AUv3 plugins are bringing iOS music production into a new golden age.
These mobile-friendly tools can be just as powerful as their desktop counterparts, changing what’s possible within mobile DAWs.
But what exactly is AUv3? Why has it changed the game and what makes AUv3 plugins so important for iOS music makers?
In this article, I’ll explain everything you need to know about AUv3 plugins and suggest a few top picks to add to your mobile production setup.
What is AUv3?
AUv3 stands for Audio Unit Version 3. It’s Apple’s standard for third-party plugins on iOS, iPadOS and macOS.
AUv3 is an evolution of Apple’s well-known Audio Unit format that was developed for macOS as an alternative to VST in the early 2000s.
With Apple’s continued focus on mobile devices, it was inevitable that a new version of the AU standard would involve deeper integration with iOS and iPadOS.
That’s here now with AUv3, along with other next-gen enhancements that improve the plugin experience on Apple hardware and software.
Why is AUv3 so important for mobile production?
Before the advent of AUv3, mobile music production apps had limited integration with third-party plugins.
As any desktop producer knows, the plugins you use make a big impact on your production style and the quality of your results.
Unfortunately for mobile producers, early third-party plugins relied on workarounds for compatibility with iOS DAWs. These methods couldn’t provide all the functionality that desktop users had come to expect, so many users considered mobile production fundamentally limited.
However, Apple’s vision for the iPad and iPhone to become core platforms for creative production led to the introduction of the AUv3 standard in 2015.
Adoption of the format became widespread with the introduction of Logic Pro for iPad in 2023, finally providing users with a full-fledged production environment on mobile devices.
Today’s mobile production landscape is much more mature, with dozens of manufacturers providing AUv3 compatible versions of their flagship desktop plugins and a thriving community of producers working exclusively on iOS.
What makes AUv3 better than what came before?
If you’re used to using plugins on your desktop machine, you’ve probably seen the standard formats that most developers include during installation.
The most common options are VST, AAX and AU. AAX is a proprietary format for Pro Tools, but VST and AU plugins can both be used on computers running macOS.
Although many producers use the term VST as shorthand for any type of plugin, it actually refers to a specific technology created by Steinberg for use in its Cubase DAW.
While VST plugins are usually compatible with macOS, Apple set out to develop its own standard after it became clear that third-party tools would become a fixture of the DAW era.
The goal was to integrate more directly with Apple’s Core Audio technology and improve the basic functionality of third-party plugins for use on their software and hardware.
With AUv3, Apple has finally bridged the gap between mobile and desktop production, offering easy portability between macOS and iOS platforms with minimal effort from developers.
There’s a long list of the technical factors that contribute to this, but here are the basic features available to developers in the AUv3 format:
Multichannel audio and MIDI support
Real-time processing and low-latency framework
Self-contained operation separate from the host app
Native inter-app communication
Save and recall state settings
Touch-optimized UI integration
The best AUv3 plugins for mobile music production
With the technical details out of the way, here’s my guide to the best AUv3 plugins available.
Before we get started, note that there are hundreds of titles to choose from, so every producer’s personal favorites will be different.
That said, there are a few companies that have prioritized mobile-friendly AUv3 releases, so I’ll break down the top picks from each in 2025.
Baby Audio
We’re a bit biased when it comes to this one, but here at BA we’ve been quietly releasing AUv3 versions of our most popular plugins for the last several years.
You’ll find mobile-ready AUv3 support for classics like BA-1, Transit, TAIP and Comeback Kid as well as recently released titles like Humanoid and Warp.
Our plugins focus on creativity, quality results and engaging workflows, so they’re a great place to start if you need to add some color to your mix on mobile.
For example, Humanoid is one of our most exciting iOS releases ever, with the ability to completely transform any singing performance into a futuristic robotic vocal.
Click below to check out Humanoid and the rest of the Baby Audio Catalog on the App Store.
Fabfilter is another respected developer with a commitment to delivering mobile compatibility for its core products.
Known for their professional quality mixing and mastering tools, the company also offers some unique instruments and effects that make great additions to any Logic Pro for iPad setup.
Eventide is one of the original builders of digital studio effects. Today, the company creates innovative plugins as well as high-quality hardware devices.
Luckily for iOS producers, many of the well-known effects from their H9 hardware unit are available as AUv3 plugins.
French developer BLEASS has a notable focus on iOS platforms, with robust AUv3 compatibility across their entire library.
With a wide variety of synthesizers, useful effects and creative processing, there’s plenty to discover if you need some fresh inspiration in your plugin folder.
Other AUv3 highlights
Although some developers pay special attention to mobile compatibility, there are plenty of recommended AUv3 plugins from smaller developers and one-off projects.
Here are a few other AUv3 plugins to check out:
Make music anywhere with AUv3 tools
Mobile music production offers an enticing promise for artists that want to take their workflow with them wherever inspiration strikes.
With the advent of modern iOS DAWs like Logic Pro for iPad and its AUv3 plugin compatibility, that dream is closer than ever to coming true.
As more developers prioritize AUv3 plugin development, the variety of creative tools available to mobile producers will only increase.
If you’ve made it to the end of this article, you’ll have a solid overview of the AUv3 standard, as well as a good introduction to the top plugins available for mobile DAWs.