Comparison

VU202 vs GrimoHex

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

Head to head
About

VU202

Create beats and design sounds with this performance-focused sampler. Import or record audio, shape sounds with extensive editing tools, and build rhythms and song structures. Customize the interface and export your creations.

Highlights
  • Import, record, and resample audio
  • Sample editing with trim, attack, decay
  • Pattern and song arrangement modes
  • Per-step nudge timing
  • Pad, bank, and master effects
  • Export WAV or stems
  • UI customization
Features
Read full description

VU202 is a performance-focused sampler for iPhone and iPad, built for fast sound design, pattern creation, and hands-on beat making. VU202 now can export it projects into my newest creation - VU Studio Desktop - mini daw for OSX and Windows that will help You to finish Your VU202 projects. Look for a discount code in the app! Import your own samples or unlock included drumkits, record directly into pads, or resample processed sounds to create new layers and textures. Shape every sound with trim, attack and decay editing, pitch control, reverse playback, loop modes, trigger or gate playback, and multiple effect stages. Build rhythms in Pattern Mode, switch between patterns instantly, and arrange full ideas in Song Mode. Push grooves further with per-step nudge timing, quick pattern tools like rename, duplicate, erase, and double, and fast pad and bank actions including mute and solo. Use pad effects for detailed sound design, then process groups and the full mix with bank and master FX. Bounce effected sounds into new samples, export full mixes or stems, and keep building without breaking your flow. Make the instrument your own with UI customization, including background images, opacity control, and editable interface colors. Features: Import, record, and resample audio directly into pads Trim samples and edit attack, decay, and release shape Use trigger or gate playback per pad Create patterns, duplicate them, erase them, rename them, and double their length Add per-step nudge timing for looser, off-grid grooves Arrange full song chains in Song Mode Use pad, bank, and master effects Mute and solo pads or full banks for fast performance control Export projects as WAV or stems Save projects and continue where you left off Customize the look of VU202 with colors and background images Use zoom support for a more comfortable editing view VU202 is made for drums, chops, textures, and fast musical sketches, with a workflow that stays direct, creative, and playable.

About

GrimoHex

Create beats quickly with a tactile, hardware-inspired sampler and step sequencer. Record, shape, and sequence sounds for fast music production on your iPhone. Ideal for producers and beat makers on the go.

Highlights
  • Hardware-style pad workflow
  • 128-step sequencing
  • Sample recording and playback
  • Sample editing tools
  • Real-time sound shaping
  • MIDI-focused sequencing
  • Pattern-based music creation
Features
Read full description

GrimoHex is a modern sampler and step sequencer built for fast, tactile beat creation on iPhone. Designed for producers, electronic musicians, and mobile beat makers, GrimoHex gives you a focused hardware-inspired workflow without the clutter of a full DAW. Record sounds, shape samples, build patterns, and perform ideas quickly from a compact pad-based interface. At its core, GrimoHex combines a hands-on sampler, drum machine, and step sequencer into one streamlined music production app. It is made for sketching beats, building loops, sequencing drums, triggering samples, and creating patterns wherever inspiration hits. Key features: • Hardware-style pad workflow for fast beat making • 128-step sequencing for detailed pattern creation • Sample recording and playback • Trim, zoom, and sample editing tools • Real-time sound shaping controls • MIDI-focused sequencing workflow • Pattern-based music creation • Clean interface designed for speed and focus • Built for mobile producers, beat makers, and electronic artists GrimoHex is ideal for making drum patterns, sample-based beats, loops, sketches, and performance-ready ideas on the go. Whether you are building rhythms from recorded samples, sequencing external gear, or creating patterns directly on your phone, GrimoHex keeps the process fast and musical. A focused sampler. A tactile sequencer. A compact groovebox for iPhone.

Screenshots

VU2023 screens
GrimoHex4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: VU202 at Free against GrimoHex's $12.99. VU202 also leads on ratings volume (33 vs 1). GrimoHex's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 9) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads 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

VU202 is free to download; GrimoHex costs $12.99 up front. VU202 sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. GrimoHex asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

GrimoHex holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VU202 has 33 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of VU202's written reviews are positive against 100% of GrimoHex's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VU202 ships an update weekly, GrimoHex every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
VU202 versus GrimoHex: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVU202GrimoHex
PriceFree — better$12.99
Rating4.8 (33 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews94.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings33 — better1
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size157 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDariusz ChynekJames Draper

Customer experience

VU202

All ratings33 ratings
Positive97.0%
Neutral3.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews34 reviews
Positive94.1%
Neutral2.9%
Negative2.9%

GrimoHex

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

9 purchases

VU202

One-time9
  • MPC 2000 Drumkit$0.99
  • SP202 Drumkit$0.99
  • SP1200 Drumkit$0.99
Show 6 more
  • S2400 Drumkit$0.99
  • S900 Drumkit$0.99
  • EMAX$0.99
  • MPC3000 Drumkit$0.99
  • MPC 2000 2$0.99
  • Remove Ads$4.99
None

GrimoHex

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is VU202 free?
VU202 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is GrimoHex free?
GrimoHex costs $12.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, VU202 or GrimoHex?
GrimoHex is rated higher. VU202 averages 4.8 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while GrimoHex averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do VU202 or GrimoHex have ads?
Neither VU202 nor GrimoHex shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VU202 or GrimoHex?
VU202 ships an update weekly, and GrimoHex every 5 days. Most recently, VU202 was updated on October 9, 2026 and GrimoHex on September 21, 2026.

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