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Education · head to head

Simply Piano vs Star Walk 2

Simply Piano logo

Simply Piano

Education

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Star Walk 2 logo

Star Walk 2

Education

Freemium stargazing app with a low-cost ad-free upgrade, aimed at casual sky watchers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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.; Star Walk 2 its object catalogue is far smaller than SkySafari Pro, so it has little to offer once someone wants to go beyond naked-eye stargazing.
  • They diverge on capability: Simply Piano covers Microphone-based listening, Star Walk 2 covers Augmented reality sky view.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Simply Piano and Star Walk 2 actually diverge.

Attributes where Simply Piano and Star Walk 2 differ
AttributeSimply PianoStar Walk 2
Pricing modelPer user per year or monthFreemium, low-cost ad-free subscription upgrade
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebiOS, Android, macOS, Windows

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 Star Walk 2

  • Augmented reality sky view
  • Time travel mode
  • Satellite tracking
  • Night mode
  • Meteor shower and event alerts
  • Ad-free Plus tier

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 Star Walk 2
  • A parent choosing a self-guided piano app for a child who does not yet take private lessonsnot Star Walk 2
  • Someone who wants heavily song-driven practice using popular music rather than only classical exercisesnot Star Walk 2
  • A household deciding between this and Flowkey based on trial experience and song catalogue fitnot Star Walk 2

Star Walk 2

  • A parent wanting a cheap, simple app to show a child the night skynot Simply Piano
  • A traveller who wants to identify stars and planets without a big subscription commitmentnot Simply Piano
  • A casual stargazer who does not need telescope control or a deep-sky cataloguenot Simply Piano
  • Someone wanting satellite pass tracking including the ISS on a budgetnot 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.

Star Walk 2

  • Its object catalogue is far smaller than SkySafari Pro, so it has little to offer once someone wants to go beyond naked-eye stargazing.
  • It has no telescope control, unlike SkySafari Plus and Pro, so it cannot drive a motorised mount.
  • The free tier carries ads, which some users find intrusive during a stargazing session.
  • It shares a visual style with many similar AR sky map apps, so its differentiation beyond price is limited.
  • Content depth for deep-sky objects and satellite catalogues lags noticeably behind Sky Guide Pro and SkySafari Pro.

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

Star Walk 2

Free
  • Star Walk 2Free
    • Core sky map and AR view
    • Ad-supported
  • Star Walk 2 Plus$5.99/year
    • Ads removed
    • Additional sky content

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.
Simply Piano review

Choose Star Walk 2 if

  • You need augmented reality sky view.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want time travel mode.
Star Walk 2 review

Questions people ask

Is Simply Piano or Star Walk 2 better?
Neither clearly leads. Simply Piano starts at Free and Star Walk 2 at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Simply Piano or Star Walk 2?
Simply Piano starts at Free and Star Walk 2 at Free.
Does Simply Piano or Star Walk 2 run on more platforms?
Simply Piano runs on iOS, Android, Web. Star Walk 2 runs on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
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 Star Walk 2 is typically brought in for.
What can Simply Piano do that Star Walk 2 cannot?
Simply Piano covers Microphone-based listening, Structured curriculum, Popular song arrangements, Kids mode. Star Walk 2 covers Augmented reality sky view, Time travel mode, Satellite tracking, Night mode.

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.

Star Walk 2: Is Star Walk 2 free?

A free ad-supported version exists; Star Walk 2 Plus removes ads and adds content for a low annual or monthly fee.

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.

Star Walk 2: Does it support telescope control?

No. For telescope control, SkySafari Plus or Pro is the better choice.

Simply Piano: Is there a kids version?

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

Star Walk 2: How does it compare to SkySafari on price?

It is substantially cheaper, but with a much smaller star and deep-sky object catalogue.

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