eSPi vs Sample Library
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
eSPi
Recreate the iconic sound of the 90's SP-1200 sampler on your iPad. Import or record audio, then chop, pitch, and sequence it to create sampled beats. Experience the gritty sound and workflow of a legendary music production tool.
- Sampled beat creation
- SP-1200 emulation
- Import and record samples
- Sample chopping and pitching
- Sequencing
- Multiple filters and effects
- Compressor
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Create sampled beats the original 90's way using eSPi. The SP-1200 was the primary tool of many legendary hip-hop beatmakers and house music producers in the 90's. It is well known for its gritty sound and simple but effective workflow. Now with eSPi you get to experience this machine right at your fingertips, on your iPad. Import samples or record them yourself, chop them up, pitch them and sequence them within the app. Features include multiple filters, effects, a compressor, and most importantly the best emulation of the gritty signature sound produced by the SP-1200 when pitching samples up & down. eSPi is also available on Mac, Linux & PC. *SP1200 & SP12 are registered trademarks or Rossum Electromusic LLC.
Sample Library
Discover and select unique audio samples for your music production. Save your favorites to a personal list and easily share links to them.
- Random sample selection
- Curated sample playlists
- Save favorite samples
- Copy sample links
- Great-sounding samples
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The app lets you randomly pick a sample from multiple, carefully prepared playlists for sampling with great-sounding samples. You can save them to a list and play them or copy a link to a sample.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sample Library at 100% against eSPi's 53%. Sample Library also leads on price (Free vs $19.99) and rating (5.0 vs 3.7). eSPi's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (38 vs 4). On in-app purchases 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
Sample Library is free to download; eSPi costs $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Sample Library holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: eSPi has 38 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 53% of eSPi's written reviews are positive against 100% of Sample Library's.
eSPi ships an update fortnightly, Sample Library weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | eSPi | Sample Library |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.7 (38 ratings) | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 53.2% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 38 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Ad-supported — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Louis Teboul | Dariusz Chynek |
Customer experience
eSPi
Sample Library
In-app purchases
eSPi
No in-app purchases
Sample Library
No in-app purchases
