Comparison

This Is Not an App vs Panda Drum

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

Head to head
About

This Is Not an App

Transform your device into a space for secrets, dreams, and memories with creative tools and over 50 ideas. Explore a world of possibilities for artistic expression and personal reflection.

Highlights
  • Secret stashing
  • Dream recording
  • Memory keeping
  • Living picture frame
  • Creative drawing tools
  • Over 50 inspirational ideas
Features
Read full description

If this is not an app, then what is it? With This Is Not an App, you’ll transform your tablet or phone into a place to stash secrets, a way to procrastinate, a spot to record dreams and memories, a living picture frame, a souvenir of the world, and more. Discover a world of possibility right at your fingertips, using fun drawing tools and more than 50 ideas to inspire your creative process. From the creators of Wreck This App comes an imaginative exploration into all the different things an app can be. Daily Candy calls the app “…a genius application from the mind-bending team behind cult-loved alterna-journal This Is Not a Book.” Based on the idiosyncratic favorite by author and illustrator Keri Smith, This Is Not an App “…offers perhaps that most elusive thing: a chance to be creative,” according to Wired Insider.

About

Panda Drum

This app brings the soothing sounds of a steel tongue drum to your device. Learn to play with tutorials, jam along to meditative music, and personalize your sound. Explore premium features with a free trial.

Highlights
  • Step-by-step tutorials
  • Play along with meditative music
  • Customizable note layouts
  • Adjustable tempos and looping
  • Premium features trial
Features
Read full description

Panda Drum® – Relax, Play, and Create Music your way Bring the soothing, melodic tones of a steel tongue drum right into your hands with the Panda Drum® app. Whether you're here to learn, unwind, or explore your musical side, this app is designed to make music easy and enjoyable for everyone. With the Panda Drum® app, you can: Learn at your own pace • Follow step-by-step tutorials that guide you through the basics and beyond, making it simple to play—even if you’re a beginner. Play along with meditative music • Dive into a library of calming and cinematic tracks to play along with. Adjust tempos, loop sections, and make each session uniquely yours. Personalise your sound • Customise note layouts, keys, and playback options to craft music that feels perfect for you. Try Premium features • Enjoy advanced tools like speed adjustments, looping, and access to exclusive tracks during a free trial, unlocking even more ways to create and relax. Whether you're a seasoned musician or completely new to steel tongue drums, Panda Drum® makes it easy to find your rhythm, unwind, and create music that speaks to you.

Screenshots

This Is Not an App4 screens
Panda Drum3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: This Is Not an App at 57% against Panda Drum's 0%. This Is Not an App also leads on rating (4.5 vs 1.4) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). Panda Drum's advantage is price (Free vs $2.99) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 13 months). On ratings volume, 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

Panda Drum is free to download; This Is Not an App costs $2.99 up front. Panda Drum sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month. This Is Not an App asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

This Is Not an App holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 1.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 8 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 57% of This Is Not an App's written reviews are positive against 0% of Panda Drum's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

This Is Not an App ships an update every 13 months, Panda Drum every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
This Is Not an App versus Panda Drum: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThis Is Not an AppPanda Drum
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (8 ratings) — better1.4 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews56.5% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings88
Update frequencyEvery 13 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB51 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPenguin Group USAPanda Drum®

Customer experience

This Is Not an App

All ratings8 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive56.5%
Neutral8.7%
Negative34.8%

Panda Drum

All ratings8 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative87.5%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

This Is Not an App

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Panda Drum

Subscriptions1
  • Premium Subscription$1.991 Month

Questions

Is This Is Not an App free?
This Is Not an App costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Panda Drum free?
Panda Drum is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, This Is Not an App or Panda Drum?
This Is Not an App is rated higher. This Is Not an App averages 4.5 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Panda Drum averages 1.4 from 8 ratings.
Do This Is Not an App or Panda Drum have ads?
Neither This Is Not an App nor Panda Drum shows ads.
Which is updated more often, This Is Not an App or Panda Drum?
This Is Not an App ships an update every 13 months, and Panda Drum every 6 weeks. Most recently, This Is Not an App was updated on October 26, 2026 and Panda Drum on October 24, 2026.

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