The other week we ran through how to pick the right samples for your song using REFERENCE 3. This one answers the obvious follow-up: where do you actually get them from? Six sites, ranked, with the pros and cons that matter once you've made the shortlist.
Sample platforms have gone from "download a zip and hope it fits" to full streaming libraries with DAW integration, credits, points, and subscription tiers that all sound suspiciously similar. Under the hood they're not the same at all. Splice is a downloader-first library. Loopcloud is a browser plus a library. Output Arcade is a playable instrument in disguise. Landr is a bundle. Cymatics is a genre specialist. Sample Focus is a community. The right one depends on what you're doing and how much you want to spend.
What follows is a ranked comparison of the six, based on library depth, workflow, licence terms, price per useful download, and how quickly you can go from "I need a snare" to "that's the snare". Each entry gets a score out of 10, pros and cons, and a "best for" call. At the end there's a comparison table and a verdict on which combination of two will cover almost any use case.
The 30-Second Verdict
- Best overallSplice — biggest library, best DAW integration, credits roll over. The default answer.
- Best valueLoopcloud — Artist tier at $7.99/mo is the cheapest way into a serious library.
- Best on zero budgetSample Focus — free, royalty-free, community-driven. No plastic.
- Best for inspirationOutput Arcade — playable kit-loop instrument, not a download store.
- Best for EDM / trap / hip-hopCymatics — genre-heavy curation, huge free vault, subscription for heavy users.
- Best cheapest entry tierLandr Samples — $5.99/mo gets you started, integrates with the Landr ecosystem.
1Splice — 9.2/10
Splice
9.2 / 10Splice is the market leader for a reason. Millions of royalty-free samples, MIDI, and presets, all searchable by BPM, key, instrument, and genre, and everything you download stays yours even if you cancel. The desktop app browses and previews in-key against your session, which is the workflow move that made the platform dominant.
Pros
- Biggest, best-organised library in the space
- Credits roll over month-to-month
- You keep everything after you cancel
- Desktop app previews samples in-key against your project
- Also covers MIDI and presets for Serum, Vital, etc.
Cons
- Priciest entry tier of the group
- MIDI patterns and presets cost up to 3 credits each
- Too much choice can slow you down without a reference
2Loopcloud — 8.7/10
Loopcloud
8.7 / 10Loopcloud is the platform closest to Splice in scope, cheaper to start with, and it comes from Loopmasters (which means the underlying label catalogue is deep). The Artist plan at $7.99/mo is the lowest realistic entry to a large royalty-free library. The desktop browser previews in-key and can drag straight into any DAW, and the higher tiers add serious cloud storage for your own sound library.
Pros
- Cheapest full-service entry tier ($7.99/mo)
- 30-day free trial across all plans
- Cloud storage for your own samples (up to 250 GB)
- Loopmasters DNA — deep, well-produced label catalogue
- Annual plans often bundle 10 free plugins
Cons
- Points system takes a minute to figure out (some sounds cost more)
- Interface less snappy than Splice for pure sample hunting
- Newer/rarer sounds sometimes lag behind Splice's release cadence
3Output Arcade — 8.4/10
Output Arcade
8.4 / 10Arcade isn't really a sample library. It's a plugin that turns loops and one-shots into playable instruments. You subscribe, load a "kit" or "line", and the samples inside are already mapped across a keyboard — chop, pitch, filter, and stutter them in real time. You can also drop your own samples in and it'll auto-detect key and tempo. If a blank arrangement is the enemy, this is the fastest tool for beating it.
Pros
- Kits and loops become playable instruments, not just files
- Drop in your own samples with auto key/tempo detection
- Fastest tool in the group for beating writer's block
- New kits added constantly, curated by genre
Cons
- Not a "download and use anywhere" library — the plugin is the delivery
- Access is tied to the subscription — cancel and you lose the sounds
- Less useful if you want raw, drag-and-drop samples for editing
4Landr Samples — 7.9/10
Landr Samples
7.9 / 10Landr's sample library sits inside the wider Landr ecosystem (AI mastering, distribution, samples, plugins). If you're already paying for one of those, the sample tier is cheap to bolt on. Three million-plus royalty-free samples, a DAW plugin for browsing, and a free sample pack every week. Fine on its own, better as part of the bundle.
Pros
- Cheapest starting subscription in the group ($5.99/mo)
- Ecosystem integration: samples + mastering + distribution
- Free weekly sample pack included with any plan
- Browse the entire library from inside your DAW
Cons
- Curation less inspiring than Splice or Loopcloud on the top end
- 75 credits/mo on the entry tier runs out fast
- Best value only if you're using multiple Landr services
5Cymatics — 7.6/10
Cymatics
7.6 / 10Cymatics is a different model. Rather than a searchable master library, it sells (and, on Unlimited, streams) curated genre-focused packs. If you're making trap, EDM, future bass, or hip-hop, the sonic identity of a Cymatics pack tends to sit right in the pocket for the genre without much processing. The free vault is enormous. The Unlimited subscription at $29/mo is priciest here but includes plugins and courses on top of packs.
