Comparison

SampleTank CS vs ScaleCoach

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

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

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

About

ScaleCoach

Features
Read full description

ScaleCoach is designed for instant pitch detection based scale training. ScaleCoach is a high-end app, that will help you master all the scales you need, in an easy and entertaining way.   One scale and a high quality piano is included for free. You will have the opportunity to try ScaleCoach and its contemporary functions with the revolutionary testing of your own intonation. Three packages of essential scales can be downloaded from within the app. Also available for download is the fantastic S.W.Y.P. (See What You Play) function, that visualises what you sing or play, and gives you instant feedback on your tuning.   ScaleCoach is an important tool in teaching music. Train alone or challenge each other. Who can hit it spot on!   ScaleCoach is your new musical best friend.   On our website scalecoach.com you will find out more about this outstanding app and see a demonstration. FEATURES (full version)   - 7 octaves of grand piano - Polyphonic piano - Master tuning from 415 - 466 Hz  - Built-in metronome - Tempo conversion from 20-480 notes per minute - Note names on/off - Preplay note on/off - Play scales up or down // up-down or down-up - Move scales up - down - repeat - play once - Major modes - a collection of diatonic scales from the Major mode - Melodic Minor modes - collection of the scales from Mel. Minor mode - Symmetric + collection of symmetric scales and Blues, Pentatonic etc. - S.W.Y.P. "See What You Play" either as single tone or multiple tones. - S.W.Y.P. includes on screen Hz detector. - Design in 9 different colors. ScaleCoach is the first and only app that lets you play all the scales and at the same time check your intonation.   When you have learnt your scale you can test yourself and see if your intonation is correct. You will get feedback whether you sing or play either a false note or in tune. DESCRIPTION Intonation forms part of the basis in music when you're playing with yourself and others. It is therefore very valuable to be able to test your intonation and with ScaleCoach you can test it with any instrument.   That includes all fretless instruments as violin, chello, double-bass and all other instruments as trumpet, saxophone etc. The singers can learn how to sing in tune. ScaleCoach will support you regardless of your level and let you choose the tempo. In the S.W.Y.P (See What You Play), you will be able to see what you sing or play on the ScaleCoach piano. B or H? With ScaleCoach you can have them both. Play wirelessly from your device to your Apple TV and AirPlay-enabled speakers and share your masterpiece in coaching yourself and music buddies.

Screenshots

SampleTank CS4 screens
ScaleCoach4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: SampleTank CS at every 2 months against ScaleCoach's every 6 months. ScaleCoach's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.0). On price, 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

Both are free to download. SampleTank CS sells 15 one-off in-app purchases and ScaleCoach sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SampleTank CS ships an update every 2 months, ScaleCoach every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
SampleTank CS versus ScaleCoach: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSampleTank CSScaleCoach
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.1 (144 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews28.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings144 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.08.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1.5 GB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIK Multimedia US, LLCHans Toft-Olsen

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)

ScaleCoach

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

15 purchases

SampleTank CS

One-time15
  • Organ$4.99
  • Strings$4.99
  • Brass$4.99
Show 12 more
  • 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
5 purchases

ScaleCoach

One-time5
  • Major modes collection$0.99
  • Melodic Minor modes collection$0.99
  • Symmetric + collection$0.99
Show 2 more
  • S.W.Y.P. "See What You Play"$0.99
  • Color Collection$0.99

Questions

Is SampleTank CS free?
SampleTank CS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ScaleCoach free?
ScaleCoach is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do SampleTank CS or ScaleCoach have ads?
Neither SampleTank CS nor ScaleCoach shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SampleTank CS or ScaleCoach?
SampleTank CS ships an update every 2 months, and ScaleCoach every 6 months. Most recently, SampleTank CS was updated on October 13, 2026 and ScaleCoach on September 30, 2026.

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