Simply Piano Review 2026: Cost, Free Trial and Is It Worth It?

Last updated: 27 September 2026; prices, plans and policies were read on Simply’s own site, help center and app store listings that day. Written by Josh Hutcheson, OnlineCourseing editor. See our review methodology.

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Simply Piano is the piano app most beginners hear about first, and with more than 50 million downloads on Google Play alone it is probably the most widely used. The questions people bring to it are practical ones: how much does it actually cost, is any of it free, and does it work well enough to be worth a subscription instead of lessons?

We answer those questions here from Simply’s own pages rather than from memory. On 27 September 2026 we read its plans, help-center policies on trials and refunds, course structure and app-store listings, and checked the prices of the main alternatives on the same day. Where Simply does not publish something, we say so.

Simply Piano at a glance

Try Simply Piano free →

What is Simply Piano?

Simply Piano is an app from Simply Ltd, formerly called JoyTunes, which also makes Simply Guitar, Simply Sing and Piano Maestro, an app used by music teachers. You prop your phone or tablet on the music stand of an acoustic piano or a digital keyboard, and the app uses the microphone, or a MIDI cable if you have one, to hear which notes you play. It then tells you, note by note, whether you played the right one.

It is built for people teaching themselves: adults who always meant to learn, and children whose parents want something more structured than YouTube. Both Apple and Google list it as an Editors’ Choice, and Simply’s own gift page says it helped more than 550,000 people learn piano this year. Those are Simply’s figures, but the app-store ratings behind them are large and public.

How Simply Piano works

Each lesson follows the same loop. A short video introduces an idea, such as a new note, a rhythm or a chord. Then the sheet music scrolls and you play along while the app listens. Simply’s help center explains the color code: a note turns blue when you play it correctly, yellow when you got it right only after the on-screen keyboard showed you a hint, and red when you play the wrong note.

You cannot skip ahead. A passage has to be played correctly before the app lets you move on, which builds good habits but frustrates people who already know some of the material. Short “5-minute workouts” mix in reading, rhythm and theory drills, and practice reminders and streaks nudge you to come back every day.

The Soloist and Chords paths

After the free Piano Basics course the curriculum splits in two. The Soloist path focuses on playing melodies, widening the range of notes you can read and, in Simply’s words, polishing your technique. The Chords path teaches you to accompany songs with chords in different styles. The Lead Sheet courses that sit between them need skills from both. Simply recommends starting with Soloist if you are unsure; you can switch between the paths at any time. The course names run from Essentials through Intermediate to Pre-Advanced.

Songs, sheet music and extras

The song library opens once you finish the first two lessons of Essentials I, and it needs a subscription. Songs are arranged by level, so a beginner sees easy versions of pop, Disney and classical pieces, and you can slow a song down to practice it. Subscribers also get Simply Classics, a web library of hundreds of printable sheet-music arrangements (including some harder pieces that are not in the app), and Simply Workshops, a set of expert-led video sessions on topics such as songwriting.

One thing to know before you compare apps: many songs play along with an accompaniment track. It makes practice sound good, but it is a different experience from playing a solo piece on your own.

How much does Simply Piano cost?

Simply does not publish a price list, and its help center is explicit about why: the price depends on your country, on whether you subscribe through the App Store, Google Play or Simply’s website, and on which plan you choose, and Simply runs limited-time offers, “so the price you see may differ from what others have paid.” To see your own price you open the app and tap Menu → Join Simply. Its web checkout asks you to create an account before it shows a price.

That makes the gift card the only price Simply shows publicly in the US. On 27 September 2026 it was:

Two more signals help place your own price. Google Play lists Simply Piano’s in-app items at “$0.99–$314.99 per item”, although Google does not say which plan each price belongs to. And both monthly and yearly plans exist, but the 7-day free trial only comes with the yearly plan. For most learners the yearly plan is the one to price out, because it costs far less per month and is the only way to try the app first.

Older price figures you will find in other reviews, such as a six-month plan or a $179 annual price, are exactly what Simply warns about: someone’s price, in one country, on one day. Treat any figure other than the one in your own app as a rough guide.

Individual, Duo or Family plan

Adding a profile does not upgrade your plan, and each premium profile keeps its own progress. You can upgrade from Individual to Family inside the app and Simply credits the unused part of your old plan, so you do not pay twice. Families in ten US states (Texas, Louisiana, Utah, Wyoming, South Carolina, Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama, Arizona and Florida) can use Education Savings Account funds, but only for an Individual plan, because those programs pay per student.

