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Simply Piano alternatives

Why people move on from Simply Piano, and nine apps that answer each reason, with what they do better and worse.

11 minute read · Checked 20 October 2026

Simply Piano is many people’s first piano app, and for a friendly start on a phone or tablet it does the job well. People look elsewhere for a few recurring reasons, and most of them come straight from how the app is built. Here are the reasons, and the apps that answer each one, with their real strengths and weak points.

Why people look for an alternative

  • No computer version. Simply Piano runs on iPhone, iPad and Android; Simply says there’s no Windows or desktop version1. If your keyboard sits next to a laptop, that matters.
  • Some tools are Apple-only. Bluetooth MIDI works on iPhone and iPad, not Android, and the song section’s Play and live Feedback tools are iOS only2,3.
  • More reading, less game. The courses teach reading, but there’s no sight-reading drill with music you haven’t seen.
  • Price you can see in advance. Simply doesn’t publish a price list: prices depend on country, platform and the offer of the moment4.
  • Wanting a person. Some learners reach a point where they want someone to explain technique, not a next level.

The alternatives at a glance

AppThe musicChecks your playing byWhat you playRuns onPrice (October 2026)
Simply Piano Sheet music in the courses; “interactive sheet music” for songs5,3 Microphone on any piano, or MIDI (Bluetooth MIDI on iPhone and iPad only)6,2 Fixed courses and a song library, unlocked as you progress3 iPhone, iPad, Android; no Windows, Mac or browser version1 No public price list; it varies by country and offer. The US App Store lists yearly plans from $95.99 to $149.994,7
flowkey Sheet music beside a video of hands; full sheet-music view on tablets8 Microphone (acoustic piano) or MIDI by USB or Bluetooth9,8 Fixed library of “thousands” of songs in four levels, plus courses8 Browser on PC, Mac and Chromebook; iPhone, iPad, Android10 A few free songs; Classic $16.49/month or $99.99/year, Premium $24.99/month or $149.99/year (US)11
Skoove A moving score; the full staff score for almost all lessons12,13 Microphone, USB MIDI or Bluetooth MIDI14 Fixed lessons and licensed songs; the free tier has 3 songs12,15 iPhone, iPad, Android; the web version was retired16,17 €29.99/month or €149.99/year (the same numbers in US dollars)15,12
Playground Sessions Sheet music; notes turn green, red or pink as you play18 MIDI by cable recommended; a microphone mode (beta) since 202519,20 Fixed: video lessons and 2,000+ song arrangements in three levels18 Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android, Chromebook (installed app)21 Monthly, yearly or lifetime; on sale in October 2026 at $19.99/month, $99.99 for the first year, $219.99 lifetime22
Piano Marvel Sheet music MIDI keyboard (USB recommended); microphone on iPhone and iPad only23 Fixed library: about 1,200 lessons in 18 levels, 25,000+ songs24,25 Browser (Chrome), Windows, Mac, Chromebook, iPhone, iPad; Android in beta23 Free plan; Premium $17.99/month or $129.99/year24
Pianote Video lessons; songs with scrolling notation26 Teachers, live Q&As and personal support; no note-by-note checking of your playing described27,28 Fixed: a step-by-step video method, courses and transcribed songs29,26 Browser, iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac (Apple chips)30,31 $25/month or $229/year; with songs $30/month or $279/year27
Sight Reading Factory Sheet music Auto Assessment of a recording through the microphone32 Generated: new exercises on demand, with settings for range, rhythms, keys and more33 Any modern browser, phones and tablets included; free iOS app34,35 $5/month or $45/year; 20 free exercises to try36
Pianomi Sheet music, written fresh for each piece MIDI keyboard by USB: every note, and in tempo mode every beat Generated: new pieces in 36 levels, plus note and chord cards, rhythm, reading ahead, ear training, scales and your own music Chrome or Edge on a computer, or an Android tablet with Chrome; an iPhone app is planned Free; in early access

Prices in US dollars unless marked, from each app’s own pages or the US App Store. Scroll sideways on a phone.

