Comparison

iTablaPro vs iShala

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

Head to head
About

iTablaPro

This app provides realistic tabla and tanpura sounds for musicians and students. It features multiple instruments, 47 taals, and an auto-tuner, creating a concert atmosphere for practice and performance.

Highlights
  • Realistic tabla and tanpura sounds
  • Support for 47 taals
  • Integrated auto-tuner
  • Six instruments in one app
  • Metronome and tap tempo
  • Audiobus support
Features
Read full description

Come sit down for a session with our Tabla Pro. Experience virtuoso, realistic tabla playing, and let the fantastic Tanpura & SwarMandal sound inspire you to greater heights in your own musical journey! ________________________________________ ◆◆◆ FEATURED by Apple in Band in Your Hand And the reviews are in: ***** "REAL Tabla Sound!" ***** "Truly Amazing!" ***** "FANTASTIC app for riyaz" ***** "Best app ever, all I can say is WOW" ***** "Finally a first-class app to replace expensive mediocre hardware" ________________________________________ ◆ About iTablaPro ◆ iTablaPro is the first electronic tabla and tanpura that actually sounds like the real thing, ideal for Indian Classical musicians and students. It includes support for all common taals used in Hindustani music, making it the perfect companion for daily riyaz (practice). And the beautiful Tanpura and Swar Mandal create an instant concert atmosphere! YouTube demo: http://iTablaPro.com ________________________________________ √ SIX fantastic instruments in one app: Tabla, two 5-string Tanpuras, a Sur-Peti (Shruti-Box), Swar Mandal, plus Manjira all controlled by a single set of pitch controls √ Uses sound samples from actual highest-quality instruments for the most realistic sound √ 47 taals: Ada Chautaal(14), Ardha Jai(6.5), Ardha Jhaptaal(5), Ardha Shikhar(8.5), Ashta Jhaptaal(8.5), Bhajani(8), Chachar(16), Chartal-ki-Sawari(11), Chautaal(12), Dadra(6), Dakshinatya Rupak(6), Deepchandi(14), Dhamar(14), Ektaal(12), Farodust/Firdost(14), Gajamukha(16), Jai Taal(13), Jat(8), Jhampak(5), Jhaptaal(10), Jhoomra(14), Kalawati(9.5), Keherva(8), Matta Taal(9), Moghuli(7), Neel Taal (7.5), Pancham Sawari(15), Pashto(7), Pauri/Paudi(4), Punjabi / Sitarkhani(16), Rudra Taal(11), Rupak(7),Saatva(7), Sadra(10), Sardha Rupak(10.5), Sasthi(6), Shashanka(5.5), Shikhar(17),Shiva Taal(9), Soolfaak(10), Soolfakhta(5), Sooltaal(10), Sunand(9.5), Teentaal(16), Teevra(7), Tilwada(16), Yamuna(5) √ Multiple styles for most taals or use the EXPERT MODE for a more interactive experience √ INTEGRATED AUTO-TUNER: Auto-Tune iTablaPro to your instrument such as harmonium, or use it to tune other instruments √ MANJIRA: Manjira auto-play support for taals used in bhajans such as Bhajani, Keherva and Dadra √ AUDIOBUS support: Now you can stream live audio directly to other Audiobus-compatible apps! See http://audiob.us for more information. √ RECORDING (Optional) add-on now with RECORDING: Hear yourself in the speakers to the background of iTablaPro using the iPhone or headset microphone and record everything (requires external speakers with wired connection or headphones). Additional purchase required. √ METRONOME: Includes metronome with the most common time signatures! √ TAP TEMPO: Just tap out a beat on the lower display and watch the app sync the tempo! √ MIXER: Full-featured mixer to adjust volume & panning of each instrument independently. √ 7-BAND EQUALIZER: Customizable 7-band equalizer with presets √ PRESETS: Save your frequently-used combinations as named presets. Includes presets for the 100+ most popular raags. And now you can also export/import presets via email or iTunes File Sharing. √ BACKGROUND PLAY: Start playing the music and switch to another app or play along with iPod music √ Includes an option for "Sur" tabla for a more bass tabla sound suitable for vocal music √ Extremely accurate tempo from 10bpm to 700bpm (depending on the taal) √ Wide range of pitch from lower A (A2) through upper E (E4) for one and a half octaves of tuning √ Each taal has different thekas for slow, medium & fast tempos for more natural-sounding accompaniment √ Displays current matra being played as well as the current divisions (Sam, Taali, Khaali, etc.) ________________________________________ NOTE: The tabla's bayaan sound is very bass-intensive and cannot be full heard through the iPhone/iPod/iPad internal speaker. For best effect, use a speaker dock, external speakers, or high-quality headphones.

About

iShala

This app provides accompaniment for Indian classical music practice, offering customizable tanpuras, tablas, and other instruments. It includes a vast library of rhythmic cycles and ragas, with advanced features like pitch correction and recording capabilities in its Pro edition.

