Best Multi-Effects Pedals 2023: 10 Do-It-All Multi-Effects Guitar Pedals For All Budgets

It used to be that multi-effects pedals were looked down upon by regular pedalboard users. They were something for beginners, inferior in both usability and tone. Thankfully those days are long behind us – with the best multi-effects pedals, you can expand upon a regular pedalboard, or replace it entirely.

It’s not just pedalboards either, the majority of multi-effects pedals manufactured today have evolved far beyond just the provision of effects. Most of them are now full rigs in their own right, with amp and cabinet simulations built-in and plenty of routing options to help you find your perfect sound.

Thanks to the advance of technology, digital signal processing has gotten to the point where it’s able to replicate the analog sounds of old in a way that is nigh-on indistinguishable from the real thing. Unless you’re a real tone hound you won’t be able to tell whether that local guitarist is using an actual analog delay or just a digital simulation of one.

We’ve included some in-depth buying advice at the end of this guide if you need to know more. If you’d rather get straight into our gear choices, keep scrolling. 

• Organize your pedal collection with the best pedalboards
• Our pick of the best Epiphone Les Pauls

Best multi-effects pedals: Guitar Player’s choice

If you’re on a budget, you can’t go wrong with one of the original names in the multi-effects world, the Boss GT-1 (opens in new tab). It contains a great selection of Boss effects, which are well-known in the guitar world for their fantastic quality – pretty much every player has at least one on their ‘board.

For a mid-priced option, we’ve got another of the early innovators of digital effects in the Line 6 Helix HX Stomp (opens in new tab). We’ve seen loads of guitarists replacing their modulation and time based-effects such as reverb and delay with one of these. Compact enough to fit on an existing pedalboard or to replace your rig entirely, it’s a brilliant bit of kit for any guitar player.

If money’s no object and only the best will do, it has to be the Neural DSP Quad Cortex (opens in new tab). Guitarists are rightly raving about the impressive amp sounds contained within this floor modeler, and the flexibility of this advanced bit of kit is simply astounding. Run a whole rig, or even two side by side with ‘algorithmically’ perfect recreations of timeless amp and cabinet sounds, as well as a full suite of luscious sounding effects.

Best multi-effects pedals: Product guide

Well, if you’ve been keeping your eyes and ears open it’s likely you’ve heard of Neural DSP, or at least heard about what they’ve been up to. They started life as a company producing incredible guitar amp plugins for many of the guitar world’s most exciting new talents, and now they’ve delved into hardware with the impressive Quad Cortex.

You won’t be solely using the QC as a multi-effects unit, but with 70+ effects to make the most of, it’d be remiss to gloss over them. Over 50 onboard amp models (with over 1,000 more amp algorithms sat in the Sound Library) and over 1,000 impulse responses make up the basis of your tone, and access to so many different effects makes the Quad Cortex a seriously versatile and creativity-inducing piece of gear. It’s by far the best option on the market, if money isn’t a worry for you.

It is a bit pricey, but the physical and aural quality that you get in return is pretty stunning. It’s probably the closest you’ll get to tube amp tone and attitude without throwing a tube stage in there somewhere - and that’s a very large tick in the box for us.

The HX Stomp is a compact solution for those who’re either looking for a rig-in-a-box setup for a great price, or have had their eyes set on the full-fat Helix and want something smaller and simpler to try out. 

On the face of it, it’s a simple, small unit - but don’t let the diminutive size fool you. The capability of the HX Stomp is pretty mind-blowing. With over 300 effects onboard, including legacy Line 6 patches, Helix and M Series effects, we can’t fathom a situation where you won’t be able to find the sound you’re looking for. It’s got all the same amp models as the full size Helix too. 

Its small size does make it a little bit fiddly to program, but Line 6’s HX Edit software gives you a pretty straightforward editing platform if you’ve got the time to plug in your HX Stomp. Honestly, we aren’t fussed that it’s a bit fiddly when the pros vastly outweigh the cons.

Boss is one of the kings of multi-effects pedals, with their products gaining a reputation for being solid, durable, high-spec and producing some great tones. The GT-1, although aimed at beginners and those who don’t have so much pedal experience, doesn’t disappoint.

The GT-1 contains 108 different effect types, 99 presets and 99 user patches, as well as a 32 second looper - making this multi-effects unit a versatile and useful learning tool. The looper is also ideal for those who want to practice their timing and internal metronome - especially beginner players.

It can be powered by four AA batteries for up to 7 hours, or you can use a 9V DC power supply to ensure your tone never goes down. The in-built USB port is great for downloading more sounds or using the online editor, or as an audio interface when recording. Granted it’s a bit more simple than we would have liked, but for the money, we can’t complain.

Mooer is a fairly recent entrant into the world of multi-effects, but they’ve definitely made an impact at many different price points. The GE300 is their best in terms of value for money, and even though they’re not one of the ‘big’ brands, they’re definitely worth a look.

