Kalimbar vs KalimbaP
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Kalimbar
This app offers a realistic kalimba simulation with customizable tones, effects, and a metronome. Record and overdub performances, share them with a companion app, and enjoy a simple staff notation display. Many features are available for free, with no ads during screen recording.
- Realistic kalimba sounds
- Customizable tone and transposition
- Metronome and tuner
- Recording and overdubbing
- Staff notation display
- Portrait and landscape modes
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Kalimbar supports layouts with 17, 34, or 41 keys. It is a full-featured kalimba performance app used by professional kalimba players. • Portrait and landscape support with realistic kalimba sounds • A wide range of tones, with quick tone switching from the performance screen • Rich customization for transposition, note-name display, pin appearance, original wallpapers, and more • Pin outline display and shadow movement that responds to device tilt • Effects • Metronome • Tuner / tuning fork • Recording and playback • Layer your performances with additional recording. • Change the key and tempo during playback. • Performance data can be shared with the sister app Melodician. • Simple staff display • Many other features are available for free. No ads are shown during screen recording. FAQ Q. I notice latency between tapping and hearing sound. A. We recommend using the device speaker or a wired connection, such as earphones, headphones, USB-C, or Lightning audio. Bluetooth audio is more likely to have noticeable latency due to how wireless audio works. Q. Sounds or animations become unstable with three-finger or larger multi-touch gestures. A. If Settings > Accessibility > Zoom is turned on, iOS/iPadOS gives priority to three-finger system gestures, which can interfere with this app. If needed, temporarily turn off Zoom while using the app.
KalimbaP
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Turn your iPhone or iPad into a kalimba, for free. In Free play, choose 17 keys or a two-row, 34-key chromatic keyboard. Tap notes, glide between keys, and play chords with several fingers. Play as long as you like: Free play has no time limit and needs no purchase. Practice with your own 17-key kalimba in C, too. Follow falling notes and keys labeled C, D, E, and more, at your own pace. The app and its help are available in English and Japanese. PLAY FREELY Choose Free play in the library and start playing immediately. It opens with 17 keys each time; use the switch at the bottom for 34 keys in two rows. Both keyboards, taps, slides, and chords are included for free. FOUR WAYS TO PRACTICE Look & Listen Hear the example and watch the notes to learn the shape of a song. Play Along Play the whole song with a quieter reference performance. Your on-screen keys sound at normal volume, so you can hear your own part. Call & Response Listen to two bars, then play them back. Counts between turns and steady clicks during your turn help you stay in time. Repeat a phrase and move on when you are ready. Wait for Me Notes wait at the play line until you play the right pitch. Use the microphone with your kalimba, or tap the on-screen keys. Chord notes disappear as you match them. Slide across neighboring keys without lifting your finger. TURN RECORDINGS INTO A DRAFT SCORE Record your kalimba or a whistled melody, or import an audio file to create a draft score. Transcribe up to 30 seconds per recording or imported file for free, or unlock up to 4 minutes with a one-time purchase. Imported files are read from the beginning, up to the same time limit. There is no limit on how often you transcribe. Analysis runs on your device. Results depend on the recording level and surrounding sounds; listen back and adjust the notes as needed. EDIT WITH YOUR FINGERS Select and move notes, drag their edges to change length, add chords, delete notes, and transpose the score. Edit in half-beat steps, adjust bar alignment, and zoom out to see the whole piece. On a larger iPad screen, view notation and the piano roll together. SAVE AND SHARE YOUR MUSIC • Adjust the practice tempo from 50% to 150%. • Save songs automatically on your device. • Share a single score from your library and add scores you receive. Original recordings are not included. • Export and import score backups as JSON files. • Save a named MP4 video of the practice guide. • Start with the example songs Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and Canon. START FREE, EXPAND WHEN YOU NEED TO Save up to five of your own songs for free. Built-in examples do not count toward this limit. Received scores and editable copies of examples do count. The Expand transcription & library purchase raises transcription to 4 minutes per recording or imported file and removes the saved-song limit. Pay once, with no subscription or per-song charge. Free play, all four practice modes, editing and sharing saved songs, and MP4 export are free. Score playback has no time limit. Restore the purchase using the same Apple Account. Audio analysis and recording storage take place on your device. There are no app accounts, ads, or tracking. Apple processes the optional in-app purchase. Practice, transcription, and score editing support a standard 17-key C kalimba. Requires iOS 18 or later on iPhone, or iPadOS 18 or later on iPad.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: KalimbaP at none against Kalimbar's shown. KalimbaP also leads on update cadence (daily vs fortnightly). On price, in-app purchases, 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
Both are free to download. Kalimbar sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and KalimbaP sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Kalimbar ships an update fortnightly, KalimbaP daily. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Kalimbar | KalimbaP |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Daily — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 137 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Yuichi Sato | Naoki Ito |
In-app purchases
Kalimbar
- All features + Ad-Free Monthly$1.991 Month
- All features & Ad-Free Yearly$19.991 Year
KalimbaP
- Expand transcription & library$14.99







