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Education · head to head

PictureThis vs Simply Piano

PictureThis logo

PictureThis

Education

Commercial plant identification app with a short free trial that converts to an annual subscription

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: PictureThis the free trial converts to a paid annual subscription automatically, and a documented pattern of user complaints describes unexpected charges when the trial was not cancelled in time.; 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: PictureThis covers Plant identification, 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 PictureThis and Simply Piano actually diverge.

Attributes where PictureThis and Simply Piano differ
AttributePictureThisSimply Piano
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelPer year, sold via a short free trial that auto-renewsPer user per year or month
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsiOS, AndroidiOS, Android, Web

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 PictureThis

  • Plant identification
  • Disease diagnosis
  • Care reminders
  • Plant care library
  • Toxicity warnings
  • My Garden tracking

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.

PictureThis

  • A gardener who wants ongoing care reminders and disease diagnosis, not just a one-off identificationnot Simply Piano
  • Someone willing to pay for a more polished interface than the free nonprofit alternativesnot Simply Piano
  • A plant owner who wants toxicity warnings for pets and childrennot Simply Piano
  • A buyer who reads the trial terms carefully and sets a reminder to cancel before it convertsnot Simply Piano

Simply Piano

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

Where each one falls short

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

PictureThis

  • The free trial converts to a paid annual subscription automatically, and a documented pattern of user complaints describes unexpected charges when the trial was not cancelled in time.
  • Cancellation has to be done through App Store or Play Store account settings, not by deleting the app, which catches users off guard.
  • It solves the same core identification problem that Seek, PlantNet and Merlin solve for free, so the paid tier is competing against genuinely free options for the same task.
  • Care guidance for uncommon or exotic species is criticised as generic rather than specific.
  • Being a commercial product from a company that publishes near-identical identification apps for other categories, its plant-specific depth is not obviously deeper than a dedicated botanical tool.

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

PictureThis

On request
  • PictureThis Annual$39.99/year
    • Unlimited plant identifications
    • Disease diagnosis
    • Care reminders and guides

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 PictureThis if

  • You need plant identification.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want disease diagnosis.
PictureThis 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 PictureThis or Simply Piano better?
Neither clearly leads. PictureThis 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, PictureThis or Simply Piano?
Simply Piano has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for PictureThis and Free for Simply Piano.
Does PictureThis or Simply Piano run on more platforms?
PictureThis runs on 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. PictureThis starts at On request.
What is PictureThis best used for?
PictureThis is most often used for a gardener who wants ongoing care reminders and disease diagnosis, not just a one-off identification, someone willing to pay for a more polished interface than the free nonprofit alternatives, a plant owner who wants toxicity warnings for pets and children, a buyer who reads the trial terms carefully and sets a reminder to cancel before it converts. Of those, a gardener who wants ongoing care reminders and disease diagnosis, not just a one-off identification and someone willing to pay for a more polished interface than the free nonprofit alternatives are not what Simply Piano is typically brought in for.
What can PictureThis do that Simply Piano cannot?
PictureThis covers Plant identification, Disease diagnosis, Care reminders, Plant care library. Simply Piano covers Microphone-based listening, Structured curriculum, Popular song arrangements, Kids mode.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

PictureThis: Is there a free version?

A limited free tier exists with restricted identifications and ads; full use requires the paid subscription.

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.

PictureThis: How long is the free trial and does it auto-renew?

The trial is typically about seven days and auto-renews into the annual subscription unless cancelled beforehand through your App Store or Play Store settings.

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.

PictureThis: Is PictureThis the same as PlantNet or Seek?

No. PlantNet and Seek are free nonprofit identification tools; PictureThis is a commercial subscription product with more built-in care features.

Simply Piano: Is there a kids version?

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

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