Comparison

Handpan Play vs PanStrobe

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

Head to head
About

Handpan Play

Learn and practice playing the handpan with interactive lessons and song tutorials. Improve your rhythm and technique whether you are a beginner or an experienced player.

Highlights
  • Interactive handpan training
  • Rhythm improvement exercises
  • Learn new songs
  • Suitable for all skill levels
  • Practice with acoustic handpan
Features
Read full description

Stepping into the fascinating world of handpans has never been easier! Handpan Play is a comprehensive training and practice app where you can work interactively with your acoustic handpan, improve your sense of rhythm, and learn new songs. Whether you're a novice handpan enthusiast or an experienced musician looking to improve your techniques, Handpan Play is designed to guide you. Privacy Policy: https://handpan-play.vercel.app/en/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://handpan-play.vercel.app/en/terms-of-service

About

PanStrobe

Features
Read full description

PanStrobe is a harmonic strobe tuner built for handpan makers, tuners and players. A handpan note is not one frequency — it is a fundamental with an octave and a compound fifth tuned above it. PanStrobe shows all of them at once as true strobe motion: each ring is one partial, position is phase, and drift speed is exactly how far off you are. When a ring stands still, that partial is in tune. TUNE BY SIGHT • Half-circle strobe disc or horizontal strobe rows — one band per partial • True strobe physics: left = flat, right = sharp, stillness = in tune • Live cents readouts with glitch rejection — and no averaging: the wobble you see is real signal • Strobe divisors (÷2, ÷3, ÷5) slow the pattern for far-off notes HEAR THE WHOLE NOTE • Real-time spectrum with a piano-key axis and labelled peaks • Waterfall view: watch each strike's harmonics evolve over time • Automatic note detection, or lock to the note you are working on BUILT FOR THE WORKSHOP • Chromatic notes with octave control, adjustable A4 reference, global cents offset • Band editor with multi-partial templates (1:2:3 and more) • Pitch pipe on every band — double-tap a strobe for a reference tone • Dark, glare-free UI designed for metal shops • Works fully offline — audio never leaves your device, no account, no tracking FREE TRIAL, FAIR PRICING Every install starts with a full-featured 8-day trial. After that, the free tier stays a single-band chromatic strobe tuner. PanStrobe Pro adds what the app is really for — every partial of a note at once, the spectrum analyser, the band editor and the pitch pipe — monthly, or yearly at about 20% less. Made by Panlab — we build and tune handpans in Hong Kong. This is the tuner we use ourselves. Privacy Policy: https://panstrobe.app/privacy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Handpan Play4 screens
PanStrobe4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Handpan Play at none against PanStrobe's 2. Handpan Play also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs weekly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. PanStrobe sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Handpan Play asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Handpan Play ships an update every 3 days, PanStrobe weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Handpan Play versus PanStrobe: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHandpan PlayPanStrobe
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size71 MB8 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperBatuhan MericliPanlab Limited

In-app purchases

None

Handpan Play

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

PanStrobe

Subscriptions2
  • PanStrobe Pro7 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • PanStrobe Pro Yearly$76.991 Year

Questions

Is Handpan Play free?
Handpan Play is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PanStrobe free?
PanStrobe is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Handpan Play or PanStrobe have ads?
Neither Handpan Play nor PanStrobe shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Handpan Play or PanStrobe?
Handpan Play ships an update every 3 days, and PanStrobe weekly. Most recently, Handpan Play was updated on October 23, 2026 and PanStrobe on October 13, 2026.

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