Comparison

iGuzheng vs PlayDrum

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

Head to head
About

iGuzheng

Learn to play the Guzheng with an innovative "Follow Play" feature that provides real-time prompts. This app supports numerous playing techniques and offers high-quality stereo samples for an authentic experience.

Highlights
  • Follow Play guided learning
  • Supports 21 strings
  • Authentic playing techniques
  • High-quality stereo samples
  • Flexible Guzheng view with zoom
  • Smart pitch snapping
Features
Read full description

***** Differences between this version and the Pro version: The Pro version offers more advanced features such as song recording, tuning, multiple instrument sounds, background and string color settings, and a metronome. The Follow Play songs in both versions are identical and are released simultaneously. iGuzheng's innovative "Follow Play" feature allows even complete beginners to effortlessly play professional Guzheng pieces! Guzheng is a Chinese plucked zither that dates back to 500 B.C. It is rich in playing techniques. The performer plucks the strings with his right-hand fingernails, while his left-hand fingers apply pressure to the strings to execute vibratos, slides, and other embellishments , as well as occasional plucking techniques. iGuzheng supports many playing techniques, like an acoustic Guzheng: · Playing techniques for Right Hand: Pluck, Glissando, Tremolo (Shake/摇指), Automatic Tremolo, Overtone · Playing techniques for Left Hand: Pitch Slide, Small Vibrato, Big Vibrato, Tap Pitch (Dian Yin – 点音) Main Features: √ Follow Play: iGuzheng's original "Follow Play" feature combines Guzheng playing symbols with string positions to provide real-time playing prompts, allowing even complete beginners to effortlessly play professional Guzheng pieces! ** Supports setting to follow only the right-hand part or both hands! ** When following only the right-hand part, iGuzheng will automatically play the left-hand part for you! ** Can be set to automatically play left-hand pressing actions: pressed notes, glissando, vibrato, etc. [Appendix] Meanings of various lines in Follow Play: Vertical line – Represents a "chord line," commonly used for major plucks, minor plucks, and chords. Wavy line – Represents a "glissando line," commonly used for ornamental notes, glissando, double thumb, heavy thumb, etc. Fine dashed line – Represents a "note group." All notes connected by fine dashed lines form a note group, which may consist of common fingering combinations (alternating thumb and middle finger, four-note patterns, etc.), grace notes, triplets, arpeggiated chords, rhythmic patterns, etc. Horizontal thick dashed line – Represents a "tremolo line," indicating the start and end times of the tremolo. √ Flexible Guzheng View — easy scrolling and zooming with drag/pinch gestures on the Pitch Slider Bar. √ High-quality stereo samples from Guzheng. √ Full 21 strings. √ Automatically play "Shake" technique (自动摇指) when you move your touch on the string horizontally. √ Smart snapping to the correct pitch grid when moving the pitch slider. √ Portamento / Vibrato. √ Overtone : use two fingers to tap strings at the same time. √ "Dian Yin" Effect (点音/Tap Pitch) : tap the pitch slider after plucking a string to create the "Dian Yin" sound effect. √ Tuning as standard Guzheng tunings.

About

PlayDrum

This app provides a realistic drumming experience for musicians of all levels. It features multiple drum kits, an intuitive interface, and interactive tutorials to help you learn. You can also play along to your favorite music and use it as a MIDI controller.

Highlights
  • Intuitive and customizable interface
  • Multi-touch support for responsive play
  • Multiple professional drum kits
  • Interactive tutorial for beginners
  • Play along to your music library
  • MIDI controller functionality
Read full description

Drum sets made by drummers and made for all! No matter you’re 1st time drummers or professional musicians, Play Drum is designed just for you! Features: * Intuitive interface. Minimal, clean and professional look, customizable color theme. * Multi-touch supported. Super fast and responsive multi-touch so that you can hear each instrument clearly without any delay! * Multiple drum kits to choose from: Studio Heavy Kit, Rock Kit, Tight Kit and R&B Remix Kit. * Easy to learn. Interactive tutorial helps you learn the basics of drumming and all the instruments of a drum set in no time! * Play to your favorite music. You can add music from iTunes shared folder with ease. * Works as a MIDI Controller with GarageBand and Logic X. Contact us: playdrum.app@gmail.com. We’d love to hear what songs you play drums to!

Screenshots

iGuzheng4 screens
PlayDrum4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PlayDrum at Free against iGuzheng's $0.99. PlayDrum also leads on ratings volume (37 vs 10). iGuzheng's advantage is review sentiment (85% vs 75%). On rating, update cadence, 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

PlayDrum is free to download; iGuzheng costs $0.99 up front. iGuzheng sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and PlayDrum 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 — 4.4 for iGuzheng against 4.5 for PlayDrum. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 37 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of iGuzheng's written reviews are positive against 75% of PlayDrum's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iGuzheng ships an update every 6 weeks, PlayDrum every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
iGuzheng versus PlayDrum: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriGuzhengPlayDrum
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating4.4 (10 ratings)4.5 (37 ratings) — better
Positive reviews85.4% of reviews — better75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1037 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.011.0
Further details — not scored
Size130 MB21 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperSupertintin Co., LtdMaimaitiming Abudukadier

Customer experience

iGuzheng

All ratings10 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews48 reviews
Positive85.4%
Neutral4.2%
Negative10.4%

PlayDrum

All ratings30 ratings
Positive93.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative6.7%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

iGuzheng

One-time1
  • iGuzheng™⁺ Pro Version$1.99
1 purchases

PlayDrum

One-time1
  • "Unlock All Drum Kits"$1.99

Questions

Is iGuzheng free?
iGuzheng costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is PlayDrum free?
PlayDrum is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, iGuzheng or PlayDrum?
PlayDrum is rated higher. iGuzheng averages 4.4 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while PlayDrum averages 4.5 from 37 ratings.
Do iGuzheng or PlayDrum have ads?
Neither iGuzheng nor PlayDrum shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iGuzheng or PlayDrum?
iGuzheng ships an update every 6 weeks, and PlayDrum every 5 weeks. Most recently, iGuzheng was updated on November 1, 2026 and PlayDrum on October 24, 2026.

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