Comparison

Santoor HD vs Pulsar

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

Head to head
About

Santoor HD

Experience the traditional Santoor instrument with realistic sound and touch controls. Play individual notes, create vibrate effects by sliding, and even play semitones. Record and playback your musical creations with loop and fast-forward options.

Highlights
  • Realistic Santoor instrument simulation
  • Individual string touch for notes
  • Vibrate effect with horizontal sliding
  • Semitone playback option
  • Record and playback functionality
  • Loop and fast-forward playback
Read full description

Played the Harp? Try the Santoor - A Traditional Musical Instrument. Supports touching individual strings to play notes as well as sliding horizontally across a string for VIBRATE effect. Fade out your vibrate effect by sliding your finger to the edge of the Santoor. Now also includes the option to play semitones! ***** Ranked in the top 7 and top 25 in the India APP STORE in the Music category for iPad and iPhone respectively. *****Ranked in the top 31 in the Greece APP STORE in the Music category for iPad. ***** Ranked in the top 45 in the US APP STORE in the Music category for iPad. FEATURES * Hi Quality Retina Display Optimized Graphics * Studio Quality Sounds. Realistic Vibrate Effect with tuned strings across two octets. New option to also play Semitones * Fast, Fluid Touches and Sounds. Recognizes multiple touches with both hands * Features sliding across a string for VIBRATE effect. * Slide along a string to the edges for a unique fade out effect. * Switch to play Semitones to truly play out all of your melodies! (Pro Version) * Record And Playback your own creations * Options to Loop playback of recordings and also to play them at Fast Forward Speeds Questions/suggestions/bugs? Email us at: thesoftwarekitchen@gmail.com To fun times with "Santoor HD"!!

About

Pulsar

This music app provides a virtual drum machine with 8 pads for improvising and playing along to built-in rhythm presets. It features real-time rhythm switching, tempo control, and various effects. It also supports Ableton Link and MIDI for seamless integration with other music software and hardware.

Highlights
  • 8-pad drum machine
  • Built-in rhythm presets
  • Real-time rhythm switching
  • Tempo and accent control
  • Drive, reverb, and filter effects
  • Ableton Link synchronization
  • MIDI In/Out support
  • AUv3 compatibility
Features
Read full description

Pulsar-ES is a sample-based drum machine inspired by the Estradin Pulsar. Start with 128 factory rhythms, 64 in bank A and 64 in bank B, play the eight-pad kit, and edit MIDI notes and velocities. In version 1.0.8, Random rhythm generates a new pattern in the current slot. Swing adjusts the timing from 0 to 100%. Shape the sound with filter, reverb, overdrive, delay, chorus and compression. Save edited rhythms as separate user patterns; the factory patterns remain available. Open LINK for tempo-sync settings with compatible peers. Start/stop synchronization is a separate setting. With a MIDI output selected and a compatible route configured, send pattern notes to another instrument. In a plug-in host, routing depends on the host. For iPhone and iPad: standalone app and AUv3. Hosting, MIDI and Link features require the corresponding compatible setup.

Screenshots

Santoor HD2 screens
Pulsar4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pulsar at none against Santoor HD's 1. Pulsar also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). Santoor HD's advantage is review sentiment (85% vs 67%) and ratings volume (157 vs 7). On rating, ads 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

Santoor HD costs $2.99 and Pulsar $4.99 up front. Santoor HD sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Pulsar asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for Santoor HD against 4.3 for Pulsar. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Santoor HD has 157 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of Santoor HD's written reviews are positive against 67% of Pulsar's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Santoor HD ships an update every 3 months, Pulsar every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Santoor HD versus Pulsar: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSantoor HDPulsar
Price$2.99 — better$4.99
Rating4.3 (157 ratings) — better4.3 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews84.9% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings157 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB69 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSoftware-KitchenDmytro Kiro

Customer experience

Santoor HD

All ratings157 ratings
Positive83.4%
Neutral7.0%
Negative9.6%
Written reviews119 reviews
Positive84.9%
Neutral4.2%
Negative10.9%

Pulsar

All ratings7 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative16.7%

Bugs and requests

Santoor HD

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • App crashes immediately upon opening
  • Freezes on startup screen with stuck audio
  • Black screen with continuous sound on launch
  • Incompatible with iOS 10.2 and later versions
  • Popup keyboard fails to appear when saving recordings
Show 3 more
  • App becomes unresponsive and requires force close
  • Strange noise and visual glitches during startup
  • Recording feature doesn't function properly

Requested features

10 requests
  • iOS 11+ compatibility and regular updates
  • Note labels on strings for non-harp players
  • Ability to layer and edit recorded tracks
  • Audio input/output functionality
  • Better pitch control options
Show 5 more
  • Improved rhythm buttons with customization
  • Remove or reduce aggressive monetization
  • Better note selection precision
  • Export recorded songs functionality
  • Semitone access without paywall

Pulsar

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Santoor HD

One-time1
  • Santoor HD - No Ads$3.99
None

Pulsar

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Santoor HD free?
Santoor HD costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Pulsar free?
Pulsar costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Santoor HD or Pulsar?
Santoor HD is rated higher. Santoor HD averages 4.3 out of 5 from 157 ratings, while Pulsar averages 4.3 from 7 ratings.
Do Santoor HD or Pulsar have ads?
Neither Santoor HD nor Pulsar shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Santoor HD or Pulsar?
Santoor HD ships an update every 3 months, and Pulsar every 3 weeks. Most recently, Santoor HD was updated on October 26, 2026 and Pulsar on November 3, 2026.

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