6 Best Piano Learning Apps of 2024

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Piano learning apps can be incredibly convenient, saving you from having to go to in-person lessons and giving you the ability to learn on your own time. Instead of having to see your instructor for an hour every Tuesday at 3 p.m. (who among us has the time), you can pick up your phone or tablet, head to a top-tier piano learning app like Simply Piano, and play away.

I took the time to analyze some of the top-rated piano apps currently available to see what works and what doesn't. Each comes with its own educational content, a variety of lessons to choose from, and customized learning plans to further make your musical journey your own.

I know that if I were just starting out piano today, or looking to brush up on my skills, the convenience and affordability of learning piano from an app would be a lot more feasible than in-person lessons.

So whether you're a beginner learning piano basics, or getting back into playing piano for the first time in years, you can pick up exactly where you need to with these convenient piano learning apps.

Let's take a look.

Best Piano Learning Apps

SPECS:

• Subscription: $19.99 per month, Annual: $119.99 per year, Lifetime: $299.99 one-time payment
• Features: Gamification style makes learning fun, earn rewards from progress, profile creation
• Content: Basic and advanced techniques, four total lesson levels

If you've been researching piano learning apps you've likely seen Simply Piano on the app store by now. Its game-style design entices and excites users to keep them interested in the learning process while they're using the app.

Simply Piano has a curriculum geared towards basic and advanced piano techniques. The lessons are divided into 4 levels in total. AI generates immediate feedback, which is useful in a software teaching tool and can provide users with the instant feedback they need to learn quickly.

It's user-friendly and the perfect choice for users new to the piano and for those who just want to brush up on their skills. Simply Piano also comes with plenty of subscription options so you can find the right plan for your learning journey.

If you're interested in learning how to play the piano and want somewhere to begin, check out Simply Piano. Their intuitive design and gamification make it easy to come back to your lessons. It's great for children, young beginners, or anyone looking for a rewards-based system of learning piano.

What Could Be Improved

• Could offer more lesson plans to expert players
• Not much else

SPECS:

• Subscription: $30 a month, $19.99 a month for 3 months, $12.49 for 12 months
• Features: Personalized lessons, AI analysis for real-time feedback, wide range of music selection
• Content: Techniques, music theory, sight reading, improvisation

If you're looking for quality interactive lessons, Skoove may be the best piano app for you. The lessons are engaging and personalized to your skill level. A unique feature about this piano app is that it uses AI to analyze your playing and provide feedback in real time. One user writes, "The app picked up my notes easily, even with the sound barely on."

It covers a broad range of learning elements like techniques, music theory, sight reading, and improvisation, making it a great beginning place for kids. Children looking to learn piano can use Skoove to create a solid foundation to build upon for the rest of their musical careers.

Skoove has gained popularity with its vast music library from classical and up to today's hits from artists like Coldplay, Adele, and John Legend and everything in between. They have some of the best music from some of the hottest artists currently performing.

It does have a free level, but it's only for 4 lessons. If you want access to 400 lessons, updated monthly songs, authentic feedback from real instructors, and special courses, you'll have to pay $30 a month, $19.99 a month for 3 months, or $12.49 for 12 months.

Start with the free trial to try out Skoove's amazing platform for learning piano.

What Could Be Improved

• Free trial doesn't include much

SPECS:

• Subscription: $19.99 per month, $13.99 per month (6-month sub), $9.99 per month (12-month sub)
• Features: Microphone and MIDI connectivity, Wait and Slow Motion modes, instant feedback
• Content: Music reading, chords, improvisation technique

Flowkey is another piano-learning app with a great reputation. With over 42,000 ratings at an average of 4.7 stars, it's clearly one of the best. Where other apps introduce you to the piano, Flowkey introduces you to an entirely new level of piano playing.

It includes learning resources like step-by-step instructions for reading music, chord charts, improvisation techniques, video and sheet music, left and right hand exercises, and more. Instant feedback is the next best thing to being in the room with an instructor.

Other features you'll enjoy are Wait Mode, which analyzes your playing and waits for you to hit the right notes, and Slow Motion that plays content at a reduced speed so you can get comfortable before trying it at full tempo. Video lessons can be played in Slow Motion as well, and if you really need to focus on a section, you can loop it until you master it.

One of the best features for beginners that not all apps offer is Select a Hand. This lets you practice each hand independently, which is a major bonus for novice players as they develop muscle memory, finger strength, and dexterity.

