MusicFolder 2 vs Async Sampler
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MusicFolder 2
A straightforward music player designed for users who organize their music by folders, not tags. It offers gapless playback, gesture controls, and simple library management via the Files app.
- Folder-based music library organization
- Gapless playback
- Gesture-based controls
- Interactive playlist search
- Smart folders
- WAV to AAC/ALAC conversion
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Simple, no-frills music player for "oldschool" users who have a music library based on a folder structure instead of tags / metadata. This app is SIMPLISTIC BY DESIGN and does NOT HAVE A LOT OF FEATURES! However, those features that it DOES have work GREAT! IMPORTANT: You cannot use MusicFolder to play music from the regular "Music" app. Instead, you use the iPhone's "Files" app to copy your folder-based music library from your computer (or anywhere else) into MusicFolder. - Supported file formats: mp3, mp4, m4a, aac, alac, wav, adts, ac3, aiff, aifc, caf, snd, au, sd2. - GAPLESS PLAYBACK for all file formats. - Straightforward playlist concept: the playlist always simply consists of all songs in the current folder and its subfolders. - Fast interactive PLAYLIST SEARCH. - Smart folders that show your most listened to or most recently played songs. - GESTURE-BASED CONTROL, no need to look at the screen: swipe up/down to shuffle, swipe left/right to skip, double-tap to play/stop, hold and slide up/down for volume control. - Interactive SCRUBBING through the current song with the realtime seek bar, including waveform preview. - Configurable behavior at the end of a song and on remote control events (headphones / Control Center): skip, shuffle, stop, repeat. - Simple music library transfer and management using the iPhone's Files app. - Optional AUTOMATIC CONVERSION of newly added WAV files to AAC (various quality levels available) or ALAC (Apple Lossless). - Full remote control support for headphones and Control Center. - Full AIRPLAY support. - Supports portrait and landscape orientation. - Selecting a photo from your photo library will auto-generate a theme based on the photo's color structure. IMPORTANT: The app is STRICTLY for FOLDER-BASED libraries and does NOT support ANY kind of tags, cover art, or other metadata inside files. However, for people keeping their music library organized in folders "the oldschool way" and seeking a simple, stable, gapless-capable, no-frills portable player, this app is a godsend! Let us know if you have any suggesions or issues via our support page!
Async Sampler
Create captivating sound collages, dynamic textures, and rhythmic patterns with this powerful musical instrument. It offers asynchronous and synchronous playback modes, a versatile LFO, and an effects processor to elevate your sound design.
- Standalone and AUv3 versions
- Three independent samplers
- Extensive sample library
- Upload your own samples
- Asynchronous and synchronous playback
- Flexible LFO system
- Effects processor
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Async Sampler, a powerful musical instrument designed to bring your soundscapes to life. This flexible tool is dedicated to crafting captivating sound collages, dynamic asynchronous textures, rhythmic patterns, and rich sound designs. It opens up a world of creative possibilities, making it the perfect companion for music producers, sound designers, ambient, and noise enthusiasts. Whether you're a seasoned musician or a curious explorer, Async Sampler is here to inspire and elevate your musical journey. App comes with a rich library of unique samples, and you can easily upload and use your own sounds. Async Sampler fundamentally consists of three samplers that can reproduce sound asynchronously, meaning they can operate without being tied to a specific BPM, or synchronously, using an external MIDI clock source or the tempo of your project if you're using Async Sampler as an AUv3 plugin. The instrument features a versatile LFO that allows you to control any parameter. Async includes an effects processor and a master bus section. Also, you have the option to use external MIDI controllers, save and load your custom presets and samples, among other features. Key features: — Standalone and AUv3 versions — Three independent samplers — Extensive sample library out of the box — Ability to upload your own samples — Asynchronous and synchronous playback modes for each sample — Flexible LFO system that can control almost any parameter — Effects processor — Ability to save presets — And much more
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: MusicFolder 2 at $1.99 against Async Sampler's $14.99. Async Sampler's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 months) and rating (4.5 vs 4.1). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
MusicFolder 2 costs $1.99 and Async Sampler $14.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Async Sampler holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 18 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of MusicFolder 2's written reviews are positive against 78% of Async Sampler's.
MusicFolder 2 ships an update every 5 months, Async Sampler every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and August 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MusicFolder 2 | Async Sampler |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 — better | $14.99 |
| Rating | 4.1 (10 ratings) | 4.5 (18 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 64.0% of reviews | 77.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 10 | 18 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 235 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Alexander Ewering | Sergei Zhulkov |
Customer experience
MusicFolder 2
Async Sampler
In-app purchases
MusicFolder 2
No in-app purchases
Async Sampler
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is MusicFolder 2 free?
Is Async Sampler free?
Which has better reviews, MusicFolder 2 or Async Sampler?
Do MusicFolder 2 or Async Sampler have ads?
Which is updated more often, MusicFolder 2 or Async Sampler?
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