Education · head to head
Simply Piano vs Sky Guide
Simply Piano
Education
Piano-only learning app from JoyTunes using microphone listening, no MIDI keyboard required
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Sky Guide
Education
iOS astronomy app that moved from a one-time purchase to a free-to-download, subscription-tiered model
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: 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.; Sky Guide it is iOS-only, unlike SkySafari which also covers Android and desktop.
- They diverge on capability: Simply Piano covers Microphone-based listening, Sky Guide covers Light pollution forecasting.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Simply Piano and Sky Guide actually diverge.
| Attribute | Simply Piano | Sky Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per user per year or month | Free download with Plus and Pro subscription upgrades |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | iOS |
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 Simply Piano
- Microphone-based listening
- Structured curriculum
- Popular song arrangements
- Kids mode
- Practice feedback
- Offline practice mode
Only in Sky Guide
- Light pollution forecasting
- Meteor shower prediction
- Camera and gyroscope sky view
- Deep-sky object catalogue
- Extreme zoom
- Satellite tracking
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Simply Piano
- A complete beginner who owns an acoustic piano and wants structured lessons without a MIDI connectionnot Sky Guide
- A parent choosing a self-guided piano app for a child who does not yet take private lessonsnot Sky Guide
- Someone who wants heavily song-driven practice using popular music rather than only classical exercisesnot Sky Guide
- A household deciding between this and Flowkey based on trial experience and song catalogue fitnot Sky Guide
Sky Guide
- An iOS stargazer who wants light pollution forecasting to plan a dark-sky observing tripnot Simply Piano
- Someone tracking meteor showers and wanting a forecast of viewing conditionsnot Simply Piano
- A user who wants extreme zoom into deep-sky objects without owning a telescopenot Simply Piano
- A buyer comparing subscription astronomy apps on iOS specifically, rather than cross-platform toolsnot Simply Piano
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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.
Sky Guide
- It is iOS-only, unlike SkySafari which also covers Android and desktop.
- It has moved from one-time purchase to a subscription model, and long-time users who paid once for earlier versions have criticised the change publicly.
- Pro tier pricing is high relative to Star Walk 2 for broadly similar core stargazing functionality.
- It has no telescope control, unlike SkySafari Plus and Pro, which limits it to naked-eye and camera-based observing.
- Its relationship to other apps under the same distribution platform is not clearly documented, which makes long-term support commitments harder to assess.
Pricing, plan by plan
Simply Piano
Free- Simply PianoFree
- Limited introductory lessons
- Premium$119.99/year
- Full lesson path and song library
- Progress tracking
- Family plan options available
Sky Guide
Free- Sky GuideFree
- Base sky map and object labelling
- Sky Guide Plus$19.99/year
- Larger star and satellite catalogue
- Light pollution forecasting
- Meteor shower prediction
- Sky Guide Pro$39.99/year
- Very large deep-sky object catalogue
- Exoplanet data
- Extreme zoom
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Sky Guide if
- You need light pollution forecasting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS.
- You also want meteor shower prediction.
Questions people ask
- Is Simply Piano or Sky Guide better?
- Neither clearly leads. Simply Piano starts at Free and Sky Guide at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Simply Piano or Sky Guide?
- Simply Piano starts at Free and Sky Guide at Free.
- Does Simply Piano or Sky Guide run on more platforms?
- Simply Piano runs on iOS, Android, Web. Sky Guide runs on iOS.
- Can I use Simply Piano for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Simply Piano best used for?
- Simply Piano is most often used for a complete beginner who owns an acoustic piano and wants structured lessons without a midi connection, a parent choosing a self-guided piano app for a child who does not yet take private lessons, someone who wants heavily song-driven practice using popular music rather than only classical exercises, a household deciding between this and flowkey based on trial experience and song catalogue fit. Of those, a complete beginner who owns an acoustic piano and wants structured lessons without a midi connection and a parent choosing a self-guided piano app for a child who does not yet take private lessons are not what Sky Guide is typically brought in for.
- What can Simply Piano do that Sky Guide cannot?
- Simply Piano covers Microphone-based listening, Structured curriculum, Popular song arrangements, Kids mode. Sky Guide covers Light pollution forecasting, Meteor shower prediction, Camera and gyroscope sky view, Deep-sky object catalogue.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
Sky Guide: Is Sky Guide free?
The base app is free to download; Plus and Pro are subscription upgrades for a larger catalogue and forecasting features.
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.
Sky Guide: Did Sky Guide used to be a one-time purchase?
Yes, earlier versions were sold as a one-time purchase before it moved to the current free-plus-subscription model.
Simply Piano: Is there a kids version?
Yes, a simplified kids-focused mode and companion product exist for younger learners.
Sky Guide: Does Sky Guide support telescope control?
No. For telescope control, SkySafari Plus or Pro is the better choice.
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