The 7 best loudness metering plugins: Hit the exact LUFS, RMS, and True Peak targets every time

Metering plugins just aren’t as exciting as a new synth or saturation plugin. They don’t have a flashy sound to show off or a tone you’ll fall in love with.

They’re just numbers and graphs sitting quietly on your master bus. But there’s a real difference between what you hear in your studio and what streaming normalization does to your track.

Loudness metering is designed to close that gap. I’ve tried several of these plugins, and here are the seven I think are worth knowing about.

1. Mastering The Mix LEVELS

I like how LEVELS gets rid of the overwhelming numbers most metering plugins show. It breaks everything down into sections for loudness, true peak, dynamic range, stereo field, and bass space.

Each section lights up green when things are good or red when something needs fixing. The LUFS module shows integrated, short-term, and momentary readings all at once.

You can pick built-in target ranges for Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and other platforms right in the plugin. The bass space feature stands out because it shows the balance between mono and stereo energy in your low end.

• Low Pass Vectorscope Solo

In the Stereo Field section, there’s a Low Pass button that solos everything below 300Hz. This lets you see the stereo width of just your low end on the vectorscope, separate from the rest of the mix. I find this helpful because wide bass and kick can be hard to spot on a normal vectorscope, hidden by cymbals and vocals.

This helps you find the exact problem area instead of guessing. I recommend using it whenever your master sounds weak in mono.

• EBU R128 Loudness Range Meter

LEVELS also has a Loudness Range (LRA) meter that follows EBU R128 standards. It measures the difference in loudness between the quietest and loudest parts of your track.

• Correlation and L-R Balance Metering

Next to the vectorscope, there’s a phase correlation meter and a Left/Right balance meter in the Stereo Field section. These help you spot phase issues and channel imbalance quickly.

I like that these are right next to the width display, since phase and balance problems often happen together. It’s quicker to check them side by side than to switch between different tools.

• Genre-Based Dynamic Range Targets

The Dynamic Range module lets you pick a target profile based on your music style, not just a single number. The right amount of dynamics really depends on the genre.

2. Waves WLM Plus

WLM Plus has been a go-to in broadcast and post-production for years. It meets ITU, EBU, and ATSC loudness standards, and gives you momentary, short-term, long-term, and true peak readings in one window.

If you deliver content often, you’ll like the built-in warning and logging system. It tracks when your levels go over or under your target and lets you export everything as a CSV file.

The built-in True Peak Limiter and Gain Trim controls are also handy. You can adjust your loudness right in the plugin, so you don’t need a separate limiter each time.

It’s a good plugin for podcasts, trailers, games, and broadcast work, not just music.

• Dedicated Mono and Stereo Versions

WLM Plus comes as separate mono and stereo plugin versions, instead of one that covers both. I recommend choosing the right one for your channel format from the beginning.

I’ve seen engineers confused by differences between WLM and their DAW’s stock meter. Picking the correct mono or stereo version usually solves this.

• Foreground, Dialog, and Average Measurement Modes

WLM Plus can measure foreground loudness by ignoring sections that are more than 8dB quieter than the main content. This is important for material with lots of dialogue.

If you work in broadcast or post, this feature lets the plugin ignore quiet background sounds. It calculates your loudness target based on the important parts.

• Adjustable Measurement Window

You can set the measurement duration from 400 milliseconds to 30 seconds, depending on how fast or averaged you want your short-term reading. This level of control is useful to know about.

It’s especially helpful if you’re used to a certain measurement window from another meter and want WLM Plus to match it.

• SoundGrid Integration for Live and Broadcast

If you work on a networked live or broadcast setup, WLM Plus connects directly with Waves’ SoundGrid system. This lets you monitor loudness across the whole setup, not just one session.

It’s a specific use case, but if you already use SoundGrid, it works right away without extra setup.

3. Goodhertz Loudness (FREE)

This one surprised me because it’s free and packed with features. Loudness is part of the Goodhertz Free Series and gives you LUFS, RMS, Peak, and True Peak readings for momentary, short-term, and long-term windows.

Just set a target loudness, hit Apply, and the fader moves into place. This saves you from doing math during your session.

