Your questions answered
Sonisto is a desktop app for Mac and Windows that helps you manage your audio plugins in one place.
Scan your computer to build a searchable library of your installed plugins, then use Sonisto to keep
track of versions, find installers and organise your collection.
Basic and Pro add tools such as update notifications, Password Vault and Compare Devices. You can
also discover free plugins and shop for music software through Sonisto.
Download and install the Sonisto desktop app. Create a free account to scan your computer and build your Library. No credit card is needed to get started with the Free plan.
Yes. Sonisto is not limited to products purchased in our shop. The Plugin Scanner finds supported
plugins installed on your computer, regardless of where you bought or downloaded them.
You do not need to buy your plugins again or move their licenses to Sonisto. The information available
for each plugin depends on how well it is recognised in our database.
Neither. Sonisto is a separate desktop app for managing your plugin collection. You still make music in
your usual DAW and use your plugins there.
Think of Sonisto as the place to see what you have and manage the practical details around it, rather
than another tool in your audio signal chain.
Sonisto is available for Mac and Windows, with separate downloads for Apple silicon and Intel Macs.
It supports 64-bit VST2, VST3, AU and AAX plugins where those formats are available on your operating system. Linux and 32-bit plugins are not supported.
Check the Download page for current system requirements. Individual plugins have their own operating system and DAW requirements, which may differ from Sonisto’s.
The scanner finds supported plugins installed on your computer and adds them to your Sonisto Library. You can then search and filter your collection instead of looking through folders or separate manufacturer apps.
Depending on the plugin and your plan, its details can include installed formats, version information, file locations, manufacturer information, saved license details and links to installers.
No. Scanning creates an overview of your installed plugins. It does not move, remove, reinstall or update them.
Scanning and installing are separate actions. Running a scan is not the same as asking Sonisto to make changes to your setup.
A scan finds plugins installed on the computer you scan. It does not retrieve a complete purchase history from your manufacturer accounts, so a plugin you own but have never installed will not be discovered by scanning alone.
Your Library can also contain products added through Sonisto and plugins scanned on other computer profiles. Being in your Library does not necessarily mean a product is installed on the current computer.
There are tens of thousands of audio plugins out there, and while Sonisto already covers the vast majority of scanned plugins, our database isn’t complete yet.
We’re continuously expanding and improving our database to provide more complete information, including artwork, version details, manufacturer information and download links.
In the meantime, you can easily add missing details yourself, including images, download links and other product information.
First, make sure the plugin is installed on the computer you scanned and uses a supported format.
If Sonisto doesn’t have enough information to identify a plugin correctly, it may appear somewhere unexpected in your Library.
For example, if your plugins are grouped by brand (the default setting), you might find it under “Unknown” or a different brand instead of the expected manufacturer. In rare cases, a plugin may also be listed by its file name rather than its actual product name.
Try searching for the plugin or its file name, and check the “Unknown” entries before assuming it wasn’t detected.
Run a new scan after installing, updating or removing plugins, or when you want a fresh overview of a computer.
Scan time varies with the size of your collection and your computer. The number of scans available each month depends on your plan; you will find the allowances under Plans & Billing below.
Yes. Library export is included with Basic and Pro, so you can keep a reference list outside Sonisto.
An exported list is an inventory, not a backup of the plugins themselves. Keep separate backups of any projects, presets, installers or other files you need.
Sonisto compares your installed plugin versions with the latest versions available in our database and notifies you when updates are available.
On the Free plan, Sonisto can show update information for up to 10 recognised plugins. Basic and Pro include update visibility for your whole recognised library. Availability still depends on the plugin being recognised and current version information being available.
An update notification tells you about a newer version. It does not mean the update has already been installed or that a paid upgrade is included with your license.
No. Scanning a plugin does not make it compatible with Sonisto’s Auto Installer.
Automatic installation and updates are available for supported products added through Sonisto, including most of our Freeware collection and selected commercial products. For these products, Sonisto can handle downloads, installation, updates and, where supported, activation. For other plugins, you use the manufacturer’s installer or download manager.
Sonisto helps you find and manage updates, but it does not replace every manufacturer’s installation and licensing system.
It takes you to the relevant download page or manufacturer download manager for that product. You
may need to sign in to your manufacturer account before downloading or activating it.
Latest Installer access is included with Basic and Pro. Following a download link does not give you a
new license, and some major upgrades may require a separate purchase from the manufacturer.
Run a new scan so Sonisto can read the updated installation. Also check that you updated the same plugin format and computer you are viewing in your Library.
If the version still looks wrong, send us the plugin name, manufacturer, installed version and a screenshot. This helps us distinguish between an installation issue and incorrect product information.
Install the format or formats your DAW supports. For products handled by Auto Installer, use the available format options in Sonisto. For other products, choose from the formats offered in the manufacturer’s installer. A plugin can have several formats installed, such as VST3 and AAX, because different DAWs use different formats. You do not necessarily need all of them.
The options depend on the product, format and installer. VST2 installations can use a custom folder, while other plugin formats normally use standard system locations. For installations handled by Sonisto, use the available installation settings.
For products installed through a manufacturer’s installer or download manager, use that tool’s location settings, including any separate settings for sample content.
Make sure your DAW is configured to scan any custom VST2 folder you use.
Password Vault lets you keep manufacturer login details, passwords and license information alongside the relevant brands and products in Sonisto.
