Comparison

LoopStation vs Decent Sampler

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

Head to head
About

LoopStation

Transform your device into a powerful musical instrument. Record and layer your own sounds, voices, or instruments to create complex musical arrangements. Add effects, adjust levels, and share your finished loops with others.

Highlights
  • Record synced tracks (overdub)
  • Control volume per loop
  • Save/Load recordings
  • Metronome for timing
  • Shift timing of individual loops
  • Merge tracks
  • Add reverb effect
Read full description

LoopStation turns your device into a musical instrument. Record your own sounds / voice and combine them into one big symphony with this looper. Do what you would want to do with a real physical loop pedal. Make your own music by beatboxing, singing or by playing around with your instruments! Start this looper by recording the basetrack or start up the metronome to help you with timing. Every next recording will be an overdub of the basetrack. Add reverb, change volume, adjust the position... it's all possible! When you are done, make a single track of your loop by recording a session. Then share this session with all your friends and fellow musicians by sharing it with the other apps you have on your phone (Facebook, WhatsApp, SoundCloud, Mail, etc...). In order to prevent the app from re-recording itself, It is VERY IMPORTANT to use headphones to keep the recordings clean. Features: - Record synced tracks (overdub) - Control volume per loop - Save/Load recordings - Metronome Premium - Shift timing of each individual loop - Merge tracks - Change playback speed - Add reverb - Session recording - Export sessions to your other apps; Facebook, WhatsApp, SoundCloud, Mail, etc... Let me know if you have any problems or feature requests! With thanks to Unity!

About

Decent Sampler

This music app lets you use professional-quality sample libraries on your mobile device. It supports Decent Samples libraries and SFZs, and can be used within other music production apps as an AUv3 plugin.

Highlights
  • Use professional sample libraries
  • Supports Decent Samples libraries
  • Supports SFZ files
  • AUv3 plugin compatibility
  • Standalone app functionality
  • New libraries added weekly
Features
Read full description

Did you ever wish you could use professional quality sample libraries on your mobile device? Now you can! The Decent Samples plugin is a sample player that allows you to use your favorite Decent Samples sample libraries on the go (as well as SF2s, SFZs, and EXS files). Many of the most popular Decent Samples releases are available through the app with more being added every week. Because it's also an AUv3 plugin, you can use it from within GarageBand or with AUM.

Screenshots

LoopStation4 screens
Decent Sampler3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Decent Sampler at 4.6 against LoopStation's 3.3. Decent Sampler also leads on review sentiment (52% vs 26%) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). LoopStation's advantage is iOS requirement (7.1 vs 13.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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. LoopStation sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Decent Sampler sells 60 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Decent Sampler holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 52 and 52 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 26% of LoopStation's written reviews are positive against 52% of Decent Sampler's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LoopStation ships an update every 3 months, Decent Sampler monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
LoopStation versus Decent Sampler: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLoopStationDecent Sampler
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.3 (52 ratings)4.6 (52 ratings) — better
Positive reviews26.2% of reviews52.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings5252
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS7.1 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB38 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRene ZuidhofDecidedly, LLC

Customer experience

LoopStation

All ratings52 ratings
Positive53.8%
Neutral11.5%
Negative34.6%
Written reviews84 reviews
Positive26.2%
Neutral14.3%
Negative59.5%

Decent Sampler

All ratings52 ratings
Positive92.3%
Neutral1.9%
Negative5.8%
Written reviews67 reviews
Positive52.2%
Neutral14.9%
Negative32.8%

Bugs and requests

LoopStation

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Decent Sampler

Reported bugs

23 issues
  • Instant crash on load
  • App stopped working after iOS update
  • AUV3 crashes out of nowhere
  • Unresponsive upon opening
  • Server issues for login
Show 18 more
  • Instrument remains stuck on a note
  • Projects need to be reloaded to show app
  • Crash when loading samples
  • Failing to load presets when reloading host project
  • Adding unwanted temp presets
  • Crashing when selecting different samples
  • Login prompt won't let paste text
  • Can't paste password to login
  • Login screen covered by keyboard
  • Error 500 when downloading
  • Restore Purchases button not working
  • Forgotten Password button not working
  • Invalid email address for registration
  • No URL found when downloading sound packs
  • Clicking sounds while using
  • Glitching, clicking, and ghost sounds on held notes
  • Instrument crashes after a few minutes
  • Earthquake pad 02 glitching

