Comparison

RapMushi vs Koala Sampler

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

Head to head
About

RapMushi

Become a virtual rapper by rhythmically tapping word panels. Explore DJ Mode with different rhythms, volume control, and record scratching. Add instrumental accompaniments like piano and guitar to create your own tracks.

Highlights
  • Rhythmic word panel tapping
  • DJ Mode with A/B rhythms
  • Volume control fader
  • Record scratching
  • Instrumental accompaniments (piano, guitar)
  • Track creation
Features
Read full description

Rap-mushi is an application that you can feel like a ”Rapper", by pushing the words panel rhythmically. Words are separated in 7 parts. When you press the "Number" panel, it will shift to those several sections. In "DJ MODE", you can choose different rhythms named A and B. You can control the volume by the fader below. Also, you can scratch the Record to have much fun. Not only that. You can add piano, guitar, etc. as an accompany. We wish you to make a lots of wsome tracks!! Tsubasa Naruse

About

Koala Sampler

This app allows you to record sounds with your phone's microphone, transform them with effects, and create beats and tracks. Its intuitive interface focuses on a fast and fun music-making process.

Highlights
  • Record up to 64 samples with mic
  • Apply 16 built-in effects
  • Load and use own samples
  • Create beats with high-resolution sequencer
  • Export loops and tracks as WAV
  • AI sample separation
  • AUv3 and MIDI compatibility
Features
Read full description

Koala is the ultimate pocket-sized sampler. Record anything with your phone's mic or load your own sounds. Use Koala to create beats with those samples, add effects and create a track! Koala's super intuitive interface helps you make a track in a flash - there is no brake pedal. You can also resample the output of the app back into the input, through the effects, so the sonic possibilities are endless. Koala's design focuses totally on making the music-making process instant, keeping you in the flow and keeping it fun, not getting bogged down by pages of parameters and micro-editing. "Been putting that $4 koala sampler to good use lately. Undeniably great tool that puts some of these expensive beat boxes to shame. A must cop." -- flying lotus, twitter * Record up to 64 different samples with your mic * Transform your voice or any other sound with 16 superb built-in fx * Load your own samples * Choose from one of 250 built-in sounds * Resample the output of the app back into a new sample * Export loops or entire tracks as professional quality WAV files * Direct export to Ableton Live Set * Copy/paste or merge sequences just by dragging them * Create beats with the high-resolution sequencer * Import samples from the Files app or even from videos * Keyboard mode lets you play chromatically or one of 9 scales * Quantize, add swing to get the right feel * Normal/One-shot/Loop/Reverse playback of samples * 6 Choke groups * Attack, release and tone adjustable on each sample * Mute/Solo controls and note repeat * Add any (or all) of the 16 effects to the entire mix * AUv3 compatible - use in GarageBand, Logic, Cubasis etc etc * MIDI controllable - play your samples on a keyboard, map the effects to knobs * Jam with others over WiFi with Ableton Link * Free copy of Ableton Live Lite included * AudioShare compatible * Use AI to separate samples into individual instruments (drums, bass, vocals and other) * Set your own background image and choose from a growing list of background visual FX 8 Built-in Microphone FX: * More Bass * More Treble * Fuzz * Robot * Reverb * Octave up * Octave down * Synthesizer 16 Built-in DJ Mix FX: * Bit-crusher * Pitch-shift * Comb filter * Ring modulator * Reverb * Stutter * Gate * Resonant High/Low Pass Filters * Cutter * Reverse * Dub * Tempo Delay * Talkbox * VibroFlange * Dirty * Compressor Features included in SAMURAI In-App Purchase * Pro-quality Timestretch (5 modes: Modern, Retro, Beats, Re-pitch and Cyclic) * Piano roll editor * Auto-chop (auto, equal, and lazy chop) * 3 Band EQ * Pocket operator sync out * Quokka Synth - powerhouse polyphonic synthesizer * MIDI Out - control external MIDI hardware with Koala's sequencer * Chopper - multimodal sample chopping instrument Features included in MIXER In-App Purchase * Mix your beats professionally with a 4 channel mixer + main bus * Route any sample to any channel * Mute/solo, faders and accurate metering on every channel * 5 effect slots per channel * 29 high-quality effects - compressors, filters, phasers and more, with new effects to come * Host AUv3 plugins - both audio effects and instruments

