iZotope is no longer a Native Instruments brand, as it joins Boris FX

Esteemed plugin brand iZotope has been acquired by VFX software company, Boris FX. The merge means iZotope is no longer part of the Native Instruments family of brands, which was sold to InMusic in May 2026, and comprises Native Instruments, Plugin Alliance and Brainworx.

According to Boris FX and iZotope, all iZotope licenses and subscriptions remain “fully active.”

In case all of these acquisitions and mergers seem a little confusing, here’s a recap: In 2021, iZotope and Native Instruments formed a new music technology group backed by investment firm, Francisco Partners. In 2022, that group was given the name Soundwide, after acquiring Brainworx and Plugin Alliance, plus a new company called Sound Stacks (which appeared to never conduct any business). In January 2023, Soundwide laid off 8 per cent of its global workforce. In June 2023, Soundwide became Native Instruments, with iZotope, Brainworx and Plugin Alliance being part of the brand. In January 2026, Native Instruments entered preliminary insolvency. In May 2026, Francisco Partners sold the Native Instruments brand to InMusic, which at the time included iZotope, Brainworx and Plugin Alliance. Now, iZotope exits the Native Instruments brand and joins Boris FX.

……Got it? Great. So what does this mean for iZotope users? Right now, not a lot.

If you’re a subscriber or a license holder for any iZotope plugins, you can expect these to function as normal. In a statement, iZotope’s Todd Baker assures that all products and licenses “remain fully active, with uninterrupted support.” If you’re looking to buy iZotope plugins or upgrade, you can head to the iZotope website as normal to make purchases, and you can login to your account as expected. You cannot, however, purchase any iZotope plugins via Plugin Alliance (for now).

What happens to iZotope’s team and designers? Again, not a lot, says Baker: “There are no interruptions to plugin development. The talented engineers behind RX, Ozone, Neutron, Nectar, and the rest of the iZotope lineup are hard at work. This move provides the resources and focus needed to supercharge our roadmap of next-generation plugins.”

And if you’re wondering who or what Boris FX is, Baker has offered some insight. “Boris FX has spent over 30 years as a founder-led company building professional creative software, and its move into audio is already well underway. Trusted tools like Sequoia, Samplitude, and CrumplePop, found in music studios, mastering suites, and broadcast facilities worldwide, are also part of the Boris FX family.”

iZotope’s acquisition also seems motivated by a shared interest in AI-powered software. Over on Boris FX’s website, founder and CEO Boris Yamnitsky says: “iZotope is known for its smart and practical use of AI. Combined with Boris FX’s deep expertise in AI-driven audio and video tools, we’re positioned to move faster, innovate further, and create even more powerful tools for creative professionals.”

The most recent product released by iZotope was RX 12, which we reviewed in April 2026. There’s no indication on which plugin will be the first to come from the new Boris FX home, but it’ll no doubt be one to look out for.

Read the full statements from iZotope and Boris FX. 

Sam is the Commissioning Editor at MusicTech, where he’s helped shape the publication’s editorial voice since 2019. With nearly two decades of music-making and a degree in music technology behind him, his focus is on the stories behind studio gear and the artists who use it. He’s spent way too much time sampling disco records.