Check your Simply Piano price →

Is Simply Piano free?

Partly, and more than many people expect. Without paying anything you can use:

• Piano Basics, the first course, which covers early note reading and gets you playing simple pieces on a real keyboard.
• Touch Intro, a short course that turns your phone or tablet screen into a keyboard, so you can try the app before you have an instrument.

Apple’s listing describes this as “two free courses”. Everything after that, including the Soloist and Chords paths, the song library and Simply Classics, needs a subscription. So Simply Piano is free to try but not free to learn with. If you want to learn piano without paying at all, you will need free video lessons or a library book, not this app.

How the free trial works

• The trial is 7 days and is only offered on the yearly plan. If you choose monthly, no trial appears.
• It is one per account or Apple ID. A second trial is not possible even with a new account.
• It turns into a paid yearly subscription automatically. Simply advises canceling at least 24 hours before it ends, and deleting the app does not cancel it.
• Apple or Google may show a small temporary charge during the trial to check your card; it disappears if you cancel in time.

Canceling and getting a refund

Turning off auto-renewal and getting your money back are different things. Apple’s listing states that subscriptions “cannot be canceled during the active subscription period”: turning off renewal stops the next charge, but you keep access until the period ends. If you want a refund, it depends on where you paid:

A refund also ends your premium access, though your progress stays saved if you come back. The practical advice is simple: if you are not sure you will keep practicing, put the trial end date in your calendar.

Does Simply Piano actually work?

For what it sets out to do, yes. The evidence is large and consistent: 4.7 stars from 853,000 ratings on Apple’s App Store and 4.6 from 988,000 reviews on Google Play, with more than 50 million downloads. Simply’s own claim is that 86% of beginners can play songs with both hands within 11 days. We cannot verify that figure and it is Simply’s marketing, but it matches what the app is designed to do: get you playing recognisable music quickly, so you keep going.

What it does well is the part beginners find hardest to do alone: reading notes, finding them on the keyboard and keeping time, with instant correction every time. What it cannot do follows from how it works. The app hears which notes you play, not how you play them. It cannot see tense wrists, flat fingers or poor posture, and it cannot judge tone or dynamics. Simply publishes posture advice in its help center, but nothing in the app enforces it. Bad habits formed in the first months are hard to undo, which is the strongest argument for at least a few lessons with a teacher alongside the app.

The Trinity College London certificates

Simply has a partnership with Trinity College London, a well-known music examinations board. When a profile completes Essentials III, Intermediate IV or Pre-Advanced II, you can buy a Trinity certificate for $25 each, at Initial, Grade 1 and Grade 2 level respectively. There is no exam to sit: you buy the certificate once the course is complete. It is a satisfying milestone for a child, but keep it in proportion. Trinity’s graded piano exams run from Initial to Grade 8, so even the highest certificate marks an early stage of learning.

Simply Piano for kids and families

Children are one of Simply Piano’s strongest use cases. Profiles for ages 4 to 10 get a customized experience up to Essentials II, with songs children know, more videos and hand icons instead of finger numbers. The game mechanics that some adults find childish work well for this age group, and the no-skipping rule stops children racing past things they have not learned.

Two cautions for parents. A young child still needs an adult nearby, because the app cannot tell whether they are sitting or holding their hands properly. And plan choice matters: an Individual plan has only one premium profile, so a second child needs the Duo or Family plan. Simply also markets the app for homeschooling, and in the ESA states listed above it can be paid for from a child’s education savings account.

What you need to use it

• A piano or keyboard. Any acoustic piano or digital keyboard works. Most courses, the song library and the sheet-music library require one; only the two touch courses run on the screen.
• A phone or tablet. iPhone or iPad on iOS 15 or later, or Android 6 or later. Chromebooks work but are not fully supported, Amazon Fire tablets are not supported, and there is no Windows or Mac desktop app. A tablet is easier to read on a music stand than a phone.
• Optionally, a MIDI connection. A USB or Bluetooth MIDI link makes note detection more reliable on a digital keyboard, especially in a noisy room. Simply’s help center has setup guides for iOS and Android.
• Language. The app is available in 13 languages, though the lesson videos are voiced in English with translated subtitles.

What we like and what we don’t

What we like

• Instant, note-by-note feedback on a real instrument. The core idea works, and it makes solo practice far less aimless.
• You play real songs early. Recognisable music in the first weeks is what keeps beginners going.
• A clear structure. Two paths, a fixed order and no skipping mean you always know what to do next.
• A genuinely useful free tier. Piano Basics lets you judge the method before paying.
• Good for families. Duo and Family plans, a children’s version and ESA eligibility.

