Is Waves Creative Access Worth it or Not? Honest Review

Waves have been in the plugin game forever, but in recent years, they’ve gone all-in on the subscription model, Waves Creatie Access, creating many debates among producers. So, the question is whether Creative Access is worth it or not.

No more one-time purchases, no more stacking up perpetual licenses, just Creative Access, a monthly or yearly plan that gives you their entire plugin library.

I remember when the Waves Creative Access model first dropped, and the internet went wild. Some producers loved the idea of having access to everything, always updated, with no extra costs for new releases.

Others? Not so much. The idea of renting tools instead of owning them rubbed a lot of people the wrong way.

I totally get both sides. On one hand, having every Waves plugin at my fingertips sounds amazing; no more worrying about missing a crucial effect when opening a session.

On the other, committing to yet another subscription isn’t exactly thrilling. We already pay for DAWs, sample libraries, cloud storage, and about a dozen other services just to keep the music flowing.

So, is this actually worth it? Does it make sense for your workflow, or is it just another money pit? Let’s break it all down, talk through the good and the bad, and figure out if this is helping producers or is just another industry shift that benefits the company more than the user.

What You Get with Waves Creative Access

Let’s get straight to it: Waves Creative Access gives you two subscription tiers: Essential and Ultimate.

If you go for Essential, you get 120+ plugins covering all the basics: EQs, compressors, reverbs, delays, modulation effects, and even some vocal tuning tools like Tune Real-Time. It’s designed to give you everything you need for mixing and production without overwhelming you with choices.

Then there’s Ultimate, which unlocks the entire Waves catalog with over 240 plugins. This means everything from the Abbey Road Collection to the CLA series, all the SSL emulations, and even the latest AI-powered Clarity Vx tools.

Waves is constantly adding new plugins, and if you’re subscribed, you get them instantly without extra fees, no waiting around for a sale.

Both plans come with:

• Unlimited updates (so you’ll never worry about compatibility issues)
• 2 licenses per account (activate on two computers)
• StudioVerse, an AI-powered library of mix presets from top engineers
• Waves Stream, a real-time remote collaboration tool

On paper, it’s a solid deal. Instead of buying plugins one by one, you get a full toolbox from day one.

Feature	Essential	Ultimate
Number of Plugins	120+	240+
New Plugins Added	Selected new plugins	All new plugins
Plugin Updates	Included	Included
Licenses per Account	2	2
StudioVerse (AI Mix Chains)	Included	Included
Waves Stream (Remote Collaboration)	Included	Included
Annual Price	$149.99	$249.99
Monthly Price	$12.50	$20.83

Is Waves Creative Access Worth It?

Now that we know what’s included, let’s get to the real question; is Waves Creative Access actually worth the money? Like most things in music production, the answer depends on who you are and how you work.

If you’re someone who needs a ton of different plugins for mixing, mastering, and production, then the Ultimate Plan is a solid deal. You get every Waves VST, including their newest releases, without worrying about upgrade fees.

It’s especially great for engineers working with different clients and sessions, as you’ll always have the plugins required for any project, no matter what templates or presets you’re handed.

But if you’re a producer or mixing engineer who only uses a handful of go-to plugins, you might not need an all-you-can-eat plan. Most of us stick to a small selection of compressors, EQs, reverbs, and a couple of creative effects, so why pay for 240 plugins if you only need 10? T

That’s where the Essential plan might make more sense, but even then, you have to be okay with paying forever instead of owning your tools.

Then there’s the biggest downside: once you stop subscribing, you lose access to everything. Unlike perpetual licenses, where you can use the plugins you bought for years, Creative Access is more like renting.

If you rely on Waves plugins in your sessions and decide to cancel, you could end up with missing effects and broken mixes. That’s a real concern for long-term users.

So, is it worth it? If you’re a working engineer who needs the full collection, then yes, it makes financial sense. But if you’re a bedroom producer or someone who prefers owning plugins, you might find it frustrating. Let’s weigh the pros and cons next.

Pros and Cons of Waves Creative Access

Like any subscription model, Creative Access has its advantages and its headaches.

Pros

• Access to Every Plugin (Ultimate Plan): If you need the full collection, this is the easiest and cheapest way to get it all at once. No more waiting for sales or buying plugins one by one.
• Instant Updates & New Releases: You never have to worry about compatibility issues, and you’ll always have the latest plugins without paying extra.
• StudioVerse & Waves Stream: StudioVerse gives you an AI-powered preset library, and Waves Stream allows real-time remote collaboration. These features could be useful for producers working across multiple studios.
• Lower Upfront Cost: With this model, you can access everything for as little as $12.50 per month instead of dropping hundreds (or thousands) on plugins. I think this is great for newcomers or producers on a tight budget.
• Great for Studio Engineers: If you work on client sessions, having the full catalog ensures you always have the necessary plugins for mixing and mastering without missing files.

