# Tape vs Koala Sampler

The clearest difference is update cadence: Koala Sampler at every 3 weeks against Tape's every 7 months. Koala Sampler also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and chart position (#6 vs unranked). Tape's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $4.99). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Tape costs $1.99 and Koala Sampler $4.99 up front. Tape sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Koala Sampler sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Koala Sampler holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Koala Sampler has 1.4K ratings behind it against 259, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Tape's written reviews are positive against 88% of Koala Sampler's.

Tape ships an update every 7 months, Koala Sampler every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tape | Koala Sampler |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$1.99** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [4.5 (259 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tape/id537766208/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/koala-sampler-beat-maker/id1449584007/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 259 | **1.4K** |
| Positive reviews | 81.8% of reviews | **88.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#6** |
| Size | 25 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.5 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Alexander Rutkowskij](https://appshunter.io/developer/518370415) | [Mazbox Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/329604853) |

## What reviewers say

### Tape

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tape/id537766208)

Relive the 80s with a virtual cassette player that emulates the feel of old-school music playback. Enjoy your iPhone music library with animated cassettes and intuitive touch controls. Choose from a variety of cassette designs for a nostalgic experience.

**Highlights:** Cassette player emulator, Plays music from Apple Music App, Animated cassette display, Large selection of cassette designs, Intuitive touch controls (play, pause, swipe), Pinch to zoom for original cassette size

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| New Cassette Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Cassette collection 2 | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Authentic nostalgic cassette player design
- 👍 User-friendly and intuitive interface
- 🎵 Realistic animations with moving reels and playheads
- 💰 Free app with extensive cassette designs included
- 🎮 Interactive controls with swipe gestures

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing issues
- 🐛 App doesn't close properly with swipe gesture
- 🐛 Tape head animation reversed (plays down, pauses up)
- ❌ Limited to Apple Music only
- ❌ No local file playback support

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when using menus
- Freezes on iPhone iOS 14.4.2 and later
- Swipe-to-close doesn't stop playback
- Playhead and capstan roller animation reversed
- App closes unexpectedly for no reason

**Requested features**

- Save and switch between custom mixed tapes
- Playlist duration limits based on cassette type
- Clicking sounds for play/stop button presses
- Support for local MP3 and M4A files
- Screen sleep toggle while music plays


### Koala Sampler

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/koala-sampler-beat-maker/id1449584007)

**Currently charting:** #6 Top Paid · Music, #93 Top Paid (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Koala AUv3 Plugin | $1.99 | one-time |
| Ese-O's Sample Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Solar Studies Samplepack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Soon Come Dub Sample Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Analog Astronaut Samplepack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Cirrus Cuts Sample Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Samurai Edition | $3.99 | one-time |
| Mixer | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tape free?

Tape costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Koala Sampler free?

Koala Sampler costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Tape or Koala Sampler?

Koala Sampler is rated higher. Tape averages 4.5 out of 5 from 259 ratings, while Koala Sampler averages 4.8 from 1.4K ratings.

### Do Tape or Koala Sampler have ads?

Neither Tape nor Koala Sampler shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Tape or Koala Sampler?

Tape ships an update every 7 months, and Koala Sampler every 3 weeks. Most recently, Tape was updated on September 28, 2026 and Koala Sampler on September 29, 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.*