Report updated Apr 16, 2026
Sampletoy
For experimental musicians, sound designers, and hobbyists looking for an intuitive, portable tool to capture and manipulate audio in creative ways.
Sampletoy is an established music app that is completely free. With a 4.2/5 rating from 103 reviews, it shows polarized user reception.
What is Sampletoy?
Current Momentum
v1.2 · 86mo ago
ZombieSampletoy's last major update introduced AudioBus3 support and file importing in March 2019. The app has not been updated in over seven years.
Active Nemesis
Samplr
By Marcos Alonso
Other Rivals
7-Day Rank Pulse 🇺🇸
MusicNo ranking data
Rating Pulse 🇺🇸
What makes this app unique?
What Does It Look Like?
What Are The Key Features?
Capture sounds via microphone and manipulate them using granular synthesis techniques
Play back sounds at different pitches using up to 5 fingers simultaneously
Toggle between traditional keyboard scales and microtonal, free-form sound manipulation
How much does it cost?
- Fully free application with no mentioned in-app purchases or subscriptions
The app is a legacy-style utility offered for free, likely serving as a brand-builder for Elf Audio rather than a direct revenue generator.
Who Built It?
Mazbox
Empowering mobile musicians to capture and craft beats with intuitive, flow-state focused sampling tools. Making professional-grade music production accessible on the go.
Portfolio
4
Apps
What other apps does Mazbox make?
Explore the full Mazbox report
Portfolio breakdown, audience, momentum, and every app published by Mazbox.
What do users think recently?
Analysis in progress, available soon
View the full user-sentiment analysis
Mood gauge, ratings & review-volume history, every praise / complaint / request, and sentiment over time.
What is the competitive landscape for Sampletoy?
How's The Music Market?
Market outlook for this category
Available very soon
The rivals identified
The outtake for Sampletoy
Strengths to defend, gaps to attack
Core Strengths
- Completely free entry point
- Unique 'Stepped' mode for melodic granular work
- 5-finger multitouch responsiveness
- Professional 44kHz/16bit audio quality
Critical Frictions
- No updates since March 2019
- Lack of AUv3 support for modern DAW integration
- Limited synthesis modes compared to Samplr
- Outdated email-based export workflow
Growth Levers
- Modernize to AUv3 format to capture the iPad DAW market
- Implement gesture recording to compete with Samplr's automation
- Update UI for modern high-resolution displays
Market Threats
- Samplr's dominance as the professional standard
- App Store removal due to lack of 64-bit/modern API updates
- Newer competitors like Tardigrain offering better ecosystem integration
What are the next best moves?
Develop AUv3 support
Competitors like Tardigrain and SpaceCraft offer AUv3, which is now the industry standard for iOS music production; Sampletoy's lack of this feature limits its use in modern workflows.
Implement Gesture Recording
The Nemesis (Samplr) uses gesture recording as a key differentiator for complex textures; adding this would close a significant feature gap.
Update for iOS 17+ compatibility
The app was last updated in 2019 (v1.2.5), posing a high risk of churn due to technical obsolescence and potential OS-level crashes.
Feature Gaps vs Competitors
- AUv3 Support (available in Tardigrain and SpaceCraft)
- Gesture Recording and Playback (available in Samplr)
- Dual-engine architecture (available in SpaceCraft)
- Advanced play modes like Bow and Tape (available in Samplr)
Key Takeaways
Sampletoy is a high-potential experimental tool currently trapped in maintenance mode. While its 'Stepped Mode' and free price point provide a niche competitive edge, its failure to adopt the AUv3 standard and its 5-year update hiatus make it a high-risk choice for professional users compared to Samplr.
Where Is It Heading?
Declining
Last updated March 2019 — the app is in maintenance mode, not active development.
Maintains a 4.17 rating despite age, suggesting core stability but lack of modern features.