Getting started with Plugr
In this guide
1. Installing Plugr
Download the Plugr DMG from the download page. Open it, drag Plugr into your Applications folder, and you're done.
2. Your first library scan
Plugr automatically scans your standard plugin folders when you first open it — VST2, VST3, AU, AAX, and CLAP. For most people this takes 30 seconds to a couple of minutes. Very large libraries (thousands of plugins) might take a few minutes the first time; subsequent scans are much faster because Plugr remembers what it's seen.
A progress bar at the bottom of the window shows you how it's going. You can keep using the rest of the app while it works.
3. A quick tour of the app
The main view has three sections:
- Sidebar (left): filter by category, format, developer, tag, favorite, or update status.
- Library (center): all your plugins as a grid of cards or a sortable table.
- Detail panel (right, when a plugin is selected): everything Plugr knows about that plugin, plus actions like "Show in Finder", "Open update page", and "Move to Trash".
At the top you'll find tabs for the five main sections of the app: Plugins & Apps, Projects, Companion Apps, Deals, and Tools.
4. Checking for plugin updates
In the sidebar, click Unknown to see which software Plugr currently isn't able for updates yet. Click the Check for updates button in the toolbar. Plugr will reach out to the developer sites it knows about and tell you which plugins have new versions waiting.
For plugins Plugr doesn't recognize, you'll see a "No source" badge. Click any of those, then click Find update source — Plugr will guess where to look and let you confirm in one click if it's successful. If not, you can manually add an update source instead, and Plugr will guide you through this.
5. Connecting your DAW projects
Click the Projects tab at the top, then click + Add folder…. Point Plugr at the folder where you keep your sessions — your music drive, a specific genre folder, whatever — and it'll scan every Ableton Live, Logic Pro, or FL Studio project inside.
You'll get a sortable list with each project's tempo, key signature, plugins used, and any audio bounces Plugr found. Click any project to expand it; click any plugin to jump to its detail view; click the "open" button to open a project in your DAW.
6. Browsing the Deals tab
Click Deals at the top to browse current plugin sales from the major retailers. Use the filter chips at the top to narrow down — show only deals on developers you own, hide ones you've already dismissed, sort by biggest discount, and so on.
Click any deal card to open the retailer's page in your browser. Click the heart icon to wishlist a deal for later, or the × to dismiss anything that doesn't interest you.
7. After your trial: licensing the app
Your free 14-day trial covers all the core features — library scan, projects, tags and notes, the Deals tab with deal alerts, producer tools, update checking on up to 100 plugins. The power-user features (bulk operations, the 8 studio palette themes, iCloud sync, library export, backup/restore) unlock with a paid plan. When the trial ends, Plugr drops to read-only mode for the library and projects (you keep all your data, you just can't run new scans or check for updates). The Deals tab keeps working forever, even without a paid license.
When you're ready to license, head to plugr.co/pricing and pick a plan. You'll receive a license key by email; open Plugr → Preferences → License and paste it in.
Have a question that isn't covered here? Check the FAQ or get in touch.