Comparison

eSPi vs VU44

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

VU44

This app transforms audio sampling into a tactile, vinyl-inspired experience. Spin a virtual platter, drop the needle, and capture loops by ear and feel, just like a crate digger. Shape your sound with onboard mixing and effects, then integrate it into your music setup.

Highlights
  • Tactile vinyl-style platter for scratching and nudging
  • Adjustable RPM speeds for pitch shifting
  • Precise loop capture with hand-played timing
  • 4-band channel EQ for tone shaping
  • 16 built-in effects with 4 insert slots
  • Load audio from folders, files, and videos
  • AUv3 plugin support for host integration
Features
Read full description

VU44-7 — sample like a vinyl digger. VU44-7 turns sampling into a hands-on, tactile experience. Instead of staring at waveforms, you spin a real turntable platter, drop the needle and catch the perfect loop the way crate-diggers always have — by ear and by feel. Record straight off a spinning platter to get that warm, hand-played vinyl character into your sampler. Nudge the speed, scratch in a chop, cut it on the fly and grab exactly the slice you want. It's the fastest, most musical way to pull samples — whether you're flipping a record, a YouTube clip or your own field recordings. MADE FOR SAMPLING • Tactile vinyl-style platter — scratch, nudge and rewind by touch • 33 / 45 / 78 RPM — slow it down or pitch it up for instant flips • CUT & START for transform-style cuts and stabs • 6 cue points — set your hits and recall them instantly • Capture loops with real, hand-played timing and feel SHAPE THE SOUND • 4-band channel: GAIN, HIGH, MID, LOW — dial in the tone like a real mixer • 16 effects you know from VU950 — filters, EQ, comp, delays, reverb and more — across 4 insert slots • Re-colour every panel and choose a VU950 or Modern skin BRING IN YOUR OWN AUDIO • Load from Folders, Files and Videos with the built-in DISK browser WORKS IN YOUR SETUP • AUv3 plugin — run VU44-7 inside any AUv3 host, route the audio to Your favorite sampler. • Use multiple instances, automate it and bounce straight into your project • Standalone app for quick, no-fuss sampling on the go PRIVATE BY DESIGN • No accounts, no analytics, no tracking. Your audio stays on your device. Stop scrolling waveforms. Start digging.

Screenshots

eSPi4 screens
VU444 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: VU44 at 100% against eSPi's 52%. VU44 also leads on price (Free vs $19.99) and rating (4.9 vs 3.7). eSPi's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On ratings volume, 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

VU44 is free to download; eSPi costs $19.99 up front. VU44 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. eSPi asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

VU44 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 39 and 14 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of eSPi's written reviews are positive against 100% of VU44's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

eSPi ships an update fortnightly, VU44 every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
eSPi versus VU44: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametereSPiVU44
Price$19.99Free — better
Rating3.7 (39 ratings)4.9 (14 ratings) — better
Positive reviews51.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings39 — better14
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#199 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLouis TeboulDariusz Chynek

Customer experience

eSPi

All ratings39 ratings
Positive59.0%
Neutral15.4%
Negative25.6%
Written reviews66 reviews
Positive51.5%
Neutral19.7%
Negative28.8%

VU44

All ratings10 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

eSPi

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

VU44

One-time1
  • Support$0.99

Questions

Is eSPi free?
eSPi costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is VU44 free?
VU44 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, eSPi or VU44?
VU44 is rated higher. eSPi averages 3.7 out of 5 from 39 ratings, while VU44 averages 4.9 from 14 ratings.
Do eSPi or VU44 have ads?
Neither eSPi nor VU44 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, eSPi or VU44?
eSPi ships an update fortnightly, and VU44 every 2 months. Most recently, eSPi was updated on October 30, 2026 and VU44 on October 24, 2026.

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