Requested features

14 requests
  • Add user/pass fill from password keeper
  • Implement a download manager for multiple instruments
  • Allow running within IAA or Audiobus
  • Add ability to clear cache
  • Fix multi-track support in AUV3
Show 9 more
  • Add MIDI sequencing
  • Add pitch bend functionality
  • Add velocity response curve knob
  • Add filter stage and more flexible envelope
  • Allow disabling iOS auto-lock
  • Configure receiving MIDI channel
  • Improve preset selection
  • Add dark mode
  • Support VoiceOver

In-app purchases

1 purchases

LoopStation

One-time1
  • Pro$2.99
60 purchases

Decent Sampler

One-time60
  • Box ViolinFree
  • Dave ChoirFree
  • Resonator GlockenspielFree
Show 57 more
  • Banjo UkuleleFree
  • KalimbaFree
  • Ukelin$0.99
  • Decent Sampler Store Item 3$2.99
  • Decent Sampler Store Item 4$3.99
  • Weber 1929 Baby Grand$4.99
  • Ramshackle Zither$4.99
  • Decent Sampler Store Item 5$4.99
  • Music Major Sample Library$4.99
  • Sawblade Kalimba Library$4.99
  • Melodica$4.99
  • Distance: Zero$4.99
  • Little Church Organ$4.99
  • Indie Guitar$5.99
  • Decent Sampler Store Item 6$5.99
  • Decent Sampler Store Item 7$6.99
  • Paper Drums$6.99
  • Relic Keyboard$7.99
  • Decent Sampler Store Item 8$7.99
  • HS-3715 Keyboard$7.99
  • Malevolence by Venus Theory$8.99
  • Viola Ensemble$9.99
  • Indie Bass$9.99
  • Metal Cups$9.99
  • Phonoharp$9.99
  • Violin Ensemble$9.99
  • Ethereal Vocals$9.99
  • Decent Sampler Store Item 10$9.99
  • Kalimba by Darel$9.99
  • Dangerous Undertones$9.99
  • Chroma Vol. 1$9.99
  • Luminate$9.99
  • Horror Box$9.99
  • Tape Violins Sample Library$10.99
  • Decent Sampler Store Item 11$11.00
  • Interlaced Sample Library$14.99
  • Decent Sampler Store Item 15$15.00
  • Decent Sampler Store Item 16$16.00
  • Decent Sampler Store Item 19$19.00
  • alt.strings$19.99
  • Felt & Fog$19.99
  • Organic Orchestra$19.99
  • Indie Drums$19.99
  • Bitscape 95$19.99
  • Thyssia by Venus Theory$19.99
  • Decent Samples Store Item 20$20.00
  • Decent Samples Store Item 24$24.00
  • The Void$24.99
  • Processed Guitars$24.99
  • Decent Samples Store Item 25$25.00
  • String Flows$29.99
  • 70s Summer Camp Sample Library$29.99
  • Decent Samples Store Item 30$30.00
  • LoFi VaporTones Ds$33.99
  • Decent Samples Store Item 39$39.00
  • Decent Samples Store Item 40$40.00
  • Chamberlin M1 by Jamie Lidell$49.99

Questions

Is LoopStation free?
LoopStation is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Decent Sampler free?
Decent Sampler is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, LoopStation or Decent Sampler?
Decent Sampler is rated higher. LoopStation averages 3.3 out of 5 from 52 ratings, while Decent Sampler averages 4.6 from 52 ratings.
Do LoopStation or Decent Sampler have ads?
Neither LoopStation nor Decent Sampler shows ads.
Which is updated more often, LoopStation or Decent Sampler?
LoopStation ships an update every 3 months, and Decent Sampler monthly. Most recently, LoopStation was updated on September 19, 2026 and Decent Sampler on September 28, 2026.

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