YouLean Loudness Meter for PC: How to Download and Install on Windows (2026 Guide)

Upload a track that is too quiet and the streaming platforms turn it down or bury it; master it too loud and they turn it down anyway, leaving your mix squashed. The number that decides this is loudness in LUFS — and YouLean Loudness Meter is the free plugin the production community uses to measure it accurately before release.

This guide shows you how to download YouLean Loudness Meter for PC from the official YouLean website, install it on Windows 11 or 10, load it in your DAW — or in OBS Studio for stream audio — and read your first loudness measurement, with an honest breakdown of the free version versus the paid Pro edition.

What Is YouLean Loudness Meter?

YouLean Loudness Meter 2 is a loudness metering plugin that measures your audio the way broadcasters and streaming services do: following the ITU-R BS.1770 standard, it reports Momentary, Short-Term and Integrated LUFS, true peak, loudness range and dynamic range in one clear display, with a zoomable graph that draws your loudness over time as the track plays.

It is widely considered one of the best loudness meters at any price because of that graph: you can see exactly where a chorus jumps, where a verse drops, and whether your song lands on target. The plugin keeps a log of the graph, supports drag-and-drop file analysis, works in mono, stereo and 5.1 surround, and fits any workflow thanks to a resizable interface with a compact mini view. Podcasters and video creators use it too, to hit platform loudness targets.

Key Features

Complete LUFS metering: Momentary, Short-Term and Integrated loudness (LUFS) plus maximum values, measured to the ITU-R BS.1770 standard.
True peak detection: Catches inter-sample peaks ordinary meters miss, with a custom alert threshold so hidden clipping cannot sneak into exports.
Dynamics readouts: Loudness Range (LRA), Dynamic Range (DR) and Peak-to-Loudness Ratio (PLR) show whether a mix is lively or over-compressed.
Zoomable loudness graph with logging: The graph records your loudness over time, can be overdubbed after edits, and includes a loudness distribution view.
Delivery presets built in: The free version includes film, TV and gaming presets (EBU R128, ATSC A/85, ARIB and more), so broadcast targets are one click away.
Drag-and-drop file analysis: Drop a finished WAV or rendered file onto the plugin to measure it without playing it in real time.
Resizable interface with mini view: Scale the GUI freely, switch between light and dark skins, or collapse to mini mode and keep it parked on screen while you mix.

System Requirements

Operating System: Windows 11 or Windows 10 (64-bit) recommended
Processor: Any modern Intel or AMD CPU
RAM: 2 GB minimum; 4 GB or more recommended for larger projects
Storage: Under 100 MB of free space for the plugin
Host software: A VST2, VST3 or AAX compatible DAW on Windows — also usable in OBS Studio via its VST plugin support (AU on macOS)
Internet: Required only for the download itself
Account: None for the free version — no sign-up or iLok required

How to Download YouLean Loudness Meter (Official Method)

YouLean distributes the meter through its own website, youlean.co, and that is the only download source worth using. Plugin portals often host the old first-generation version; the official site carries the current Loudness Meter 2 with up-to-date standards.

Official Website: Download YouLean Loudness Meter from the official YouLean website

Step-by-Step Installation

Open the official YouLean Loudness Meter page linked above.
Click the free download button for the Windows version.
Save the installer to your Downloads folder.
Run the installer and approve the Windows permission prompt.
Choose the formats you need (VST3 is the safe modern choice) and keep the default folders.
Finish the installer, then open your DAW and run its plugin rescan.
Insert YouLean Loudness Meter as the very last plugin on your master bus.

Tip: Loudness is measured over time, so always judge the Integrated LUFS reading after playing the whole track from start to finish — a half-played song gives a half-true number. Use the reset button before each new measurement pass.

How to Check Your Track’s Loudness with YouLean

Insert YouLean Loudness Meter last on the master bus, after your limiter, and press the reset button.
Choose a preset that matches your destination — a broadcast preset for TV work, or simply watch the Integrated LUFS readout for streaming.
Play the entire track from beginning to end without changing levels, so the integrated measurement covers everything.
Read the results: Integrated LUFS tells you overall loudness, and the True Peak value should stay at or below −1 dBTP for safe streaming delivery.
Compare with your target — around −14 LUFS integrated is the common streaming reference point used by major music platforms.
If you are off target, adjust your limiter’s output or mix level slightly, reset the meter, and measure once more.

Is YouLean Loudness Meter Free? Free vs Pro Explained

The free version is a genuinely useful, permanent edition — not a timed trial. It includes the full LUFS, true peak, LRA and dynamics readouts, the zoomable graph with logging, drag-and-drop analysis, the resizable GUI with mini view, and the film, TV and gaming presets. For checking your own masters, it covers most producers’ needs.

The paid Pro edition adds the streaming-platform presets (Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, Tidal and others as ready-made targets), loudness measurement export to files, and additional workflow extras aimed at professionals delivering to many destinations daily. That is a fair split: the meter itself is not crippled in the free version, and Pro is there when quick platform presets and reporting become part of your job.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is YouLean Loudness Meter safe to download?
Yes — provided you download it only from the official site, youlean.co, using the link in this guide. That gives you the genuine installer directly from the developer. Copies on unofficial portals are often the outdated first version, so avoid them.

What LUFS should my song be for streaming platforms?
Major music platforms normalise playback to roughly −14 LUFS integrated (YouTube is in the same area), and they turn louder masters down. Mastering near that level with true peak at or below −1 dBTP is the common, safe approach — measure with YouLean before you upload.

What is the difference between the free and Pro versions?
The free version has complete LUFS and true-peak metering, the loudness graph, drag-and-drop analysis and film/TV/gaming presets. Pro adds streaming-platform presets, measurement export and extra professional workflow features. The core metering accuracy is the same.

Why does YouLean not appear in my DAW after installing?
Run the DAW’s plugin rescan and confirm you installed a supported format (VST3 is safest). VST3 plugins live in C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3 — make sure your DAW scans that path, then restart the DAW.

Conclusion

Loudness is no longer guesswork: with YouLean Loudness Meter on your master bus you can see your LUFS, true peak and dynamics exactly as the platforms will judge them, and fix problems before release, not after. Download the free version from the official YouLean website and measure your next master properly.

Download YouLean Loudness Meter from the Official Website

YouLean Loudness Meter for PC: How to Download and Install on Windows (2026 Guide)