Comparison

Handpan Sim vs Hang Drum Instrument

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

Head to head
About

Handpan Sim

Explore the meditative sounds of the handpan with this simulator. It offers authentic tones, microtonal tuning, and adjustable effects for creative musical expression. Record and share your performances easily.

Highlights
  • Authentic handpan sounds
  • Microtonal tuning
  • Adjustable reverb and chorus effects
  • Dynamic key sensitivity
  • Multiple play modes
  • Built-in performance recorder
  • Screen recording capability
Features
Read full description

Handpan Sim puts a real-sounding handpan drum on your iPhone and iPad. Every tone is sampled from a real handpan and rings out naturally in a warm room, so a single tap already sounds like music. No account, no lessons to sit through: open the app and play. PLAY IT LIKE THE REAL THING - Tap a tone field for melody and the centre for the deep Ding. Use several fingers for chords. - Tak and Knuckle keys add percussion beside the drum. On iPad, a hit on the bare shell plays a tak. - Touch dynamics: hits at the centre of a field sound fuller, hits near the edge softer, and every hit varies slightly, like a real pan. - Slide to play: run your finger across the fields to play fast rolls without lifting it. - Built on a low-latency audio engine for tight, responsive play. 63 HANDPAN SCALES, ANY DING - Kurd, Celtic Minor and Amara, Hijaz, Pygmy and Low Pygmy, Integral, Mystic, La Sirena, Aegean, Sabye, Equinox, Golden Gate, Magic Voyage, Ysha Savita, Avalon, Akebono, Insen, Raga Desh, Saladin and many more. - Move the Ding up or down to play any scale in the key you want. - Search by name or note, browse by family and preview a scale before it goes on stage. - Centered or Split note layout, with note names, numbers or both. LOOP AND LAYER - The Looper records a phrase and repeats it so you can play over it. - Add layer after layer, mute or balance each one, undo and redo. - Set tempo, beats per bar and count-in, or tap the tempo in. Change the tempo and the loop stretches to fit. - A metronome keeps you in time. RECORD AND SHARE - Record performances of up to 30 minutes. - Save a loop as a recording, with the number of repeats you choose. - Share any take as a WAV file to your DAW, messages or social apps. YOUR STAGE - Fourteen finishes, from Leather and Brass to Nitrided Obsidian and Rose Gold. - An ambient lamp and strike glow you can tune to any colour. - Reverb, master volume and haptic feedback. - iPhone in portrait, iPad in portrait and landscape. GREAT FOR Meditation and yoga sessions, relaxing after work, sound healing practice, songwriting, film and game sketches, or simply trying a handpan before you buy one. FREE TO PLAY The full instrument, the Looper, the metronome and recording are free. Kurd 9, Amara 9 and Hijaz 9 are open from the start, and any other scale opens for the session with a short ad. HANDPAN SIM PREMIUM - All 63 scales, with no ads to unlock them - Two handpans on stage at once - Keep every take and loop in your library - All fourteen finishes - No ads Premium is offered as a yearly subscription with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers, a monthly subscription, or a one-time lifetime purchase. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. A subscription renews automatically unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. You can manage or cancel subscriptions in your App Store account settings. Any unused part of a free trial is forfeited when you buy a subscription. Terms of Use: https://alyakastudio.com/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://alyakastudio.com/privacy-policy/

About

Hang Drum Instrument

Experience the tranquil sounds of the Handpan, also known as the Hang Drum, on your device. This app offers real instrument samples, multiple scales, and ambient backgrounds to aid relaxation, meditation, and creative exploration.

Highlights
  • Real handpan and hang drum sound samples
  • Multiple musical scales
  • Gentle touch response
  • Ambient background layering
  • Recording and playback
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

This app brings the calming sound of the Handpan, also known as the Hang Drum, Pantam, Steel Hand Drum, and Meditation Drum, directly to your device. The instrument is known for its soft, harmonic tones that help create a peaceful atmosphere and support deep relaxation. The sounds in this app are recorded from real instruments to preserve the natural resonance and warmth. Whether you are practicing meditation, looking for focus, composing music, or simply exploring sound, this app provides an easy and enjoyable playing experience. You can play freely, choose different scales, create your own melodies, and save your recordings. No musical training is required. Features: • Real handpan and hang drum sound samples • Multiple scales such as D Kurd, Celtic, Amara, Integral, Hijaz, and more • Play with gentle touch response for natural sound behavior • Option to layer ambient backgrounds for meditation sessions • Recording and playback function for personal compositions • Simple, clean interface designed for calm use • Works offline without internet • Suitable for music practice, sound therapy, yoga, and relaxation Who This App Is For: • People who enjoy ambient and meditative music • Yoga instructors and practitioners • Mindfulness and sound therapy practitioners • Musicians exploring new tonal textures • Anyone looking for a calming and creative experience

Screenshots

Handpan Sim4 screens
Hang Drum Instrument4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Handpan Sim at 4.5 against Hang Drum Instrument's 1.0. Handpan Sim also leads on ratings volume (43 vs 1). Hang Drum Instrument's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price 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

Both are free to download. Handpan Sim sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Hang Drum Instrument asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Handpan Sim holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Handpan Sim has 43 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Handpan Sim versus Hang Drum Instrument: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHandpan SimHang Drum Instrument
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (43 ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings43 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 months—
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size71 MB106 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlper KahrimanHimalay Diyora

Customer experience

Handpan Sim

All ratings43 ratings
Positive83.7%
Neutral7.0%
Negative9.3%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative40.0%

Hang Drum Instrument

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Handpan Sim

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly7 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$29.99
None

Hang Drum Instrument

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Handpan Sim free?
Handpan Sim is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hang Drum Instrument free?
Hang Drum Instrument is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Handpan Sim or Hang Drum Instrument?
Handpan Sim is rated higher. Handpan Sim averages 4.5 out of 5 from 43 ratings, while Hang Drum Instrument averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Handpan Sim or Hang Drum Instrument have ads?
Handpan Sim shows ads; Hang Drum Instrument does not.

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