Comparison

Samplr vs Gestrument Pro

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

Head to head
About

Samplr

This app offers a unique multitouch interface for exploring and manipulating audio samples. Create music through various play modes, record gestures for sequencing, and experiment with audio effects. It's designed for audio experimentation, composition, and live performance.

Highlights
  • 8 distinct play modes (Slicer, Looper, Granular, etc.)
  • Gesture recorder for sequencing
  • Audio input recording and resampling
  • 6 sample slots with 16 voices each
  • 5 per-sample effects (Distortion, Reverb, etc.)
  • Import audio from cloud storage and other apps
Read full description

The app used by renowned musicians like Fred again.., Richard Devine, Apparat, Weval or Matmos live and in the studio. Samplr introduced a brand new way to make music, only possible on multitouch devices. Explore the samples melody and texture using the different play modes and create compositions with the gesture recorder. Samplr is the ideal tool for audio experimentation, music composition and live performance. USER REVIEWS “The most profound audio manipulation tool on iOS” 5 stars “There is NOTHING on the market hardware or software like this” 5 stars “Stunningly beautiful interface and exceptionally easy to use” 5 stars “This is the most musical app I've ever used. It's polished, it's musical, it's fun, it's inspiring” 5 stars “It’s the best realization of what touch screen sampling should be” 5 stars FEATURES • 8 play modes: Slicer, Looper, Granular, Tape, Scratch, Arpeggiator, Keyboard and Loop Player • Gesture recorder for sequencing • Audio input recording and resampling • 6 sample slots (x16 voices) • 5 effects per sample: Distortion, Filter, Amplitude Modulator, Feedback Delay and Reverb COMPATIBILITY • Ableton Link • MIDI Keyboard, Controller and Sync input • IAA (Inter-App Audio) • Audiobus Input and Output • WAV and AIFF file support • Import files from iCloud Drive, Dropbox, AudioShare, etc Learn more and see how it works on samplr.net. For feedback or support please reach out to support@samplr.net

About

Gestrument Pro

Create music with complex systems and fingertip motion. This interactive instrument allows for deep personal expression in playing, improvising, and composing. Experiment with advanced musical concepts and real-time improvisation.

Highlights
  • Interactive gesture-based music creation
  • Real-time improvisation and composition
  • Modular musical generators
  • Advanced microtonal scale editor
  • MIDI output and Inter-App Audio/Audiobus support
  • Recordable automations
Features
Read full description

The Interactive Gesture Instrument Create music based on complex systems of musical rules and interactions. Using the motion of your fingertips, Gestrument Pro lets you play, improvise and compose with deeper levels of personal expression than ever before. Play your music your way Gestrument Pro lets you create something in-between a bespoke instrument and written piece of music. In other words, it’s an instrument made to play your own music in your own way. Widen your musical comfort zone Experiment with simple and advanced musical concepts such as microtonality, polyrhythms and much more using our modular system of highly tweakable musical generators. A next level Improvisational tool By building patches based on the musical rules and properties of your own music, Gestrument Pro lets you improvise to it in real-time. Our Pitch and Rhythm generators make sure you’re always on time and always on pitch, no matter how you play. Powered by the Gestrument Engine Gestrument Pro is completely powered by our revolutionary Gestrument Engine, a system for generating music based on user interactions in real-time. Based on the revolutionary Gestrument app from 2012, award-winning composer Jesper Nordin and leading iOS developer Jonatan Liljedahl (Kymatica) have completely re-invented their unique instrument and taken the concept to the next level. Gestrument PRO takes everything we loved about the original Gestrument app and improves on its unique functionality while introducing a host of new features such as multi-touch, recordable automations, advanced scale editing and a unique system of highly tweakable modular generators that define rhythms and pitches. Features: • Powered by the Gestrument Engine. • Up to 16 individual Instruments. • Each Instrument can be controlled by any of up to 8 Cursors. • Instruments can use internal high quality sounds or play other synthesizers or apps via MIDI. • Modular swappable Generators for producing the rhythms and pitches per Instrument, each with their own set of tweakable parameters and settings. • 8 performance sliders that each can control one or more parameters in the Instruments and their Generators. • A highly flexible modulation system allows assigning Sliders and Cursor position/pressure to any parameter in the Instruments. • Advanced microtonal Scale editor with several standard scales included. • 8 Scale Slots for fast switching between scales and tonalities during performance. • Sliders, Cursors and Scale Slots can be recorded into automated loops, or controlled via MIDI. They can also send MIDI. • Supports Inter-App Audio and Audiobus, including host sync for following the hosts transport and tempo. Terms of Use: http://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/appstore/dev/stdeula

