Education · head to head
Lumosity vs Simply Piano
Lumosity
Education
Brain training game app from Lumos Labs, which paid an FTC settlement in 2016 over unsupported cognitive improvement claims
- 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: Lumosity lumos Labs settled with the US FTC in 2016 for 2 million dollars over deceptive claims that its games improved real-world cognitive performance and could delay age-related decline, and the company was barred from making such claims without solid supporting evidence, a fact any buyer evaluating cognitive benefit claims should weigh.; 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: Lumosity covers Daily training set, 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 Lumosity and Simply Piano actually diverge.
| Attribute | Lumosity | Simply Piano |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free with a subscription | Per user per year or month |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (iOS, Android, Web), 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 Lumosity
- Daily training set
- Brain Performance Index
- Game library by domain
- Fit Test assessment
- Progress tracking
- Insights and tips
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.
Lumosity
- An adult wanting a short daily game habit with a cognitive theme, treated as entertainment rather than medical interventionnot Simply Piano
- Someone comparing Lumosity against Elevate to decide between abstract cognitive games and practical skills practicenot Simply Piano
- A user who wants a long historical performance trend across many game sessionsnot Simply Piano
- A buyer evaluating whether the current marketing claims about cognitive benefit are consistent with the 2016 FTC settlement findings before subscribingnot Simply Piano
Simply Piano
- A complete beginner who owns an acoustic piano and wants structured lessons without a MIDI connectionnot Lumosity
- A parent choosing a self-guided piano app for a child who does not yet take private lessonsnot Lumosity
- Someone who wants heavily song-driven practice using popular music rather than only classical exercisesnot Lumosity
- A household deciding between this and Flowkey based on trial experience and song catalogue fitnot Lumosity
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Lumosity
- Lumos Labs settled with the US FTC in 2016 for 2 million dollars over deceptive claims that its games improved real-world cognitive performance and could delay age-related decline, and the company was barred from making such claims without solid supporting evidence, a fact any buyer evaluating cognitive benefit claims should weigh.
- The free tier is limited to a small daily set of games, and the personalised training programme the product is built around is a paid-only feature.
- As with the brain training category broadly, evidence that improved performance on the specific games transfers to real-world cognitive ability remains contested, independent of the marketing claims addressed by the settlement.
- The subscription auto-renews and, like most mobile subscriptions, requires cancelling through app store account settings rather than within the app.
- The game library has not changed dramatically in years, and long-term subscribers report the exercises becoming repetitive well before a years subscription is up.
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
Lumosity
Free- Lumosity$11.99/month
- Free tier gives a small daily set of games
- Full subscription unlocks the complete game library and personalised programme
- Annual plans typically run $59.99 to $79.99, cheaper per month than monthly billing
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 Lumosity if
- You need daily training set.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web.
- You also want brain performance index.
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 Lumosity or Simply Piano better?
- Neither clearly leads. Lumosity 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, Lumosity or Simply Piano?
- Lumosity starts at Free and Simply Piano at Free.
- Does Lumosity or Simply Piano run on more platforms?
- Both run on iOS, Android, Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Lumosity for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Lumosity best used for?
- Lumosity is most often used for an adult wanting a short daily game habit with a cognitive theme, treated as entertainment rather than medical intervention, someone comparing lumosity against elevate to decide between abstract cognitive games and practical skills practice, a user who wants a long historical performance trend across many game sessions, a buyer evaluating whether the current marketing claims about cognitive benefit are consistent with the 2016 ftc settlement findings before subscribing. Of those, an adult wanting a short daily game habit with a cognitive theme, treated as entertainment rather than medical intervention and someone comparing lumosity against elevate to decide between abstract cognitive games and practical skills practice are not what Simply Piano is typically brought in for.
- What can Lumosity do that Simply Piano cannot?
- Lumosity covers Daily training set, Brain Performance Index, Game library by domain, Fit Test assessment. Simply Piano covers Microphone-based listening, Structured curriculum, Popular song arrangements, Kids mode.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Lumosity: What was the FTC settlement about?
In 2016 the FTC found Lumos Labs advertising made unsupported claims that Lumosity games could delay cognitive decline, protect against conditions like Alzheimers, and improve real-world performance. The company paid 2 million dollars and was barred from such claims without solid evidence.
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.
Lumosity: Is Lumosity still available and does it still make cognitive claims?
Yes, the app and games remain available, but the company is legally restricted from the specific unsupported claims covered by the settlement.
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.
Lumosity: Is Lumosity free?
A small daily set of games is free. The full library and personalised training programme require a paid subscription.
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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