If you want to practise on a computer

flowkey

Songs taught from sheet music and a video of a pianist’s hands

flowkey is built around songs. Each one shows the sheet music with a video of a pianist’s hands playing it, and the app listens as you play, through the microphone or a MIDI keyboard37,8. Its wait mode holds the music until you find the right notes, and you can loop a passage, practise one hand or slow down37,8. The courses teach reading sheet music, finding your way round the keyboard and playing with both hands8.

It shows real notation, not falling notes, and tablets have a full sheet-music view8. What it doesn’t advertise is a sight-reading drill: you practise the songs in its library until you can play them.

Suits
Beginners and returning players who want to play songs they know, with a video to watch and a wait mode to keep them on track.
Checks your playing
Microphone (acoustic piano) or MIDI by USB or Bluetooth9,8
Runs on
Browser on PC, Mac and Chromebook; iPhone, iPad, Android10
Price (October 2026)
A few free songs; Classic $16.49/month or $99.99/year, Premium $24.99/month or $149.99/year (US)11
Strengths
  • A large song library in four levels, from classical to pop and film8.
  • Video of the hands next to the notation, which shows fingering and hand position37.
  • Runs in the browser on computers as well as on phones and tablets10.
  • Works with an acoustic piano through the microphone9.
Know before you choose
  • Built for learning set songs, not for reading new music at sight.
  • Microphone recognition needs a tuned piano and a quiet room; flowkey recommends MIDI on computers9,38.
  • Pop and film songs need Premium; Classic covers the courses and classical pieces. Prices vary by country11.
Does better than Pianomi
Thousands of songs, video of a pianist’s hands, phone and tablet apps, a microphone option for acoustic pianos, and it’s open to everyone today.
Website
flowkey.com/en

Playground Sessions

Video lessons and songs on sheet music that colours each note as you play

Playground Sessions, co-created by Quincy Jones, combines video lessons from its teachers with an interactive sheet-music player18,19. As you play, each note turns green when it’s right, red when it’s wrong and pink when it’s at the wrong time, and you get a score for accuracy18. Its Bootcamp teaches reading sheet music, and every song can show letter names or finger numbers, slow down, loop or print41,42.

It was long a cable-only app. A microphone mode for acoustic pianos arrived in 2025 as a beta, and the company still recommends a cable for exact pitch and timing and for feedback while you play19,20.

Suits
Beginner to intermediate players with a digital piano who want to learn popular songs from real notation, with clear note-by-note feedback and video teachers.
Checks your playing
MIDI by cable recommended; a microphone mode (beta) since 202519,20
Runs on
Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android, Chromebook (installed app)21
Price (October 2026)
Monthly, yearly or lifetime; on sale in October 2026 at $19.99/month, $99.99 for the first year, $219.99 lifetime22
Strengths
  • Note-by-note colour feedback on real staff notation, with a score18.
  • A big arranged library, most songs at three levels18.
  • Runs on Windows and Mac as well as phones, tablets and Chromebooks21.
  • A one-time lifetime plan22.
Know before you choose
  • Prices change with sales. Its help centre lists $149.99 a year and $349.99 for lifetime, and says lifetime includes two years of song access39.
  • You can’t add your own music40.
  • Fixed songs and lessons: no generated sight-reading exercises.
Does better than Pianomi
Thousands of songs, video lessons, apps for phones, tablets and computers, a microphone option, a lifetime plan, and it’s open to everyone today.
Website
playgroundsessions.com

If you want to stay on your phone or tablet

Skoove

Interactive piano lessons and songs on phones and tablets

Skoove (made by Learnfield in Berlin) gives you short interactive lessons and songs. A moving score shows what to play and when, the app listens through the microphone or a MIDI keyboard, and it gives feedback as you play12,14. Reading notation is part of the course, alongside theory, technique and video tutorials, and premium members can ask Skoove’s music instructors for help12. Almost every lesson ends with the full staff score13.

