PANet Handpan App Review: Lessons, Songs and a Panora Alternative
Looking for a handpan app on your phone? PANet is one of the names you will see most often, and for good reason: it makes learning the handpan feel like a game. Here is what we like about PANet, and why Panora is the app to reach for when you want to play freely, meditate and compose your own handpan music.
What is PANet?
PANet is a handpan app for iPhone, iPad and Android that describes itself simply: relax and learn handpan, with fun lessons, real songs and free play. It is aimed at complete beginners, and no prior musical experience is needed. On Google Play alone it has passed 10,000 downloads.
What PANet does really well
- Lessons that feel like play. PANet teaches through guided lessons and a game mode, including its own learning course. It is a gentle on-ramp if you have never touched a handpan.
- Real songs. You learn recognisable melodies rather than abstract exercises, which keeps motivation high.
- Notation and rhythm training. Interactive note visualisation, adjustable tempo and rhythm practice help you understand what you are playing. It can even convert numeric notation to solfège.
- Write and share songs. Recent updates added any time signature you like and PDF export for notation sheets.
- A beautiful, calm design. The app is built around the soothing side of the handpan, with background music and an audio visualiser.
If you want to be taught, step by step, PANet is a lovely place to start.
Why players choose Panora
PANet is a teacher. Panora is an instrument. It is built for the moments after the lesson, when you want to explore the sound, get lost in a pattern and make music that is your own.
50 handpan scales, one tap apart
Panora comes with 50 handpan scales, from D Kurd and D minor to brighter and more exotic tunings. Every scale is fully playable, with knock and slap percussion. Switching takes a tap, so you can find the tuning that matches your mood, or the real handpan you are thinking of buying.
An instrument that sounds real
Every note in Panora is a real recording with a warm attack and long, singing sustain. When you stop, the sound fades out gently the way real steel does. Turn on haptics and you feel every tap too. Try it right now in your browser on our home page.
Compose, record and loop
Panora's compose grid lets you set the tempo in BPM, choose a time signature and place notes on beats and subdivisions. Record a pattern straight from the handpan, loop it and layer new ideas on top. Because every note fits the scale, there are no wrong notes, only new ideas.
Built for meditation
Lock your phone and your song keeps playing, with controls on the lock screen. Start a slow loop, put on headphones and breathe. Read our five-minute handpan meditation to get started.
Open and play
There is no email and no sign-up screen in Panora. Open the app and tap the ding. Your songs can be backed up to your own iCloud Drive.
Made for content creators
Full screen mode gives you a 3-second countdown before playback, so you can start a screen recording and share your compositions on social media. And on the foldable iPhone Duo, Panora puts the handpan and the sequencer side by side.
PANet and Panora at a glance
| PANet | Panora | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Learning with lessons and songs | Playing, meditating and composing |
| Scales | Built around its lessons | 50 playable handpan scales |
| Composing | Notation with PDF export | Compose grid with recording and loops |
| Getting started | Email sign-in or guest mode | No sign-up, just open and play |
| Platforms | iOS and Android | App Store, Google Play coming soon |
Use them together
You do not have to pick one. Plenty of players learn the basics with lessons, then move to an instrument app to explore:
- Learn the layout and your first songs with PANet's lessons.
- Open Panora and play the same melodies across different scales to hear how the mood changes.
- Record a pattern you like in Panora's compose grid and loop it.
- Lock the screen, put on headphones and let it play while you breathe.
PANet FAQ
Is PANet free?
PANet is free to download on the App Store and Google Play. Check the store listing for any current in-app purchases.
Is there a PANet alternative for composing handpan music?
Yes. Panora is a virtual handpan app built for playing and composing, with 50 scales, a compose grid, loops and lock screen playback.
Do I need a real handpan to use these apps?
No. Both apps let you play on your phone. With Panora you can try 50 handpan scales before you ever buy a steel instrument.
Panora is not affiliated with PANet. Details about PANet are based on its public App Store and Google Play listings as of October 2026.