Comparison

Handpan Sim vs Array Mbira 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

Array Mbira Instrument

Experience the soothing sounds of the Array Mbira, Chromatic Kalimba, and Electric Finger Piano on your device. Create relaxing melodies, ambient soundscapes, or experimental music with an intuitive, multi-octave interface. Record and share your performances easily.

Highlights
  • Realistic Array Mbira sound
  • Multi-octave keyboard layout
  • Reverb, Echo, Chorus effects
  • Multiple world sound variants
  • Record and export audio
  • Intuitive UI for beginners and professionals
Features
Read full description

Experience the soothing, harmonic world of the Array Mbira, Chromatic Kalimba, and Electric Finger Piano directly on your device. This app transforms your phone into a beautiful, multi-octave lamellophone inspired by modern Array Mbira instruments used in Germany, Japan, France, and worldwide. Play relaxing melodies, create ambient soundscapes, or explore experimental music with an intuitive interface designed for beginners and professionals. Key Features -Realistic Array Mbira Sound -High-quality, studio-recorded tones based on chromatic and electric mbira layouts. -Multi-Octave Keyboard Layout -Swipe, zoom, and tap across extended ranges just like the real Array Mbira. Customize Your Sound -Reverb,Echo,Chorus,Ambient pads -Adjustable sensitivity and volume layers Multiple World Variants -Includes sound styles inspired by: -Chromatische Mbira (Germany) -アレイ・ムビラ / 電気カリンバ (Japan) -Mbira Chromatique / Piano à Pouce (France) -Traditional Zimbabwean Mbira dzavadzimu and Karimba Perfect for Meditation and Relaxation -Create calming ambient music, sound healing sessions, or background loops for sleep. Record and Share -Record your performances and export audio for sharing on YouTube, Reels, or social media. Beautiful UI -A clean, minimal, modern interface inspired by acoustic instrument design. Who Is This App For? -Musicians -Sound healers -Meditation and yoga practitioners -Ambient and lo-fi creators -Beginners exploring world instruments -Music students and educators Why You Will Love It -The Array Mbira app combines the soul of the African mbira, the innovation of modern chromatic layouts, and the flexibility of digital sound design. Relax, create, and experiment anytime, anywhere.

Screenshots

Handpan Sim4 screens
Array Mbira Instrument4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Array Mbira Instrument at 5.0 against Handpan Sim's 4.5. Array Mbira Instrument also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). Handpan Sim's advantage is ratings volume (43 vs 1). 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. Array Mbira Instrument asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Array Mbira Instrument holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. 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 Array Mbira Instrument: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHandpan SimArray Mbira Instrument
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (43 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
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 MB72 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlper KahrimanHimalay Diyora

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

Array Mbira Instrument

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Handpan Sim free?
Handpan Sim is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Array Mbira Instrument free?
Array Mbira Instrument is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Handpan Sim or Array Mbira Instrument?
Array Mbira Instrument is rated higher. Handpan Sim averages 4.5 out of 5 from 43 ratings, while Array Mbira Instrument averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Handpan Sim or Array Mbira Instrument have ads?
Handpan Sim shows ads; Array Mbira Instrument does not.

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