Lessons are in the app only: Skoove has retired its web learning platform, so there’s no desktop version16,17.

Suits
Adult beginners and children from about 7 who want structured lessons with songs on a phone or tablet, with an acoustic or digital piano.
Checks your playing
Microphone, USB MIDI or Bluetooth MIDI14
Runs on
iPhone, iPad, Android; the web version was retired16,17
Price (October 2026)
€29.99/month or €149.99/year (the same numbers in US dollars)15,12
Strengths
  • Note reading, theory and technique are part of the lessons, not only songs12.
  • Works with an acoustic piano through the microphone, or with MIDI by cable or Bluetooth14,43.
  • Help from instructors on Premium12.
  • A free tier, no card needed15.
Know before you choose
  • Phones and tablets only; no browser or desktop version16.
  • A fixed curriculum: no generated sight-reading exercises.
  • A one-time lifetime option exists, but its price is only given by support15.
Does better than Pianomi
A full lesson course with songs and videos, instructor support, phone and tablet apps, a microphone option, and it’s open to everyone today.
Website
skoove.com/en

Piano by Yousician

Game-like lessons and songs from the makers of Yousician

Yousician’s piano app shows the music in three styles (an enhanced view, a coloured view and plain sheet music) with a virtual keyboard that lights the keys and fingers, and listens through the microphone or a USB MIDI keyboard44.

Runs on
Computers, Android, iPhone and iPad44
Price (October 2026)
Premium $19.99/month or $119.99/year on the US App Store45
Website
yousician.com/piano

For a child taking lessons with a teacher who uses it, Simply’s own older iPad app is still available:

Piano Maestro

Simply’s older iPad app for children and piano teachers

Piano Maestro is still on the App Store, made by Simply (formerly JoyTunes), though Simply’s website no longer features it. It listens to you play and works through a journey of chapters, songs and exercises with reading, rhythm and both hands, and includes method-book material; teachers can use it with their students46.

Runs on
iPad only46
Price (October 2026)
$9.99/month or $59.99/year for families on the US App Store; teacher plans too46
Website
apps.apple.com/us/app/piano-maestro-by-joytunes/id604699751

If reading music is the goal

Piano Marvel

Method, song library and a sight-reading test, graded from a MIDI keyboard

Piano Marvel is the most reading-centred of the big piano apps. You play from real sheet music, and a MIDI keyboard tells it every note you played and when25. Practice Mode waits for you; Play Mode scores you48. The method runs to about 1,200 lessons in 18 levels, beside a large library of graded songs that includes arrangements from publishers such as Hal Leonard and Alfred24,25.

Its best-known feature is the SASR (Standard Assessment of Sight-Reading): an adaptive test that gives you 20 seconds to look at each piece, hands you a harder one while you score 80% or more, and ends after three pieces under 80%. It draws on thousands of pieces across 90 levels and gives a score out of 190047,50.

Suits
Learners with a digital piano who want a structured course, lots of real repertoire and a sight-reading score they can track; teachers and studios.
Checks your playing
MIDI keyboard (USB recommended); microphone on iPhone and iPad only23
Runs on
Browser (Chrome), Windows, Mac, Chromebook, iPhone, iPad; Android in beta23
Price (October 2026)
Free plan; Premium $17.99/month or $129.99/year24
Strengths
  • A standard, adaptive sight-reading test with a number you can follow over months47.
  • A very large graded library of real sheet music, and plans for teachers and schools24.
  • Precise grading from MIDI, and a mode that waits for you48.
  • Runs on computers (browser, Windows, Mac, Chromebook) and on iPhone and iPad23.
Know before you choose
  • Accurate grading needs a MIDI keyboard. The microphone option for acoustic pianos is on iPhone and iPad only, and Piano Marvel’s support pages say it is less accurate49,23.
  • The web app doesn’t run on iPhone or iPad, and the Android app is in beta23.
  • The sight-reading pieces come from a fixed set, large as it is; they aren’t written fresh for you.
Does better than Pianomi
Far more repertoire and lessons, video lessons, an iPhone and iPad app, a microphone option, plans for teachers and schools, and it’s open to everyone today.
Website
pianomarvel.com