Cons

• You Don’t Own Anything: The biggest downside. The moment you stop paying, you lose access to all your plugins. Unlike perpetual licenses, you can’t keep using them indefinitely.
• Recurring Costs Add Up: Over time, paying monthly could end up costing more than just buying a few key plugins outright. If you plan to use plugins long-term, this might not be the best deal.
• Overkill for Some Users: To be honest, most producers don’t need 240+ plugins. So, if your workflow has only a small amount of Waves units, this model would make you pay for a lot of extra stuff you’ll probably never touch.
• Subscription Fatigue: We already pay for many things like DAWs, sample libraries, cloud storage, streaming services, etc. every month. Adding another must-pay subscription can feel exhausting.
• Perpetual Licenses Still Exist: Waves initially removed perpetual licenses but later brought them back after backlash. So if you prefer owning plugins, you still have that option, but it won’t include free updates.

Who Should Consider Waves Creative Access?

Well, I think Creative Access could be a good fit for audio engineers and producers who handle multiple projects constantly. You’ll always have access to every Waves plugin without worrying about updates or compatibility.

If you’re a producer or indie musician, it depends on your workflow. Do you need access to a ton of plugins? Or would you rather own a few essentials and avoid another subscription? If the latter sounds more like you, buying plugins individually might be a better investment.

Creative Access vs. Perpetual Licenses: Which One Makes More Sense?

Now that Waves has brought back perpetual licenses, the big question is: Should you subscribe or just buy the plugins you need?

Subscription (Creative Access)

With a subscription, you get instant access to a massive collection of plugins without a big upfront cost.

You also never have to worry about updates since they’re always included. But the downside? You don’t own anything. The moment you stop paying, you lose access to all your plugins.

Perpetual Licenses (One-Time Purchase)

Buying plugins outright means you own them forever, and they’ll keep working as long as they’re compatible with your system.

The downside? Waves charges for updates, so if your OS or DAW updates and your plugins stop working, you’ll need to pay for the Update Plan (WUP), which isn’t exactly cheap.

Here’s a side-by-side breakdown:

Feature	Creative Access (Subscription)	Perpetual Licenses
Upfront Cost	Low ($12.50–$20.83/month)	High (varies by plugin)
Ownership	No, lose access if canceled	Yes, use forever
Plugin Updates	Always included	Paid separately (WUP)
Access to All Plugins	Yes (with Ultimate)	No, buy individually
New Plugins Added	Included in plan	Must buy separately
Long-Term Cost	Can be expensive over time	One-time purchase, but WUP costs extra

So, Which One Should You Choose?

If you only use a few Waves plugins, buying perpetual licenses might be the smarter move. You’ll own them forever and won’t have to keep paying every month. Just be aware that if you want updates, you’ll eventually have to pay for WUP.

But if you need a lot of Waves plugins, the subscription might make more sense. You’ll always have the latest updates, access to new releases, and no surprise fees. Just keep in mind that once you stop subscribing, you lose everything, which can be a deal-breaker for some users.

Last Words

At the end of the day, Waves Creative Access is a great option for some but a tough sell for others.

If you need a huge variety of plugins, constantly work on different projects, and don’t want to worry about updates, the subscription model makes a lot of sense. You’ll always have the latest Waves plugins, and you won’t need to shell out extra cash every time a new version drops.

But if you prefer owning your tools, the idea of renting plugins forever might not sit well with you. Long-term, a hand-picked collection of perpetual licenses could be the better investment, especially if you only use a few Waves VSTs regularly.

Paying monthly can add up over time, and the moment you cancel, your entire Waves collection disappears. That’s not ideal for producers who want to build a lasting setup without recurring costs.

I see Creative Access as a useful tool for working engineers and producers who want access to everything without committing to individual purchases. It makes a lot of sense if you frequently collaborate, mix different artists, or rely on Waves units in every session.

But for those who only need a few core plugins, the subscription might be overkill. There’s also something to be said about the security of owning your tools rather than renting them indefinitely.

If you’re still unsure, take advantage of the free 7-day trial and see how it feels to have access to the full catalog. Who knows? It might just change how you approach mixing and production, or you might decide you were fine with your go-to plugins all along.

If you want to check some of the top Waves units to use in your workflow, here is one of our lists!