The Mooer GE300’s 164 onboard effects are the first of many impressive appointments, putting many extensive pedalboards and other multi-effects systems to shame. Combine these effects with 108 preamps, and you’ve got all the components of a brilliant amp modeler - and with Mooer’s Tone Capture software, you can even model your own amps.

If that isn’t quite enough for you, the GE300 also contains 43 speaker cab models, a 30 (yes, 30) minute loop station, and a ridiculously cool synth engine that turns any guitar into a synth without the need for trailing MIDI cables or installing special pickups. A programmable FX loop with optional signal chain routing is one of many extra features that makes the GE300 a killer choice for anyone looking to keep costs down. Yes, Mooer is still a bit unknown in some circles and the potentially low second hand value may leave you shook, but why are you selling it?

The Line 6 Helix is something of a stalwart when it comes to these buyer’s guides - and for no other reason than the fact it’s absolutely killer. Line 6 spent years crafting each amp, effect, cab and mic model to go into the Helix, and it shows. 

With an exceptionally realistic dynamic response, the Helix does what most amp modelers claim to do, but on a level which is likely to blow you away. The folks at Line 6 literally dismantled the amps and effects they wanted to use, to understand each individual component and the effect it has on your signal chain. No wonder it recreates so many different amp tones so impressively well. 

The Helix’s processing power is also impressive, with the ability to run 4 amps and 32 pedals at the same time, all without breaking a sweat. Talk about live stereo capabilities! The integrated expression pedal extends the levels of versatility even further, and even though the Helix requires some tone tweaking, it’s capable of a hell of a lot.

Kemper has taken the convenience and powerful tonal capabilities of their profiling amplifier range to another level with their Profiler Stage - a powerful, pedalboard-friendly version of their popular head and rack models. 

If you’ve experience with Kemper, you’ll notice that the Profiler Stage is housed in a very similar looking control system to the Kemper Remote. Luckily for you, this format is incredibly strong and durable and thankfully, very straightforward to use. Now, Kemper’s main selling point is that it actually isn’t an amp modeler at all - it’s a Profiler. Kemper states that a profile captures the ‘sonic DNA’ of an amp, and we’d have to agree. The Kemper understands and recreates the personality of an amplifier, rather than just replicating a specific tone. It comes with hundreds of sophisticated and addictive amp profiles already onboard, with thousands more waiting for you in the Rig Manager - you’ll never run out of options. 

As far as setup goes, like any complex piece of gear it takes a little while to get the hang of, but once you learn it, you’re away. Programming footswitches, effects and performances are all straightforward tasks, meaning you can get on with playing instead of having to tweak your settings - and let’s be honest, you won’t stop playing.

Boss’ GT series of multi-effects is apparently as old as time itself, but the GT-1000 seems like it came from the future. The 1000 is portable, powerful and monstrously durable, and is a dependable Boss option for anyone who wants a solid, high quality guitar tone. 

The GT-1000’s multi-effects capabilities are genuinely huge, with over 145 different types of effects to choose from. Boss’ recent and most impressive pedals have been the 500 series, so it’s only natural that you’ve got access to all of them within the GT-1000. For most, that would be all you need - higher than studio quality delay, modulation and reverb - but Boss isn’t finished there. With AIRD technology simulating not only the complexities of modern and vintage tube amps, but also the attitude of the air around the cabinet, you can expect some truly high fidelity tones.

Boss has created a new DSP engine which means that the sample rate of 96kHz delivers better-than-studio degrees of tonal quality, and Boss’ own multi-dimensional programming responds to how you play, rather than what you play, making the GT-1000 an ideal choice for gigging or bedroom guitarists.

The TC Electronic Plethora X5 is a late entry into this battle of the multi-effects, but for the price it could be one of the best of the bunch. 

Most of us are fans of TC Electronic’s great sounding effects, and as the Plethora X5 makes the most of TC’s entire range of TonePrint pedals, you’ll honestly struggle to find a bad sound in this unit. The Plethora X5 comes pre-loaded with various different boards - consisting of effects such as the Hall of Fame reverb, Flashback delay, Viscous vibe among many others - so you can either make the most of what's already in the Plethora, or you can create your own boards to really sculpt your tones to suit you. 

Despite the Plethora's pedal-choice limitations, what it can do is still pretty remarkable when you take into account that it costs less than a Mexican Strat. Taking advantage of TC Electronic's TonePrint technology, the level of tweakability is impressive. It may not house hundreds of different drive pedals or have mental MIDI capability, but if all you want is multiple effects from your multi-effects pedal, then you may have stumbled upon a winner. 

The Line 6 Helix HX Effects unit takes the killer array of effects from the Helix amp modeler and strips away the added extras, allowing you to make the most of enveloping reverbs, mind-bending stereo delays and more, without any added extras getting in the way. 

Line 6 designed the HX Effects to become part of a pre-existing pedalboard setup, but we found it to be wholly capable of standing alone alongside a clean amp. With complete focus on effects processing, the HX Effects uses the impressive audio engine from the full-fat Helix - meaning the vast array of over 100 onboard effect models can take centre stage and bring your playing and your tones to the next level. Capable of producing great distortion, modulation and pitch/synth tones in the blink of an eye, there's not much to complain about here. 

