Koala Sampler vs Chiptune
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
Chiptune
Create 8-bit video game music with a step sequencer. Design patterns, arrange them into songs, and export your creations as WAV or MIDI files. Offers NES-style sounds with customizable channels and effects.
- Step sequencer grid composition
- NES-style synthesized sound channels
- Customizable pattern length (4-64 steps)
- Song arrangement with named sections
- WAV and MIDI export options
- Offline functionality
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Chiptune is a step sequencer for writing music in a style of old game consoles. Simply tap a note, tap a cell in the grid, and it will play sounds from one of four NES-style channels. Chiptune has two pulses, a triangle and noise. Each channel is synthesized live rather than sampled. Patterns are customizable from 4 to 64 steps and can be chained into an arrangement. This lets a piece go from just a single loop into a full song with intros, verses, choruses, etc. WRITE • Compose on a grid of notes with 4 to 64 steps per pattern • Customize your track to cut notes short or let them ring • Set the tempo by typing it or nudging it a step at a time • Easily undo any changes SOUND • Two pulse channels with four pulse widths, from thin and nasal to full square • A triangle channel ideal for basslines • Tunable noise for drums like a hi-hat or a low rumble • Volume, decay, and arpeggio controls per channel, so one channel can fake a chord • Sounds come with basic presets ARRANGE • Create sections with a named pattern and a repeat count • Loop one pattern while editing or play the whole song • Add multiple tracks of any sound when four channels aren't enough • Custom iPad specific layout in portrait and landscape SAVE AND SHARE • Songs autosave as you work so you never lose anything • Duplicate a song to try something slightly different • Export any song as a WAV file with a seamless loop or with the last notes ringing out • Export as a MIDI file to keep working on your notes in another music app Chiptune works fully offline and never asks for a subscription. No account, no ads, no tracking.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chiptune at none against Koala Sampler's 8. Chiptune also leads on price ($0.99 vs $4.99) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Koala Sampler's advantage is ratings volume (1.4K vs 3) and chart position (#7 vs unranked). On ads and device support 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
Koala Sampler costs $4.99 and Chiptune $0.99 up front. Koala Sampler sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Chiptune asks for nothing beyond the download.
Chiptune holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Koala Sampler has 1.4K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of Koala Sampler's written reviews are positive against 100% of Chiptune's.
Koala Sampler ships an update fortnightly, Chiptune weekly. Both last shipped on October 20, 2026.
| Parameter | Koala Sampler | Chiptune |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | $0.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.8 (1.4K ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 88.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1.4K — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #7 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 60 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mazbox Limited | Individuation Labs LLC |
Customer experience
Koala Sampler
Chiptune
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
Chiptune
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Koala Sampler
- Koala AUv3 Plugin$1.99
- Ese-O's Sample Pack$2.99
- Solar Studies Samplepack$2.99
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- 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
Chiptune
No in-app purchases