The Flowkey song library has hundreds of songs ranging from classical to pop, and it can monitor playing accuracy via microphone or MIDI connection. You can try it for free without obligation to continue or buy in. Read our full in-depth Flowkey Review for a deeper look.

What Could Be Improved

• Not ideal for kids

SPECS:

• Subscription: $30 a month, $240 for the whole year.
• Features: Large library of songs, sheet music and play-along tracks
• Content: Multiple genres, interactive lessons, exercises, feedback

Pianote online piano method is focused on providing access to real teachers. Instead of focusing just on fundamentals their approach is more playing application based. The point of learning piano is to be able to play the instrument, not just mess around with endless exercises.

I like this app for its interactive lessons, exercises, and feedback. Pianote's instructors are knowledgeable, well-trained, and provide kind and straightforward guidance and feedback so you can progress faster.

The focus for this piano learning app is on learning songs, and their library of over 1,000 covers every skill level, style, and era you could want. Sheet music and play-along tracks straight from the app will save you time searching for songs elsewhere; though full sheet music is only available with the paid plan.

If you're looking to learn through an app that focuses on working with a real instructor, this is the next best thing to being in a room with one. It's a great choice for novice players, with one user stating, "If you are a complete beginner, look no further!"

Pretty similar to Skoove, Pianote is a subscription-based learning app for classical, pop, rock, and jazz training. Pianote offers free lessons, and Pianote+ offers free lessons and access to the library of songs.

As for cost, it's $30 a month or $240 for the whole year. You'll save $10 a month if you subscribe annually.

What Could Be Improved

• Could offer a lifetime membership plan

SPECS:

• Subscription: $24.99 monthly, $144.99 annually, $349 lifetime access
• Features: Personalized feedback, color-coded feedback, section looping, sheet music printing, MIDI and audio connectivity
• Content: Skill-based classes, basic and advanced techniques, backing tracks, 100+ hours of video lessons, large library of songs

Playground Sessions is another interactive app that offers content ranging from basic piano skills to advanced techniques. Users get personalized feedback immediately, and the interface is very similar to the video game Guitar Hero, immediately making Playground Sessions stand out from the rest of the apps.

I really appreciated the immediate feedback feature. You know when you've hit a wrong note as soon as it sounds. A correct note gets you the green light, red is wrong, and if you hit the right note but in the wrong rhythm it shows pink.

I also enjoyed that, when I needed to focus on a particular part, I could select the section and loop it until I got it right. It's a great app that teaches discipline in your practice sessions. There are backing tracks for putting your practice into performance, a great way from moving practice to playing.

There's a lot to unpack with Playground Sessions; the two cons we'll note are that it isn't the best option for learning music theory and the $24.99/month subscription is kind of steep. However, you'll get 100+ hours of video lessons with world-class teachers, unlimited access to 2,000+ popular songs, and sheet music printing.

Playground Sessions is compatible with Windows, Mac, and mobile devices. It has hardware integration, and you can connect it to your MIDI controller, keyboard, or digital piano. The biggest downside is that as of now, it's only available for Apple mobile devices.

What Could Be Improved

• Not the best pick for learning music theory
• Can be pretty pricey compared to other options

SPECS: 

• Subscription: Free with in-app purchases to unlock features
• Features: AI analysis, personalized feedback, self-paced curriculum
• Content: Technique, timing, accuracy exercises, chord memorization and interval training exercises

Pianolytics is another app that uses AI to analyze your playing and provide personalized feedback on your technique, timing, and accuracy. It's a little more technical than the other apps on our list, making it suitable for more experienced players who want to improve on specific areas of their play.

It's one of the better apps for teaching piano playing skills like memorization over fundamentals like chord patterns and how to find intervals from key signatures. It's great for learning ear training too. One user writes, "There are so many features I can use to help me memorize scales and chords. I can practice anytime!"

Some apps make you follow a linear learning path you have to unlock as you go, but Pianolytics lets you skip around and choose which section you want to practice on. You can pick between the first keys, a section in the middle, or the whole piano.

The biggest appeal of this app is that it lets you work at your own pace and rewards you for your progress. It doesn't have as much lesson content or a large song library like other options. But if you're looking to focus on the fundamentals of learning piano in the order that works best for you, it's a great choice.

