Comparison

eSPi vs VU Studio

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

VU Studio

Create music on the go with a portable beatmaking workstation. Build beats, shape samples, and arrange full tracks with a structured yet fast workflow. Import and edit audio, then organize your ideas into complete songs.

Highlights
  • Portable project workflow
  • Sample shaping and editing
  • Pattern and sequence building
  • Full track arrangement timeline
  • Dedicated editing views
  • Mixer for balancing tracks
  • Live performance effects
Features
Read full description

VU Studio is a beatmaking workstation built for creating ideas, shaping samples, and arranging full tracks in one portable project workflow. Start with pads and sounds, build patterns per group, combine those patterns into sequences, then arrange patterns, sequences, and audio tracks on the song timeline. The workflow is direct enough for sketching beats quickly, but structured enough to grow an idea into a finished arrangement. Import audio into pads, preview waveforms, edit sample regions, and use CHOP to split samples into playable slices. VU Studio keeps imported audio inside the project package, so your songs stay portable instead of depending on temporary file picker paths. Use dedicated views for the way you want to work: - PADS for samples, pad settings, and sound preparation - STEPS for fast pattern programming - PIANO for detailed note and event editing - SEQUENCE for building song sections from patterns - SONG / Timeline for arranging the full track - MIXER for balancing groups, pads, audio tracks, sends, inserts, and master output - LIVE for performance effects and quick sound manipulation - BROWSER for finding and loading audio sources VU Studio projects are saved as managed .vustudio packages. Export creates a portable .vustudio archive for transfer or backup, with project data and assets kept together. On iOS, projects live in Documents so they remain visible in Apple Files. You're a fan of my previous VU202 app? That's great - VU Studio supports .vu202 project file - move your project and keep 100% edit possibilities! Whether you are chopping drum breaks, programming patterns, building sections, importing samples, or moving a project between iOS and desktop, VU Studio is designed around a simple idea: keep the beatmaking flow fast, organized, and portable.

Screenshots

eSPi4 screens
VU Studio4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: VU Studio at Free against eSPi's $19.99. VU Studio also leads on rating (4.4 vs 3.7) and update cadence (every 6 days vs fortnightly). eSPi's advantage is chart position (#90 vs unranked) and ratings volume (39 vs 7). On review sentiment, ads, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

VU Studio is free to download; eSPi costs $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

VU Studio holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: eSPi has 39 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of eSPi's written reviews are positive against 56% of VU Studio's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

eSPi ships an update fortnightly, VU Studio every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
eSPi versus VU Studio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametereSPiVU Studio
Price$19.99Free — better
Rating3.7 (39 ratings)4.4 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.8% of reviews55.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings39 — better7
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#90 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB171 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%

VU Studio

All ratings7 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive55.6%
Neutral11.1%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

eSPi

No in-app purchases

None

VU Studio

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is eSPi free?
eSPi costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is VU Studio free?
VU Studio is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, eSPi or VU Studio?
VU Studio is rated higher. eSPi averages 3.7 out of 5 from 39 ratings, while VU Studio averages 4.4 from 7 ratings.
Do eSPi or VU Studio have ads?
Neither eSPi nor VU Studio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, eSPi or VU Studio?
eSPi ships an update fortnightly, and VU Studio every 6 days. Most recently, eSPi was updated on October 15, 2026 and VU Studio on October 5, 2026.

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