Explainer
Pump vs Kickstart 2: A Free Kickstart-Style Sidechain Plugin Compared (2026)
Updated 2 min read
Kickstart 2 (Cableguys and Nicky Romero) is a cheap, one-knob sidechain plugin with 16 curves, audio triggering and a low-end-only mode, for €14. Pump does the same tempo-synced ducking with no routing, adds an 8-point drawable shape and an Audio trigger that follows your real kick, and is free. Pick Pump if you want Kickstart-style pumping for nothing; pick Kickstart 2 if you want its low-end-only ducking or its ready-made curves.
Pump vs Kickstart 2 at a glance
Price
- Pump
- Free
- Kickstart 2
- €14 / $16
Formats
- Pump
- VST3, AU, AAX
- Kickstart 2
- VST2, VST3, AU, AAX
Systems
- Pump
- Windows 10+, macOS 11+
- Kickstart 2
- Windows 7–11, macOS 10.15+
Routing needed
- Pump
- None
- Kickstart 2
- None
Curves
- Pump
- Classic curve, plus an 8-point custom shape
- Kickstart 2
- 16 curves
Rates
- Pump
- 1/1 to 1/16
- Kickstart 2
- Tempo-synced
Shape controls
- Pump
- Depth, Curve, Smooth, Offset, Mix
- Kickstart 2
- Depth and Mix
Audio trigger
- Pump
- Yes, with threshold
- Kickstart 2
- Yes
Low-end-only ducking
- Pump
- No
- Kickstart 2
- Yes
What Kickstart 2 does well
Kickstart made one-knob sidechain popular: drop it on a bass or pad, turn the knob, and it pumps in time. Version 2 adds 16 curves for different pump shapes, a Mix knob, an audio trigger that ducks from the incoming signal, and a multiband mode that ducks only the low end, so the bass clears for the kick while the top of a pad keeps sustaining. It shows the kick and bass waveforms so you can see the duck. It's inexpensive and very quick to use.
What Pump does well
Pump locks to your project tempo and ducks the volume in rhythm with no sidechain routing. Pick a rate from 1/1 to 1/16, then shape the duck with Depth, Curve, Smooth and Offset (which moves the duck later, for a laid-back pump). Switch Shape to Custom and draw your own 8-point curve, a full volume shaper for gates and stutters. Set Trigger to Audio and it follows your actual kick above a threshold instead of the grid. 41 presets range from Classic Pump and Four on the Floor to Trance Gate 16 and Lofi Wobble.
Where Kickstart 2 is stronger
- Low-end-only ducking: clear the bass range for the kick and leave the highs alone. Pump ducks the whole signal.
- 16 ready-made curves to flip through.
- VST2 and older systems (Windows 7, macOS 10.15) are supported.
- Waveform display of the kick and bass.
Where Pump is stronger
- It's free, with no trial and no instance limit.
- Draw your own shape: an 8-point custom curve for gates, stutters and swells.
- More shaping: Curve, Smooth and Offset on top of Depth and Mix.
- Try it first: every preset plays in the browser on pads, synths and full mixes.
Which should you choose?
- You want Kickstart-style pumping without paying: Pump.
- You want to duck only the low end of a pad or full mix: Kickstart 2.
- You want a sidechain that follows a kick with swing or fills: either, in audio-trigger mode, or a compressor with a real sidechain. See how to sidechain.
Making dance music? Pair it with how to make house music and our drum patterns by genre.
Try Pump in your browser
FAQ
What is the Kickstart plugin?
Kickstart is a one-knob sidechain plugin made by Cableguys with Nicky Romero. It ducks the volume of a track in time with your tempo, so you get the classic EDM pumping effect without setting up sidechain routing. Kickstart 2 adds 16 curves, a mix knob, audio triggering and low-end-only ducking.
How much is Kickstart 2?
As of November 2026, Kickstart 2 costs €14 or $16 on the official site, with a $5 upgrade from Kickstart 1. A free demo allows one instance per song without saving. It comes in VST2, VST3, AU and AAX.
Is Pump really free?
Yes. Pump is free forever, with no trial or time limit, in VST3, AU and AAX for Windows and macOS.
What is a volume shaper?
A plugin that moves the volume along a drawn, tempo-synced curve, used for sidechain-style pumping, gating and stutters. Pump's Custom shape mode, with eight points you can draw, is a volume shaper.