# Handpan vs Balalaika

The clearest difference is price: Balalaika at Free against Handpan's $2.99. Balalaika also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.8) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 8 months). Handpan's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Balalaika is free to download; Handpan costs $2.99 up front. Balalaika sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Handpan asks for nothing beyond the download.

Balalaika holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Handpan has 21 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Handpan ships an update every 8 months, Balalaika every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Handpan | Balalaika |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.8 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handpan/id1181177442/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/balalaika/id6739587054/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **21** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 38.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 30 MB | 134 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Aliaksei Vatutsin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1181177441) | [Alper Kahriman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1054578352) |

## What reviewers say

### Handpan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handpan/id1181177442)

This music application transforms your smartphone into a realistic Hang instrument simulator. It offers high-quality sounds, intuitive design, and is suitable for musicians of all levels. Record, save, and play your own tunes with ease.

**Highlights:** Hang instrument simulation, High-quality audio, Low latency playback, Sound customization, Record and save tunes, Intuitive interface

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Balalaika

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/balalaika/id6739587054)

Experience the authentic sound and feel of a balalaika with this simulator. It offers realistic sounds, microtonal tuning, and customizable keys for both beginners and experienced musicians. Record and share your musical creations effortlessly.

**Highlights:** Authentic balalaika sounds, Microtonal tuning, Adjustable transpose, Reverb and chorus effects, Precision touch sensitivity, Customizable key sizes, Recording and screen recording

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Get Premium | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Handpan free?

Handpan costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Balalaika free?

Balalaika is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Handpan or Balalaika?

Balalaika is rated higher. Handpan averages 3.8 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while Balalaika averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Handpan or Balalaika have ads?

Balalaika shows ads; Handpan does not.

### Which is updated more often, Handpan or Balalaika?

Handpan ships an update every 8 months, and Balalaika every 3 months. Most recently, Handpan was updated on November 2, 2026 and Balalaika on October 30, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*