There’s also a goniometer and stereo balance section on the advanced page if you want to check your stereo field. Smooth fader glide times help get rid of the clicks and pops most DAWs add when you automate mute, solo, or polarity switches.

It’s a very capable plugin, especially for something free.

• Apply Balance Auto-Correction

On the advanced page, clicking Apply Balance automatically fine-tunes the left and right trims to balance your stereo field within 0.01dB. That’s a level of precision that’s hard to match by ear.

I recommend this specifically for stems or masters where you think one channel might be a bit louder than the other without you noticing.

• Clickless Automation Switching

Unlike most stock DAW controls, Loudness’s Mute, Solo, Polarity, and Mono Summing switches work without any clicks. Goodhertz found that almost every DAW adds pops when you use automation.

I think this matters more than it sounds on paper, especially if you’re automating a mono-check across a whole arrangement. You don’t want random clicks messing up your bounce.

• Summary Page with Clipboard Export

There’s a Summary page that shows all the metering values at once, like Crest Factor, Max Momentary LUFS, and Loudness Range. You can copy everything straight to your clipboard.

I found this really handy for sending a quick loudness report to a mastering engineer or client. No need for screenshots or manual notes.

4. SSL Meter

SSL Meter is the standard, more affordable option in SSL’s metering lineup. It doesn’t include the loudness/LUFS suite (that’s in Meter Pro), and it only works with mono and stereo, not surround or immersive formats.

You get a solid mixing toolkit with digital metering for Peak, True Peak, and RMS across Non-Linear, Linear, and K-System scales. There are also analog-style VU and PPM meters for a classic console feel.

For stereo imaging, it has a Lissajous phase scope, phase correlation meter, and L-R balance meter. There’s also a 31-band RTA to help spot frequency issues.

It also works with SSL 360° and the UF1 controller, and the interface can scale from 50 to 200%. It’s a paid plugin that’s best seen as a leaner mixing tool, while Meter Pro is the upgrade for loudness compliance and multichannel work.

• Built-In Undo and Redo Stack

The plugin has its own Undo/Redo stack, separate from your DAW. This matters because not every DAW handles plugin undo reliably.

If your DAW has ever failed to undo a metering change, having this feature in SSL Meter saves you the trouble.

• Cross-Platform Preset Management

Presets are organized in folders that match your computer’s file system, with Revert Changes and delete options right in the interface. This makes managing lots of client setups much easier.

It’s much better than scrolling through a long, unsorted preset list.

• Built-In Contextual Help

Clicking the ‘?’ icon turns on contextual help, so when you hover over any control in SSL Meter, you see a short explanation of what it does. This is helpful if you’re new to technical scales like K-System.

You won’t have to search online for what a reference line means during your session.

• UF1 and SSL 360° Hardware Integration

Since SSL Meter works with the SSL 360° Plug-in Mixer, it also connects smoothly with the UF1 hardware controller. You can view and adjust it right from the controller, without using your mouse.

If you already use SSL’s hardware, this feature helps your whole workflow feel more connected.

5. T-RackS Metering by IK Multimedia

T-RackS 6 Metering is IK Multimedia’s broadcast-ready suite, with meters you can turn on or off to keep things simple. It includes a LUFS loudness meter for integrated, short-term, and momentary readings.

You also get Peak, RMS, and Dynamic Range meters to check crest factor and mix dynamics. There’s a spectrogram, a real-time analyzer, and phase and correlation meters for checking mono compatibility.

Classic VU/PPM meters and a Mid/Side meter help you balance mono and stereo content. You can also pop the whole suite into a floating window for a second monitor.

Keep in mind it’s included in T-RackS 6, PRO, and MAX, or available standalone for €99.99 (excl. VAT).

• Genre-Based Loudness Suggestions

Rather than only giving you fixed standard-based targets, the LUFS and Dynamic Range meters in T-RackS Metering also offer suggested reference values selectable by genre. This is on top of the usual broadcast and streaming standards.

I recommend this if you master different styles, since a trap beat and an acoustic ballad need different target ranges.

