# Koala Sampler vs Beat Maker

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Koala Sampler | Beat Maker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/koala-sampler-beat-maker/id1449584007/reviews)** | [4.5 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beat-maker-sampler/id1486636843/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1.4K | **1.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **88.3% of reviews** | 40.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#4** | — |
| Size | 59 MB | 124 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mazbox Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/329604853) | [Devnex](https://appshunter.io/developer/1486636842) |

## What reviewers say

### Koala Sampler

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/koala-sampler-beat-maker/id1449584007)

**Currently charting:** #4 Top Paid · Music, #65 Top Paid, #190 Top Grossing · Music (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Koala AUv3 Plugin | $1.99 | one-time |
| Ese-O's Sample Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Solar Studies Samplepack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Soon Come Dub Sample Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Analog Astronaut Samplepack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Cirrus Cuts Sample Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Samurai Edition | $3.99 | one-time |
| Mixer | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beat-maker-sampler/id1486636843)

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.

**Highlights:** Create beats with samples, Use samples from famous songs, Add effects like delay and reverb, Metronome for timing, Record and share beats, Customizable themes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Weekly Subscription | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $5.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $24.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good beats and sounds
- 💡 Customizable pads
- 🚀 Quick music creation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Restricted features without subscription
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and loading issues
- 💰 Aggressive monetization with ads and paywall
- 🔍 Limited sound customization options

**Reported bugs**

- Delayed audio playback
- Compatibility issues on older devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to record and save own samples
- Longer loop lengths
- Individual pad volume control
- Import custom sound packs


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Koala Sampler free?

Koala Sampler costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Beat Maker free?

Beat Maker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Koala Sampler or Beat Maker?

Koala Sampler is rated higher. Koala Sampler averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings, while Beat Maker averages 4.5 from 1.8K ratings.

### Do Koala Sampler or Beat Maker have ads?

Beat Maker shows ads; Koala Sampler does not.

### Which is updated more often, Koala Sampler or Beat Maker?

Koala Sampler ships an update every 3 weeks, and Beat Maker every 5 weeks. Most recently, Koala Sampler was updated on September 25, 2026 and Beat Maker on September 26, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*