Comparison

Harp Real vs Kalimba Master

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

Head to head
About

Harp Real

This app simulates a 27-string lever harp, offering a realistic playing experience with a wide frequency range. Practice songs with adjustable speed and transposition, or play in real-time. Record and share your music.

Highlights
  • 27-string lever harp simulation
  • Frequency range C3 to A6#
  • Offline and online song practice
  • Adjustable song speed and transposition
  • Reverb effect
  • Normal and RealTime play modes
  • Autoplay option
  • Record, playback, and share functionality
Features
Read full description

The Harp is a stringed musical instrument that has a number of individual strings running at an angle to its soundboard; the strings are plucked with the fingers. Harps have been known since antiquity in Asia, Africa and Europe, dating back at least as early as 3500 BC. The instrument had great popularity in Europe during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, where it evolved into a wide range of variants with new technologies, and was disseminated to Europe's colonies, finding particular popularity in Latin America. Although some ancient members of the harp family died out in the Near East and South Asia, descendants of early harps are still played in Myanmar and parts of Africa, and other defunct variants in Europe and Asia have been utilized by musicians in the modern era. Harps vary globally in many ways. In terms of size, many smaller harps can be played on the lap, whereas larger harps are quite heavy and rest on the floor. Different harps may use strings of catgut, nylon, metal, or some combination. While all harps have a neck, resonator, and strings, frame harps have a pillar at their long end to support the strings, while open harps, such as arch harps and bow harps, do not. Modern harps also vary in techniques used to extend the range and chromaticism (e.g., adding sharps and flats) of the strings, such as adjusting a string's note mid-performance with levers or pedals which modify the pitch. The pedal harp is a standard instrument in the orchestra of the Romantic music era (ca. 1800–1910) and the contemporary music era. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harp) The Harp Real is Lever Harp (Celtic Harp) 27 strings simulation app with lever feature. Frequency range: C3 -> A6#. More offline and online songs for practice (With the ability to change speed, transpose, reverb). Play with 2 modes: - Normal - RealTime You can choose autoplay for listening songs. Record feature: record, play back and share to your friends. ** Songs is updated regularly

About

Kalimba Master

Learn and play the kalimba with this virtual instrument app. It offers a wide song library, interactive lessons, and even music games to help you practice. Connect to a real kalimba for note recognition or simply enjoy playing the virtual keys.

Highlights
  • Virtual 17-key kalimba
  • Extensive song library
  • Note recognition mode
  • Audio recording
  • Interactive lessons
  • Music games
  • Magic Kalimba mode
Features
Read full description

Kalimba Master is a cute and customizable app version of the kalimba instrument. This Kalimba tutor is one of the best virtual Kalimba for mobile & tablet. The app offers tons of songs with easy lessons, and we add new tabs every week! Don't waste more time, start playing now!... Features: - Full string Kalimba with 17 keys - Play with 650,000+ song from music songbooks - Connect with real Kalimba with notes recognition mode - Be able to record audio while playing - Lessons mode for easy learning - Music games to practice - Magic Kalimba mode added

Screenshots

Harp Real4 screens
Kalimba Master4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Harp Real at 4.7 against Kalimba Master's 2.1. Harp Real also leads on review sentiment (68% vs 29%) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). Kalimba Master's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 15 months). On price, monetization model, device support and iOS requirement 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

Both are free to download. Kalimba Master sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Harp Real asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Harp Real holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Harp Real has 649 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Harp Real's written reviews are positive against 29% of Kalimba Master's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Harp Real ships an update every 15 months, Kalimba Master every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Harp Real versus Kalimba Master: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHarp RealKalimba Master
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (649 ratings) — better2.1 (14 ratings)
Positive reviews67.9% of reviews — better28.6% of reviews
Number of ratings649 — better14
Update frequencyEvery 15 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size97 MB143 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSon Truong NgocSENSOR NOTES JOINT STOCK COMPANY

Customer experience

Harp Real

All ratings635 ratings
Positive91.8%
Neutral4.4%
Negative3.8%
Written reviews28 reviews
Positive67.9%
Neutral7.1%
Negative25.0%

Kalimba Master

All ratings13 ratings
Positive23.1%
Neutral15.4%
Negative61.5%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive28.6%
Neutral14.3%
Negative57.1%

Bugs and requests

Harp Real

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • No sound output for some users
  • Volume control not easily accessible
  • Incorrect pitches in some instances
  • App not functioning properly on some devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Background play functionality
  • Transpose button
  • Second hand notes for all songs
  • Better documentation/tutorial

Kalimba Master

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Harp Real

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Kalimba Master

One-time2
  • Kalimba Master Pro$0.99
  • Kalimba Master Vip$2.99

Questions

Is Harp Real free?
Harp Real is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Kalimba Master free?
Kalimba Master is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Harp Real or Kalimba Master?
Harp Real is rated higher. Harp Real averages 4.7 out of 5 from 649 ratings, while Kalimba Master averages 2.1 from 14 ratings.
Do Harp Real or Kalimba Master have ads?
Harp Real shows ads; Kalimba Master does not.
Which is updated more often, Harp Real or Kalimba Master?
Harp Real ships an update every 15 months, and Kalimba Master every 3 weeks. Most recently, Harp Real was updated on November 3, 2026 and Kalimba Master on November 3, 2026.

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