Screenshots

Gestrument Pro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Gestrument Pro at Free against Samplr's $19.99. Gestrument Pro also leads on device support (3 vs 1). Samplr's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 3.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ratings volume, ads and iOS requirement 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

Gestrument Pro is free to download; Samplr costs $19.99 up front. Gestrument Pro sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Samplr asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Samplr holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 149 and 66 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Samplr's written reviews are positive against 57% of Gestrument Pro's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Samplr ships an update every 3 months, Gestrument Pro every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Samplr versus Gestrument Pro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSamplrGestrument Pro
Price$19.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (149 ratings) — better3.8 (66 ratings)
Positive reviews79.5% of reviews — better57.4% of reviews
Number of ratings149 — better66
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 7 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.011.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size49 MB338 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMarcos AlonsoGestrument AB

Customer experience

Samplr

All ratings149 ratings
Positive93.3%
Neutral1.3%
Negative5.4%
Written reviews404 reviews
Positive79.5%
Neutral7.2%
Negative13.4%

Gestrument Pro

All ratings64 ratings
Positive68.8%
Neutral4.7%
Negative26.6%
Written reviews47 reviews
Positive57.4%
Neutral6.4%
Negative36.2%

User reviews

Samplr

From 149 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Intuitive and responsive interface
  • 🎨 Powerful sample manipulation capabilities
  • 🎶 Excellent for live performance and sound design
  • 💰 Great value for the price
  • 🎉 Inspiring and creative app

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
  • 🔌 Lack of audio import/export options
  • 🔀 Difficulty with sample organization and management
  • 🔇 Missing features like panning, MIDI support, and AUv3

Gestrument Pro

From 66 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💡 Innovative music creation
  • 👍 Easy to use interface
  • 🚀 Powerful music making capabilities
  • 🎶 Great for live performance
  • ✨ Unique musical expression

Room to improve

  • 🤔 User interface dated
  • ⚠️ Incomplete interface
  • 📉 Fear of no further support
  • 🚫 No AUV3 support
  • 💸 Expensive for unknown concept

Bugs and requests

Samplr

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Recording functionality not working as expected
  • Dropbox integration causing crashes
  • Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Implement Ableton Link for better sync
  • Add support for more audio file formats
  • Improve sample import/export workflow
  • Introduce a more robust sequencing and automation system
  • Provide multi-channel audio output

Gestrument Pro

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • GestrumentPro not working in AUM as IAA
  • Interface not fixed when selecting CC or CHANNEL
  • App crashes when hitting MIDI controls in settings
  • Audio pops with multiple instruments and reverb
  • User Manual getting stuck open
Show 2 more
  • Pops mentioned by another reviewer
  • All instruments play the same note suddenly

Requested features

11 requests
  • Preset folders
  • Additional features
  • Improved AUv3 support
  • More training videos
  • Ability to display note length/rates divisions at the top of the screen
Show 6 more
  • Control more than one synth at a time (separate channels)
  • Hold function for holding down the loop
  • Ableton Link integration
  • Inbuilt facility to record music
  • Ability to record or share music
  • Redo the user interface for instruments

In-app purchases

None

Samplr

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Gestrument Pro

Subscriptions1
  • Monthly subscription7 Days trial$1.491 Month
One-time1
  • One-time purchase$14.99

Questions

Is Samplr free?
Samplr costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Gestrument Pro free?
Gestrument Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Samplr or Gestrument Pro?
Samplr is rated higher. Samplr averages 4.7 out of 5 from 149 ratings, while Gestrument Pro averages 3.8 from 66 ratings.
Do Samplr or Gestrument Pro have ads?
Neither Samplr nor Gestrument Pro shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Samplr or Gestrument Pro?
Samplr ships an update every 3 months, and Gestrument Pro every 7 months. Most recently, Samplr was updated on October 15, 2026 and Gestrument Pro on October 13, 2026.

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