Comparison

Tanbur Sim vs Maqam

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

Head to head
About

Tanbur Sim

Features
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Immerse yourself in the deep and resonant tones of the tanbur, an iconic string instrument that holds a special place in Turkish and Middle Eastern classical music. Tanbur Sim brings the authentic sound of this ancient instrument to your fingertips, offering an engaging and realistic experience for musicians, learners, and enthusiasts alike. About the Tanbur The tanbur is a long-necked lute with a rich history in Turkish classical and Ottoman music. Known for its deep, mellow sound and extraordinary sustain, it has been a key instrument in maqam-based music traditions. With its delicate fretting and intricate finger techniques, the tanbur allows musicians to explore expressive melodies and create atmospheric compositions. Why You’ll Love Tanbur Sim Authentic Tanbur Sounds Enjoy meticulously sampled tanbur tones, capturing its rich, resonant, and expressive character. From deep bass notes to shimmering high tones, the app faithfully replicates the tanbur’s unique sound. Customizable Interface Adjust the key layout and tuning to suit your playing style. Whether you’re performing traditional maqams or exploring contemporary music, Tanbur Sim adapts to your preferences effortlessly. Three Dynamic Play Modes Free Play Mode: Play multiple strings simultaneously to create layered harmonies and flowing melodies. Single Note Mode: Focus on individual notes, ideal for mastering maqams and tanbur techniques. Soft Release Mode: Add a natural fade-out effect for smooth and authentic performances. Record Your Performances Capture your tanbur music effortlessly with the built-in recorder. Perfect for refining your skills, composing new pieces, or sharing your artistry. Share Your Music Easily share your tanbur performances with friends, family, or audiences worldwide to showcase the beauty of this traditional instrument. What Makes Tanbur Sim Unique? True-to-Life Sound: Every note replicates the tanbur’s deep, resonant tones, capturing its full emotional depth and musical range. Cultural Significance: Dive into the heritage of Turkish and Middle Eastern maqam music, exploring traditional and modern possibilities. Elegant Design: A sleek, intuitive interface ensures a seamless experience for musicians of all levels. Creative Freedom: Whether performing classical maqams or experimenting with fusion styles, Tanbur Sim inspires endless creativity. Download Tanbur Sim today and let the timeless sound of the tanbur inspire your music!

About

Maqam

Features
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Maqam is a precision tuner and metronome for 24 Eastern stringed instruments and guitar, built for serious musicians who play makam music. INSTRUMENTS COVERED • Bağlama family: long-neck, short-neck (kısa sap), meydan sazı, divan sazı, çöğür, bozuk, tambura, bağlama curası, tambura curası • Ottoman classical: ud (Turkish + Arabic), kanun (24 perde groups), mızraplı tanbur, yaylı tanbur, klasik kemençe, Cüneyd Orhon kemençesi, lavta • Folk: cümbüş, Karadeniz kemençesi • Greek: bouzouki (trichordo + tetrachordo), lyra (Cretan + Pontian), baglamas • Levantine: buzuq (modern + Matar Muhammad) • Caucasus: Azerbaijani tar (11 strings + sympathetic) • Guitar: 6-string, 7-string, 8-string, 12-string AUTO STRING DETECTION Don't know which string you just plucked? Just play. Maqam listens to the incoming pitch and locks onto the closest tuning string within ±250 cents, then guides you to the exact target. Tap any string manually to override. ANALOG GAUGE A vintage half-circle needle gauge shows pitch deviation in cents. Green sweet-spot at ±15¢, red caution zones beyond. Bold, modern, no-nonsense. 90+ TUNING SYSTEMS • Bağlama: Bozuk Düzen, Bağlama Düzeni (Aşıklama), Misket, Müstezat, Hüseyni, Hüzzam, Sürmeli, Eviç, Abdal, Fidayda, Kayseri, Acemaşiran, Sabahi, Segâh, Kemençe, Zirgüle, Do Müstezat, and more • Ud: Klasik (Tanburi Cemil), Bam La, Bam Mi • Kanun: Çargâh Natural with all 24 AEU perde positions • Guitar: Standard, Eb, D, Drop D, Drop C, Double Drop D, DADGAD, Open G/D/E/A/C, Open D minor, Nashville, All Fourths, New Standard Tuning, lute/vihuela, baritone; 7-string B, Drop A, Russian, Brazilian; 8-string F#, Drop E; 12-string with every octave pair listed TSM TRANSPOSITIONS Concert pitch and TRT Türk Halk Müziği standards built in. Switch between La 220, Si bemol 233, Do 262 (TRT THM), and Re 294 reference frequencies on the fly. METRONOME Built-in metronome with time signatures 2/4 through 10/4, tap tempo, visual beat dots. LANGUAGES English, Türkçe, العربية, Ελληνικά, فارسی, Español, Italiano — switch any time in Settings. PRIVACY-FIRST Microphone audio never leaves your device. No analytics. No tracking. No account. No internet required. MAQAM PRO ($9.99 one-time) Unlock all 90+ tunings, 12 Bolahenk ahenk presets (Mansur, Kız, Süpürde, Bolahenk, etc.), AEU 24-perde notation display, 53-TET Holdrian koma precision, and recording. One purchase, lifetime access. Built with love for the Eastern music community. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://maqam.pro/privacy.html

Screenshots

Tanbur Sim4 screens
Maqam4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Maqam at none against Tanbur Sim's shown. Maqam also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 months). Tanbur Sim's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price and in-app purchases 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. Tanbur Sim sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Maqam sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tanbur Sim ships an update every 5 months, Maqam every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 2 level
Tanbur Sim versus Maqam: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTanbur SimMaqam
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 10 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size118 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlper KahrimanAlpgiray Kelem

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Tanbur Sim

One-time1
  • Get Premium$7.99
2 purchases

Maqam

Subscriptions1
  • Maqam Pro Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
One-time1
  • Maqam Pro Lifetime$29.99

Questions

Is Tanbur Sim free?
Tanbur Sim is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Maqam free?
Maqam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Tanbur Sim or Maqam have ads?
Tanbur Sim shows ads; Maqam does not.
Which is updated more often, Tanbur Sim or Maqam?
Tanbur Sim ships an update every 5 months, and Maqam every 10 days. Most recently, Tanbur Sim was updated on October 30, 2026 and Maqam on November 5, 2026.

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