# eSPi vs VU44

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | eSPi | VU44 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $19.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.7 (39 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/espi/id1577738398/reviews) | **[4.9 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vu44-7/id6781011563/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **39** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | 51.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#81** | — |
| Size | 32 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Louis Teboul](https://appshunter.io/developer/1524484925) | [Dariusz Chynek](https://appshunter.io/developer/1805845479) |

## What reviewers say

### eSPi

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/espi/id1577738398)

**Currently charting:** #81 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### VU44

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vu44-7/id6781011563)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Support | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*