Simply Piano Review (2026): Is It Worth It?
Simply Piano is the biggest name in piano apps — by downloads, by review count, and by marketing budget. With over 275,000 combined App Store and Google Play ratings, it has been tested on more beginners than every other app on this page combined. That scale is its superpower: the curriculum has been refined against millions of real learners. It is also the most expensive course app here, and the upsell screens never quite stop.
Try Simply Piano — 7-day free trialQuick facts
| Annual price | $150/yr · $20/mo |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial (card required) |
| Platforms | iOS, Android |
| How it hears you | Microphone |
| Song library | 5,000+ songs |
| Course style | Structured course |
| Skill levels | beginner, intermediate |
| Kids mode | Yes |
Pros
- Largest user base in the category — courses are battle-tested on millions of beginners
- Mic input means zero setup: put your phone on the music stand and play
- Genuinely good kids profiles and family plans
- Clear, gamified progression from first notes to two-handed playing
Cons
- Priciest of the course apps at ~$150/yr with aggressive upsell screens
- Mic detection struggles in noisy rooms; MIDI users get little benefit
- Song library leans pop; classical and jazz players will outgrow it
How Simply Piano teaches
The method is mic-based: set your phone on the music stand and the app listens to any piano or keyboard — no cables, no MIDI, no setup friction. Lessons are gamified courses that progress from single notes to two-handed playing, with instant feedback on wrong notes and rhythm. Kids profiles are genuinely good, not an afterthought. The trade-off of mic input is accuracy: in a noisy room, detection suffers, and advanced players will find the feedback shallow compared to MIDI-based scoring.
Pricing: what it really costs
Simply Piano costs $20/month or about $150/year on the annual plan, which makes it the priciest of the course-style apps — $30 a year more than Flowkey for a comparable subscription. Family plans exist and soften the blow if multiple people will use it. The 7-day free trial requires a card, so set a reminder if you only want to evaluate it. There is no lifetime option and no meaningful free tier; this is a pay-to-play app.
Compare Simply Piano on the full rankingWho it is for — and who should skip it
For: Total beginners — especially adults starting from zero and families with kids — who want the most hand-holding and the most proven curriculum. If your priority is "tell me exactly what to practice every day," this is the app.
Skip it if: Intermediate players (you will hit the ceiling within months), anyone in a noisy practice space where mic detection struggles, and MIDI keyboard owners who would get more precise feedback from Playground Sessions or Piano Marvel.
Head-to-head comparisons
- Simply Piano vs Flowkey
- Simply Piano vs Skoove
- Simply Piano vs Playground Sessions
- Simply Piano vs Piano Marvel
- Simply Piano vs Pianote
- Simply Piano vs Piano Tree
Frequently asked questions
How much does Simply Piano cost?
About $150 per year on the annual plan, or $20 per month. It is the most expensive course-style app we track — Flowkey and Piano Marvel cost less per year. A 7-day free trial is available but requires a credit card.
Does Simply Piano work with a real piano?
Yes. It uses your device microphone to hear notes, so it works with an acoustic piano, a digital piano, or any keyboard — nothing to plug in. That convenience is the point; the trade-off is that mic detection is less precise than MIDI in noisy rooms.
Is Simply Piano good for kids?
It has the best kids profiles of any app we track, with age-appropriate courses and a family plan. If the app is primarily for a child, Simply Piano is the safest pick on this page.
Is Simply Piano worth it in 2026?
For a total beginner who will actually practice daily, yes — the curriculum is the most refined in the category. For anyone past the beginner stage, no: you will outgrow it fast at $150 a year. Start with the free trial and judge it by whether you finish the first two courses.
Prices and ratings verified September 27, 2026. How we rate apps.