Simply Piano Alternatives: 4 Options Worth Considering (2026)

Simply Piano is the default beginner pick — but it is also the priciest course app, mic-only, and easy to outgrow. These alternatives fix one of those things: cheaper, MIDI-precise, more serious, or free to try.

The app you are comparing against

Simply Piano

by Simply (formerly JoyTunes)

8.6 MetaScore 6 sources How the MetaScore works

Price: $150/yr · $20/mo
Free trial: 7-day free trial (card required)
Hears you via: Microphone
Platforms: iOS, Android

Try Simply Piano — 7-day free trial Read our Simply Piano review

Flowkey

Learn songs first, theory second — huge library with instant feedback.

$120/yr · $20/mo
1,500+ songs
Mic or MIDI
iOS
Android
Web

Flowkey is our top-ranked app because users love it more consistently than anything else in the category: the highest store ratings, the most forgiving learning curve, and a song library that keeps practice fun. Its weakness is structure — if you want a strict curriculum, look at Simply Piano or Skoove. For everyone else, this is the safest first download.

8.9 MetaScore 6 sources

Try Flowkey — 7-day free trial Read our Flowkey review

Pianote

The Netflix of piano lessons — video courses plus a live community.

$240/yr · $30/mo
500+ songs
Microphone
iOS
Android
Web

Pianote is the premium play and it shows in the ratings: real teachers, real community, and content that lasts years instead of months. The catch is the price — $240 a year — and the lack of instant note feedback. If you are serious about piano and self-motivated, it is worth every cent. If you want an app to tell you when you miss a note, get Flowkey instead.

8.8 MetaScore 5 sources

Try Pianote — 7-day free trial Read our Pianote review

Skoove

Real piano lessons online — AI feedback with an actual teaching method behind it.

$150/yr · $20/mo
400+ songs
Mic or MIDI
iOS
Android
Web

Skoove is the connoisseur pick: fewer songs, higher standards. If you care about playing correctly — posture, fingering, dynamics — rather than racking up streaks, its teaching method is the most serious of the course apps. The price is steep for what you get in songs, but the included instructor support narrows the gap.

8.4 MetaScore 5 sources

Try Skoove — 7-day free trial Read our Skoove review

Playground Sessions

Video lessons plus interactive sheet music — the course for keyboard-and-computer setups.

$150/yr · $18/mo · $290 lifetime
1,000+ songs
MIDI
iOS
PC
Mac

Playground Sessions is the value pick for one specific buyer: someone with a MIDI keyboard and a computer who wants real sheet music, not animations. The lifetime option is the best deal in the category if you commit. Everyone else should note the hard requirement — no MIDI keyboard, no app.

8.3 MetaScore 5 sources

Try Playground Sessions — 7-day free trial Read our Playground Sessions review

Why look beyond Simply Piano?

Simply Piano scores 8.6/10 on our MetaScore at $150/yr · $20/mo. The alternatives above beat it on at least one dimension that matters — price, teaching method, platform coverage, or depth. None of these rankings are sponsored; every score is computed from public ratings. How we rate.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free alternative to Simply Piano?

Of the apps we track, Piano Tree offers a free tier with no card required, and Piano Marvel's 30-day trial is the longest evaluation window. "Free" usually means limited — use the free tier to decide whether the paid product deserves your money.

What is the cheapest alternative to Simply Piano?

Piano Marvel and Flowkey both run about $120/year — among the cheapest full-featured plans we track — versus $150/yr · $20/mo for Simply Piano. Check our deals page before paying list price anywhere.

Prices and ratings verified September 27, 2026. How we rate apps.