Moonbase has opened its second annual survey of independent audio software companies. It runs until 6 December, and the essentials take about 5 minutes.
Last year 95 plugin companies on five continents took part. This year the survey is open to every independent company building and selling audio software: plugins, virtual instruments, sample libraries, hardware with companion software, DAWs, and utilities and tools. Independent means owned by its founders or team, not part of a larger group. Solo developers and side projects count too. About half of last year’s respondents made under $20K a year.
The questions cover revenue, pricing, sales channels and marketing, support, refunds and licensing, AI, growth plans and risks, and what running the business looks like day to day. After the essentials, respondents can stop or continue with an optional extended section (about 10 to 15 more minutes).
Results are broken down by company size and revenue, so developers can see where they sit against companies like theirs. Many questions repeat from 2025, so the report will also show how pricing, growth and support have moved. A few of last year’s numbers:
- 71% of companies making $100K+ a year believe prices are falling.
- 51% of support mentions are about licensing and installation.
- 84% say new products are their main growth initiative.
The survey doesn’t ask for names or company names, and results are only published in aggregate. Respondents who leave their email get the report on 14 January 2027, two weeks before the public release on 28 January.
Take the survey (closes 23:59 CET on 6 December): https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LZXJRKZ
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