Comparison

Samply vs Koala Sampler

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

Head to head
About

Samply

Create music compositions on your iOS device by loading samples from your iTunes library. This app offers 16 buttons across three sets, allowing for up to 48 unique samples. You can save and load your custom sets for easy access.

Highlights
  • Load samples from iTunes library
  • 16 buttons with 3 sets (48 samples total)
  • Save and load custom sample sets
  • Edit sample settings
  • Easy music composition
Features
Read full description

Samply - DJ Sampler lets you compose music easily using your iOS device. You can load different samples from your iTunes library to any button. You have 16 buttons and 3 sets to play with which leaves you with 48 different samples. To load sample hold the button few seconds and iTunes library will appear. When you choose the sample you can play it by tapping the button or you can edit its settings by opening sample settings and do a bunch of other stuff. You can save each set with save option and load it anytime.

About

Koala Sampler

This app allows you to record sounds with your phone's microphone, transform them with effects, and create beats and tracks. Its intuitive interface focuses on a fast and fun music-making process.

Highlights
  • Record up to 64 samples with mic
  • Apply 16 built-in effects
  • Load and use own samples
  • Create beats with high-resolution sequencer
  • Export loops and tracks as WAV
  • AI sample separation
  • AUv3 and MIDI compatibility
Features
Read full description

Koala is the ultimate pocket-sized sampler. Record anything with your phone's mic or load your own sounds. Use Koala to create beats with those samples, add effects and create a track! Koala's super intuitive interface helps you make a track in a flash - there is no brake pedal. You can also resample the output of the app back into the input, through the effects, so the sonic possibilities are endless. Koala's design focuses totally on making the music-making process instant, keeping you in the flow and keeping it fun, not getting bogged down by pages of parameters and micro-editing. "Been putting that $4 koala sampler to good use lately. Undeniably great tool that puts some of these expensive beat boxes to shame. A must cop." -- flying lotus, twitter * Record up to 64 different samples with your mic * Transform your voice or any other sound with 16 superb built-in fx * Load your own samples * Choose from one of 250 built-in sounds * Resample the output of the app back into a new sample * Export loops or entire tracks as professional quality WAV files * Direct export to Ableton Live Set * Copy/paste or merge sequences just by dragging them * Create beats with the high-resolution sequencer * Import samples from the Files app or even from videos * Keyboard mode lets you play chromatically or one of 9 scales * Quantize, add swing to get the right feel * Normal/One-shot/Loop/Reverse playback of samples * 6 Choke groups * Attack, release and tone adjustable on each sample * Mute/Solo controls and note repeat * Add any (or all) of the 16 effects to the entire mix * AUv3 compatible - use in GarageBand, Logic, Cubasis etc etc * MIDI controllable - play your samples on a keyboard, map the effects to knobs * Jam with others over WiFi with Ableton Link * Free copy of Ableton Live Lite included * AudioShare compatible * Use AI to separate samples into individual instruments (drums, bass, vocals and other) * Set your own background image and choose from a growing list of background visual FX 8 Built-in Microphone FX: * More Bass * More Treble * Fuzz * Robot * Reverb * Octave up * Octave down * Synthesizer 16 Built-in DJ Mix FX: * Bit-crusher * Pitch-shift * Comb filter * Ring modulator * Reverb * Stutter * Gate * Resonant High/Low Pass Filters * Cutter * Reverse * Dub * Tempo Delay * Talkbox * VibroFlange * Dirty * Compressor Features included in SAMURAI In-App Purchase * Pro-quality Timestretch (5 modes: Modern, Retro, Beats, Re-pitch and Cyclic) * Piano roll editor * Auto-chop (auto, equal, and lazy chop) * 3 Band EQ * Pocket operator sync out * Quokka Synth - powerhouse polyphonic synthesizer * MIDI Out - control external MIDI hardware with Koala's sequencer * Chopper - multimodal sample chopping instrument Features included in MIXER In-App Purchase * Mix your beats professionally with a 4 channel mixer + main bus * Route any sample to any channel * Mute/solo, faders and accurate metering on every channel * 5 effect slots per channel * 29 high-quality effects - compressors, filters, phasers and more, with new effects to come * Host AUv3 plugins - both audio effects and instruments

Screenshots

Samply4 screens
Koala Sampler4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Koala Sampler at 88% against Samply's 18%. Koala Sampler also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 15 months) and ratings volume (1.5K vs 2). Samply's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On ads 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

Samply costs $1.99 and Koala Sampler $4.99 up front. Koala Sampler sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Samply asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Samply holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Koala Sampler has 1.5K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 18% of Samply's written reviews are positive against 88% of Koala Sampler's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Samply ships an update every 15 months, Koala Sampler fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Samply versus Koala Sampler: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSamplyKoala Sampler
Price$1.99 — better$4.99
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better4.8 (1.5K ratings)
Positive reviews18.2% of reviews88.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings21.5K — better
Update frequencyEvery 15 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank—#6 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB60 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperArsosa Network Inc.Mazbox Limited

Customer experience

Samply

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive18.2%
Neutral18.2%
Negative63.6%

Koala Sampler

All ratings1,438 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral2.0%
Negative4.2%
Written reviews618 reviews
Positive88.3%
Neutral4.2%
Negative7.4%

Bugs and requests

Samply

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Koala Sampler

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Samples not loading or disappearing after app updates
  • Sequencer timing and quantization issues
  • Crashes when using certain features or with large projects

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to record and edit MIDI sequences
  • More comprehensive effects and sound processing tools
  • Improved sample management and organization features
  • Support for external MIDI controllers and hardware integration
  • Customizable color schemes and UI themes

In-app purchases

None

Samply

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

Koala Sampler

One-time8
  • Koala AUv3 Plugin$1.99
  • Ese-O's Sample Pack$2.99
  • Solar Studies Samplepack$2.99
Show 5 more
  • Soon Come Dub Sample Pack$2.99
  • Analog Astronaut Samplepack$2.99
  • Cirrus Cuts Sample Pack$2.99
  • Samurai Edition$3.99
  • Mixer$4.99

Questions

Is Samply free?
Samply costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Koala Sampler free?
Koala Sampler costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Samply or Koala Sampler?
Samply is rated higher. Samply averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Koala Sampler averages 4.8 from 1.5K ratings.
Do Samply or Koala Sampler have ads?
Neither Samply nor Koala Sampler shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Samply or Koala Sampler?
Samply ships an update every 15 months, and Koala Sampler fortnightly. Most recently, Samply was updated on October 18, 2026 and Koala Sampler on October 24, 2026.

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