Complete Access Hub, SSL Download Manager & Direct Installers: Which One Should I Use?

If you own plugins from more than one of our brands, it isn't always obvious which app you're supposed to be using to install and update them. This article explains which download manager handles what, and what happens to plugins and licenses you already own.

Short answer

If you have a Complete Access subscription, use Complete Access Hub, and only Complete Access Hub. It covers the entire Complete Access catalog in one app: Slate Digital, Solid State Logic, Harrison, and sonible. No other download manager covers all four.

Complete Access Hub is a download manager. It installs plugins and keeps them up to date. It does not manage or directly authenticate your plugin licenses... that is handled by iLok License Manager, exactly as before.

Which app should I use

It's also worth knowing that the SSL Download Manager only handles Solid State Logic and Harrison plugins. It has no visibility into your Slate Digital or sonible plugins. If you're a Complete Access subscriber, that's the practical reason to consolidate on Complete Access Hub... it's the only app that sees everything you have access to.

Has the SSL Download Manager been discontinued?

No. The SSL Download Manager still works and is still available from Solid State Logic. If you're a Complete Access subscriber, our recommendation is to consolidate on Complete Access Hub rather than running both apps, but nothing you already have is broken or unsupported.

System requirements

Complete Access Hub and the SSL Download Manager share the same minimum operating system requirements:

If your system falls below these requirements, use the direct installer links instead.

What about plugins I bought outright?

This is the most common point of confusion, so it's worth understanding how it works.

The plugin files are the same no matter how you're entitled to them. There isn't a separate "subscription build" and "perpetual build" of a given plugin. What differs is the license that authorizes it, and your licenses live in your iLok account.

So if you own an SSL plugin outright and you also subscribe to Complete Access, you have two entitlements sitting side by side in your iLok account for the same plugin. Updating that plugin through Complete Access Hub does not touch either one. Your perpetual license stays exactly where it is, and it would continue to authorize the plugin even if your Complete Access subscription ended.

What about sonible plugins?

sonible plugins were added to Complete Access on October 15, 2026, and are installed and updated through Complete Access Hub along with everything else in the catalog. You'll find them in your product list in the app, with no separate download link needed.

If you also own sonible plugins outright, the same principle described above applies: the files are the same, and your purchased licenses remain untouched in your account.

If a plugin you purchased isn't appearing in Complete Access Hub, this article covers why: Why Don't All My SSL, Harrison, or sonible Purchases Show Up in Complete Access Hub?

Downloading installers directly

If you'd rather install manually, or your system doesn't meet the minimum requirements above, each brand posts installers directly:

• Slate Digital — Installers
• Solid State Logic — Plug-in Downloads
• Harrison Audio — Harrison Plug-in Downloads
• sonible — Downloads

Licensing for directly installed plugins is unchanged. Activate them in iLok License Manager as usual.

Frequently asked questions

Does installing Complete Access Hub install all the plugins too?

No. Installing Complete Access Hub installs only the Hub app. Nothing else is installed until you choose it. You won't end up with the entire catalog on your system unless you ask for it.

Will the Hub overwrite plugins I already have installed?

Only if you choose to update them. If a plugin you have installed has a newer version available, the Hub will offer it — installing that update replaces the older version, which is standard behavior for any download manager. Updates are not forced.

What happens to my licenses when I switch to Complete Access Hub?

Nothing. Your licenses stay in your iLok account exactly as they are. Complete Access Hub installs and updates plugin files; it does not manage, convert, or activate licenses. See What about plugins I bought outright?

Can I keep using the SSL Download Manager alongside Complete Access Hub?

We don't recommend it. Managing the same installations from two apps can cause conflicts. If you're a Complete Access subscriber, use Complete Access Hub on its own.

A plugin I purchased isn't showing up in Complete Access Hub.

This is covered here: Why Don't All My SSL, Harrison, or sonible Purchases Show Up in Complete Access Hub?

My system is older than the minimum requirement. What are my options?

Download and run installers directly from each brand. See Downloading installers directly.

Related articles

• Complete Access Hub — Getting Started & Legacy App Migration
• What Comes with the Complete Access membership?
• Why Don't All My SSL, Harrison, or sonible Purchases Show Up in Complete Access Hub?

Still have questions?

For help with Complete Access Hub or your Complete Access subscription, contact our support team here. For help with the SSL Download Manager or SSL hardware, please contact SSL Support.