# Santoor vs Cello Real

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Cello Real at none against Santoor's 6. Cello Real also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Santoor's advantage is review sentiment (69% vs 44%) and ratings volume (243 vs 65). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Santoor sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Cello Real asks for nothing beyond the download.

Cello Real holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 243 and 65 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 69% of Santoor's written reviews are positive against 44% of Cello Real's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Santoor ships an update every 2 months, Cello Real every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Santoor | Cello Real |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (243 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/santoor/id573562256/reviews) | **[4.8 (65 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cello-real/id6738165383/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **243** | 65 |
| Positive reviews | **68.6% of reviews** | 44.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 24 MB | 119 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Amir Kamali](https://appshunter.io/developer/488626145) | [Son Truong Ngoc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1447240720) |

## What reviewers say

### Santoor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/santoor/id573562256)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Membership - Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro Membership - Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| Pro Membership - Quarterly | $12.99 | per 3 months |
| Pro Membership - Annual | $24.99 | per year |
| Upgrade to Full version | $1.99 | one-time |
| Upgarde To Full version | $149.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Authentic and realistic santoor sound quality
- 🎨 Beautiful graphics and visual design
- 📱 Portable santoor instrument in pocket
- 🎓 Helpful for learning and practice
- 🎯 Accurate Persian classical tuning

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and force closes
- 🔇 No sound output on some devices
- 📢 Intrusive ads disrupting gameplay
- 🔊 Volume control unavailable or fixed
- ⚠️ Incompatible with iOS 13 and newer versions

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- MIDI keyboard connectivity
- Ability to play multiple strings simultaneously
- String highlighting during playback
- Built-in santoor tuner
- Demo songs with string highlighting for learning


### Cello Real

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cello-real/id6738165383)

This app simulates the sound and experience of playing a cello. It offers multiple play modes, including beginner-friendly and professional options, with features for practicing songs, recording, and sharing your music.

**Highlights:** Realistic cello sound simulation, Arco feature with hand drag bow, Multiple play modes (Simple, Professional, No Bow), Offline and online song practice, Adjustable song speed, Autoplay for listening, Recording and sharing functionality, Retune and reverb effects

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Santoor free?

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

### Is Cello Real free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Santoor or Cello Real?

Cello Real is rated higher. Santoor averages 4.3 out of 5 from 243 ratings, while Cello Real averages 4.8 from 65 ratings.

### Do Santoor or Cello Real have ads?

Both Santoor and Cello Real show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Santoor or Cello Real?

Santoor ships an update every 2 months, and Cello Real every 3 weeks. Most recently, Santoor was updated on November 7, 2026 and Cello Real on November 8, 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.*