# eSPi vs VU Studio

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | eSPi | VU Studio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $19.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.7 (39 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/espi/id1577738398/reviews) | **[4.4 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vu-studio/id6789577964/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **39** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 50.8% of reviews | **55.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#90** | — |
| Size | 32 MB | 171 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| 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:** #90 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


### VU Studio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vu-studio/id6789577964)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


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