Comparison

Fugue Machine vs Flip Sampler

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Fugue Machine

This music sequencer uses multiple playheads to create complex melodic patterns inspired by Baroque and serialist composition techniques. Manipulate speed, direction, and pitch to generate unique soundscapes.

Highlights
  • Multi-playhead piano roll
  • Manipulate speed, direction, and pitch
  • Create complex melodic patterns
  • Inspired by Baroque and serialist music
  • Supports MIDI, AUv3 MIDI, Ableton Link
  • Inter-App Audio and Audiobus compatibility
Features
Read full description

A music sequencer reimagined with multiple playheads. "How Bach would have made a sequencer." (Create Digital Music) "A musical feat." (Creator's Project) "A new approach to sequencing." (XLR8R) "A next generation music sequencer." (Ask Audio) Fugue Machine Classic is a tool inspired by composition techniques used in Baroque music and Serialism — e.g. Bach’s canons and fugues, and Schoenberg’s twelve-tone technique. The idea was to design a tool to manipulate a melody’s speed, direction, and pitch, as well as play multiple variations of the melody simultaneously. As it turned out, the best implementation for this was to reimagine one of the most fundamental building blocks of all music sequencers: the piano roll. Fugue Machine Classic is the world’s first multi-playhead piano roll. Create a music sequence and play it back with up to four playheads at once — each at various speeds, directions, pitches, and more. Watch the playheads dance, and hear the complex patterns that emerge. It’s mesmerizing. Fugue Machine Classic supports iPhone, iPad, MIDI, AUv3 MIDI, Ableton Link, Audiobus, Audiobus 3 MIDI, and Inter-App Audio. Thanks to the AUv3 standard, you can run multiple instances of Fugue Machine Classic on a single device when hosted in an AUv3 MIDI host app — like AUM, Logic Pro for iPad, Loopy Pro, and Cubasis.

About

Flip Sampler

Create music on the go with this intuitive, sample-based studio. Import or record sounds, shape them with effects, and arrange them into full tracks. Features include a piano roll, automation, and live performance tools.

Highlights
  • Sample-based music creation
  • Import/record sounds
  • Built-in effects and editing
  • Piano roll and automation
  • Song arrangement and mixing
  • Live performance features
  • Export tracks and stems
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Flip is a sample-based mobile music studio that was designed for a fast and intuitive work flow. Import your own sounds via AirDrop or the Files app, or record sounds directly with your device's microphone or a connected iOS interface. As soon as you record a sound it’s available to be played on drum pads as well as being mapped across a keyboard. Sounds can be subtly shaped or entirely transformed using the built-in effects and easy-to-use editing tools. You can record a quantized or unquantized performance on the pads or keyboard. There is also a full piano roll where you can enter and edit notes and velocities. Record knob movements or draw automation by hand to bring even more life to your sounds. Every automation lane can also have its own independent length, for polymetric and generative music possibilities. Create up to 16 different sections for your song and drag and drop them into any order to create your arrangement. Mixing and mastering tools allow you to finish a full track without ever leaving your phone. You can export your full track, or hit the tape icon and record the live output of the app while you tweak anything on the fly. Both options allow you to capture individual track stems as well! A performance page lets you trigger your patterns live while controlling a global filter, assignable pitch bends and reverb sends, and a random fill generator. Artist packs are available in-app at $3.99 or less, which include original sounds and projects from Andrew Huang, Cuckoo, Chuck Sutton, Kilamanzego, Pusher, and more on the way all the time. Features: - 9 track sampler - 4 effects per track: Delay, Filter, Chorus, Bitcrush - Graphic EQ per track - Monophonic or up to 16-note polyphonic playback per sample - Adjustable pitch, volume, playback direction, sample start and stop points - Looping Envelope with forward, backward, both (ping pong) direction - 19 automatable parameters per track - Independent lengths for each automation lane - Automation can be recorded via knob movements or drawn by hand - Drum pad and keyboard input - Full piano roll with 10 octaves, note velocity, editing tools - Randomization over sample selection for quick inspiration - Randomization over note position to create surprising variations - Drag-and-drop song arrangement page - Global reverb with individual track sends - Mixing and mastering tools - Powerful performance features for creating instant fills, pitch shifts, reverb sends, and global low or high pass filtering - Export full track and stems - Live recording of performances - Metronome with tap tempo and swing/shuffle - Ableton Link integration for easy syncing with other devices over WiFi - Share projects and sounds via AirDrop, email, etc. - Undo and redo

Screenshots

Fugue Machine4 screens
Flip Sampler4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Fugue Machine at 4.9 against Flip Sampler's 4.2. Fugue Machine also leads on review sentiment (90% vs 65%) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 4 weeks). Flip Sampler's advantage is price ($11.99 vs $19.99) and chart position (#110 vs unranked). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Fugue Machine costs $19.99 and Flip Sampler $11.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Fugue Machine holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 623 and 326 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of Fugue Machine's written reviews are positive against 65% of Flip Sampler's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Fugue Machine ships an update every 8 days, Flip Sampler every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Fugue Machine versus Flip Sampler: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFugue MachineFlip Sampler
Price$19.99$11.99 — better
Rating4.9 (623 ratings) — better4.2 (326 ratings)
Positive reviews90.3% of reviews — better64.5% of reviews
Number of ratings623 — better326
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterEvery 4 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank—#110 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB208 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlexandernautSuture Sound Inc.

Customer experience

Fugue Machine

All ratings623 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral1.4%
Negative2.1%
Written reviews238 reviews
Positive90.3%
Neutral5.0%
Negative4.6%

Flip Sampler

All ratings326 ratings
Positive76.4%
Neutral11.3%
Negative12.3%
Written reviews234 reviews
Positive64.5%
Neutral18.4%
Negative17.1%

Bugs and requests

Fugue Machine

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Flip Sampler

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Samples randomly re-pitch or lose settings
  • Undo function doesn't work as expected
  • Exported tracks have different key/pitch than original
  • Metronome glitches and stops working
  • Dynamic island on iPhone 14 Pro covers UI elements

Requested features

5 requests
  • Expand to 16 or more sample pads
  • Add longer loop/pattern lengths
  • Implement MIDI controller support
  • Improve sample organization and folder management
  • Add resampling and time-stretching capabilities

In-app purchases

None

Fugue Machine

No in-app purchases

None

Flip Sampler

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Fugue Machine free?
Fugue Machine costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Flip Sampler free?
Flip Sampler costs $11.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Fugue Machine or Flip Sampler?
Fugue Machine is rated higher. Fugue Machine averages 4.9 out of 5 from 623 ratings, while Flip Sampler averages 4.2 from 326 ratings.
Do Fugue Machine or Flip Sampler have ads?
Neither Fugue Machine nor Flip Sampler shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Fugue Machine or Flip Sampler?
Fugue Machine ships an update every 8 days, and Flip Sampler every 4 weeks. Most recently, Fugue Machine was updated on October 12, 2026 and Flip Sampler on October 15, 2026.

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