Comparison

Sample Library vs GranSample

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

Head to head
About

Sample Library

Discover and select unique audio samples for your music production. Save your favorites to a personal list and easily share links to them.

Highlights
  • Random sample selection
  • Curated sample playlists
  • Save favorite samples
  • Copy sample links
  • Great-sounding samples
Features
Read full description

The app lets you randomly pick a sample from multiple, carefully prepared playlists for sampling with great-sounding samples. You can save them to a list and play them or copy a link to a sample.

About

GranSample

This app offers a 16-pad sampler with a powerful granular engine for sculpting unique audio textures and sequencing patterns. It functions as a standalone application and an AUv3 plugin for popular DAWs. Unlock advanced features with a one-time purchase.

Highlights
  • 16-pad granular sampler
  • AUv3 plugin support
  • Step sequencer
  • Modulation matrix
  • Sample chopping
  • Kit sharing
  • Per-pad effects
Features
Read full description

A 16-pad sampler with a granular engine underneath. Standalone app + AUv3 plugin for GarageBand / Logic / AUM / Drambo / Loopy Pro. Tap pads, sculpt textures, sequence patterns, chain songs. Same instrument either way. Free to try. GranSample Pro ($3.99, one-time) unlocks all 16 pads, song mode, the modulation matrix, sample chop, kit export, custom backgrounds, and WAV/M4A export. No subscription, no ads, no telemetry. PATTERN BANK & SONG MODE — NEW IN 1.4 Eight patterns per project (A–H). Switch live — the change waits for the bar end so the groove never stumbles. Then chain patterns into a song: tap letters to build, set repeats per section, loop it or play it once (song mode is Pro). Patterns, song, and BPM now save with every project. MODULATION MATRIX (PRO) LFO + ADSR envelope on 8 destinations per pad: grain position / size / pitch / density, volume, pan, semitone pitch, playback start. Drag the envelope chart, set depth per lane — all host-automatable in AUv3. SAMPLE CHOP (PRO) Slice any sample across the pads — equal grid, transient detection, or manual markers you drag to move and flick off to delete. Audition before you commit; the grid shows where every slice lands. KIT SHARING Export any kit as a single .gskit file — samples, settings, effects, patterns, all of it. Send it anywhere. Importing is free for everyone; exporting is Pro. PAD NAMES & COLORS Name your pads, pick from 8 colors. AUv3 PLUGIN Load "Digilog: GranSample" under AU Instruments in any AUv3 host. Same 4×4 grid, same Kits, same engine. 900 host-automatable parameters. Sequencer locks to host transport; MIDI through the host; everything persists in the host project. LIBRARY Ten factory Kits + your Projects in one place — load, tweak, save, share as .gskit. GRANULAR ENGINE Eight knobs per pad. Position scans the sample; grain size + density set the texture from pebbles to glass. Pitch + jitter, spray + stereo spread, four window shapes, an ADSR cloud envelope, Freeze for infinite sustain. 128 grains per voice, lock-free render. CHROMATIC MODE Any pad becomes the root; the grid plays as a chromatic keyboard. STEP SEQUENCER Per-pad patterns at 16/32/64 steps, per-step velocity, drag-to-paint. Eight patterns per project with quantized live switching. Standalone runs its own clock; AUv3 syncs to host transport. SAMPLE EDITOR Waveform view — drag the grain region, trim playback range, loop, reverse, normalize per pad. LINEAR or GRAN preview. Works inside the AUv3 plugin too. EFFECTS Per-pad AND master bus. Reverb, Delay, Distortion, EQ, Compressor, Chorus, Filter — up to 8 per chain, automatable from any DAW. Hand-tuned factory presets; save your own. EQ + Filter draw their curves live. IPAD Pads bigger than a hardware MPC; recorder, properties, and sequencer get a dedicated right column. MIDI USB, Bluetooth (built-in browser), or virtual MIDI. MIDI Learn on every knob standalone, per-pad channel routing. The AUv3 plugin routes MIDI in through the host and emits MIDI out for pad taps. RECORDING 60 seconds from the mic straight into a pad with a live waveform (standalone). Master bounces to WAV/M4A (Pro). 10 FACTORY KITS, 16 SAMPLES Late Night Room, Outer Space, Neon City, Midnight Dub, Tape Machine, Crystal Cave, and more — each with bespoke granular settings. FREE TIER Pads 1–4 with the full granular engine, effects, pattern bank, mixer, MIDI in/out — same in standalone and AUv3. Kit import (.gskit) is free too. GRANSAMPLE PRO — $3.99, one-time All 16 pads unlocked everywhere — standalone AND AUv3 plugin Song mode — chain patterns into an arrangement Modulation matrix — LFO + envelope on 8 destinations per pad Sample chop to pads Kit export (.gskit) Per-pad ADSR envelope editor Custom backgrounds — wallpapers or your own photo, with dim and pad-opacity control WAV / M4A export Made by one person who wanted a granular beat pad that fit on a phone — and now in their DAW too.

Screenshots

Sample Library3 screens
GranSample4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sample Library at 100% against GranSample's 0%. Sample Library also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). GranSample's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (14 vs 4). On price, update cadence, device support 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

Both are free to download. GranSample sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Sample Library asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sample Library holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 14 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Sample Library's written reviews are positive against 0% of GranSample's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sample Library ships an update weekly, GranSample every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and August 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Sample Library versus GranSample: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSample LibraryGranSample
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better4.6 (14 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings414 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 4 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDariusz ChynekChih Han Lin

Customer experience

Sample Library

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

GranSample

All ratings14 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral7.1%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

Sample Library

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

GranSample

One-time1
  • GranSample Pro$3.99

Questions

Is Sample Library free?
Sample Library is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is GranSample free?
GranSample is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sample Library or GranSample?
Sample Library is rated higher. Sample Library averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while GranSample averages 4.6 from 14 ratings.
Do Sample Library or GranSample have ads?
Sample Library shows ads; GranSample does not.
Which is updated more often, Sample Library or GranSample?
Sample Library ships an update weekly, and GranSample every 4 days. Most recently, Sample Library was updated on September 18, 2026 and GranSample on August 29, 2026.

Other comparisons