# Real Strings vs Colossus Piano

The clearest difference is rating: Colossus Piano at 3.3 against Real Strings's 2.7. Colossus Piano also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 41 months) and ratings volume (65 vs 3). Real Strings's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 9). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Colossus Piano sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Real Strings asks for nothing beyond the download.

Colossus Piano holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Colossus Piano has 65 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Real Strings's written reviews are positive against 54% of Colossus Piano's.

Real Strings ships an update every 41 months, Colossus Piano every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on June 12, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Real Strings | Colossus Piano |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/real-strings/id892260061/reviews) | **[3.3 (65 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/colossus-piano/id1122637899/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **65** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **54.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 41 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 11 MB | 384 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mooseok Bahng](https://appshunter.io/developer/843970427) | [Christian Schoenebeck d/b/a Crudebyte](https://appshunter.io/developer/428367741) |

## What reviewers say

### Real Strings

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/real-strings/id892260061)

Experience playing string instruments like a violin, viola, or cello using motion controls. Graphical guides help you play along to a variety of classical and folk songs, making it easy and educational for anyone to feel like a musician.

**Highlights:** Play violin, viola, and cello, Motion-controlled instrument simulation, Graphical guides for song play, Adjustable tempo and speed, Extensive song library, Educational and enjoyable

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Colossus Piano

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/colossus-piano/id1122637899)

Experience incredibly realistic piano sounds with a vast library of acoustic and electric piano models. This app offers advanced features like multi-velocity layers, pedal support, and MIDI integration for a professional playing experience.

**Highlights:** 13 high-quality piano models, 24 velocity layers per key, Sustain, Sostenuto, and Soft pedal support, MIDI integration (In/Out), Audio Unit v3 and Inter-App Audio support, Low latency disk streaming, Adjustable tuning options

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Vintage Upright | $9.99 | one-time |
| Historic S Grand | $9.99 | one-time |
| Pianino | $12.99 | one-time |
| Japanese Grand | $12.99 | one-time |
| Classic B Grand | $15.99 | one-time |
| Upright Piano | $19.99 | one-time |
| Colossus E-Piano Set | $19.99 | one-time |
| Baby Grand Piano | $26.99 | one-time |
| Colossus Concert Grand | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎶 Amazing piano sound quality
- 🎹 Realistic and detailed samples
- 🎧 High-fidelity audio
- ✨ Professional-grade instrument
- 💡 Inspiring and expressive

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🚫 No free trial or demo sounds
- 💸 Overpriced for some users
- 💾 Large storage requirements
- 🐌 Slow download times

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when exporting to WAV/M4A in GarageBand
- App crashes when switching piano models
- Audio Unit extension crashes
- No sound when exporting to GarageBand
- Plugin crashes in DAWs during export/freeze

**Requested features**

- Add chorus effect
- Global EQ
- Release control
- Tap tempo for modulation speed
- Save velocity curves


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Real Strings free?

Real Strings is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Colossus Piano free?

Colossus Piano is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Real Strings or Colossus Piano?

Colossus Piano is rated higher. Real Strings averages 2.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Colossus Piano averages 3.3 from 65 ratings.

### Do Real Strings or Colossus Piano have ads?

Neither Real Strings nor Colossus Piano shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Real Strings or Colossus Piano?

Real Strings ships an update every 41 months, and Colossus Piano every 2 months. Most recently, Real Strings was updated on June 12, 2026 and Colossus Piano on September 16, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*