# Chinese Instruments vs Harp Real

The clearest difference is rating: Harp Real at 4.7 against Chinese Instruments's 3.8. Harp Real also leads on ratings volume (645 vs 4) and update cadence (every 15 months vs every 32 months). Chinese Instruments's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 68%) and monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Harp Real holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Harp Real has 645 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of Chinese Instruments's written reviews are positive against 68% of Harp Real's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Chinese Instruments ships an update every 32 months, Harp Real every 15 months. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chinese Instruments | Harp Real |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chinese-instruments/id560434784/reviews) | **[4.7 (645 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/harp-real/id1481348599/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **645** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 67.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 32 months | **Every 15 months** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 198 MB | 97 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hon Fai Yiu](https://appshunter.io/developer/498484006) | [Son Truong Ngoc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1447240720) |

## What reviewers say

### Chinese Instruments

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chinese-instruments/id560434784)

Explore the rich history and diverse sounds of traditional Chinese musical instruments. Discover detailed information, high-resolution images, and representative music for 24 unique instruments, categorized by type.

**Highlights:** 24 Chinese instruments detailed, High-resolution instrument images, Descriptive text for each instrument, Representative music samples, Integrated music player, YouTube video links, Categorized instrument list

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Harp Real

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/harp-real/id1481348599)

This app simulates a 27-string lever harp, offering a realistic playing experience with a wide frequency range. Practice songs with adjustable speed and transposition, or play in real-time. Record and share your music.

**Highlights:** 27-string lever harp simulation, Frequency range C3 to A6#, Offline and online song practice, Adjustable song speed and transposition, Reverb effect, Normal and RealTime play modes, Autoplay option, Record, playback, and share functionality

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Realistic harp sound quality
- 💰 Free app with premium features
- 🎛️ Adjustable parameters (reverb, room size, tuning levers)
- 🎼 Built-in songs included
- 😌 Relaxing and enjoyable to play

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📢 Unexpected ads during gameplay
- 📖 Lack of instruction manual/documentation
- 🔊 Sound issues for some users
- 🎵 Pitch accuracy problems reported
- ❌ Missing second hand notes for some songs

**Reported bugs**

- No sound output for some users
- Volume control not easily accessible
- Incorrect pitches in some instances
- App not functioning properly on some devices

**Requested features**

- Background play functionality
- Transpose button
- Second hand notes for all songs
- Better documentation/tutorial


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chinese Instruments free?

Chinese Instruments is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Harp Real free?

Harp Real is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Chinese Instruments or Harp Real?

Harp Real is rated higher. Chinese Instruments averages 3.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Harp Real averages 4.7 from 645 ratings.

### Do Chinese Instruments or Harp Real have ads?

Both Chinese Instruments and Harp Real show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Chinese Instruments or Harp Real?

Chinese Instruments ships an update every 32 months, and Harp Real every 15 months. Most recently, Chinese Instruments was updated on October 22, 2026 and Harp Real on October 21, 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.*