Comparison

Sonyk vs Koala Sampler

Koala is the best pocket sampler on iOS; Sonyk is a groovebox with DJ decks and stems. We link to Koala Sampler because if it’s the better tool for you, you should have it.

Try it free in your browser

Both apps have a free way in. Try Sonyk in the browser without installing anything.

Where Koala Sampler wins

Sampling from the mic in one tap and chopping it into pads is faster and more fun in Koala than anywhere else.
A deep, mature sample-mangling workflow (resampling, FX per pad, time stretch) with years of polish.
A one-time price with no subscription at all.
Huge community, tutorials and templates.

Where Sonyk wins

Synthesis: a 303 that screams, an analog poly with wavetables, FM, granular, hand drums, a semi-modular — Koala is sampler-first.
DJ decks with beat grids, keylock and on-device stem separation — mix records against your beat on one clock.
Learn Keys and hum-to-melody; sampled piano, violin and guitars.
The same song on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro and in a browser, with cloud sync and Together.

Side by side

	Koala Sampler	Sonyk
Sample from the mic	Yes	Yes
Synths	Basic	303, analog poly, wavetable, FM, granular, hand drum, modular
DJ decks + stems	—	Yes
Ableton Link	Yes	Yes
AUv3	Yes	Yes
Mac / Vision Pro / web	Mac (Catalyst)	Mac, Vision Pro, web
Price	One-time	Free · Pro $4.99/mo

Verdict

If your whole workflow is “record it, chop it, flip it”, buy Koala — it is superb at that. If you want to write basslines and drums from synthesis, DJ with the result and take records apart, Sonyk is the one. Many people run both, synced over Ableton Link.

Questions

Can Sonyk import Koala samples?

Yes — export from Koala as WAV and drop it on a sampler or multisampler track. Sonyk’s sample library keeps it across devices.

Can they sync?

Both support Ableton Link, so they share tempo and downbeat on the same Wi-Fi.