• Multi-Mode Real-Time Analyzer

The RTA shows more than just a static curve. You can switch between Peak, RMS, and Averaging indicators, so you can choose to see quick spikes or a smoother spectral view.

I switch between these modes depending on whether I’m looking for a resonant frequency or just checking the overall tonal balance.

• Adjustable VU and PPM Reference Levels

You can set your own reference levels for both the VU and PPM meters, instead of being stuck with one calibration. This is really useful if you’re used to a specific standard from analog days.

You can match the digital meters to that exact zero point.

• In/Out Chain Metering

In the Mastering Console’s Chain view, you see input and output levels for each module in your processing chain, not just one reading at the end. This makes it easier to spot which plugin is pushing your levels too far.

6. Youlean Loudness Meter 2 (Free Edition)

If you only downloadIf you only get one free metering plugin this year, I recommend this one. The free version of Loudness Meter 2 gives you integrated LUFS, loudness range, and true peak metering, all in a resizable window that looks good at any size.e that the loudness history graph runs across the whole plugin. You can actually watch how your integrated reading develops over a full playthrough instead of just staring at a single number.

Streaming target presets for Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube are included in the free version, unlike many paid meters. Short-term and momentary LUFS, batch file analysis, and report exporting are only in the Pro upgrade.

For everyday mixing and mastering checks, the free version covers what most people need.

• Multichannel Support Up to 7.1

Even in the free version, you get mono, stereo, 5.1, and 7.1 channel support. This is a generous feature for a free plugin.

Most developers save multichannel metering for paid versions.

• Multiple International Loudness Standards

Besides streaming presets, the free version includes compliance presets for ITU-R BS.1770-4, EBU R128, ATSC A/85, OP-59, ARIB TR-B32, and AGCOM 219/09/CSP. So it’s not just for music delivery.

I recommend this if your work sometimes involves broadcast or international delivery.

• Six Distinct Readout Types

Besides the main LUFS number, the plugin gives you Loudness, Integrated Loudness, True Peak, Loudness Range, Dynamic Range, and Peak-Loudness Ratio. This gives you a much more detailed view than just one number.

Honestly, for a free plugin, I expected less depth than what it actually offers.

• Works Across Virtually Any DAW

It’s available as a standalone app and as VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX. I’ve used Loudness Meter 2 in FL Studio, Logic Pro, Reaper, Cubase, and Pro Tools without any compatibility issues.

That kind of consistency across different DAWs is rare for free plugins.

7. sonible true:level

This plugin is different from a standard LUFS meter, which is why it’s worth checking out. true:level shows the relationship between loudness and dynamics together, instead of making you compare two separate numbers.

You can choose from built-in references for streaming platform loudness targets and genre-specific dynamics ranges, or load up to eight of your own reference tracks for comparison.

If you’re unsure what to adjust, the Level Check feature tells you what to do to hit your chosen reference zone. I find this helpful when I’m not sure if I should pull back the limiter or leave it as is.

It was originally part of Sonible’s Smart: Limit, and you can see that experience in how well it’s designed.

• Dynamics Grid Visualization

The main display in true:level shows your track on an X/Y grid, with dynamics on one axis and loudness on the other. A crosshair shows exactly where your mix sits compared to your chosen reference zone.

I find this much more intuitive than reading two numbers, since you can quickly see if you need to lower loudness, add dynamics, or both.

• Loudness and Dynamics Histograms

Along with the live grid, true:level keeps a histogram that shows how often certain loudness and dynamics values happened during your playthrough. It’s not just about the final result.

This is especially useful for mastering engineers, since it highlights which part of a track is pulling the overall reading away from the target.

• Genre-Specific Dynamics References

Besides platform loudness targets, true:level has dynamics references for different genres, like Electronic or acoustic styles. The right amount of punch isn’t the same for every genre.

This detail makes the reference system feel truly tailored, not generic.

• Per-Channel RMS Output Metering

Next to the main grid, you get RMS output metering for both channels. This gives you a clear level readout, separate from the loudness and dynamics analysis.

It’s a small feature, but I like having a familiar reference point without needing to switch views.