# Djembe! vs Darbuka

The clearest difference is rating: Djembe! at 4.7 against Darbuka's 3.8. Darbuka's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Djembe! sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Darbuka sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Djembe! holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 46 and 19 respectively.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Djembe! | Darbuka |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (46 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/djembe/id480770201/reviews)** | [3.8 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darbuka/id6739781153/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **46** | 19 |
| Positive reviews | 52.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 45 MB | 206 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Drum Starz](https://appshunter.io/developer/299477766) | [Alper Kahriman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1054578352) |

## What reviewers say

### Djembe!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/djembe/id480770201)

Experience the authentic sound of African drums on your mobile device. Explore various drum types, play along to beats, or jam with your own music. Features include realistic graphics, high-quality audio, and recording capabilities.

**Highlights:** Multiple African drum types, Professionally recorded sounds, Play along to beats and loops, Integrates with iPod music, Recording and sharing options, Realistic 3D visual effects, Metronome with adjustable tempo

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Djembe! Upgrade | $0.99 | one-time |
| Exporting | $0.99 | one-time |


### Darbuka

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darbuka/id6739781153)

Explore the authentic sounds of the darbuka, a traditional percussion instrument. This app offers realistic tones, multiple play modes, and recording capabilities for musicians and enthusiasts. Immerse yourself in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean rhythms.

**Highlights:** Authentic darbuka sounds, Three dynamic play modes, Record performances, Share music easily, Intuitive design

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Get Premium | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Djembe! free?

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

### Is Darbuka free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Djembe! or Darbuka?

Djembe! is rated higher. Djembe! averages 4.7 out of 5 from 46 ratings, while Darbuka averages 3.8 from 19 ratings.

### Do Djembe! or Darbuka have ads?

Both Djembe! and Darbuka show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Djembe! or Darbuka?

Djembe! ships an update every 3 months, and Darbuka every 3 months. Most recently, Djembe! was updated on October 15, 2026 and Darbuka on October 12, 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.*