Splice vs Loopmasters: Which Sample Service Is Right for Your Workflow?

Splice offers a credit-based subscription for its massive sample library, while Loopmasters lets you buy genre-specific packs outright. Both promise endless sounds for producers, but which one actually fits into a real workflow?

Here, we’ll break down how they stack up—comparing their libraries, pricing models, and core features to help you decide which platform deserves your money.

And since we’re talking about workflow, we’ll also show you how Output’s ecosystem, with tools like the playable sampler Arcade and AI-powered Co-Producer, offers a different path beyond just sample digging.

A Quick Overview on Splice and Loopmasters

What is Splice?

Splice gives you access to a giant library of royalty-free samples through a credit-based subscription. Its desktop app lets you audition sounds in your project’s key and tempo, then drag them straight into your session. The platform also functions as a storefront with rent-to-own plans for plugins, so you can pay off that synth you’ve been eyeing over time.

What is Loopmasters?

Loopmasters is a massive online shop for royalty-free sample packs, letting you buy sounds outright instead of subscribing. They cover nearly every genre imaginable and work with a ton of different producers and labels. Their big play is Loopcloud, a cloud-based browser that integrates with your DAW so you can audition sounds without leaving your project.

Features of Splice and Loopmasters

Splice Features

Splice is built around a few core functions designed to get sounds into your project quickly.

• A subscription-based library of royalty-free samples, loops, and presets that are cleared for commercial use.

• A desktop app that syncs with your DAW, letting you preview sounds in your track’s key and tempo before dragging them in.

• A rent-to-own model for plugins, which breaks down the cost of VSTs into monthly payments.

• Create Mode, a tool that automatically finds and suggests loops that work together to help you sketch out ideas.

• A mobile app for browsing the library and building collections of sounds when you're away from your computer.

Loopmasters Features

Loopmasters centers its platform on a few key functions for sourcing sounds.

• Sample packs are sold outright, so you own the sounds you buy instead of renting them through a subscription.

• Its Loopcloud app connects to your DAW, letting you audition and download sounds from their library without breaking your flow.

• Packs come in a huge variety of formats, including specific presets for Ableton, Logic, and Reason, plus files for samplers like Kontakt and Maschine.

• The library is sourced from a wide roster of producers and labels, offering packs curated by different artists.

• Loopcloud offers access to exclusive content that drops each week, separate from the main store.

Why Choose One Over The Other?

• Consider Splice if: You prefer a subscription model that gives you credits to pick individual sounds from any pack, rather than buying entire packs at once. Its rent-to-own plan for plugins is also a key factor if you want to acquire new tools without a large upfront cost.

• Explore Loopmasters if: You’d rather buy and own sample packs permanently, avoiding monthly fees. The platform’s strength lies in its vast catalog with packs formatted for specific DAWs and samplers, plus the Loopcloud app for auditioning sounds in your project.

Output: A Better Alternative to Splice And Loopmasters

Look, digging for samples is one thing, but what if your tools could play along with you? At Output, we build instruments and effects that are meant to be part of the performance, not just a folder of sounds you scroll through. It’s less about finding a loop and more about building a vibe from the ground up.

What is Output?

We offer a suite of software instruments, AI-powered tools, and FX plugins designed to get you to a finished idea faster.

• Instead of just downloading loops, you get Arcade, a playable sampler that lets you perform and manipulate sounds on the fly with a 15-pad interface and macro controls.

• Stuck for an idea? Our Co-Producer plugin listens to your track and suggests matching sounds from our library, using either your audio or just plain text to find what you need.

• Go beyond basic samples with our suite of FX plugins like Portal for granular textures, Thermal for complex distortion, and Movement for rhythmic modulation. They’re built to transform any sound.

• Our sound library is constantly growing with new Lines and Kits, all curated to give you a distinct sonic character right out of the box, rather than just another generic pack.

So while Splice and Loopmasters are great for stocking your hard drive with sounds, our tools are built for the moment of inspiration. We focus on giving you instruments that you can actually play and effects that let you mangle audio into something entirely new. It’s about making music, not just managing files.

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Pricing of Splice vs Loopmasters

Splice Pricing

Splice runs on a subscription model where you pay for monthly credits to download individual sounds. It’s pretty straightforward—the more you pay, the more credits you get.

• Sounds+: $12.99/month for 100 credits.
• Creator: $19.99/month for 200 credits.
• Creator+: $39.99/month for 500 credits.

All tiers give you access to the same library and a couple of their plugins, so the main difference is just your monthly download allowance. You can also opt for an annual plan to save a bit of cash, and they often have a trial offer on the Creator plan.

The good news is you keep everything you download, even if you cancel. The catch? Your unused credits will disappear shortly after your plan ends, so it’s a use-it-or-lose-it situation unless you keep subscribing.

Loopmasters Pricing

Loopmasters takes a different route. You can still buy sample packs outright from their store, but their main subscription play is Loopcloud. Think of it as another credit-based system, except they call their credits “points.”

They offer three tiers, available monthly or annually:

• Artist: $7.99/month for 100 points.
• Studio: $11.99/month for 300 points.
• Professional: $21.99/month for 600 points.

Each plan gives you a monthly drop of points to spend on sounds and some cloud storage for your own library. If you commit to an annual plan, you get a discount for the first year and they toss in a bundle of 10 third-party plugins. The sounds you download are yours to keep, but like other subscription models, access to the platform depends on keeping your plan active.

Output Pricing

We skip the complicated credit systems. Our main offering is Output One, a single subscription that bundles our entire suite of core tools—including Arcade, Co-Producer, Portal, Thermal, and Movement—for just $14.99/month. It’s the simplest way to get everything we make without breaking the bank.

If you just need one piece of the puzzle, you can get Arcade on its own for $12.99/month. Our AI-powered Co-Producer is also available separately for $9.99/month.

And yes, you can try it first. Every Arcade subscription starts with a free 7-day trial, giving you full access to see how it fits into your workflow before you commit.

For those who prefer to own their tools outright, our FX plugins and Kontakt instruments are available as one-time purchases. This gives you permanent access to specific instruments like Exhale or effects like Portal without a recurring subscription.

Splice, Loopmasters, or Output: Which is The Best Sample Library for You?

You really can’t go wrong with Splice or Loopmasters for building a massive sound library. The choice comes down to whether you want to just collect sounds or actually play them. We built our tools for producers who want to turn sound sourcing into part of the performance, not just another chore. Explore our full suite of tools and try them for free.

Happy creating!