Sight Reading Factory

A sight-reading exercise generator for most instruments and voices

Sight Reading Factory does one thing: it writes new sight-reading exercises whenever you ask, so you never read the same music twice33. You choose the instrument and level, and can fine-tune rhythms, range, leaps, accidentals, keys and time signatures33,36. Piano is one of many instruments: it also covers voices, band and orchestra instruments and whole ensembles33.

Paid plans include Auto Assessment: you record yourself through the microphone and it marks wrong, missing, early and late notes, at a strictness you choose32. There are no lessons and no songs. It’s built with school music programmes in mind, with classes, assignments and school sign-in36.

Suits
Anyone who wants an endless supply of fresh reading material: students and teachers in school choirs, bands and orchestras, and pianists who already have a teacher or a method.
Checks your playing
Auto Assessment of a recording through the microphone32
Runs on
Any modern browser, phones and tablets included; free iOS app34,35
Price (October 2026)
$5/month or $45/year; 20 free exercises to try36
Strengths
  • Unlimited new music, so you can’t memorise the exercises33.
  • Fine control over what each exercise contains36.
  • Inexpensive: $45 a year for one person36.
  • Works in any modern browser, on almost any device34.
  • Strong tools for teachers and schools36.
Know before you choose
  • No lessons, method or songs: you need the basics already, or a teacher or method for them.
  • Assessment works from a microphone recording, so a noisy room or a poor mic affects it32. A Sight Reading Factory blog post mentions MIDI keyboards in group piano classes51, but the assessment guide describes only the microphone.
  • It doesn’t publish how many difficulty levels there are.
Does better than Pianomi
It covers dozens of instruments and voices, has teacher and school tools, works on phones and tablets in any browser, and it’s open to everyone today.
Website
sightreadingfactory.com

Pianomi (early access)

Sight-reading practice graded from a MIDI keyboard, in the browser (early access)

Pianomi is the app this website belongs to, so read this entry with that in mind. It’s a sight-reading trainer: it writes new pieces for you in 36 levels, from single notes in one hand to both hands with chords, broken chords, accidentals and several keys, and listens to your MIDI keyboard to check every note. Wait mode holds the music until you find the notes; tempo mode keeps a metronome going and checks the beat too. Around that sit note and chord flashcards, rhythm reading, reading ahead (the music just past the cursor is covered, so your eyes learn to run ahead), ear training and scales, and you can bring your own music (MusicXML, MuseScore, MIDI, or PDFs from notation software) to practise with the same feedback.

What it isn’t: it has no song library, no video lessons and no teacher; it doesn’t run on phones yet; it needs a MIDI keyboard, with no microphone option; and it’s in early access, not open to everyone.

Suits
Players with a digital piano or MIDI keyboard who want to get better at reading new music, from first notes to early intermediate, and don’t mind practising at a computer.
Checks your playing
MIDI keyboard by USB: every note, and in tempo mode every beat
Runs on
Chrome or Edge on a computer, or an Android tablet with Chrome; an iPhone app is planned
Price (October 2026)
Free; in early access
Strengths
  • New music every time, so you’re always reading, never remembering.
  • Checks every note, and in tempo mode every beat, from your keyboard.
  • Small steps: 36 levels, and drills for notes, chords, rhythm and reading ahead.
  • Free.
Know before you choose
  • In early access: not open to everyone yet.
  • Needs a MIDI keyboard and Chrome or Edge on a computer; no phone app yet.
  • No song library, no video lessons, no teacher.
  • The levels go from beginner to early intermediate.