Screenshots

RapMushi3 screens
Koala Sampler4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: RapMushi at Free against Koala Sampler's $4.99. RapMushi also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 8) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 14.0). Koala Sampler's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 66 months) and ratings volume (1.4K vs 25). On review sentiment, ads 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

RapMushi is free to download; Koala Sampler costs $4.99 up front. Koala Sampler sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. RapMushi asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Koala Sampler holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Koala Sampler has 1.4K ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 95% of RapMushi's written reviews are positive against 88% of Koala Sampler's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RapMushi ships an update every 66 months, Koala Sampler every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
RapMushi versus Koala Sampler: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRapMushiKoala Sampler
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating4.6 (25 ratings)4.8 (1.4K ratings) — better
Positive reviews94.9% of reviews — better88.2% of reviews
Number of ratings251.4K — better
Update frequencyEvery 66 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#6 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size75 MB59 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTsubasa NaruseMazbox Limited

Customer experience

RapMushi

All ratings25 ratings
Positive88.0%
Neutral8.0%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews118 reviews
Positive94.9%
Neutral1.7%
Negative3.4%

Koala Sampler

All ratings1,420 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral2.0%
Negative4.2%
Written reviews612 reviews
Positive88.2%
Neutral4.2%
Negative7.5%

User reviews

RapMushi

From 25 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎶 Fun and addictive music creation
  • 🎨 Cute and charming illustrations
  • 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
  • 💰 Free to download and use
  • 🎧 Great beats and sound quality

Room to improve

  • ❓ Language barrier (Japanese)
  • ⚠️ Outdated, not working on newer iOS versions

Koala Sampler

From 1.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
  • 🚀 Smooth workflow and fast performance
  • 💡 Powerful sampling and sequencing capabilities
  • 🔥 Excellent value for the price
  • 🎨 Creative and inspiring sound design

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
  • 🔇 Limited effects and sound manipulation options
  • 📁 Difficulty managing and organizing samples/projects
  • 🎚️ Lack of advanced MIDI mapping and control options
  • 🔍 Unclear or confusing UI elements in certain areas

Bugs and requests

RapMushi

Reported bugs

1 issue
  • Does not work with iOS 11

Requested features

5 requests
  • English version
  • Update for newer iOS versions
  • Ability to record mixes as ringtones
  • Tempo adjustment feature
  • Ability to load own loops and samples

Koala Sampler

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Samples not loading or disappearing after app updates
  • Sequencer timing and quantization issues
  • Crashes when using certain features or with large projects

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to record and edit MIDI sequences
  • More comprehensive effects and sound processing tools
  • Improved sample management and organization features
  • Support for external MIDI controllers and hardware integration
  • Customizable color schemes and UI themes

In-app purchases

None

RapMushi

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

Koala Sampler

One-time8
  • Koala AUv3 Plugin$1.99
  • Ese-O's Sample Pack$2.99
  • Solar Studies Samplepack$2.99
Show 5 more
  • Soon Come Dub Sample Pack$2.99
  • Analog Astronaut Samplepack$2.99
  • Cirrus Cuts Sample Pack$2.99
  • Samurai Edition$3.99
  • Mixer$4.99

Questions

Is RapMushi free?
RapMushi is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Koala Sampler free?
Koala Sampler costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, RapMushi or Koala Sampler?
Koala Sampler is rated higher. RapMushi averages 4.6 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while Koala Sampler averages 4.8 from 1.4K ratings.
Do RapMushi or Koala Sampler have ads?
Neither RapMushi nor Koala Sampler shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RapMushi or Koala Sampler?
RapMushi ships an update every 66 months, and Koala Sampler every 3 weeks. Most recently, RapMushi was updated on October 13, 2026 and Koala Sampler on October 14, 2026.

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