an effective price of $49, whatever the banner says. Seen that way, "75% off" is just the normal price.

That's why we show the reference price next to every discount. If you can't see what a percentage is calculated from, you can't judge it.

Learn the rhythm of sales

Many plugin developers run sales on a predictable cycle: seasonal events, anniversaries, version launches, and the late-November rush. If a product goes on sale regularly, a sale today tells you little about its value. What matters is whether this price is low for that product.

Until we have verified price history for a plugin, we won't claim a price is a "historic low". Once we do, you'll see it charted on the plugin's page.

Check what you already own

The cheapest plugin is the one you don't buy. Before checking out, ask:

  1. Does something in my DAW or current collection already do this job?
  2. Is this an upgrade or crossgrade I'm eligible for at a lower price?
  3. Am I buying the tool, or the feeling of getting a bargain?

Read the licence, not just the price

Two plugins at the same price can cost very different amounts over time. Look for:

  • Perpetual vs. subscription. A subscription "deal" is often a discount on the first term only.
  • Rent-to-own. You may pay more in total than buying outright, and lose access if you stop paying.
  • Activation limits. How many machines can you authorise, and does the plugin need a hardware key or a companion app?
  • Upgrade policy. Some developers include major updates and some charge for them.

A quick test

If this plugin were at this price every day of the year, would I still buy it?

If the answer is yes, the discount is a bonus. If it's no, the discount is doing the selling, and that's worth noticing.