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Education · head to head

Flowkey vs Merlin Bird ID

Flowkey logo

Flowkey

Education

Piano learning app with microphone or MIDI listening and a large licensed song catalogue

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Merlin Bird ID logo

Merlin Bird ID

Education

Free bird identification app from Cornell Lab of Ornithology using photo, sound and step-by-step ID

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Flowkey microphone-only users, without a MIDI keyboard, still hit the same accuracy limits as Simply Piano on fast or dense passages.; Merlin Bird ID it only identifies birds, so it is not useful for plants, insects or other wildlife the way a general nature app is.
  • They diverge on capability: Flowkey covers Large licensed song library, Merlin Bird ID covers Sound ID.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Flowkey and Merlin Bird ID actually diverge.

Attributes where Flowkey and Merlin Bird ID differ
AttributeFlowkeyMerlin Bird ID
Pricing modelPer user per year or monthFree, no ads and no in-app purchases
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebiOS, Android

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 Flowkey

  • Large licensed song library
  • MIDI keyboard support
  • Microphone listening
  • Slow-down and loop tools
  • Video lessons
  • Progress tracking

Only in Merlin Bird ID

  • Sound ID
  • Photo ID
  • Step-by-step ID
  • Offline regional packs
  • eBird-linked suggestions
  • No account required for basic use

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Flowkey

  • An adult returning to piano who wants to work toward specific known songs at a graduated difficultynot Merlin Bird ID
  • Someone with a MIDI-capable digital keyboard wanting more accurate feedback than microphone listening alonenot Merlin Bird ID
  • A learner motivated by a large, varied song catalogue rather than a strict beginner curriculumnot Merlin Bird ID
  • A pianist wanting slow-down and loop tools to work through a specific difficult passage in a real piecenot Merlin Bird ID

Merlin Bird ID

  • A casual walker who hears a bird and wants to know what it is without paying for an appnot Flowkey
  • A birdwatcher building a life list who wants identification tied to real regional sighting datanot Flowkey
  • Someone teaching a child to identify birds without exposing them to ads or a paywallnot Flowkey
  • A hiker who wants offline bird identification in an area with no signalnot Flowkey

Where each one falls short

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

Flowkey

  • Microphone-only users, without a MIDI keyboard, still hit the same accuracy limits as Simply Piano on fast or dense passages.
  • Its curriculum is less structured around fundamentals than Simply Piano for a complete beginner with no prior reading ability.
  • It is piano only, so a household wanting to cover guitar or other instruments needs a separate subscription elsewhere.
  • The song licensing model means catalogue availability can shift over time as licences change, occasionally removing a previously available arrangement.
  • Full benefit of its more precise feedback mode requires owning a MIDI-capable keyboard, which is an additional cost beyond the subscription for anyone with only an acoustic piano.

Merlin Bird ID

  • It only identifies birds, so it is not useful for plants, insects or other wildlife the way a general nature app is.
  • Sound ID can struggle in noisy environments or with overlapping bird calls, since it depends on a clean audio signal.
  • Being a free institutional project, feature releases and interface polish move more slowly than a funded commercial app.
  • Photo ID accuracy drops for juvenile birds, moulting birds or poor-quality photos, more so than for well-lit adult specimens.
  • It has no social or gamified layer, so users who want streaks, badges or a community feed will find it plain by comparison.

Pricing, plan by plan

Flowkey

Free
  • FlowkeyFree
    • Limited free songs and lessons
  • Premium$119.99/year
    • Full song library and difficulty arrangements
    • MIDI keyboard support
    • Progress tracking

Merlin Bird ID

Free
  • Merlin Bird IDFree
    • All identification modes included
    • Offline regional bird packs
    • No account required for identification

Which should you pick?

Choose Flowkey if

  • You need large licensed song library.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want midi keyboard support.
Flowkey review

Choose Merlin Bird ID if

  • You need sound id.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want photo id.
Merlin Bird ID review

Questions people ask

Is Flowkey or Merlin Bird ID better?
Neither clearly leads. Flowkey starts at Free and Merlin Bird ID at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Flowkey or Merlin Bird ID?
Flowkey starts at Free and Merlin Bird ID at Free.
Does Flowkey or Merlin Bird ID run on more platforms?
Flowkey runs on iOS, Android, Web. Merlin Bird ID runs on iOS, Android.
Can I use Flowkey for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Flowkey best used for?
Flowkey is most often used for an adult returning to piano who wants to work toward specific known songs at a graduated difficulty, someone with a midi-capable digital keyboard wanting more accurate feedback than microphone listening alone, a learner motivated by a large, varied song catalogue rather than a strict beginner curriculum, a pianist wanting slow-down and loop tools to work through a specific difficult passage in a real piece. Of those, an adult returning to piano who wants to work toward specific known songs at a graduated difficulty and someone with a midi-capable digital keyboard wanting more accurate feedback than microphone listening alone are not what Merlin Bird ID is typically brought in for.
What can Flowkey do that Merlin Bird ID cannot?
Flowkey covers Large licensed song library, MIDI keyboard support, Microphone listening, Slow-down and loop tools. Merlin Bird ID covers Sound ID, Photo ID, Step-by-step ID, Offline regional packs.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Flowkey: Does Flowkey support MIDI keyboards?

Yes, connecting a MIDI keyboard gives more precise note detection than microphone listening alone.

Merlin Bird ID: Is Merlin Bird ID really free with no catch?

Yes. It has no ads, no in-app purchases and no subscription; it is funded by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology as a research and outreach tool.

Flowkey: How is it different from Simply Piano?

Flowkey emphasises a large licensed song catalogue with graduated arrangements, while Simply Piano leans more into a structured beginner curriculum.

Merlin Bird ID: How is it different from eBird?

Merlin identifies birds; eBird is where you log checklists and sightings that feed the research database Merlin draws its suggestions from.

Flowkey: Do I need a MIDI keyboard to use it?

No, microphone listening works with any piano, but MIDI support improves accuracy if you have compatible hardware.

Merlin Bird ID: Does it work offline?

Yes, once you download the regional bird pack for your area.

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