QDelay

QDelay by Tilr is a multi-mode dual-delay plugin that packs an absurd amount of functionality into a free download. Tilr was one of the most productive freeware developers of 2025 (his TIME-12 made our top 15 free plugins list), and QDelay is a strong start to 2026. The core delay engine offers Normal, Ping-Pong, and Tap modes with independent left/right delay times. You can set delay times in seconds, straight, dotted, or triplet divisions.

From there, it goes much deeper: accent odd/even taps, offset swing and feel for rhythmic variation, modulate the delay line time, and duck the delayed signal. There’s also a reverse function tucked into the settings. What really sets QDelay apart for me is the built-in tone-shaping section. You get a parametric EQ for shaping the feedback and input signal, a Saturation module with Color, Bias, Dynamics, and Drive controls, and a Tape section with Wow and Flutter settings.

These aren’t afterthoughts, either. They add an analog dimension to the plugin, making it more than just a typical free delay. I tend to favor subtle delay effects most of the time, and a dotted eighth-note delay with some wow and flutter on electric piano or pad chords is exactly the kind of thing QDelay handles beautifully. But it has a wide range and can go from controlled musical echoes to pitch-shifted chaos when you want it to.

QDelay is available in AU, VST3, and LV2 formats for macOS, Windows, and Linux. No registration required.