A streamlined, slick look accompanies the HX Effects' capabilities nicely, with a 'less is more' approach proving to be a welcome escape from the usually hectic world of multi-effects. The small "scribble strips" above each footswitch are frustratingly small, but still readable with some focus. As an easy-to-use option, or a first foray into the world of multi-effects, you'd be hard pressed to find something wrong here.

The Zoom G5N packs an incredible 100 effects and 26 amp models at a price that in some instances will get you just a single boutique stompbox. Despite the low cost, the G5N sounds absolutely phenomenal and has lots of options for shaping your sound.

All of the great amplifier models are accurately emulated here, including classics like the Marshall JCM800, Fender Twin Reverb, and Mesa Boogie Mk3 all sure to find pride of place on your own backline. The modulation effects are fantastic too, particularly the tremolo and reverb, but you’ll get plenty of mileage out of the various overdrives and distortion effects available.

Connect to the Zoom Guitar Lab software and you can load a whole host of presets, including custom patches made by Kiko Loureiro of Megadeth and Jeff Schroeder of Smashing Pumpkins. Combine that with some great connectivity options and you’ve got a powerful piece of gear at an incredible price point.

For those who prefer analog pedals but don’t want to cart around a full ‘board, the Mooer Red Truck multi-effects pedal could be the unit for you. 

Taking inspiration from products like the Tech 21 Fly Rig, the Red Truck is a compact, condensed multi-effects unit with five of the most commonly used effects included. Modulated reverb, delay, modulation, distortion and drive effects populate this all-in-one unit from Mooer, and if you’re looking for a utilitarian unit to consolidate your larger pedalboard, then this should be a contender. 

Yes, it’s got fewer features than other products in this guide. There are no interesting menus to dive through, the tweakability is limited and there are no amp-modeling capabilities to be seen - but that’s not the point of the Red Truck. It’s here to simplify your playing experience, so you can focus on the most important thing - not messing up your guitar parts.

Best multi-effects pedals: Buying advice

Choosing the best multi-effects pedal can be as long-winded as a King Gizzard-style jam session. To remedy that, we’ve put together some buying advice that lets you get down to brass tacks and select the most important aspects you’ll need to know when making a choice about your new multi-effects pedal. 

Are multi-effects better than individual pedals? 

For what seems like forever, guitarists have been arguing over whether multi-effects pedals are better or worse than their individual brethren. Honestly? The jury’s still out. There are convincing arguments for each camp, but there are some factors you should definitely consider before buying one of the best multi-effects pedals. 

For one, with a multi-effects all of your pedals and other effects are in one place and one unit, making gigging a lot easier. Sure, you can get a pedalboard and piece together a killer ‘board full of brilliant effects, but it won’t be anywhere near as convenient as being able to recreate basically any rig and collection of effects, with one unit. The tone you can create with one Helix or Kemper will likely sound much cleaner and more precise too, with less potential for background noise and hum. 

One big plus-side for multi-effects and amp modeling is that you can just go straight out to the PA system when gigging, removing the need for a speaker cab on-stage, and saving you a considerable amount of backache. As long as your sound guy doesn't hate you, you should have no problems getting the exact tone you want out into the room, for all to enjoy.

What should I look for in a multi-effects unit? 

Think long and hard about what kind of features you’d like to go for when researching your new multi-FX purchase. Fortunately, most multi-effects units on the market now double up as amp modelers and loopers, amongst other things, so it’s likely that you’ll be buying more than you initially need. You don’t necessarily need to - as products like the TC Electronic Plethora X5 and Line 6 Helix HX Effects are strictly effects processors - but we’d encourage that you proceed with caution here. We’re all suckers for a little extra, and we’re all guilty of finding a reason to ‘need’ the next model up that has a few more features. 

Have a think about whether your multi-effects unit is going to make up part of your pedalboard, or replace it completely. We know it sounds really simple, but if you’re using your multi-effects as part of a bigger ‘board, make sure it all fits on there first. The added expense of upgrading your ‘board means you’ve got less to spend on your pedals - and we’ve never heard of such a heinous crime.

It’s also very much worth considering where you’ll be playing the most. If you’re only ever going to be jamming at home, then shelling out close to two grand on a Quad Cortex might be bordering on excessive. Likewise, if you’re mainly playing pubs and bars full of punters who’re likely to spill entire pints onto your pedalboard, then taking your QC along might be a little too brave. You don’t need to part with big money to get the tones you want anymore, and we love it.

Read more on how we test gear and service at Guitar Player.

Related buying guides

• Unplug and unwind with the best acoustic guitars
• Or raise hell with the best electric guitars
• Plug in with one of the best guitar cables
• Peruse over our guide to the best Martin guitars
• On a budget? Here's our list of the best electrics under $1,000
• You'll need one of the best pedalboard power supplies
• Get the best of both worlds with the best acoustic electric guitars