Comparison

Koala Sampler vs TUNE

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

Head to head
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

About

TUNE

Features
Read full description

Precision musical instrument. TUNE is a chromatic tuner, metronome, and reference tone generator — designed with the rigor of a precision instrument. No ads. No subscription. One-time purchase. — CHROMATIC TUNER High-accuracy pitch detection. Large note display. ±50 cent offset bar. Concert pitch adjustment (A4 = 430–450 Hz). Multiple visualization modes. Haptic feedback when in tune. — METRONOME 20–300 BPM. Accent pattern editor. 4-level swing. Tap tempo. Multiple visualization modes. Haptic click on every beat — practice without disturbing others. — RAMP Gradual tempo change for structured speed training. Set start and end BPM, step increment, and hold duration. The metronome adjusts automatically. BPM knob stays live with directional range arc. — REF TONE Reference tone output for tuning by ear. Any note from C2 to C6. Three waveforms: SINE, STRING, ORGAN. Pair with the tuner for visual + auditory precision. — BUILT TO LAST Industrial interface. No rounded corners. Monospaced numerals. Dark mode. Landscape support for music stands. Every detail considered. Nothing unnecessary added.

Screenshots

Koala Sampler4 screens
TUNE4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: TUNE at none against Koala Sampler's 8. TUNE also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks) and price ($2.99 vs $4.99). Koala Sampler's advantage is chart position (#5 vs unranked). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Koala Sampler costs $4.99 and TUNE $2.99 up front. Koala Sampler sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. TUNE asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Koala Sampler ships an update every 3 weeks, TUNE every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Koala Sampler versus TUNE: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKoala SamplerTUNE
Price$4.99$2.99 — better
Rating4.8 (1.4K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews88.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.4K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#5 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size59 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMazbox LimitedHirosuke Yonekubo

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

TUNE

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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
None

TUNE

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Koala Sampler free?
Koala Sampler costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is TUNE free?
TUNE costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Koala Sampler or TUNE have ads?
Neither Koala Sampler nor TUNE shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Koala Sampler or TUNE?
Koala Sampler ships an update every 3 weeks, and TUNE every 4 days. Most recently, Koala Sampler was updated on October 12, 2026 and TUNE on October 7, 2026.

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