# SampleTank CS vs Padline

The clearest difference is rating: Padline at 3.7 against SampleTank CS's 3.1. Padline also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months). SampleTank CS's advantage is ratings volume (144 vs 3) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SampleTank CS sells 15 one-off in-app purchases and Padline sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Padline holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SampleTank CS has 144 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

SampleTank CS ships an update every 2 months, Padline every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SampleTank CS | Padline |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (144 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sampletank-cs/id464775965/reviews) | **[3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/padline/id6756504591/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **144** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 28.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 1.5 GB | 198 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [IK Multimedia US, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/323694278) | [Henry Cesta](https://appshunter.io/developer/1838574419) |

## 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 (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Organ | $4.99 | one-time |
| Strings | $4.99 | one-time |
| Brass | $4.99 | one-time |
| Synth Leads | $4.99 | one-time |
| Synth Pads | $4.99 | one-time |
| Woodwinds | $4.99 | one-time |
| Acoustic Drums | $4.99 | one-time |
| Electric Piano | $7.99 | one-time |
| The Grid | $14.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to SampleTank | $24.99 | one-time |
| Miroslav Philharmonik - Mobile Edition | $24.99 | one-time |
| Sample Moog - 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)


### Padline

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/padline/id6756504591)

This app provides stable, warm background pads for musicians. It offers immediate access to all chromatic notes with simple controls for volume, panning, and smooth entry. Designed for creating an immersive atmosphere, it features a fast, minimalist interface.

**Highlights:** Pads available in all chromatic notes, Simple volume and panning controls, Smooth entry for atmosphere adjustment, Worship-focused sound character, Fast and minimalist interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Padline Pro Mensual | $0.99 | per month |
| Padline Pro Anual | $3.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SampleTank CS free?

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

### Is Padline free?

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

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

Padline is rated higher. SampleTank CS averages 3.1 out of 5 from 144 ratings, while Padline averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do SampleTank CS or Padline have ads?

Neither SampleTank CS nor Padline shows ads.

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

SampleTank CS ships an update every 2 months, and Padline every 9 days. Most recently, SampleTank CS was updated on October 6, 2026 and Padline on October 10, 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.*