If you want a teacher

Pianote

Video lessons from real teachers, part of Musora

Pianote is Musora’s piano school: organised video lessons with named teachers, a step-by-step path called The Method, and courses such as “Read Music In 30 Days”52,29. Membership adds weekly live Q&As and personal support, and one Musora membership now covers piano, drums, guitar, voice and bass27. Songs come as note-for-note breakdowns with scrolling notation, loops and tempo control26,31.

It teaches you; it doesn’t grade you. Its official pages describe no MIDI or microphone checking of what you play: you follow the teacher and judge your own playing, with mentors and the community to ask28,27.

Suits
Learners who want a teacher explaining things on video (technique, chords, styles, playing by ear) and a community, more than a game or a score.
Checks your playing
Teachers, live Q&As and personal support; no note-by-note checking of your playing described27,28
Runs on
Browser, iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac (Apple chips)30,31
Price (October 2026)
$25/month or $229/year; with songs $30/month or $279/year27
Strengths
  • Real teachers and a structured video method, with a course on reading music52,29.
  • Live Q&As and personal support included27.
  • A 7-day trial and a 90-day money-back guarantee27.
  • Works on almost any device, in the browser too30,31.
Know before you choose
  • No automatic feedback on the notes you play; none is described on its official pages.
  • The song library costs extra27.
  • One membership covers five instruments, so you pay for lessons you may not want27.
Does better than Pianomi
Real teachers on video, a full method from technique to style, live Q&As and a community, songs, phone apps, and it’s open to everyone today.
Website
pianote.com

Before you switch

Most of these apps have a free tier or a trial, and several (flowkey, Simply Piano, Skoove) attach their trial to a yearly plan that renews unless cancelled11,5,15, so note the date. If you’ve outgrown the courses rather than the app, try a week of reading new easy music, from a book or our free sight-reading exercises, before paying for anything: it shows quickly whether reading or repertoire is what you’re missing.

Sources

Checked: 20 October 2026. Prices and features change; each app’s own page has the current details.

