Comparison

Sample Crate vs RingsFX

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

Head to head
About

Sample Crate

Easily manage and preview your sample library on your mobile device. Create custom sample kits, play them via pads, and export them for use in other applications. Features include batch renaming and audio extraction from videos.

Highlights
  • Instant sample preview
  • Create sample kits with tags
  • Play samples via pads
  • Export sample chains
  • Batch rename samples
  • Extract audio from videos
Features
Read full description

Sample Crate allows you to swiftly browse all your sample library on your mobile device. It can instantly preview any sample by just tapping it. If you like a particular sample you can add it to the Crate Player where you can play them via pads like on your favorite instrument. Top features: • Instant play any sample from your iOS device. • Create sample kits by tagging your files • Tags & Favorites are synced via iCloud • Play your samples via pads • Export sample chains to use in your favorite hardware sampler or any other iOS Apps • Batch rename your samples • Extract audio from videos or screen recordings. • Use it side by side with Any other iOS app and just drag over your favorite samples. And much more coming.

About

RingsFX

This music app emulates a renowned physical modeling synthesizer, offering diverse synthesis techniques and polyphonic capabilities. It allows for real-time parameter manipulation and can process external audio, creating unique sonic textures and rhythms.

Highlights
  • Physical modeling synthesis emulation
  • Multiple polyphony modes (Mono, Duo, Quad, True Polyphonic)
  • Supports MIDI MPE and velocity sensitivity
  • External audio excitation
  • Mod Matrix for real-time parameter control
  • 7 unique synthesis modes
  • 6 mod-able and 6 global effects
Features
Read full description

RingsFX is an AUv3 plugin based on the famous Mutable Instruments Rings, one of the most dedicated and fully-featured Physical Modeling Eurorack modules ever created. At its core is a resonator that needs to be 'excited' or 'strummed' by MIDI input, noise, or external audio excitation. RingsFX emulates vibrations of structures simulated by 3 different synthesis techniques that can be plucked or process external signals: Modal Synthesis, Sympathetic Strings, and Inharmonic Strings. Traditionally, Rings was only monophonic but used a unique approach to polyphony that allowed the previous note to 'ring' out and decay while a new note was played. Rings FX provides these same modes (Mono, Duo, and Quad), but expands it with a true Polyphonic mode. RingsFX also expands the capabilities of the original engine by adding support for velocity sensitivity and MIDI MPE mode. The new polyphonic mode allows RingsFX to play up to 12 notes of true polyphony, depending on the settings. Doing so requires RingsFX to use multiple Rings resonators, but the more true polyphony you use, the more processing power it requires. Running in the traditional Monophonic, Duophonic, or Quadrophonic modes may be preferred in order to keep CPU usage under control. RingsFX has 7 modes in total, by combining the 3 basic modes with additional properties such as chords or specially tuned reverbs. The original hardware also had a secret 'Easter Egg' mode, which in RingsFX is simply calling 'Synthesizer' mode, rumoured to be based on one of the early Korg synthesis methods. This mode supported a number of mutable effects which now work on in all resonator modes. RingsFX also has a Mod-Matrix which allows you to combine the built-in LFOs and FEGs to great effect by manipulating parameters and mutable effects in realtime. Finally, RingsFX can be loaded as an AUv3 effect plugin. Set the Exciter Source to 'INPUT', and you can pass any audio through RingsFX and use this audio as an external exciter. For example, it can be used to great affect on a drum beat to create some crazy rhythms. Use the Output Mix to combine the original audio with the synthesised resonator output to create some stunning effects. Features ○ 7 unique synthesis modes. ○ Supports Mono, Duo, Quad and true polyphony. ○ Supports 2 fluid LFO's per note. ○ Up to 4 FEG's per note. ○ External Exciter modes. ○ White noise Pulse Sequencer. ○ Supports 6 mod-able effects and 6 global effects. ○ Mod Matrix ○ Input and white noise filters. ○ Program Manager with drag and drop. ○ Preset Search and Favourites. ○ Easy export and import of banks and presets. ○ Extensive help manual. ○ Web Transfer for backing up to PC/Mac. ○ MPE Support.

Screenshots

Sample Crate4 screens
RingsFX4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Sample Crate at $2.99 against RingsFX's $7.99. Sample Crate also leads on update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). RingsFX's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 79%) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). On ratings volume, 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

Sample Crate costs $2.99 and RingsFX $7.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

RingsFX holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 44 and 26 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Sample Crate's written reviews are positive against 100% of RingsFX's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sample Crate ships an update weekly, RingsFX fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Sample Crate versus RingsFX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSample CrateRingsFX
Price$2.99 — better$7.99
Rating4.7 (44 ratings)4.9 (26 ratings) — better
Positive reviews78.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings44 — better26
Update frequencyWeekly — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCristina Buga4Pockets.com

Customer experience

Sample Crate

All ratings44 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral6.8%
Negative2.3%
Written reviews38 reviews
Positive78.9%
Neutral10.5%
Negative10.5%

RingsFX

All ratings26 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Sample Crate

No in-app purchases

None

RingsFX

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sample Crate free?
Sample Crate costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is RingsFX free?
RingsFX costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sample Crate or RingsFX?
RingsFX is rated higher. Sample Crate averages 4.7 out of 5 from 44 ratings, while RingsFX averages 4.9 from 26 ratings.
Do Sample Crate or RingsFX have ads?
Neither Sample Crate nor RingsFX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sample Crate or RingsFX?
Sample Crate ships an update weekly, and RingsFX fortnightly. Most recently, Sample Crate was updated on October 2, 2026 and RingsFX on October 1, 2026.

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