Comparison

Santoor vs Viola Real

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

Head to head
About

Santoor

Transform your device into a virtual stringed musical instrument. Learn to play, record your own songs, and share them with a global community. Enjoy high-quality studio sounds and a responsive interface for an immersive musical experience.

Highlights
  • Virtual Santoor instrument
  • High-quality studio sounds
  • Record and save playings
  • Export audio files
  • Share playings online
  • Multi-touch support
  • Learn by watching
Features
Read full description

Turn Your iPhone or iPad into a musical instrument Try having an expensive instrument in your hand wherever your are, with the best quality ever An AWARD WINING APP that You wont believe ,even while you are playing it ! • What is Santoor ? SANTOOR (SANTOUR) is a classic Chordophone(Stringed) musical instrument that is originated in Persian Empire , This instrument is also knowns as the source of "Hammered-Duclimer" and idea of making Piano in Europe, Santoor is a very easy to learn instrument but it needs experience for mastering it.You can absolutely start playing Santoor and make songs with your inspiration and make progress in using this instrument.You also have a chance to download and listen to other user's playings and relax with beautiful playings that publishes in to your app for FREE. • Awsome ? _________________________________________ Santoor app is a unique tool for adding fun to your iPhone/iPad/iPod Device and turn it into a gorgeous musical instrument.You have a chance to play & hear songs with beautiful and High-quality samples that have been recorded in professional studios beside of gorgeous and High-Res user interface. • APP FEATURES: _________________________________________ - Super fast and responsive UI on touching threads - Multi-touch support - Hand gestures simulations - Supports iPhone , iPad , iPod - Export your playings as Audio Files and use them in any other audio player outside of Santoor app! - Play whatever you like by your inspiration - Save your playings and enjoy playing them - Maximize your enjoying with super high quality and studio recorded sounds. - Publish your playings , hear it on your other iDevices and let others hear yours - Browse Online and access to more playings FREE - Slow down or speed up the playings. - Professionals you can use the exported audio files and mix it with other instruments! - This app can help you learn playing other recorded sounds by showing the position of hands while playing. - See the music notations while running iPad Terms of Service: https://sydneyappdev.com/terms-of-service/ Privacy Policy https://sydneyappdev.com/Privacy-Policy/

About

Viola Real

This app simulates playing the viola with two distinct techniques: bowing (Arco) and plucking (Pizzicato). It offers practice songs with adjustable speed, multiple difficulty modes, and a recording feature for sharing.

Highlights
  • Arco (bowing) and Pizzicato (plucking) simulation
  • Practice songs with adjustable speed
  • Simple and Professional play modes
  • Autoplay feature
  • Recording and sharing capability
  • Regular song updates
Features
Read full description

The Viola is a string instrument that is bowed or played with varying techniques. It is slightly larger than a violin and has a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of the violin family, between the violin (which is tuned a perfect fifth above) and the cello (which is tuned an octave below).[5] The strings from low to high are typically tuned to C3, G3, D4, and A4. In the past, the viola varied in size and style, as did its names. The word viola originates from the Italian language. The Italians often used the term: "viola da braccio" meaning literally: 'of the arm'. "Brazzo" was another Italian word for the viola, which the Germans adopted as Bratsche. The French had their own names: cinquiesme was a small viola, haute contre was a large viola, and taile was a tenor. Today, the French use the term alto, a reference to its range. The viola was popular in the heyday of five-part harmony, up until the eighteenth century, taking three lines of the harmony and occasionally playing the melody line. Music for the viola differs from most other instruments in that it primarily uses the alto clef. When viola music has substantial sections in a higher register, it switches to the treble clef to make it easier to read. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola) The Viola Real is simulation app with Arco (using hand drag Viola bow) and Pizzicato (using hand touch) feature. Frequency range: C3 -> D5#. More offline and online songs for practice (With the ability to change speed) Play with 2 modes: - Simple (Recommend for Beginner): Only use right hand for dragging Viola bow (Arco) or touching Viola string (Pizzicato) - Professional: Use 2 hands. Use right hand for dragging Viola bow (Arco) or touching Viola string (Pizzicato). Use left hand for choosing note (frequency) in Viola string. You can choose autoplay for listening songs. Record feature: record, play back and share to your friends. ** Songs is updated regularly

Screenshots

Santoor4 screens
Viola Real4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Viola Real at none against Santoor's 6. Viola Real also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). Santoor's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 46 months) and review sentiment (69% vs 44%). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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

Both are free to download. Santoor sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Viola Real 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 against 4.3 for Viola Real. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 242 and 114 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 69% of Santoor's written reviews are positive against 44% of Viola Real's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Santoor ships an update every 2 months, Viola Real every 46 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Santoor versus Viola Real: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSantoorViola Real
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (242 ratings)4.3 (114 ratings) — better
Positive reviews68.6% of reviews — better44.4% of reviews
Number of ratings242 — better114
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 46 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAmir KamaliSon Truong Ngoc

Customer experience

Santoor

All ratings238 ratings
Positive83.2%
Neutral4.2%
Negative12.6%
Written reviews105 reviews
Positive68.6%
Neutral5.7%
Negative25.7%

Viola Real

All ratings110 ratings
Positive87.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.7%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive44.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative55.6%

Bugs and requests

Santoor

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • App crashes immediately upon opening
  • Splash screen opens then closes
  • iOS 13+ compatibility issues
  • No sound on iPad Air 2 and iPad Pro
  • Ads replacing santoor image and disrupting touch controls
Show 4 more
  • Search functionality crashes
  • Paid version features not unlocking
  • App hangs when accessing contacts
  • Volume control not responding to system settings

Requested features

11 requests
  • MIDI keyboard connectivity
  • Ability to play multiple strings simultaneously
  • String highlighting during playback
  • Built-in santoor tuner
  • Demo songs with string highlighting for learning
Show 6 more
  • GarageBand integration
  • Adjustable volume control
  • Additional instruments (oud, daf, tar)
  • Improved hand simulator
  • Device compatibility selection/tuning
  • Offline demo downloads

Viola Real

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Santoor

Subscriptions4
  • Pro Membership - Weekly$3.997 Days
  • Pro Membership - Monthly$5.991 Month
  • Pro Membership - Quarterly$12.993 Months
Show 1 more
  • Pro Membership - Annual$24.991 Year
One-time2
  • Upgrade to Full version$1.99
  • Upgarde To Full version$149.00
None

Viola Real

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Santoor free?
Santoor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Viola Real free?
Viola Real is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Santoor or Viola Real?
Viola Real is rated higher. Santoor averages 4.3 out of 5 from 242 ratings, while Viola Real averages 4.3 from 114 ratings.
Do Santoor or Viola Real have ads?
Both Santoor and Viola Real show ads.
Which is updated more often, Santoor or Viola Real?
Santoor ships an update every 2 months, and Viola Real every 46 months. Most recently, Santoor was updated on November 1, 2026 and Viola Real on November 3, 2026.

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