Lead synth sounds

I have a need for a list of freeware soft synths that are mainly or that include lead synth sounds that you think are great. I have gone through many freeware synths that i supposed that they have great lead sounds but I was disappointed so I use too often the same fm8 patch that in some sites has been called bad. So IF you have ideas please put them here. I have done a similar thread but it was iirc ages ago and hopefully there have emerged New free synths but you can also put old good synths here. I don't remember which synths I have tried but they are many. This thread could help also other people that have similar problems, at least I hope so. I am terrible in tweaking synth sounds so preferably I would like to see a list with synths that do not require a lot of tweaking. I am also a bit lazy in learning new stuff and I know I should just do some hard learning the tweaking but I always seem to have better things to do when I am at my computer. Any help is greatly appreciated.

I rarely hear a really good synth lead preset. To me most of them sound like they're trapped in a cheesy mid-90's rave timewarp. "Supersaw" leads and the like.

You say you don't want to learn how to tweak presets but why not start simple with a great sounding subtractive synth? To me some of the best lead sounds are nothing more than a couple of good quality oscillators slightly detuned or tuned to octaves. Just set the attack to taste, crank up the sustain and play a little with decay and release times. Add a little saturation or distortion and you're away. Maybe enable the portamento. These are concepts which can literally be learned in a few minutes.

The trouble with a lot of synths is that they're too complicated for beginners. FM synthesis can be hard to wrap your head around and thus beginners shy away from tweaking presets or making their own. Look how many 80's records had stock DX7 presets - nobody wanted to learn how to operate that thing properly!

Start with a great quality subtractive synth and you will be making great lead sounds very quickly. Monark is one of the best but if you don't want to spend the money then the free Tal BassLine comes very close, in fact I've chosen it over Monark in a couple of projects.

It's not the meat, it's the motion.
 
Jesse Q. Screed

Sorry for my late response. I will try the suggested tips and the synths when I get to my second daw, my primary is kind of trapped. I am grateful for the answers and tips and I will continue my hunt for good new lead sounds.