Education · head to head
Flowkey vs Star Walk 2
Flowkey
Education
Piano learning app with microphone or MIDI listening and a large licensed song catalogue
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Star Walk 2
Education
Freemium stargazing app with a low-cost ad-free upgrade, aimed at casual sky watchers
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
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.; 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: Flowkey covers Large licensed song library, 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 Flowkey and Star Walk 2 actually diverge.
| Attribute | Flowkey | Star Walk 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per user per year or month | Freemium, low-cost ad-free subscription upgrade |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, 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 Flowkey
- Large licensed song library
- MIDI keyboard support
- Microphone listening
- Slow-down and loop tools
- Video lessons
- Progress tracking
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.
Flowkey
- An adult returning to piano who wants to work toward specific known songs at a graduated difficultynot Star Walk 2
- Someone with a MIDI-capable digital keyboard wanting more accurate feedback than microphone listening alonenot Star Walk 2
- A learner motivated by a large, varied song catalogue rather than a strict beginner curriculumnot Star Walk 2
- A pianist wanting slow-down and loop tools to work through a specific difficult passage in a real piecenot Star Walk 2
Star Walk 2
- A parent wanting a cheap, simple app to show a child the night skynot Flowkey
- A traveller who wants to identify stars and planets without a big subscription commitmentnot Flowkey
- A casual stargazer who does not need telescope control or a deep-sky cataloguenot Flowkey
- Someone wanting satellite pass tracking including the ISS on a budgetnot 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.
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
Flowkey
Free- FlowkeyFree
- Limited free songs and lessons
- Premium$119.99/year
- Full song library and difficulty arrangements
- MIDI keyboard support
- Progress tracking
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 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.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Flowkey or Star Walk 2 better?
- Neither clearly leads. Flowkey 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, Flowkey or Star Walk 2?
- Flowkey starts at Free and Star Walk 2 at Free.
- Does Flowkey or Star Walk 2 run on more platforms?
- Flowkey runs on iOS, Android, Web. Star Walk 2 runs on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
- 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 Star Walk 2 is typically brought in for.
- What can Flowkey do that Star Walk 2 cannot?
- Flowkey covers Large licensed song library, MIDI keyboard support, Microphone listening, Slow-down and loop tools. Star Walk 2 covers Augmented reality sky view, Time travel mode, Satellite tracking, Night mode.
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.
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.
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.
Star Walk 2: Does it support telescope control?
No. For telescope control, SkySafari Plus or Pro is the better choice.
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.
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.
Related pages
More on Star Walk 2
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