The best Nicky Romero Kickstart 2 alternative for most producers is RysUpPump at $9.99: sixteen fully editable curve slots with per point corner control, a crossover so only the low end ducks, and per slot factory reset. Cableguys ShaperBox 3 is the alternative if you want filter, time, and pitch shaping from the same curve. Xfer Records LFOTool is the alternative if you need MIDI CC output. Devious Machines Duck 2 is the alternative if you want multiband ducking specifically. Kickstart 2 itself is still a fine buy at $16, and this page says where it wins.
Disclosure: Rys Up Audio makes RysUpPump. Kickstart 2 pricing and features were rechecked against the official Kickstart product site on August 23, 2026, where the price is published as 14 EUR / $16. We have not run a controlled listening comparison, so nothing here claims one sounds better than the other. Both apply gain from a tempo-locked curve, which is arithmetic, not tone.
The alternatives at a glance
| Alternative | Price | Pick it when |
|---|---|---|
| RysUpPump | $9.99 | You want more control over the shape, a low band crossover, and the lowest price. |
| Cableguys ShaperBox 3 | 99 EUR | You want one curve driving filter, pan, time, and pitch, not just volume. |
| Xfer Records LFOTool | $49.95 | You need MIDI CC output to modulate other instruments or hardware. |
| Devious Machines Duck 2 | $29.99 | You want multiband control over how each part of the spectrum ducks. |
RysUpPump compared with Kickstart 2 in detail
| RysUpPump | Nicky Romero Kickstart 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 outright | $16, published as 14 EUR / $16 |
| Curve slots | 16, all editable, per slot factory reset | 16 supplied curves with drag-to-fit timing |
| Point corner control | Hard, medium, soft per point | Not advertised on the official page |
| Band splitting | Crossover with solo monitoring | Multiband lows-only ducking |
| Sync rates | 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1 bar | Tempo synced rates |
| Triggering | Host sync, MIDI note, audio transient | Beat, MIDI, audio |
| Formats | AU, VST3, AAX | AU, VST3, AAX, VST2 |
| Copy protection | License key, no dongle | License key |
| Subscription option | Included in Rys Up Suite from $9.99/mo | No subscription shown |
Checked on the official Kickstart product site August 23, 2026. Upgrade pricing from Kickstart 1 was listed at 5 EUR / $5. Prices and promotions change.
Where Kickstart 2 is genuinely the better buy
Kickstart earned its position. It is worth being honest about why people keep recommending it.
- Preset-first speed. Sixteen supplied curves and drag-to-fit timing keep the setup deliberately simple.
- It ships VST2. If you are on an older host that never moved to VST3, that matters and RysUpPump does not cover it.
- It is already installed. If you own it, it works, and $9.99 is not a reason on its own to switch.
- Fewer decisions. Some people want a shape picker, not a curve editor with sixteen editable slots.
Where RysUpPump wins
- Direct crossover and solo controls. Both plugins can duck only the lows. RysUpPump exposes the crossover frequency and lets you solo the affected range while setting it.
- Sixteen slots with per slot reset. Edit any curve freely and restore that one to factory without touching the other fifteen, so experimenting never costs you a shape you liked.
- Per point corner control. Cycle any point between hard, medium, and soft to get holds, two stage releases, and recoveries that are faster than the fall.
- Price and Suite economics. $9.99 outright, or the $9.99 monthly annual Suite plan that includes every paid plugin we make now and everything we release while you are active.
Which should you buy
Buy Kickstart 2 if you want a preset-first workflow, you need VST2, or you want lows-only multiband sidechaining without editing individual points.
Buy RysUpPump if you want to control the shape itself, you want to duck only the low end, or you want the whole Rys Up Suite for what one plugin usually costs.
Frequently asked questions
Is RysUpPump just a Kickstart 2 clone?
No. Volume shaping is a long established plugin category with many entrants, and every plugin in it applies gain from an editable tempo synced curve. RysUpPump adds a crossover with solo monitoring, sixteen independently resettable slots, and per point corner control. Those are the differences worth buying it for.
Can I use both?
Yes. They are ordinary plugins with no conflict. Plenty of people keep the familiar one on some channels and the more editable one where the shape matters.
Does RysUpPump need an iLok?
No. Activation is an email and a license key. No dongle and no license manager subscription.
Which DAWs does RysUpPump support?
AU, VST3, and AAX on macOS Universal and Windows 64 bit, covering Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Ableton Live, FL Studio, Studio One, Cubase, Reaper, GarageBand, and Bitwig Studio. It does not ship VST2.