# iKoto vs Sanshin

The clearest difference is review sentiment: iKoto at 86% against Sanshin's 25%. iKoto also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 16 months) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). Sanshin's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and price ($1.99 vs $2.99). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

iKoto costs $2.99 and Sanshin $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Sanshin holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 3 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 86% of iKoto's written reviews are positive against 25% of Sanshin's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

iKoto ships an update every 2 months, Sanshin every 16 months. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | iKoto | Sanshin |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **$1.99** |
| Rating | [4.5 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ikoto/id290600207/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sanshin/id328157378/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **85.6% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 16 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 10 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [GClue, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/290600210) | [CRIMSON TECHNOLOGY, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/310846061) |

## What reviewers say

### iKoto

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ikoto/id290600207)

Experience the traditional Japanese Koto (harp) on your iPhone. This app allows you to play oriental melodies, record your performances, and utilize features like tone scale changes and pitch bends. Enjoy a selection of sample music and export your recordings.

**Highlights:** Virtual Koto instrument, Recording function, Tone scale changes, Pitch-bend function, WAV file export via WiFi, Preset tone scales, Sample music included

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Beautiful, authentic koto sound quality
- 👍 Easy to use interface for beginners
- 🎹 Multiple tuning scales available
- 🎚️ Pitch bend functionality for expression
- 💾 Recording and playback features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes on launch or during use
- 🔇 Sound not working in certain conditions
- 📵 Requires phone to be unmuted to function
- 🎚️ Tuning selection UI displays as blank/white text
- 📱 Display scaling issues on various devices

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup or immediately after opening
- Sound output fails without clear cause
- Tuning selection screen displays blank/white text
- Unable to change tuning modes
- App crashes when entering settings or changing notes

**Requested features**

- Custom tuning/string adjustment capability
- Support for modern music scales and genres
- More pre-recorded demo songs
- Ability to save unlimited recordings
- MIDI file import/export functionality


### Sanshin

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sanshin/id328157378)

Learn to play the traditional Okinawan Sanshin instrument with this app. It displays finger positions and corresponds to "Kun-Kun-Shi" musical scores in Kanji, making it accessible even for beginners.

**Highlights:** Learn Sanshin finger positions, Kanji score display, Beginner-friendly interface, Okinawan music exploration, Interactive learning tool

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iKoto free?

iKoto costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Sanshin free?

Sanshin costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, iKoto or Sanshin?

Sanshin is rated higher. iKoto averages 4.5 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Sanshin averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do iKoto or Sanshin have ads?

Neither iKoto nor Sanshin shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iKoto or Sanshin?

iKoto ships an update every 2 months, and Sanshin every 16 months. Most recently, iKoto was updated on October 23, 2026 and Sanshin on October 23, 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.*