This makes the practical details easier to find when you need to download, reinstall or authorise a plugin. Password Vault is included with Basic and Pro.
No. Scanning identifies your installed plugins; it is not a way to recover passwords or license keys from your manufacturer accounts.
You add the credentials you want to store. Products obtained through Sonisto may already have license or redemption information associated with them, but that is separate from scanning your existing installations.
Yes. Credentials and license details saved in Sonisto are encrypted.
Use a strong, unique password for your Sonisto account, and never send passwords or complete
license keys in support screenshots. See our Privacy Policy for information about how personal data is
handled.
Sonique is the AI assistant built into Sonisto. Ask it about plugins, DAWs, mixing, production techniques, songwriting, lyrics or how to use Sonisto.
For example, you could ask how a compressor’s attack setting affects a drum sound, get help writing song lyrics, or find out how to compare two computer profiles.
Sonique can assist with both technical questions and creative ideas. Just remember that AI can sometimes make mistakes, so important technical information should always be double-checked.
Sonique AI is available on all Sonisto plans, with different monthly message allowances depending on your subscription.
Check our Pricing page for the current limits for Free, Basic and Pro.
Sonique is available inside the Sonisto desktop app.
Freeware is our curated collection of free instruments, effects and other production tools. You can browse the collection, add products to your Library and install the tools you need.
You do not need a paid Sonisto subscription to access the collection. Check each product’s supported operating systems, formats and any installation requirements before adding it to your setup.
Most products in the collection support Sonisto´s Auto Installer. You can install supported products individually or click Select All, followed by Install All, to install the entire collection of supported plugins.
Not every product is available in every format or on every operating system. Products that require manual installation come with their own download and installation instructions.
No. You can browse and purchase plugins directly from the Sonisto website without a paid subscription or the desktop app.
Your purchases are automatically added to your Sonisto Library in the desktop app, where you’ll find your serial keys, redemption codes and installation instructions.
Depending on the product, you can either install it directly through Sonisto’s Auto Installer or follow the instructions in your Library to install and activate it using the manufacturer’s own installer or download manager.
Your purchase is added to the Library associated with your Sonisto account. Open the product to find its license or redemption information and installation instructions, as applicable.
Some products support Auto Installer. Others require you to redeem a code, sign in to a manufacturer account or use a separate download manager. The process depends on the product.
Contact Sonisto support about your order, payment, delivery or a refund request. Include your order reference and the email address used for the purchase.
For refund requests, also tell us whether the product has been downloaded or the license redeemed or activated, since this can affect eligibility. We will review the request against the applicable purchase terms.
For technical issues with a plugin, the manufacturer is usually best equipped to help. You’ll normally find a link to the manufacturer’s support page on the product page in your Sonisto Library.
Free gives you the essentials to scan, explore and organise your plugin collection, including update visibility for up to 10 recognised plugins.
Basic adds whole-library update visibility, Password Vault, Compare Devices and more.
Pro includes all features with higher or unlimited usage allowances, making it ideal for users with larger plugin collections or multiple computers.
Visit our Pricing page for a complete comparison of features, limits and prices.
Both Basic and Pro are available as monthly or yearly subscriptions, with a discount when you choose annual billing.
Visit our Pricing page for current prices and subscription options.
Yes. You can cancel your subscription through your Sonisto account. Your paid features remain available until the end of the period you have already paid for, after which the Free plan’s features and limits apply.
Contact support if you need help with cancellation or billing. Uninstalling the desktop app is not the same as cancelling your subscription.
Cancelling Sonisto does not uninstall or deactivate your plugins. You are cancelling access to Sonisto’s paid management features, not your separately purchased plugin licenses.
Your plugins remain subject to their own manufacturers’ license terms. Any separate plugin subscriptions or renewal arrangements are independent of your Sonisto plan.
Yes! As a special bonus, Pro subscribers currently receive free plugins as part of their subscription.
With a monthly Pro subscription, you’ll receive one free plugin every month in your first year. With a yearly Pro subscription, you’ll receive 12 free plugins upfront.
These plugins come with perpetual licenses, meaning they’re yours to keep, even if you cancel your Sonisto subscription.
Please note: This is a limited bonus offer, and the total number of free plugins available per subscriber is capped.
Visit our Pricing page for details about the current offer.
Yes. Plugins you have received with a perpetual license through Pro remain yours to use after you cancel, under the manufacturer’s license terms.
You do not need to keep paying for Sonisto to retain those licenses. Your Pro management features, however, end when your paid subscription period ends.
The Sonisto desktop app updates itself. Reopen the app to let it check for an update.
If you are still seeing an older version or the update does not complete, get the latest installer from the Download page and sign in with your existing Sonisto account. You do not need to create a new account.
Make sure you’re using the email address associated with your Sonisto account.
If you’ve forgotten your password, you can reset it here.
If you’re still having trouble signing in, please contact our support team for assistance.
Check that you are signed in with the same Sonisto account used for the subscription, and reopen the desktop app.
If the plan still looks wrong, contact support with your account email, payment confirmation or invoice reference, and a screenshot of what you see. Please do not purchase another subscription to try to fix the issue.
Use the form on our Contact page to get in touch with the Sonisto team.
For technical issues, include your operating system, Sonisto app version, a description of what happened and any relevant screenshots. For plugin-specific issues, include the product name and manufacturer.
Please hide passwords, full license keys and payment-card details before sending screenshots.
You can reach us using the contact email or via the contact formula here.
