# SampleTank CS vs Neo

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Neo at 64% against SampleTank CS's 29%. Neo also leads on rating (3.5 vs 3.1) and iOS requirement (7.1 vs 13.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SampleTank CS sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Neo sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Neo holds the better App Store score, 3.5 against 3.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 143 and 62 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of SampleTank CS's written reviews are positive against 64% of Neo's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SampleTank CS | Neo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (143 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sampletank-cs/id464775965/reviews) | **[3.5 (62 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/neo-soul-keys/id579058867/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **143** | 62 |
| Positive reviews | 28.9% of reviews | **64.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1.5 GB | 928 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **7.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [IK Multimedia US, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/323694278) | [MIDIculous LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/579058990) |

## What reviewers say

### SampleTank CS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sampletank-cs/id464775965)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Organ | $4.99 | one-time |
| Strings | $4.99 | one-time |
| Brass | $4.99 | one-time |
| Synth Pads | $4.99 | one-time |
| The Grid | $14.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to SampleTank | $24.99 | one-time |
| Miroslav Philharmonik - Mobile Edition | $24.99 | one-time |
| Sonik Synth - Mobile Edition | $24.99 | one-time |
| All Sounds | $64.99 | one-time |
| SampleTank PRO - All Sounds Pack | $64.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great sound quality
- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Excellent for live performances

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🔒 Issues with in-app purchases and restoring purchases
- 🔋 High memory usage
- 👎 Lack of updates and support

**Reported bugs**

- Incompatible with latest iOS versions
- MIDI issues and lack of device detection
- Purchased content not properly restored

**Requested features**

- 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)


### Neo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/neo-soul-keys/id579058867)

Experience professional-quality electric piano sounds on your mobile device. This app utilizes real-time sample streaming for high fidelity and low latency, capturing the nuances of real electromechanical instruments.

**Highlights:** Professional electric piano libraries, Real-time sample streaming, Apple Lossless CAF format, Audiobus and Virtual MIDI support, Detailed instrument nuances (pedal noises, etc.), Low latency performance

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Wurli | $2.99 | one-time |
| EX5 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Stage | $3.99 | one-time |
| Dyno | $3.99 | one-time |
| Suitcase | $4.99 | one-time |
| All Synths | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SampleTank CS free?

SampleTank CS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Neo free?

Neo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SampleTank CS or Neo?

Neo is rated higher. SampleTank CS averages 3.1 out of 5 from 143 ratings, while Neo averages 3.5 from 62 ratings.

### Do SampleTank CS or Neo have ads?

Neither SampleTank CS nor Neo shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SampleTank CS or Neo?

SampleTank CS ships an update every 2 months, and Neo every 2 months. Most recently, SampleTank CS was updated on November 6, 2026 and Neo on November 1, 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.*