# Keylimba vs Real Kalimba

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Keylimba at 94% against Real Kalimba's 49%. Keylimba also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.3) and ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Keylimba sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Real Kalimba sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Keylimba holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Keylimba has 3.1K ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of Keylimba's written reviews are positive against 49% of Real Kalimba's.

Keylimba ships an update every 3 weeks, Real Kalimba every 11 months. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Keylimba | Real Kalimba |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (3.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/keylimba/id1522416953/reviews)** | [4.3 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/real-kalimba/id1533030138/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.1K** | 20 |
| Positive reviews | **94.1% of reviews** | 48.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 11 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 65 MB | 93 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [David Fu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1498398103) | [Budali Kingsley](https://appshunter.io/developer/1453294453) |

## What reviewers say

### Keylimba

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/keylimba/id1522416953)

Experience the soothing sounds of a kalimba on your device. This app offers a cute and customizable interface with adjustable key ranges and a built-in looper for recording and playback. Personalize your musical experience with custom key markings and backgrounds.

**Highlights:** Cute and lightweight interface, Adjustable 9-21 key range, Built-in looper for recording and playback, Customizable key markings, Customizable background colors, Ad-free experience

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Keylimba Plus | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💞 Adorable and cute
- 🙏 Responsive developer support
- 🎶 Calming and relaxing
- 🌈 Supports LGBTQ+ pride
- 🎨 Highly customizable

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔑 Some features require payment
- 🔇 Occasional audio issues
- 🕹️ Difficulty playing adjacent notes
- 🎨 Limited color customization options

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional app crashes
- Delayed note response on some devices

**Requested features**

- Add more pride flag options
- Allow custom color selection
- Implement a built-in tuner
- Add ability to save/load recordings
- Provide song tutorials or sheet music


### 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 Keylimba free?

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

### Is Real Kalimba free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Keylimba or Real Kalimba?

Keylimba is rated higher. Keylimba averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.1K ratings, while Real Kalimba averages 4.3 from 20 ratings.

### Do Keylimba or Real Kalimba have ads?

Real Kalimba shows ads; Keylimba does not.

### Which is updated more often, Keylimba or Real Kalimba?

Keylimba ships an update every 3 weeks, and Real Kalimba every 11 months. Most recently, Keylimba was updated on October 25, 2026 and Real Kalimba on October 25, 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.*