What Could Be Improved

• Could offer better education on learning fundamentals

Best Piano Learning App Buyer's Guide

There are so many piano learning apps that it's daunting to know how to know which one is best for you. That's why I'm here to help! I'm an experienced piano player now, but I had to learn just like everyone else.

When testing these apps in research for this article, I put myself in the mindset of a brand-new player, as well as critiquing from an intermediate/advanced point of view.

I was mostly able to boil the value down to important elements; the teaching approach, skill level, and subscription cost. Let's go over all of these critical features and some others you should consider.

Teaching Approach

Teach approach is one of the most important elements to factor into your decision of which piano app to go with. Every piano learning app has a slightly different approach to teaching, and certain styles appeal more to certain players. Finding the one that works best for you is crucial in finding the best online piano lessons.

Most of them use a combination of video tutorials and interactive lessons, and some work on a gamification, rewards-based system. Video content usually comes in short or long form. Interactive lessons allow you to engage in real time rather than simply watching a video and then practicing along or afterward. Gamification relies on rewarding the user after completing certain accomplishments along the way, which is a great method for young learners.

Skill Level

Piano apps are designed for all different skill levels. Most, like Skoove, have tiered content that's designed to address all skill levels as players progress. Some are better for beginners and young learners like Playground Sessions.

Considering there is a cost to most of the apps to learn piano it's important to do some research before you make an investment in one to ensure it provides the content you need to meet you where you are in your piano journey. In addition, I recommend that you explore some of the other best ways to learn piano besides using a piano app.

Curriculum

Each app to learn piano has a different curriculum. Some focus on exercises, skills and techniques, others music theory and notation, and some put an emphasis on learning application through song libraries. By choosing what you'd like to focus on you can narrow down the best choice for you. You should also check the best online piano lessons for beginners.

Features

Additional features are great to aid in your learning journey. Some apps feature a metronome, adjustable tempo, a way to record your performances, AI integrations, how to read sheet music, and chord and scale libraries. These are important resources to help you get the most out of your practice time.

Feedback

When you're learning, getting feedback on what you're doing right and wrong is critical - especially when learning remotely. Different apps handle feedback in different ways. Some allow you to submit videos for feedback from professionals, and some provide instant feedback through AI. The best choice for you is dependent on how you learn best.

Cost

Every app has its own cost structure and pricing tiers. Some piano learning apps are free, some are subscription-based, and some offer a "freemium" model where certain content is free to access, but most content is gated around a payment plan.

If you just want to try things out you're better off going with Pianolytics, as it's the only option here that offers a free version. Before buying into a full subscription it's best to know you're going to stick with it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the best piano app for beginners?

This depends on what type of content you need. Our overall choice is Skoove because of the quality, engagement, and personalization of the lessons. It covers a wide range of ideas too from sight reading and improvisation to techniques and music theory.

Are piano learning apps effective?

Yes, they are. The biggest issue most students come across with apps is that they have to make sure to be diligent in their practice regimen. It's not like the structure of going to weekly lessons. They have to be intentional and take time to practice every day - or as much as possible. It's also important to fully utilize the resources the app(s) provide to get the most out of the time dedicated to them.

Explore some of the other best ways to learn piano.

Do I need a piano or keyboard for piano learning apps?

You can't properly learn an instrument without being able to get your hands on it. So we advise you to have a piano or keyboard available before you start working with a piano learning app. If you don't want to invest too much in hardware before you know you'll stick with it, you can find our favorite budget-friendly keyboards here.

Can piano learning apps replace traditional lessons with a piano teacher?

They're helpful, but nothing beats private lessons with trained music teachers. They can sit by you and show you exercises and give immediate feedback. Structured piano lessons are also a great way to learn other skills.

Conclusion

These piano apps are great for learning on your own time and on a budget. They're great educational resources, and worth your time if you want an alternative to in-person lessons.

Think about all of the advantages that come with learning online and with apps. You learn at your own speed, on your own schedule. These apps have a wealth of different types of lesson content, so you can choose very broad educational challenges or get very specific with the best online piano lessons.

Learning piano doesn't have to break the bank. You want to see if you'll stick with it. Apps provide a great platform for that with very little commitment. If you want to lean in and dedicate yourself to a year, consider Pianote or Skoove. If you're just testing the waters and don't mind paying to unlock features as you need them, apps with free content like Pianolytics and Flowkey are great options.