Pros
- Genre-perfect curation for modern electronic and hip-hop
- Enormous free vault — great before you commit to paying
- Unlimited includes plugins and full course catalogue
- Packs slot in with almost no processing needed
Cons
- Weakest fit outside the EDM / trap / hip-hop world
- $29/mo subscription is the priciest here — buy packs à la carte instead if you're occasional
- Very sample-pack-shaped — no searchable single-sound library
6Sample Focus — 7.2/10
Sample Focus
7.2 / 10Sample Focus is the community-driven free option. Uploads come from other producers, everything is royalty-free, and the whole site is browsable and searchable by tags, instrument, key, and BPM. You get three free download credits every Monday, or you can earn more by contributing samples of your own. Libraries at this end of the market are smaller than paid services, but for the price it's remarkable.
Pros
- Genuinely free tier with royalty-free licensing
- Earn more credits by uploading your own samples
- Detailed tagging (key, BPM, instrument, mood) makes search fast
- Zero risk — no subscription trap
Cons
- Library is smaller than paid platforms
- Quality varies — community uploads aren't all label-grade
- Three credits a week goes quick during a productive session
7Side-By-Side Comparison
All six sites at a glance. Prices are USD as of publication, converted approximately from published rates.
| Site | From | Top tier | Licence | Standout feature | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Splice | $12.99/mo | $19.99/mo | Keep on cancel | Deepest library + DAW preview | 9.2 |
| Loopcloud | $7.99/mo | $21.99/mo | Royalty-free | Cheapest entry to a serious library | 8.7 |
| Output Arcade | $12.99/mo | $14.99/mo | While subscribed | Playable kit-loop instrument | 8.4 |
| Landr Samples | $5.99/mo | $9.99/mo | Royalty-free | Ecosystem play (samples + mastering) | 7.9 |
| Cymatics | Free vault | $29/mo Unlimited | Royalty-free | Genre-perfect for EDM / trap / hip-hop | 7.6 |
| Sample Focus | Free | Paid tiers available | Royalty-free | Free community library | 7.2 |
8How To Actually Use These With A Reference Track
Any of these platforms will hand you samples. Not one of them will tell you which sample is right for the song you're building. That's still on you. The workflow that gets you there fastest is the one covered in the REFERENCE 3 sample audition post: set your song's tonal target with a reference track first, then audition candidates against the target instead of against your imagination.
The two paired well:
- Load REFERENCE 3 on your master with three or four genre-appropriate references analysed.
- Loop the section the sample is going to sit in.
- Drop in candidates from Splice, Loopcloud, Arcade, whichever, one at a time. Watch the Level Line and Match %.
- The candidate that moves your master closer to the reference wins. The one that moves it further is gone in seconds.
This turns sample libraries from a distraction into a shortlist. Instead of auditioning fifty kicks in solo and picking the one that sounded biggest, you audition five in context and pick the one that made the whole mix hit closer to your reference. The subscription pays for itself in decisions you don't have to redo.
Set up a REFERENCE 3 session template with your favourite references already loaded and analysed. Every project starts with the target set, so sample-hunting sessions from any of these platforms flow straight into the audition. The first setup takes ten minutes. Every session after that is ten seconds.
9Which Two Should You Actually Use?
Most producers don't need all six. Most need two: one main workhorse for day-to-day sample hunting, and one specialist for a specific job.
- Splice or Loopcloud as the main library. Splice if budget isn't the top priority and you want the deepest catalogue. Loopcloud if $7.99/mo Artist feels right and you want the Loopmasters DNA.
- One of the following as the specialist: Output Arcade if you write from loops and want a playable instrument, Cymatics if you're deep in EDM / trap / hip-hop and want packs that sit in the genre without processing, Landr Samples if you're already paying for Landr's mastering or distribution.
- Sample Focus stays in your bookmarks as the free backup for one-off searches on any budget.
Two subscriptions is roughly $15–$25/mo depending on which pair. That's a night out. It's also a set of tools that will change how quickly you finish tracks, if you pair them with a decent reference-based audition workflow.
The Best Site Is The One That Ships Your Track
Every platform in this list will hand you good samples. What separates them isn't the library — it's how quickly you can find the right sample for the song you're actually working on. Splice wins on depth. Loopcloud wins on price. Arcade wins on inspiration. Landr wins on ecosystem. Cymatics wins on genre. Sample Focus wins on cost.
The setup that ships tracks fastest: one main subscription (Splice or Loopcloud), one specialist that matches how you write (Arcade for loops, Cymatics for genre, Landr for ecosystem), and REFERENCE 3 on the master to make the pick honest. That's the whole workflow. Fewer decisions, faster sessions, and a mix that actually sounds like the reference you were chasing.
