SampleTank CS vs Roland Cloud Connect
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SampleTank CS
This professional mobile sound and groove workstation brings desktop-level virtual instrument power to your iPhone and iPad. It offers a vast array of world-class instruments and patterns for live performance and composition, with expandable sound libraries available for purchase.
- 23 free instruments in 16 categories
- 8-part multitimbral sound module
- Expandable sound library with 2300+ instruments
- Over 1,200 melodic and rhythmic patterns
- 8-track MIDI recorder with audio export
- Intuitive interface and new sound engine
- Song and Live environments
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SampleTank 2 for iOS is a professional, fully featured mobile sound and groove workstation that brings the sound, power and features of desktop virtual instruments to your iPad and iPhone — without compromise. It is designed for professional live performance, song composition and puts a comprehensive array of world-class instruments, sounds and patterns right at your fingertips. SampleTank CS provides all the functionality of the full app, with 23 instruments in 16 categories, so you can try out this powerful workstation for free. Additional sounds are available a la cart via in-app purchase. SampleTank gives you 8 multitimbral instrument slots that you can easily layer or split. Choose from a comprehensive, expandable sound collection that covers virtually every acoustic and electronic sound imaginable. Plus, each instrument category includes instrument riffs and grooves so you can start composing and playing in no time. The included instruments and the new sound engine are derived from the desktop version of SampleTank, IK's flagship workstation, offering you unmatched realism, variety of sound and audio performance. For the first time on iOS, thousands of professional sample-based sounds and patterns can be easily accessed, layered and used for playing live or in the studio. What’s more, SampleTank offers an ever-growing library of sounds and are available via in-app purchase: • Elektronika - a series of electronica and EDM-oriented groove libraries and sound collections that make it easy to create hits in today’s most popular styles • Miroslav Philharmonik — the legendary orchestral libraries, now available on your mobile device! Stunningly realistic and expressive samples of a wide range of orchestra and percussion instruments. • SampleTank PRO - the latest and most high-end sounds and grooves available, letting you create professional-grade compositions on your mobile device • Plus additional libraries covering cinematic sounds, the finest pianos, drum libraries from iconic drummers and much more! SampleTank for iOS offers over 2,300 instruments and over 1,200 MIDI patterns — the largest collection of sounds available for any virtual instrument for iOS. Features: • 23 sounds in 16 categories included free • 8-part multitimbral professional quality sound and groove module • Expandable sound library with 2300+ instrument • Over 1,200 melodic and rhythmic patterns • 8-track MIDI recorder with audio export • Totally redesigned intuitive interface • New sound engine derived from SampleTank 3 for Mac/PC • Zones feature lets you easily create splits & layers on your controller • Song and Live environments for composing and playing • Built-in insert effects and master reverb • MIDI learn feature makes programming external controllers easy • Plug-and-play compatibility with iRig interfaces and controllers • Polyphony: up to 64 voices on new Apple devices
Roland Cloud Connect
Explore and install a vast library of sounds, expansions, and kits for compatible Roland instruments and V-Drums. This app allows you to manage premium Roland Cloud memberships and enhance your musical creations wirelessly.
