Comparison

Skoog vs Koala Sampler

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

Head to head
About

Skoog

This app connects to a unique musical instrument device, allowing users of all skill levels to create and explore music. It offers a range of instruments, scales, and adjustable sensitivity for expressive play.

Highlights
  • Connects wirelessly via Bluetooth
  • Select from various instruments
  • Explore musical scales
  • Adjustable sensitivity settings
  • Expressive music creation
  • Accessible for all abilities
Features
Read full description

Skoog is a free app that works with your Skoog 2.0 device. The app easily connects wirelessly via Bluetooth® Low Energy to your Skoog. You can select from a range of different instruments and explore scales, as well as adjust the sensitivity settings to your preferred set-up. Skoog 2.0 is an accessible musical instrument that allows everyone to experience the fun of making music. From the moment you lay eyes on Skoog you’ll want to play it. Whether you tap it, press it or squeeze it, the Skoog senses your touch and cleverly interprets your every move to make beautiful sound. Adjustable sensitivity means that you can play Skoog with any part of your body: hands, elbows, knees or head. This unique musical instrument can change the way you and your family can enjoy, create, and learn music - no matter what your skills, abilities, and musical talents. The universal design encourages expressive music making for children, parents, teachers, and musicians. For any questions or support issues, please get in touch with us at info@playable.tech.

About

Koala Sampler

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
Read full description

Koala is the ultimate pocket-sized sampler. Record anything with your phone's mic or load your own sounds. Use Koala to create beats with those samples, add effects and create a track! Koala's super intuitive interface helps you make a track in a flash - there is no brake pedal. You can also resample the output of the app back into the input, through the effects, so the sonic possibilities are endless. Koala's design focuses totally on making the music-making process instant, keeping you in the flow and keeping it fun, not getting bogged down by pages of parameters and micro-editing. "Been putting that $4 koala sampler to good use lately. Undeniably great tool that puts some of these expensive beat boxes to shame. A must cop." -- flying lotus, twitter * Record up to 64 different samples with your mic * Transform your voice or any other sound with 16 superb built-in fx * Load your own samples * Choose from one of 250 built-in sounds * Resample the output of the app back into a new sample * Export loops or entire tracks as professional quality WAV files * Direct export to Ableton Live Set * Copy/paste or merge sequences just by dragging them * Create beats with the high-resolution sequencer * Import samples from the Files app or even from videos * Keyboard mode lets you play chromatically or one of 9 scales * Quantize, add swing to get the right feel * Normal/One-shot/Loop/Reverse playback of samples * 6 Choke groups * Attack, release and tone adjustable on each sample * Mute/Solo controls and note repeat * Add any (or all) of the 16 effects to the entire mix * AUv3 compatible - use in GarageBand, Logic, Cubasis etc etc * MIDI controllable - play your samples on a keyboard, map the effects to knobs * Jam with others over WiFi with Ableton Link * Free copy of Ableton Live Lite included * AudioShare compatible * Use AI to separate samples into individual instruments (drums, bass, vocals and other) * Set your own background image and choose from a growing list of background visual FX 8 Built-in Microphone FX: * More Bass * More Treble * Fuzz * Robot * Reverb * Octave up * Octave down * Synthesizer 16 Built-in DJ Mix FX: * Bit-crusher * Pitch-shift * Comb filter * Ring modulator * Reverb * Stutter * Gate * Resonant High/Low Pass Filters * Cutter * Reverse * Dub * Tempo Delay * Talkbox * VibroFlange * Dirty * Compressor Features included in SAMURAI In-App Purchase * Pro-quality Timestretch (5 modes: Modern, Retro, Beats, Re-pitch and Cyclic) * Piano roll editor * Auto-chop (auto, equal, and lazy chop) * 3 Band EQ * Pocket operator sync out * Quokka Synth - powerhouse polyphonic synthesizer * MIDI Out - control external MIDI hardware with Koala's sequencer * Chopper - multimodal sample chopping instrument Features included in MIXER In-App Purchase * Mix your beats professionally with a 4 channel mixer + main bus * Route any sample to any channel * Mute/solo, faders and accurate metering on every channel * 5 effect slots per channel * 29 high-quality effects - compressors, filters, phasers and more, with new effects to come * Host AUv3 plugins - both audio effects and instruments

Screenshots

Skoog3 screens
Koala Sampler4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Koala Sampler at 88% against Skoog's 25%. Koala Sampler also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.3) and ratings volume (1.4K vs 8). Skoog's advantage is price (Free vs $4.99). 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

Skoog is free to download; Koala Sampler costs $4.99 up front. Skoog sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Koala Sampler sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Koala Sampler holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Koala Sampler has 1.4K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Skoog's written reviews are positive against 88% of Koala Sampler's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Skoog ships an update every 6 weeks, Koala Sampler every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Skoog versus Koala Sampler: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSkoogKoala Sampler
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating3.3 (8 ratings)4.8 (1.4K ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews88.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings81.4K — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#5 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.614.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size104 MB59 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPlayable Tech ltd.Mazbox Limited

Customer experience

Skoog

All ratings8 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative37.5%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

Koala Sampler

All ratings1,420 ratings
Positive93.8%
Neutral2.0%
Negative4.2%
Written reviews612 reviews
Positive88.2%
Neutral4.2%
Negative7.5%

Bugs and requests

Skoog

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Koala Sampler

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Skoog

Subscriptions2
  • Standard - Monthly$5.991 Month
  • Standard - Annual$34.991 Year
8 purchases

Koala Sampler

One-time8
  • Koala AUv3 Plugin$1.99
  • Ese-O's Sample Pack$2.99
  • Solar Studies Samplepack$2.99
Show 5 more
  • Soon Come Dub Sample Pack$2.99
  • Analog Astronaut Samplepack$2.99
  • Cirrus Cuts Sample Pack$2.99
  • Samurai Edition$3.99
  • Mixer$4.99

Questions

Is Skoog free?
Skoog is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Koala Sampler free?
Koala Sampler costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Skoog or Koala Sampler?
Koala Sampler is rated higher. Skoog averages 3.3 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Koala Sampler averages 4.8 from 1.4K ratings.
Do Skoog or Koala Sampler have ads?
Neither Skoog nor Koala Sampler shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Skoog or Koala Sampler?
Skoog ships an update every 6 weeks, and Koala Sampler every 3 weeks. Most recently, Skoog was updated on October 4, 2026 and Koala Sampler on October 14, 2026.

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