What we don’t

• No feedback on technique. It cannot see your hands, so posture and hand position are up to you.
• Opaque pricing. No public price list, prices that vary by store and country, and a web checkout that hides the price until you sign up.
• The trial is yearly-only. You cannot trial the app and then choose to pay monthly.
• Backing tracks everywhere. Fun, but different from playing on your own.
• Light theory and a low ceiling. Past the intermediate courses, most learners need more.

Simply Piano vs the alternatives

Simply Piano is not the only app that listens to you play. These are the alternatives most worth comparing, with prices read on each company’s site on 27 September 2026. Only Simply Piano pays us a commission; flowkey, Piano Marvel and Playground Sessions run affiliate programs we have not joined, so they are listed on merit. The most common choice is between Simply Piano and flowkey; our flowkey vs Simply Piano comparison covers it in detail.

If what you really need is someone to watch your hands, no app replaces a teacher. Our ArtistWorks piano review covers a middle route: video lessons where you send recordings to a real instructor for feedback. For the full field, see our guide to the best apps to learn piano. If someone in the house wants guitar instead, Simply Guitar uses the same method, and a Family plan covers both.

Who should use Simply Piano, and who will outgrow it

Choose Simply Piano if you are starting from zero, you want to play songs you recognize within weeks, you need something to keep you practicing, or you are buying for a child. As the first six to twelve months of learning, it is one of the most effective and affordable options: a year of it costs roughly what a few private lessons would.

Look elsewhere, or add a teacher, if you want classical technique, serious theory or exam preparation, or if you already play a little and want depth. Piano Marvel and a teacher are the natural next steps for reading and technique; Skoove suits adults who want more explanation. Many learners use Simply Piano to build the habit, then move on.

Start the free Piano Basics course →

Frequently asked questions

Is Simply Piano worth it?

For an adult or child starting from zero who wants to play real songs on a real keyboard, yes: its note-by-note feedback and gamified courses make practice easy to keep up, and a year cost $149.99 as a gift card in September 2026. It is poor value if you want classical technique, serious theory or a teacher’s eye on your hands, which the app cannot provide.

How much does Simply Piano cost?

Simply does not publish a price list. Its help center says the price depends on your country, whether you buy through the App Store, Google Play or the web, and whether you choose an Individual, Duo or Family plan. The one public US price is the gift card: $74.99 for 3 months or $149.99 for 12 months on 27 September 2026. Check the price in the app before you subscribe.

Is Simply Piano free?

Partly. Anyone can use the first course, Piano Basics, and the on-screen Touch Intro course without paying. Everything else, including the rest of the courses and the song library, needs a subscription. The 7-day free trial is only offered on the yearly plan and only once per account or Apple ID.

Does Simply Piano have a free trial?

Yes, 7 days, but only on the yearly plan. If you pick the monthly plan no trial appears. Cancel at least 24 hours before the trial ends to avoid the charge; deleting the app does not cancel it.

Does Simply Piano actually work?

For learning to read notes and play songs with both hands at a beginner level, yes. It has 4.7 stars from 853,000 ratings on Apple’s App Store and 4.6 from 988,000 reviews on Google Play. It listens to which notes you play, not how you play them, so it cannot correct hand position, posture or tone.

Can Simply Piano replace a piano teacher?

Not entirely. It is a good substitute for the first months of lessons, but it cannot see your hands or hear technique problems. Many learners start with the app and add a teacher once they are committed.

Do I need a real piano to use Simply Piano?

For almost everything, yes. Two touch-screen courses let you start on the phone or tablet itself, but the main courses, the song library and the sheet music library all listen to a real acoustic piano or keyboard.

Can the whole family use one Simply Piano subscription?

Only on the right plan. The Individual plan has one premium profile. The Duo plan has two premium profiles for Simply Piano only. The Family plan has five premium profiles and adds Simply Guitar, Simply Sing and Simply Draw.

Are Simply Piano’s Trinity College London certificates worth it?

They are a nice milestone, not a qualification. After completing specific courses you can buy a Trinity College London certificate for $25 each, at Initial, Grade 1 and Grade 2 level. Trinity’s graded piano exams run from Initial to Grade 8, so these mark an early stage of learning.

Related guides

• Best apps to learn piano, compared
• ArtistWorks piano review: video lessons with instructor feedback
• Simply Guitar review: the same method for guitar
• Best apps to learn guitar