Comparison

Handpan vs Handpan Sim

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Handpan

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
Read full description

At the moment, Handpan is a best and closest sounding Hang instrument simulator. Handpan is a simple and easy-to-use music application which will turn your smartphone into a real musical instrument! Handpan contains only high-quality sounds, has good graphics and neat design. The app is suitable for both a beginner musician and an experienced percussionist. Features: - 2 different types of the Handpan instrument - High-quality sounds - Playback without delays (low latency audio) - Sound settings - Possibility to record, save, and play saved tunes - Animations - Easy-to-use

About

Handpan Sim

Explore the meditative sounds of the handpan with this simulator. It offers authentic tones, microtonal tuning, and adjustable effects for creative musical expression. Record and share your performances easily.

Highlights
  • Authentic handpan sounds
  • Microtonal tuning
  • Adjustable reverb and chorus effects
  • Dynamic key sensitivity
  • Multiple play modes
  • Built-in performance recorder
  • Screen recording capability
Features
Read full description

Handpan Sim puts a real-sounding handpan drum on your iPhone and iPad. Every tone is sampled from a real handpan and rings out naturally in a warm room, so a single tap already sounds like music. No account, no lessons to sit through: open the app and play. PLAY IT LIKE THE REAL THING - Tap a tone field for melody and the centre for the deep Ding. Use several fingers for chords. - Tak and Knuckle keys add percussion beside the drum. On iPad, a hit on the bare shell plays a tak. - Touch dynamics: hits at the centre of a field sound fuller, hits near the edge softer, and every hit varies slightly, like a real pan. - Slide to play: run your finger across the fields to play fast rolls without lifting it. - Built on a low-latency audio engine for tight, responsive play. 63 HANDPAN SCALES, ANY DING - Kurd, Celtic Minor and Amara, Hijaz, Pygmy and Low Pygmy, Integral, Mystic, La Sirena, Aegean, Sabye, Equinox, Golden Gate, Magic Voyage, Ysha Savita, Avalon, Akebono, Insen, Raga Desh, Saladin and many more. - Move the Ding up or down to play any scale in the key you want. - Search by name or note, browse by family and preview a scale before it goes on stage. - Centered or Split note layout, with note names, numbers or both. LOOP AND LAYER - The Looper records a phrase and repeats it so you can play over it. - Add layer after layer, mute or balance each one, undo and redo. - Set tempo, beats per bar and count-in, or tap the tempo in. Change the tempo and the loop stretches to fit. - A metronome keeps you in time. RECORD AND SHARE - Record performances of up to 30 minutes. - Save a loop as a recording, with the number of repeats you choose. - Share any take as a WAV file to your DAW, messages or social apps. YOUR STAGE - Fourteen finishes, from Leather and Brass to Nitrided Obsidian and Rose Gold. - An ambient lamp and strike glow you can tune to any colour. - Reverb, master volume and haptic feedback. - iPhone in portrait, iPad in portrait and landscape. GREAT FOR Meditation and yoga sessions, relaxing after work, sound healing practice, songwriting, film and game sketches, or simply trying a handpan before you buy one. FREE TO PLAY The full instrument, the Looper, the metronome and recording are free. Kurd 9, Amara 9 and Hijaz 9 are open from the start, and any other scale opens for the session with a short ad. HANDPAN SIM PREMIUM - All 63 scales, with no ads to unlock them - Two handpans on stage at once - Keep every take and loop in your library - All fourteen finishes - No ads Premium is offered as a yearly subscription with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers, a monthly subscription, or a one-time lifetime purchase. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. A subscription renews automatically unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. You can manage or cancel subscriptions in your App Store account settings. Any unused part of a free trial is forfeited when you buy a subscription. Terms of Use: https://alyakastudio.com/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://alyakastudio.com/privacy-policy/

Screenshots

Handpan3 screens
Handpan Sim4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Handpan Sim at Free against Handpan's $2.99. Handpan Sim also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.8). Handpan's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On review sentiment, ratings volume, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Handpan Sim is free to download; Handpan costs $2.99 up front. Handpan Sim sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Handpan asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Handpan Sim holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 21 and 43 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 38% of Handpan's written reviews are positive against 40% of Handpan Sim's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Handpan ships an update every 8 months, Handpan Sim every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Handpan versus Handpan Sim: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHandpanHandpan Sim
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating3.8 (21 ratings)4.5 (43 ratings) — better
Positive reviews38.1% of reviews40.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2143 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 5 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB71 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAliaksei VatutsinAlper Kahriman

Customer experience

Handpan

All ratings21 ratings
Positive61.9%
Neutral4.8%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive38.1%
Neutral23.8%
Negative38.1%

Handpan Sim

All ratings43 ratings
Positive83.7%
Neutral7.0%
Negative9.3%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative40.0%

In-app purchases

None

Handpan

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Handpan Sim

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly7 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$29.99

Questions

Is Handpan free?
Handpan costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Handpan Sim free?
Handpan Sim is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Handpan or Handpan Sim?
Handpan Sim is rated higher. Handpan averages 3.8 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while Handpan Sim averages 4.5 from 43 ratings.
Do Handpan or Handpan Sim have ads?
Handpan Sim shows ads; Handpan does not.
Which is updated more often, Handpan or Handpan Sim?
Handpan ships an update every 8 months, and Handpan Sim every 5 months. Most recently, Handpan was updated on November 6, 2026 and Handpan Sim on November 8, 2026.

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