# Koala Sampler vs bandNada

The clearest difference is price: bandNada at Free against Koala Sampler's $4.99. bandNada also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 8) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Koala Sampler's advantage is ratings volume (1.5K vs 5) and chart position (#6 vs unranked). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

bandNada is free to download; Koala Sampler costs $4.99 up front. Koala Sampler sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. bandNada asks for nothing beyond the download.

bandNada 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 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Koala Sampler ships an update fortnightly, bandNada weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Koala Sampler | bandNada |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.8 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/koala-sampler-beat-maker/id1449584007/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bandnada/id6547868109/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 88.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#6** | — |
| Size | 60 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Mazbox Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/329604853) | [Cole Hill Prime LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1757664001) |

## What reviewers say

### Koala Sampler

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

**Currently charting:** #6 Top Paid · Music, #42 Top Paid (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


### bandNada

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bandnada/id6547868109)

Discover underground music and live shows in New York City. This app connects you to emerging artists and provides details on upcoming events.

**Highlights:** Discover underground music, Find live show listings, Explore New York City music scene, Get event details, Connect with emerging artists

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Koala Sampler free?

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

### Is bandNada free?

bandNada is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Koala Sampler or bandNada?

bandNada is rated higher. Koala Sampler averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while bandNada averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

### Do Koala Sampler or bandNada have ads?

Neither Koala Sampler nor bandNada shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Koala Sampler or bandNada?

Koala Sampler ships an update fortnightly, and bandNada weekly. Most recently, Koala Sampler was updated on October 26, 2026 and bandNada on October 24, 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.*