Comparison

Jug Band vs Hand Drums

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

Head to head
About

Jug Band

This app lets you play virtual versions of traditional jug band instruments like the washboard, spoons, kazoo, and jug. It includes instructions for each instrument and allows you to play along with your music or with friends.

Highlights
  • Virtual washboard
  • Virtual spoons
  • Virtual kazoo
  • Virtual jug
  • Play-along with music
  • Multiplayer jamming
Features
Read full description

This app accurately replicates four musical instruments commonly found in traditional jug bands: washboard, spoons, kazoo and jug. Each instrument is played the same way as its physical counterpart: you scrub the washboard, tap the spoons on your knee, hum into the kazoo and buzz your lips into the jug. But don't worry if you've never played in a jug band ... a quick instruction sheet is included for each instrument. With the Jug Band app, you can plug in headphones and play along with your iPod music; plug into a speaker and jam with a band; or get three friends and form an all-digital jug band! Notes: - If you experience feedback (a shrieking sound) when you switch to the jug or kazoo instruments, turn down your volume until the feedback stops. You can avoid this problem by using headphones or external speakers. Due to the small speakers on portable devices and their placement next to the microphone, the app should be considered for personal use only unless you can connect it to external speakers. - Most of these instruments work best in the handheld size of the iPhone and iPod touch. If you have an iPad, you might like my Washboard or Autoharp apps better. - Before your purchase, I recommend watching the demo videos at jugbandapp.com to see how it works. - If you need help after your purchase, please contact me before writing a bad review. I have no way to respond or help you if you publish your complaints in a review, but I respond promptly to all emails.

About

Hand Drums

Explore a collection of 25 professionally recorded hand drums, including bongos, congas, and djembes. Play along to a metronome, custom beats, or your own music library. Record and share your drumming creations.

Highlights
  • 25 professionally recorded hand drums
  • Play along to metronome, beats, and loops
  • Record and share drumming sessions
  • Pitch and roll controls
  • Play along with iPod music
  • Visual 3D effects
Features
Read full description

If you've always wanted to play the bongos, conga, or any other hand drum, or already know how, Hand Drums Free is for you! Easy to use, extremely fun and entertaining, Hand Drums Free features 25 unique hand drums, including Bongos, Conga, Djembe, Doumbek, Cajon, Tabla and more, all professionally recorded in high quality 16 bit stereo. You can play alone, to a metronome, or to unique Pocket Beats and Loops. You can even play along to the music on your iPod right from within Hand Drums Free. With features including pitch control, ability to share and export your recordings (optional in-app purchase), metronome, drum rolls, drum loops, and more, you'll sound like a pro from the moment you start playing! FEATURES: • 25 different hand drums, all professionally recorded in high-quality 16-bit stereo: Bendir, Bongo, Bongo Jam, Boudran, Cajon, Conga, Djembe, Doumbek, Duff, Electronic Drums, Frame Drum, Frame Drum with Bells, Mini Djembe, Pakhawaj, Snare & Bass, Tabla, Talking Drum, Tambourine, Timbale, and Tom Tom, with more to follow. • 4 Unique Playing Zones on each drum create a realistic drumming experience. • Share your recordings through email, Facebook, and Twitter • Export your recordings to your computer (optional in-app purchase) • Visual 3D effect when drums are hit maximizes the drumming experience • Metronome with 43 sounds to choose from and variable speed switch (BPM) • 67 Pocket Beats and Loops to play along to • PlayAlong Beats: 16 new loops with basic bass drum, hi-hat or snare beats, to play along for added rhythmic expression! • Slide your finger between the drums • Shake your device to play sounds to your favorite music • Play drum heads simultaneously • Play along with your favorite music by easily accessing your iPod music right from within Hand Drums Free • Volume controls for both the drum sounds and music • Pitch control allows for unlimited drum sounds • Rolls on drums with variable speed adjustment (BPM) • Using headphones will allow you to fully enjoy the high quality sounds of Hand Drums Free PRIVACY POLICY: http://codyrotwein.com/privacy.html

Screenshots

Jug Band4 screens
Hand Drums4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Hand Drums at 4.0 against Jug Band's 2.7. Jug Band's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and device support 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. Hand Drums sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Jug Band asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Hand Drums holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22 and 11 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 47% of Jug Band's written reviews are positive against 17% of Hand Drums's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Jug Band ships an update every 6 weeks, Hand Drums every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Jug Band versus Hand Drums: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJug BandHand Drums
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.7 (22 ratings)4.0 (11 ratings) — better
Positive reviews47.1% of reviews — better16.7% of reviews
Number of ratings22 — better11
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB62 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperArlo LeachDrum Starz

Customer experience

Jug Band

All ratings21 ratings
Positive38.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative61.9%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive47.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative52.9%

Hand Drums

All ratings11 ratings
Positive63.6%
Neutral18.2%
Negative18.2%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive16.7%
Neutral8.3%
Negative75.0%

In-app purchases

None

Jug Band

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Hand Drums

One-time2
  • Hand Drums Upgrade$0.99
  • Exporting$0.99

Questions

Is Jug Band free?
Jug Band is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Hand Drums free?
Hand Drums is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Jug Band or Hand Drums?
Hand Drums is rated higher. Jug Band averages 2.7 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while Hand Drums averages 4.0 from 11 ratings.
Do Jug Band or Hand Drums have ads?
Hand Drums shows ads; Jug Band does not.
Which is updated more often, Jug Band or Hand Drums?
Jug Band ships an update every 6 weeks, and Hand Drums every 3 months. Most recently, Jug Band was updated on October 23, 2026 and Hand Drums on October 27, 2026.

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