Koala Sampler vs Beat Maker
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
Beat Maker
Create professional-sounding beats on your mobile device with a wide variety of samples, including those inspired by famous songs. Enhance your tracks with effects, use a metronome for perfect timing, and record your creations to share.
- Create beats with samples
- Use samples from famous songs
- Add effects like delay and reverb
- Metronome for timing
- Record and share beats
- Customizable themes
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The best Beat Making Sampler app you will find on the app store. WHY YOU WILL LOVE BEAT MAKER • Easily create beats with the best samples • Use samples recreated from famous songs • Add awesome effects like delay and reverb • Use a metronome to always stay on beat • Record your beats to let your friend know how good you are • Choose from a variety of awesome themes to customize your board COMPLETELY FREE This app requires no money and we think that's pretty cool. WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK Do you have improvements? Bugs? Or do you just want to share other thought? Let us know: info@devnex.nl Terms of Use: https://www.devnex.nl/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.devnex.nl/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Koala Sampler at 88% against Beat Maker's 40%. Koala Sampler also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Beat Maker's advantage is price (Free vs $4.99). On ratings volume, update cadence, 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
Beat Maker is free to download; Koala Sampler costs $4.99 up front. Koala Sampler sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and Beat Maker sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Koala Sampler holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.4K and 1.8K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of Koala Sampler's written reviews are positive against 40% of Beat Maker's.
Koala Sampler ships an update every 3 weeks, Beat Maker every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Koala Sampler | Beat Maker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.8 (1.4K ratings) — better | 4.5 (1.8K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 88.3% of reviews — better | 40.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1.4K | 1.8K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #4 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 59 MB | 124 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mazbox Limited | Devnex |
Customer experience
Koala Sampler
Beat Maker
User reviews
Koala Sampler
From 1.4K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🚀 Smooth workflow and fast performance
- 💡 Powerful sampling and sequencing capabilities
- 🔥 Excellent value for the price
- 🎨 Creative and inspiring sound design
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
- 🔇 Limited effects and sound manipulation options
- 📁 Difficulty managing and organizing samples/projects
- 🎚️ Lack of advanced MIDI mapping and control options
- 🔍 Unclear or confusing UI elements in certain areas
Beat Maker
From 1.8K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Good beats and sounds
- 💡 Customizable pads
- 🚀 Quick music creation
Room to improve
- 🔒 Restricted features without subscription
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and loading issues
- 💰 Aggressive monetization with ads and paywall
- 🔍 Limited sound customization options
Bugs and 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
Beat Maker
Reported bugs
2 issues- Delayed audio playback
- Compatibility issues on older devices
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to record and save own samples
- Longer loop lengths
- Individual pad volume control
- Import custom sound packs
In-app purchases
Koala Sampler
- Koala AUv3 Plugin$1.99
- Ese-O's Sample Pack$2.99
- Solar Studies Samplepack$2.99
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- 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
Beat Maker
- Weekly Subscription3 Days trial$1.997 Days
- Monthly Subscription$2.991 Month
- Weekly Subscription3 Days trial2 variants$3.997 Days
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Monthly Subscription$5.991 Month
- Yearly Subscription$24.991 Year
- Yearly Subscription$39.991 Year
Questions
Is Koala Sampler free?
Is Beat Maker free?
Which has better reviews, Koala Sampler or Beat Maker?
Do Koala Sampler or Beat Maker have ads?
Which is updated more often, Koala Sampler or Beat Maker?
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