- Explore and preview thousands of Roland Cloud tones
- Install Instrument Expansions on V-Drums
- Manage Roland Cloud premium memberships
- Load Style Packs and Drum Kits
- Wireless connection via WC-1 adapter
- Install Model Expansions, Sound Packs, and more
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The Roland Cloud Connect app lets you explore tones on your JUPITER-X, JUPITER-Xm, JUNO-X, GAIA 2, GO:KEYS 3, GO:KEYS 3 IN or GO:KEYS 5 using the Roland WC-1 Wireless Adapter. Or you can install Instrument Expansions on the Wi-Fi-equipped V-Drums V71, V51 or V31. The app also lets you subscribe to Roland Cloud's premium memberships and install additional Model Expansions, Sound Packs, Wave Expansions, World Expansions, Instrument Expansions, and Kit Packs to these products. With the Roland Cloud Connect app, you can search, preview, and load tones from the thousands of sounds on Roland Cloud into your JUPITER-X, JUPITER-Xm, JUNO-X, GAIA 2, GO:KEYS 3, GO:KEYS 3 IN, or GO:KEYS 5. You can even browse and load additional Style Packs for the GO:KEYS 3 and 5 models, and Drum Kits for the V-Drums V71, V51 and V31. To use this app, you will need a WC-1 Wireless Adapter with a compatible instrument model (i.e., JUPITER-X, JUPITER-Xm, JUNO-X, GAIA 2, GO:KEYS 3, GO:KEYS 3 IN, or GO:KEYS 5). If you use V-Drums V71, V51 or V31, you do not need a WC-1 as it has built-in Wi-Fi capability. You will also need a registered Roland Account and an internet connection. Applicable models: - JUPITER-X/JUPITER-Xm (Ver.2.00 or later) - JUNO-X (Ver.1.10 or later) - GAIA 2 (Ver.1.10 or later) - GO:KEYS 3/GO:KEYS 5 (Ver.1.04 or later) - GO:KEYS 3 IN (Ver.1.01 or later) - V71 (Ver.1.10 or later) - V51 (Ver.1.02 or later) - V31 (Ver.1.02 or later) * Any communication expenses (packet communication fees, etc.) incurred while using this software will be charged to customers. * This software might not be available depending on your country or region. * In the interest of product improvement, the specifications and/or appearance of this software are subject to change without prior notice.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: SampleTank CS at 144 against Roland Cloud Connect's 13. On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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
Both are free to download. SampleTank CS sells 15 one-off in-app purchases and Roland Cloud Connect sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.1 for SampleTank CS against 3.2 for Roland Cloud Connect. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SampleTank CS has 144 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 29% and 29% positive.
SampleTank CS ships an update every 2 months, Roland Cloud Connect every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SampleTank CS | Roland Cloud Connect |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.1 (144 ratings) | 3.2 (13 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 28.9% of reviews | 29.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 144 — better | 13 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1.5 GB | 27 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | IK Multimedia US, LLC | Roland Corporation |
Customer experience
SampleTank CS
Roland Cloud Connect
Bugs and requests
SampleTank CS
Reported bugs
3 issues- Incompatible with latest iOS versions
- MIDI issues and lack of device detection
- Purchased content not properly restored
Requested features
4 requests- Add AU/AUv3 support for better DAW integration
- Improve MIDI functionality and mapping
- Allow importing custom samples
- Enhance performance controls (e.g., pitch bend, modulation)
Roland Cloud Connect
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SampleTank CS
- Organ$4.99
- Strings$4.99
- Brass$4.99
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- Synth Leads$4.99
- Synth Pads$4.99
- Woodwinds$4.99
- Acoustic Drums$4.99
- Electric Piano$7.99
- The Grid$14.99
- Upgrade to SampleTank$24.99
- Miroslav Philharmonik - Mobile Edition$24.99
- Sample Moog - Mobile Edition$24.99
- Sonik Synth - Mobile Edition$24.99
- All Sounds$64.99
- SampleTank PRO - All Sounds Pack$64.99
Roland Cloud Connect
- Roland Cloud Core Month$2.991 Month
- Roland Cloud Pro Month$9.991 Month
- Roland Cloud Ultimate Month$19.991 Month
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Roland Cloud Core Year$29.991 Year
- Roland Cloud Pro Year$99.991 Year
- Roland Cloud Ultimate Year$199.991 Year
Questions
Is SampleTank CS free?
Is Roland Cloud Connect free?
Which has better reviews, SampleTank CS or Roland Cloud Connect?
Do SampleTank CS or Roland Cloud Connect have ads?
Which is updated more often, SampleTank CS or Roland Cloud Connect?
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