Comparison

eSPi vs VU950

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Sampled beat creation
  • SP-1200 emulation
  • Import and record samples
  • Sample chopping and pitching
  • Sequencing
  • Multiple filters and effects
  • Compressor
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

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.

About

VU950

This app emulates the behavior of early digital samplers, focusing on sound shaping through intentional limitations and artifacts. It offers a full timestretch workflow, reduced bit depth processing, and MIDI control for a hands-on experience. Standalone mode includes multi-track sequencing, effects, and the ability to host other AUv3 apps.

Highlights
  • Classic sampler sound emulation
  • Full timestretch workflow
  • Reduced bit depth processing
  • MIDI-controllable parameters
  • Multi-track sequencing
  • AUv3 hosting
  • Built-in effects
Features
Read full description

VU950 is not about realism. It is about behavior. Sound shaped by limits, gain interaction and audible artifacts — the same forces that defined early digital samplers. Draws inspiration from classic midi sequencers combined with samplers. Why it sounds the way it does Instead of emulating a single piece of hardware, VU950 recreates the way early samplers behaved internally. Resolution limits, imperfect filtering and non-linear stages are treated as musical decisions, not technical flaws. What shapes the sound VU950 sample rate: 7.5 kHz to 48 kHz Full timestretch workflow with classic hardware sampler tone Reduced bit depth processing for early-digital density User-adjustable anti-aliasing behavior Stereo signal path with selectable left or right input channel Dedicated input gain stage with drive and circuit bias Multiple filtering stages including bandwidth limitation Built-in low-pass filter for tone shaping Anti-aliasing tuned for musical artifacts, not transparency Non-linear processing across the entire signal path Output gain stage that affects tone and density, not just level MIDI-controllable parameters for hands-on workflow Maximum sample length: 63 seconds Truncate option to trim sample Precise mode for precise trimming on start and end screen One or eight voices of polyphony Precise start and end point control for trimming Chop function with selectable amount of slices And that was just VU950 AUv3 plugin. In Standalone: 8 tracks Support for hosting AUv3 apps to change VU950 sound engine to any sound You like. Build in multi sampler - VU20. Build in midi device - VUMIDI. Mixer with 4 inserts per track. 17 build in effects like filters, eq, compressors Possibility to use 4 AUv3 effects per channel Step Sequencer Piano Roll. Song Mode Live Mode Export wav with stems. Loading samples to build in turntable and record samples to VU950/VU20 or another AUv3 plugin with inputs Classic and modern UI template (Modern is fully customisable) In app purchases drumkits are downloadable after purchase (MPC60 drumkit for free) You can check also my another beatmaking app - VU202 - which is free and it is also a AUv3 instrument so You can use VU202 in VU950!

Screenshots

eSPi4 screens
VU9504 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: VU950 at $1.99 against eSPi's $19.99. VU950 also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.7) and update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly). eSPi's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and chart position (#200 vs unranked). On ads, monetization model, 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

eSPi costs $19.99 and VU950 $1.99 up front. VU950 sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. eSPi asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

VU950 holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 39 and 10 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of eSPi's written reviews are positive against 60% of VU950's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

eSPi ships an update fortnightly, VU950 every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 15, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
eSPi versus VU950: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametereSPiVU950
Price$19.99$1.99 — better
Rating3.7 (39 ratings)4.5 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.8% of reviews60.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings39 — better10
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#200 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB189 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLouis TeboulDariusz Chynek

Customer experience

eSPi

All ratings39 ratings
Positive59.0%
Neutral15.4%
Negative25.6%
Written reviews65 reviews
Positive50.8%
Neutral20.0%
Negative29.2%

VU950

All ratings10 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative20.0%

In-app purchases

None

eSPi

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

VU950

One-time8
  • EMAX drumkit$0.99
  • S2400$0.99
  • MPC2000$0.99
Show 5 more
  • MPC2000 2$0.99
  • MPC3000$0.99
  • SP1200$0.99
  • S900$0.99
  • SP202$0.99

Questions

Is eSPi free?
eSPi costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is VU950 free?
VU950 costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, eSPi or VU950?
VU950 is rated higher. eSPi averages 3.7 out of 5 from 39 ratings, while VU950 averages 4.5 from 10 ratings.
Do eSPi or VU950 have ads?
Neither eSPi nor VU950 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, eSPi or VU950?
eSPi ships an update fortnightly, and VU950 every 2 days. Most recently, eSPi was updated on October 15, 2026 and VU950 on October 15, 2026.

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