Here's a "get you started" list of free and shareware VST plug-ins


Dave Brown - www.dbrown.force9.co.uk/products.html
The man that started it all. Plug-ins are simple but effective.
Freeware: Sweep Delay, Tempo Delay, Compressor, Tremolo
Demoware: ProComp (compressor), ProDelay (a more sophisticated Tempo Delay)


Burel - http://webperso.alma-net.net/burel/
From the simple Stereoizer to the decidedly neat Ping Pong Disto, another bag of quality FX. He's also got a pair of commercial DirectX plug-ins.
Freeware: Surrounder, Stereoizer, Megatrancer (filter), Ping Pong Disto, D-Limiter, Karakao (voice cancelling Karaoke plug-in. hmmm...)


Vellocet - http://vellocet.ii.net/software.html
Mostly fairly straightforward, but check out VReorder beat-resequencer. Really nice tool. These all feel like they were made by musicians for musicians, which can only be a good thing!
Freeware: VFilterNode, VReorder, VNoiseGate, VPingPong (delay with rez filter), VFlanger, VNoPhones (spatializer).

MDA - http://www.abel.co.uk/~maxim
Does this man never sleep? Nearly 20 plug-ins here - all free. Some might seem of limited use at first glance, but if you're in need of a bit of inspiration you're sure to find it with these.
Freeware: Overdrive, Ring Modulator, Round Panner, Thru-Zero Flanger, Limiter, RePsycho!,
Stereo Simulator, Sub-Bass Synthesizer, Bandisto, BeatBox, Combo, Degrade, Dynamics, Multiband, RezFilter, Shepard, TestTone, Tracker

Jerome Schmitt - http://www.multimania.com/jeje1999/plug.htm
Bit of a mixed bag here - plenty of goodies, but some (the EQs) are not that great unless you're short on CPU power.
Freeware: Limiter, Compresser, "Magneto" (tape simulator, not to be confused with Steinberg's), 3-band Graphic EQ, 6-band Graphic EQ, Band Filter, Noise Reduction, Noise Filter, Pan-Delay, Resonant Filter, Mini-Sampler, Disto, Vibrato, Oscille Resonne v2, Oscille Resonne v3, "Humanizer" (formant filter talk box)


Bo Johansen - http://members.xoom.com/bosplugins/
A useful set of special-FX from Bo Johansen. LoFi is great for industrial grungy sounds, and Wavechanger is well worth checking out as well.
Freeware: Flanger, LoFi, Overdrive, Ringmodulator, Wavechanger 2

subRes - http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/liceladder/747/starte.htm
In to junglist, industrial or drum'n'bass sounds? Try these!
Flanger, Ring Mod, Pitch Shifter, Gate

Prosoniq / Stephan Sprenger - www.prosoniq.com/sms/sprenger.html
Only one free plug-in but it's a corker! North Pole is a really nice sounding analogue filter - go get it now! 