# Bongos vs Jingle+

The clearest difference is price: Bongos at Free against Jingle+'s $0.99. Bongos also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). Jingle+'s advantage is rating (4.5 vs 3.3) and ads (none vs shown). On review sentiment, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Bongos is free to download; Jingle+ costs $0.99 up front. Bongos sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Jingle+ sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Jingle+ holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Jingle+ has 319 ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Bongos's written reviews are positive against 72% of Jingle+'s.

Bongos ships an update every 2 months, Jingle+ every 6 months. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bongos | Jingle+ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | [3.3 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bongos-dynamic-bongo-drums/id411722855/reviews) | **[4.5 (319 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jingle-plus/id737479996/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 24 | **319** |
| Positive reviews | 64.1% of reviews | **71.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#187** |
| Size | 39 MB | 8 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Skunk Brothers GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/405250614) | [Charlie Williams](https://appshunter.io/developer/416450484) |

## What reviewers say

### Bongos

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bongos-dynamic-bongo-drums/id411722855)

Experience realistic bongo drumming with professionally recorded sounds that change based on where you strike the drums. This app offers high-quality samples, additional percussion, and low latency for an immersive musical experience on your iPhone or iPad.

**Highlights:** 18 high-quality bongo samples, Cowbell and sticks percussion, Professionally recorded & mastered sounds, No latency for precise playing, Multitasking support for playing along with music, Universal app for iPhone and iPad

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bongos Ad-Free | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Realistic bongo sounds
- 🎶 Encourages musical creativity
- 🤗 Fun for all ages
- 💻 Works well on mobile devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
- 🙄 Repetitive after a while
- 📢 Intrusive ads
- 🔊 Could use louder/better sound

**Reported bugs**

- Sound not working on some devices
- Rotation issues on certain phones
- Ads covering up playing area

**Requested features**

- Record and playback feature
- More instrument options
- Ability to tune/adjust bongos
- Integration with music apps


### Jingle+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jingle-plus/id737479996)

**Currently charting:** #187 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

This app simulates various shaker instruments using your phone's motion. Experience realistic sound and feel, perfect for live performances or studio work.

**Highlights:** Real motion shaker simulation, Realistic sound and feel, High-precision accelerometer data, Expressive real-time control, Tambourine, maraca, egg shaker, sleigh bells

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Instruments | $1.99 | one-time |
| Inter-App Audio | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 😊 Great fun and enjoyment
- 🎄 Brings holiday cheer
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🎶 Responsive to shaking/tapping
- 🌟 Realistic sounds

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎛️ Limited instrumental options
- 🔊 Low volume egg shaker sound
- 🎛️ Some sounds not very good (tambourine)
- 🐛 Background playback issues
- 🐛 App doesn't always shut off easily

**Reported bugs**

- Background playback feature not working reliably
- App continues playing when not on the app
- App doesn't work on some devices (iPhone 12 Pro)
- App doesn't open/work after installation
- Stuck on jingle bells sound

**Requested features**

- More instrumental options (snare drum, cymbals)
- Lego sound effect
- Slapstick sound effect
- Add iWatch support
- Tutorial section


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bongos free?

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

### Is Jingle+ free?

Jingle+ costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Bongos or Jingle+?

Jingle+ is rated higher. Bongos averages 3.3 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while Jingle+ averages 4.5 from 319 ratings.

### Do Bongos or Jingle+ have ads?

Bongos shows ads; Jingle+ does not.

### Which is updated more often, Bongos or Jingle+?

Bongos ships an update every 2 months, and Jingle+ every 6 months. Most recently, Bongos was updated on September 23, 2026 and Jingle+ on September 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.*