Youlean Loudness Meter 2
by Youlean · Utility · Loudness meter
vst3s Score 9.3/10 · rated #2 of 10 metering & utility
A loudness meter that shows integrated, short-term and momentary LUFS, loudness range (LRA), true peak and PLR, with a scrolling loudness history graph.
It comes with presets for streaming, broadcast, film and games, and is used to check masters against targets such as Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music and EBU R128. The free version covers the core meters; Pro adds extras such as saved custom presets and file analysis exports.
Best for: Mastering, Mix Bus. Genres: all genres.
Keywords: metering, true-peak, broadcast, mastering, free, freemium, full mix, bus processing, film & game audio, mix bus, A/B compare, resizable UI, utility.
What it does
Youlean Loudness Meter 2 measures loudness to the ITU-R BS.1770 standard and shows how a mix or master compares with delivery targets.
- Measurements: integrated, short-term and momentary LUFS, LU, LKFS, loudness range (LRA), PLR and true peak.
- Presets: targets for streaming (Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music and others), broadcast (EBU R128, ATSC A/85) and film and games.
- History graph: a scrolling dynamics graph of the whole song, plus true-peak analysis.
- Workflow: resizable window with a mini view, dark and light themes, drag-and-drop file analysis and A/B states.
- Pro version: adds saving custom presets and exporting reports as PDF, PNG or SVG.
The free version and Pro are both available.
When to use it
Youlean is the simplest way to answer "how loud is this, and will it be turned down on streaming?". It does loudness only, but does it very clearly, and the free version is enough for most producers. Insight 2 is the fuller suite (spectrum, stereo, surround) and WLM Plus adds broadcast-style loudness logging; Youlean is quicker to read than either.
- Best for: checking integrated LUFS and true peak on the master bus, comparing sections of a song on the history graph, and quick checks of finished files by drag and drop.
- Genres: all; especially useful for loud modern genres (EDM, hip-hop, pop) where loudness normalisation matters.
- Look elsewhere if: you also want spectrum and stereo analysis in one window (Insight 2) or strict broadcast compliance logging (NUGEN VisLM).
What producers say
It is the loudness meter most often recommended in 2026 buyer's guides, usually as the free pick.
- Puremix (2026) called it the best free loudness meter "that still feels professional".
- Venia Mastering (2026) named it the go-to free option for integrated LUFS, true peak and LRA with streaming presets.
- LANDR (2026) called it the best free loudness meter and a must-have for mastering.
- Integraudio praised the amount of features and convenience it offers for free.
- Puremix: Best Metering Plugin in 2026
- Venia Mastering: The Best Loudness Meters for Mixing & Mastering in 2026
- LANDR: The 13 Best Mastering Plugins in 2026
- Integraudio: 5 Best Metering Plugins For Loudness
Where to buy
- Youlean: Free (Free version; Pro costs $39 + tax (one-time, free updates))
Tutorials and reviews
- Youlean Loudness Meter 2 - VST, AU and AAX plugin (Youlean)
- I Use This Plugin On Every Mix and Master - Youlean Loudness Meter 2 Pro (In The Mix)
- Translate Loud Masters using Loudness Metering - Youlean Loudness Meter 2 - Overview (Soniq Sounds)
- The Best Free Mastering Plugin - Youlean Loudness Meter 2
- MELHOR Solução para VOLUME Final de MASTERIZAÇÃO - Youlean Loudness Meter 2 / #ProduçãoMusicalFcil
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