  1. Simply Piano help: supported OS versions: piano-help.hellosimply.com/en/articles/9174659-supported-os-versions-simply-piano
  2. Simply Piano help: Bluetooth headphones and Bluetooth MIDI: piano-help.hellosimply.com/en/articles/3987010-bluetooth-headphones-and-bluetooth-midi
  3. Simply Piano help: understanding PLAY: piano-help.hellosimply.com/en/articles/7943680-understanding-play
  4. Simply Piano help: subscribe to Simply Piano: piano-help.hellosimply.com/en/articles/2728030-subscribe-to-simply-piano
  5. Simply Piano help: what can I access for free? piano-help.hellosimply.com/en/articles/11056528-what-can-i-access-for-free-in-simply-piano
  6. Simply Piano help: improving note recognition: piano-help.hellosimply.com/en/articles/6210608-ways-to-improve-note-recognition-in-simply-piano-for-ios-keyboard-electronic-piano
  7. Simply Piano on the App Store: apps.apple.com/us/app/simply-piano-learn-piano-fast/id1019442026
  8. flowkey on the App Store: apps.apple.com/us/app/flowkey-learn-piano/id1020357408
  9. flowkey help: using an acoustic piano: help.flowkey.com/en/articles/651003-can-i-use-an-acoustic-piano-with-flowkey
  10. flowkey help: which devices are compatible? help.flowkey.com/en/articles/650972-which-devices-are-compatible-with-flowkey
  11. flowkey help: which subscription plans are available? help.flowkey.com/en/articles/4466337-which-subscription-plans-are-available
  12. Skoove: home page: www.skoove.com/en
  13. Skoove help: can I download or print the full sheet music? help.skoove.com/en/articles/5421916-can-i-download-or-print-the-full-sheet-music
  14. Skoove on the App Store: apps.apple.com/us/app/skoove-learn-to-play-piano/id1160668178
  15. Skoove: pricing: www.skoove.com/en/pricing
  16. Skoove help: is Skoove available as an iOS or Android app? help.skoove.com/en/articles/5417612-is-skoove-available-as-an-ios-or-android-app
  17. Skoove help: why is Skoove removing the web learning platform? help.skoove.com/en/articles/8170458-why-is-skoove-removing-the-web-learning-platform
  18. Playground Sessions: home page: www.playgroundsessions.com/
  19. Playground Sessions on the App Store: apps.apple.com/us/app/playground-fun-piano-lessons/id1139846930
  20. Playground Sessions help: why a cable is recommended: support.playgroundsessions.com/hc/en-us/articles/40387576759956
  21. Playground Sessions help: supported devices: support.playgroundsessions.com/hc/en-us/articles/52432909475604
  22. Playground Sessions: choose your free trial: www.playgroundsessions.com/choose-free-trial
  23. Piano Marvel support: requirements: support.pianomarvel.com/portal/en/kb/articles/requirements
  24. Piano Marvel: pricing: pianomarvel.com/pricing
  25. Piano Marvel on the App Store: apps.apple.com/us/app/piano-marvel-lessons-music/id1016751878
  26. Musora: piano: www.musora.com/piano
  27. Musora: pricing: www.musora.com/pricing
  28. Musora help: minimum gear to get started: help.musora.com/article/1081-what-is-the-minimum-gear-requirement-needed-to-get-started
  29. Pianote: The Method: www.pianote.com/method/
  30. Musora help: which browser should I use? help.musora.com/article/982-what-internet-browser-should-i-use
  31. Musora on the App Store: apps.apple.com/us/app/musora-the-music-lessons-app/id1460388277
  32. Sight Reading Factory: Auto Assessment: sightreadingfactory.com/focus/autoAssessment
  33. Sight Reading Factory: home page: www.sightreadingfactory.com/
  34. Sight Reading Factory: for educators: sightreadingfactory.com/educators
  35. Sight Reading Factory on the App Store: apps.apple.com/us/app/sight-reading-factory/id1046058520
  36. Sight Reading Factory: pricing: www.sightreadingfactory.com/pricing
  37. flowkey: home page: www.flowkey.com/en
  38. flowkey help: connecting to a laptop or PC: help.flowkey.com/en/articles/412925-connect-your-instrument-to-your-laptop-or-pc-mac
  39. Playground Sessions help: membership prices: support.playgroundsessions.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001017446
  40. Playground Sessions help: can I upload my own songs? support.playgroundsessions.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001202123
  41. Playground Sessions help: interactive and printable sheet music: support.playgroundsessions.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001095806
  42. Playground Sessions help: does Playground help with sight reading? support.playgroundsessions.com/hc/en-us/articles/360022634351
  43. Skoove help: connecting your piano or keyboard: help.skoove.com/en/articles/7135188-how-do-i-connect-my-piano-keyboard-with-the-device
  44. Yousician: piano: yousician.com/piano
  45. Piano by Yousician on the App Store: apps.apple.com/us/app/-/id1469033443
  46. Piano Maestro on the App Store: apps.apple.com/us/app/piano-maestro-by-joytunes/id604699751
  47. Piano Marvel: sight-reading test (SASR): pianomarvel.com/sight-reading
  48. Piano Marvel: home page: pianomarvel.com/
  49. Piano Marvel support: microphone assessment on iOS: support.pianomarvel.com/portal/en/kb/articles/ios-microphone
  50. Piano Marvel: The ultimate sight-reading test: pianomarvel.com/article/the-ultimate-sight-reading-test
  51. Sight Reading Factory blog: group piano: static.sightreadingfactory.com/blog/grouppiano
  52. Pianote: home page: www.pianote.com/

Reading new music, every day

Pianomi writes new pieces at your level and checks every note from your MIDI keyboard. It’s free, and early access is open for sign-ups.

Get early access