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Education · head to head

Babbel vs Simply Piano

Babbel logo

Babbel

Education

Language learning that works

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Simply Piano logo

Simply Piano

Education

Piano-only learning app from JoyTunes using microphone listening, no MIDI keyboard required

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Simply Piano has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Babbel the App Store listing for Babbel (seller of record: Babbel GmbH) states that subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, with payment charged to the buyer's Apple account; plans are sold in 1, 3, 6 and 12 month terms, and the listing itself discloses no price figure, so the actual monthly-equivalent cost is not visible without proceeding into a purchase flow.; 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: Babbel covers Bite-sized lessons, 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 Babbel and Simply Piano actually diverge.

Attributes where Babbel and Simply Piano differ
AttributeBabbelSimply Piano
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionPer user per year or month
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, IOS, AndroidiOS, Android, Web
Founded2007Unknown

Identical on both: 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 Babbel

  • Bite-sized lessons
  • Speech recognition
  • Review sessions
  • Podcasts
  • Games
  • Live classes
  • Progress tracking
  • Offline mode

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.

Babbel

  • Language learningnot Simply Piano
  • Travel preparationnot Simply Piano
  • Career developmentnot Simply Piano
  • Hobbynot Simply Piano

Simply Piano

  • A complete beginner who owns an acoustic piano and wants structured lessons without a MIDI connectionnot Babbel
  • A parent choosing a self-guided piano app for a child who does not yet take private lessonsnot Babbel
  • Someone who wants heavily song-driven practice using popular music rather than only classical exercisesnot Babbel
  • A household deciding between this and Flowkey based on trial experience and song catalogue fitnot Babbel

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Babbel

  • The App Store listing for Babbel (seller of record: Babbel GmbH) states that subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, with payment charged to the buyer's Apple account; plans are sold in 1, 3, 6 and 12 month terms, and the listing itself discloses no price figure, so the actual monthly-equivalent cost is not visible without proceeding into a purchase flow.

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

Babbel

On request
  • 3 Months$8.95/month
    • 1 language
    • All lessons
    • Speech recognition
  • 6 Months$7.45/month
    • 1 language
    • Review sessions
    • Podcasts
  • 12 Months$6.95/month
    • 1 language
    • Games
    • All features
  • Lifetime$249/month
    • All 14 languages
    • Lifetime access

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 Babbel if

  • You need bite-sized lessons.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want speech recognition.
Babbel review

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.
Simply Piano review

Questions people ask

Is Babbel or Simply Piano better?
Neither clearly leads. Babbel starts at On request and Simply Piano at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Babbel or Simply Piano?
Simply Piano has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Babbel and Free for Simply Piano.
Does Babbel or Simply Piano run on more platforms?
Babbel runs on Web, IOS, Android. Simply Piano runs on iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Simply Piano for free?
Yes. Simply Piano has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Babbel starts at On request.
What is Babbel best used for?
Babbel is most often used for language learning, travel preparation, career development, hobby. Of those, language learning and travel preparation are not what Simply Piano is typically brought in for.
What can Babbel do that Simply Piano cannot?
Babbel covers Bite-sized lessons, Speech recognition, Review sessions, Podcasts. Simply Piano covers Microphone-based listening, Structured curriculum, Popular song arrangements, Kids mode.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Babbel: Does Babbel offer a free trial?

Yes. Babbel's free tier allows you to try the first lesson of every course at no cost. Depending on the language, you get access to up to 80 free lessons before a subscription is required.

Source
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.

Babbel: What languages does Babbel teach?

Babbel offers 13 languages: Spanish (two variants), French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Danish, Dutch, Indonesian, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish, and Turkish.

Source
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.

Babbel: What features are included with a Babbel subscription?

Subscription features include interactive lessons tailored to your proficiency level, speech recognition for pronunciation practice, AI conversation partners, podcasts, grammar tips, culture content, progress tracking, and real-time feedback.

Source
Simply Piano: Is there a kids version?

Yes, a simplified kids-focused mode and companion product exist for younger learners.

Babbel: Does Babbel offer different subscription tier levels?

Yes, Babbel offers multiple subscription plans, though the specific prices and plan details are not listed on the main page. A detailed overview is available in their support documentation.

Source
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