Highlights
  • Customizable tanpuras and tablas
  • Vast library of ragas and rhythmic cycles
  • Pitch correction for vocal accuracy
  • Manual instrument playing via MIDI keyboard
  • Session recording and loop creation
  • Cloud access to user-created content
Features
Read full description

iShala is an Indian music mobile app that provides flawless accompaniment for classical music practice, be it vocal, instrumental or rhythmic. It comes in 2 Editions: Standard and Pro (previously known as Premium). It features: • 6 Tanpuras (10 on Pro Edition) • 2 Tablas (3 on Pro Edition) • a Swarmandal • a Vibraphone (Pro Edition only) • a Harmonium • 3 Manjeeras (6 on Pro Edition) all fully customisable in practice sessions that can then be loaded on demand. It effectively replaces a tabla machine, a lehra player and an electronic tanpura. It is therefore an ideal tool for anyone practicing Indian classical music, or just wishing to jam along virtual Indian musicians on any other musical style. iShala includes over 60 rhythmic cycles, melodies in more than 110 ragas and 7 different tempos. You can also create your own ragas and fine-tune each of their notes at micro-tones (or shrutis) level. Possible combinations are thus nothing short of endless! iShala initially comes in Standard Edition, but you can upgrade it to Pro Edition through an In-App purchase option. These are one-time payments; whatever the edition you choose, you can use the app forever. Standard Edition has all the features you need for your riyaaz, and more. But Pro Edition adds some really exciting functionality like: • pitch correction: iShala detects the note you are currently singing, along with a coloured meter highlighting whether you are right on pitch or not. This is a precious tool to improve your accuracy. • additional instruments: 4 tanpuras, a low pitch tabla, a vibraphone and 3 manjeeras • manual playing of all instruments: tabla, harmonium, tanpura, swarmandal, vibraphone and manjeera • NEW: plug a MIDI keyboard (USB/Bluetooth) and play any of these instruments through it! • record your own loops • record your practice session: adjust mic/music level, then press REC, sing, press STOP and the audio recording file will be generated for you to listen and share • pull items from the Cloud: download rhythmic and/or melodic cycles posted from SwarShala users directly on your device For more detailed info on features per edition, check the following topic: https://www.swarclassical.com/guides/ishala/topic.php?product=is&id=18 ---- Some sweet words from our users: "Best tanpura app. Concert like. Fully satisfied. I think incomparable with others. Price also reasonable compared to others. Anyone can perform even on stage with this app." "Amazing tool for your daily solo practice. Thanks for this help for music students. Love it, God bless" "This app is best investment for Indian classical musicians. I own this app for almost 4 years and I would say it's value for money. It is best app for riyaz with amazing tabla and tanpura." "After using this app for more than 1 year I am writing genuine review about this app. Wonderful service from the team. Even when I had queries and when I was in need of assistance, they replied through Email and helped me within 10 minutes. App is wonderful which I am using for my music practice, it's helping me a lot. If u are a true music learner, I would recommend this. Thanks a lot to the team members and developers of this IShala app." "Excellent app. Best for riyaz. Fine sounds. Perfectly tuned instruments." "Just one word... Perfect !!" "Excellent App. Wonderful to do Riyaz with this App. Best on the market. Well worth the price. Well done to the developers." FOLLOW US! • facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swarclassical • instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swarclassical • youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SwarClassical

Screenshots

iTablaPro4 screens
iShala4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: iShala at $12.99 against iTablaPro's $29.99. iTablaPro's advantage is review sentiment (87% vs 42%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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

iTablaPro costs $29.99 and iShala $12.99 up front. iTablaPro sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and iShala sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for iTablaPro against 4.6 for iShala. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 409 and 161 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 87% of iTablaPro's written reviews are positive against 42% of iShala's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iTablaPro ships an update every 3 weeks, iShala every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
iTablaPro versus iShala: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriTablaProiShala
Price$29.99$12.99 — better
Rating4.5 (409 ratings)4.6 (161 ratings) — better
Positive reviews86.9% of reviews — better42.4% of reviews
Number of ratings409 — better161
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#14 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.112.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB111 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPrasad UpasaniSwar Systems

Customer experience

iTablaPro

All ratings409 ratings
Positive88.8%
Neutral3.2%
Negative8.1%
Written reviews297 reviews
Positive86.9%
Neutral5.7%
Negative7.4%

iShala

All ratings161 ratings
Positive90.1%
Neutral2.5%
Negative7.5%
Written reviews59 reviews
Positive42.4%
Neutral11.9%
Negative45.8%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

iTablaPro

One-time1
  • Recording Add-on$5.99
1 purchases

iShala

One-time1
  • iShala 5 Pro Edition$9.99

Questions

Is iTablaPro free?
iTablaPro costs $29.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is iShala free?
iShala costs $12.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iTablaPro or iShala?
iShala is rated higher. iTablaPro averages 4.5 out of 5 from 409 ratings, while iShala averages 4.6 from 161 ratings.
Do iTablaPro or iShala have ads?
Neither iTablaPro nor iShala shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iTablaPro or iShala?
iTablaPro ships an update every 3 weeks, and iShala every 3 months. Most recently, iTablaPro was updated on October 13, 2026 and iShala on October 14, 2026.

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