Comparison

FontStack vs KQ Sampei 26

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

Head to head
About

FontStack

This app allows musicians to load and utilize classic SoundFont (.sf2) files within their digital audio workstation. It offers layering, key splitting, and instrument caching for creative sound design and quick access to a vast library of sounds.

Highlights
  • 4 SoundFont layers
  • Keyboard splits
  • SoundFont stacking
  • Instrument caching
  • Remote folder linking
  • Reverb, Delay, Chorus effects
  • Amp Envelope and Filter control
Features
Read full description

FontStack is a 'fontastic' new AUv3 plugin for iOS which can be loaded into your favourite DAW allowing you to utilise all those wonderful and nostalgic SF2 SoundFonts you've collected over the years. The SoundFont standard was created back in the early 90s, and made famous by the SoundBlaster series of sound cards. With the introduction of the Amiga, it spawned a host of musical creation tools called Trackers, which allowed the Amiga to load these SoundFonts and create sophisticated musical scores of 4 or 8 tracks. These days we don't use this standard so much, but there is a wealth of free SF2 files available on the internet just waiting to be loaded into FontStack. A SoundFont comprises a file with an .sf2 file extension. This file contains a set of samples, instruments, and presets. FontStack enables you to load one or more SoundFonts into its 4 layers, and use them in lots of creative ways. You can stack layers to create a rich combination of multiple tones, or assign each layer its own key range on the keyboard to create virtual splits, or a mixture of the two. Each layer can also be assigned its own MIDI channel for true OMNI mode. One great feature of FontStack is its ability to cache all your SoundFonts and the instruments they contain. This allows quick searching for specific instrument types without the need to physically search through SoundFonts to find them. Another great feature is the ability to optionally link to a remote folder containing a global set of SoundFonts, so that they can be shared between apps. Both internal and external SoundFonts and their instruments will be cached and searching is just as easy as it is using internal SoundFonts. FontStack features: ○ 4 SoundFont Layers which can be stacked, layered or played on different channels. ○ 6 Scenes per Layer containing different SoundFont instruments and settings. ○ Keyboard Splits can be created spreading multiple SoundFonts over a single keyboard. ○ SoundFont Stacks can be created, stacking multiple SoundFonts to produce a bigger, thicker sound. ○ Disk Streaming allows you to stream a SoundFont directly from disk saving physical memory. ○ File Manager allowing local and remote file management. ○ Symbolic Link allows you to specify a remote/external folder from which to access your SoundFonts. ○ Instrument Search allows you to search the content of local and remote SoundFonts folders. ○ Drag and Drop your sound fonts directly into the SoundFont Manager. ○ Reverb, Delay & Chorus effects can be applied to each instrument layer. ○ Haas and Stereo Width can be used to simulate virtual STEREO on SoundFonts with MONO samples. ○ Allows direct control of the SoundFonts Amp Envelope and Filter settings.

About

KQ Sampei 26

This powerful sampler synthesizer allows musicians to load and switch between various sound set formats, including SoundFont and DLS. It offers multi-timbral operation across multiple MIDI channels and supports standard and riff MIDI files for flexible music production and live performance.

Highlights
  • Supports SoundFont (sf2), Compressed SoundFont (sf3), and DLS formats
  • Multi-timbral operation across multiple MIDI channels
  • Plays Standard MIDI Files (SMF) and RIFF MIDI Files
  • AUv3 plugin for use with DAWs
  • Micro-tuning with AnaMark TUN files
  • Load on Demand / Streaming mode for large sound sets
  • External and virtual MIDI connections
Features
Read full description

KQ Sampei is a powerful sampler synthesizer for iOS that allows you to load and switch sound sets with ease. It supports multi-timbral operation across multiple MIDI channels, giving you rich flexibility for music production and live performance. Key Features - Supports SoundFont (sf2), Compressed SoundFont (sf3), and Downloadable Sound (DLS) formats - Multi-timbral operation across multiple MIDI channels with high polyphony depending on device performance - Compatible with GM, GS, XG, and MPE MIDI message sets - Plays Standard MIDI Files (SMF) and RIFF MIDI Files with multiple ports and loop support - AUv3 for use with GarageBand, AUM, Cubasis, and other apps - Micro-tuning with AnaMark TUN files for alternate tuning systems - Load on Demand / Streaming mode for handling large sound sets beyond device RAM limits - Supports external and virtual MIDI connections - Includes “GeneralUser GS v1.471” sound set with prepared modifiers - No user data collection beyond what iOS/iPadOS inherently collects Perfect For - MIDI/DTM users who want to play old SMF/GS/XG files - Musicians using SoundFont or DLS libraries - Mobile producers looking for a plugin synth with deep customization - Users needing micro-tuning or alternate temperament support Tips - For best compatibility with other SoundFont players, use Engine V3 and disable Custom GS Controllers, Slow LPF, and Smooth Volume Level. - With large sound sets, streaming mode is recommended. Machine generated text is included in this application and description.

Screenshots

FontStack4 screens
KQ Sampei 264 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: KQ Sampei 26 at $9.99 against FontStack's $14.99. KQ Sampei 26 also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5). FontStack's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly) and review sentiment (75% vs 67%). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

FontStack costs $14.99 and KQ Sampei 26 $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

KQ Sampei 26 holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 4 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of FontStack's written reviews are positive against 67% of KQ Sampei 26's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FontStack ships an update every 2 weeks, KQ Sampei 26 monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
FontStack versus KQ Sampei 26: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFontStackKQ Sampei 26
Price$14.99$9.99 — better
Rating4.5 (12 ratings)4.8 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings12 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size308 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer4Pockets.comRyouta Kira

Customer experience

FontStack

All ratings12 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative12.5%

KQ Sampei 26

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

FontStack

No in-app purchases

None

KQ Sampei 26

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FontStack free?
FontStack costs $14.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is KQ Sampei 26 free?
KQ Sampei 26 costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, FontStack or KQ Sampei 26?
KQ Sampei 26 is rated higher. FontStack averages 4.5 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while KQ Sampei 26 averages 4.8 from 4 ratings.
Do FontStack or KQ Sampei 26 have ads?
Neither FontStack nor KQ Sampei 26 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FontStack or KQ Sampei 26?
FontStack ships an update every 2 weeks, and KQ Sampei 26 monthly. Most recently, FontStack was updated on October 16, 2026 and KQ Sampei 26 on October 6, 2026.

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