# Hang Drum vs Real Kalimba

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hang Drum at none against Real Kalimba's 1. Hang Drum also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 11 months). Real Kalimba's advantage is rating (4.3 vs 3.8) and review sentiment (46% vs 23%). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Real Kalimba sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Hang Drum asks for nothing beyond the download.

Real Kalimba holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 68 and 20 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 23% of Hang Drum's written reviews are positive against 46% of Real Kalimba's.

Hang Drum ships an update every 2 months, Real Kalimba every 11 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hang Drum | Real Kalimba |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (68 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hang-drum/id1439303516/reviews) | **[4.3 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/real-kalimba/id1533030138/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **68** | 20 |
| Positive reviews | 23.1% of reviews | **46.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 11 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 42 MB | 93 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Duan Nguyen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1377550170) | [Budali Kingsley](https://appshunter.io/developer/1453294453) |

## What reviewers say

### Hang Drum

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hang-drum/id1439303516)

This app allows you to play a virtual hang drum on your phone anytime. It offers multi-touch support, various hang drum sounds, and the ability to record and play back your musical creations. Regular updates are planned to add new features and fix bugs.

**Highlights:** Multi-touch support, Multiple hang drum sound types, Audio recording while playing, Record file playback, Easy to use interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Real Kalimba

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/real-kalimba/id1533030138)

Experience the soothing sounds of a thumb piano with this realistic simulator. Slide your fingers to play notes, tune the instrument, and explore various reverb effects. Record your melodies, learn new songs with interactive tutorials, and customize the visual appearance.

**Highlights:** Realistic kalimba sound and visuals, Adjustable tine range and tuning, Multiple reverb environments, Audio recorder with editing and sharing, Over 100 songs and 20+ tabs for learning, Customizable backgrounds, colors, and key markings

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Go Pro-Unlock All with No Ads | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hang Drum free?

Hang Drum is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Real Kalimba free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hang Drum or Real Kalimba?

Real Kalimba is rated higher. Hang Drum averages 3.8 out of 5 from 68 ratings, while Real Kalimba averages 4.3 from 20 ratings.

### Do Hang Drum or Real Kalimba have ads?

Real Kalimba shows ads; Hang Drum does not.

### Which is updated more often, Hang Drum or Real Kalimba?

Hang Drum ships an update every 2 months, and Real Kalimba every 11 months. Most recently, Hang Drum was updated on November 2, 2026 and Real Kalimba on November 7, 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.*