Ranking updated
Apps to learn piano on your own
You can start piano without a teacher if the app can hear you. Simply Piano listens as you play on a real piano or keyboard and moves you from reading notes to playing with both hands. flowkey has courses and songs arranged by professional pianists, from first lessons to chords and improvisation. Skoove builds theory and note reading into the songs you learn, and Piano by Yousician turns practice into missions with video tutorials. All four work in English.
How we picked: piano lesson apps from sellers shown as traders in the App Store, with features from each app’s own description. We do not quote prices; each app has a paid subscription.
Simply Piano: from sheet music to both hands
Simply Piano works with any piano or keyboard. Put the phone on the music stand and play, and the app recognises the notes and gives instant feedback. Courses take you step by step from reading sheet music to playing with both hands, you can slow songs down, and short personal workouts keep practice going. Without a piano, Touch Courses turn the screen into a keyboard.
flowkey and Skoove: learn through songs
flowkey has piano pieces arranged by professional pianists in four difficulty levels, from classical to pop and film music, plus beginner courses on reading notes and finding your way on the keyboard, and tutorials on scales, chords and improvisation. Skoove teaches theory, sight reading and technique inside the songs you learn, listens to your playing with AI and has tempo and looping tools.
Piano by Yousician: practice that feels like a game
Piano by Yousician listens as you play your real instrument and gives feedback on accuracy and timing. A curriculum by piano teachers is split into missions and exercises with video tutorials, and game style progress keeps you practising. If you also play guitar, see guitar chords apps. Torn between the two best known, see Simply Piano vs flowkey.
| App | Best for | How it teaches | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simply PianoApp StoreGoogle Play | fast first steps | listens to your piano, step by step courses, 5 minute workouts, touch keyboard | iOS, Android |
| flowkeyApp StoreGoogle Play | learning songs you love | courses and songs by professional pianists, four difficulty levels | iOS, Android |
| SkooveApp StoreGoogle Play | theory inside the songs | lessons by teachers, AI listens to your playing, tempo and looping tools | iOS, Android |
| Piano by YousicianApp StoreGoogle Play | practice as a game | missions and exercises, video tutorials, feedback on accuracy and timing | iOS, Android |
Frequently asked questions
Can I learn piano on my own with an app?
Yes. Simply Piano, Skoove and Piano by Yousician listen to you play and give instant feedback, and flowkey teaches with step by step courses.
Do I need a real piano?
All four work with acoustic pianos, digital pianos and keyboards. Simply Piano also has Touch Courses that turn the screen into a keyboard.
Which app teaches reading sheet music?
Simply Piano and flowkey have courses on reading sheet music, and Skoove and Yousician build note reading into lessons.