Education · head to head
Anki vs Simply Piano
Anki
Education
Free open source spaced repetition flashcard app, free everywhere except iOS where it is a paid one-time purchase
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Simply Piano
Education
Piano-only learning app from JoyTunes using microphone listening, no MIDI keyboard required
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Anki the interface is functional rather than polished, and new users often find the initial setup, deck creation and add-on ecosystem confusing compared with a guided app like Memrise.; Simply Piano microphone-based note detection is less precise than MIDI input for fast or dense passages, so advanced players eventually outgrow its accuracy ceiling.
- They diverge on capability: Anki covers Spaced repetition scheduling, Simply Piano covers Microphone-based listening.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Anki and Simply Piano actually diverge.
| Attribute | Anki | Simply Piano |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Open source, no licence fee except a paid iOS app | Per user per year or month |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Education).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Anki
- Spaced repetition scheduling
- Cross-platform sync
- Shared deck library
- Custom card types
- Add-ons
- Open file format
Only in Simply Piano
- Microphone-based listening
- Structured curriculum
- Popular song arrangements
- Kids mode
- Practice feedback
- Offline practice mode
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Anki
- A medical student using a large shared deck to memorise anatomy or pharmacology facts on a fixed exam timelinenot Simply Piano
- A language learner building custom vocabulary decks with audio and images tailored to their own study materialnot Simply Piano
- A self-directed learner who wants full control over the scheduling algorithm and does not want a subscriptionnot Simply Piano
- An iPhone-only user deciding whether the one-time AnkiMobile price is worth it versus using the free web interface insteadnot Simply Piano
Simply Piano
- A complete beginner who owns an acoustic piano and wants structured lessons without a MIDI connectionnot Anki
- A parent choosing a self-guided piano app for a child who does not yet take private lessonsnot Anki
- Someone who wants heavily song-driven practice using popular music rather than only classical exercisesnot Anki
- A household deciding between this and Flowkey based on trial experience and song catalogue fitnot Anki
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Anki
- The interface is functional rather than polished, and new users often find the initial setup, deck creation and add-on ecosystem confusing compared with a guided app like Memrise.
- iOS users pay a one-time fee of around $24.99 to $29.99 for AnkiMobile while every other platform is free, which is an unusual asymmetry that surprises new users comparing app store prices before they understand it funds development.
- Anki has no content of its own; a new user gets an empty deck and either has to build cards manually or trust the quality of a community-shared deck of unknown accuracy.
- The default scheduling algorithm requires understanding concepts like ease factor and interval to tune effectively, and default settings are not optimal for every subject or workload.
- Shared decks, especially large medical school decks, can carry factual errors or become outdated, and there is no editorial review process verifying their accuracy.
Simply Piano
- Microphone-based note detection is less precise than MIDI input for fast or dense passages, so advanced players eventually outgrow its accuracy ceiling.
- Its curriculum is piano only, so anyone wanting to learn a second instrument needs a separate subscription to Yousician or another app.
- The free trial is limited, and meaningful progress requires the paid annual subscription at around $120 a year.
- Background noise and an out-of-tune acoustic piano can degrade the accuracy of the microphone-based scoring.
- It does not go deep into music theory or advanced classical technique, so a serious student will eventually need a human teacher alongside or instead of it.
Pricing, plan by plan
Anki
Free- AnkiFree
- Desktop apps for Windows, Mac and Linux are free and open source
- AnkiDroid on Android is free and open source, built by a separate volunteer team
- AnkiMobile on iOS is a one-time purchase, commonly $24.99 to $29.99, funding development
Simply Piano
Free- Simply PianoFree
- Limited introductory lessons
- Premium$119.99/year
- Full lesson path and song library
- Progress tracking
- Family plan options available
Which should you pick?
Choose Anki if
- You need spaced repetition scheduling.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Web.
- You also want cross-platform sync.
Choose Simply Piano if
- You need microphone-based listening.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web.
- You also want structured curriculum.
Questions people ask
- Is Anki or Simply Piano better?
- Neither clearly leads. Anki starts at Free and Simply Piano at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Anki or Simply Piano?
- Anki starts at Free and Simply Piano at Free.
- Does Anki or Simply Piano run on more platforms?
- Anki runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Web. Simply Piano runs on iOS, Android, Web.
- Can I use Anki for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Anki best used for?
- Anki is most often used for a medical student using a large shared deck to memorise anatomy or pharmacology facts on a fixed exam timeline, a language learner building custom vocabulary decks with audio and images tailored to their own study material, a self-directed learner who wants full control over the scheduling algorithm and does not want a subscription, an iphone-only user deciding whether the one-time ankimobile price is worth it versus using the free web interface instead. Of those, a medical student using a large shared deck to memorise anatomy or pharmacology facts on a fixed exam timeline and a language learner building custom vocabulary decks with audio and images tailored to their own study material are not what Simply Piano is typically brought in for.
- What can Anki do that Simply Piano cannot?
- Anki covers Spaced repetition scheduling, Cross-platform sync, Shared deck library, Custom card types. Simply Piano covers Microphone-based listening, Structured curriculum, Popular song arrangements, Kids mode.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Anki: Why is the iOS app not free when everything else is?
AnkiMobile is a paid one-time purchase, commonly around $24.99 to $29.99, that the developer states directly funds ongoing development of the free desktop apps, AnkiWeb sync and infrastructure used by every platform.
Simply Piano: Do I need a MIDI keyboard for Simply Piano?
No, it listens through your device microphone and works with any acoustic or digital piano.
Anki: Is Anki really free on Android?
Yes. AnkiDroid, the Android app, is free and open source, built and maintained by a separate volunteer development team from the desktop project.
Simply Piano: How is it different from Flowkey?
Both use the same microphone-based, piano-only approach; the difference is mainly curriculum style and song catalogue, worth comparing via free trials.
Anki: Do I need to pay for sync?
No. AnkiWeb, used to sync decks and review history across devices, is free.
Simply Piano: Is there a kids version?
Yes, a simplified kids-focused mode and companion product exist for younger learners.
Related pages
More on Simply Piano
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