Hit the wall in Simply Piano's lessons and want to practice your own pieces? Piano Nova is the Simply Piano alternative built for self-directed practice — upload any PDF, MusicXML, or photo and learn it bar by bar. Full comparison below.
| Feature | Piano Nova | Simply Piano |
|---|---|---|
| Upload your own scores | PDF, MusicXML, images | Their library only |
| Structured lessons | Self-directed learning | Step-by-step courses |
| Sheet music display | Full notation | Simplified notation |
| PDF & image upload | Smart conversion | Not supported |
| Tempo control | ||
| Loop sections | ||
| Hands-separate practice | ||
| MIDI keyboard support | Also works via mic | |
| Song library | Bring your own | Curated pop, classical, etc. |
| Platform | Web, Android | iOS, Android, Chromebook |
| Pricing | Free tier, $19.99/mo, $149.99/yr, $299 lifetime | Free trial, then ~$17.90/mo or ~$169.90/yr — varies by country |
Simply Piano is a great learning tool for beginners who need structure and guidance. Its step-by-step courses take you from zero to playing basic songs, with gamified feedback that keeps you engaged. If you've never touched a piano, it's one of the best places to start.
But once you move past the basics, Simply Piano hits a wall. You can't upload your teacher's assignments. You can't practice your exam pieces. If the piece you want to learn isn't in their library, you're out of luck. There's no tempo control, no section looping, and no way to slow down a difficult passage and work through it bar by bar.
That's where Piano Nova comes in. It's built for the next stage: when you know what you want to play and need the tools to actually learn it. Upload any score — PDF, photo, or MusicXML — slow it down, loop the hard parts, practice hands separately, and play along with your MIDI keyboard at your own pace.
If you're a beginner who needs lessons, start with Simply Piano. If you already have music you want to learn, Piano Nova is the Simply Piano alternative you've been looking for.
Try Piano Nova FreePiano Nova is the best Simply Piano alternative for pianists past the beginner stage. Simply Piano's structured courses are great for absolute beginners; Piano Nova picks up from there, letting you upload any score (PDF, photo, MusicXML) and practice it with tempo control, section looping, hands-separate mode, and wait mode. If you still need structured lessons, stay with Simply Piano. If you already know what you want to play, Piano Nova gives you the practice tools.
Piano Nova has a free tier with 2 scores and 2 PDF/image pages (MusicXML uploads don't count toward the page limit), with every practice feature included. Simply Piano offers a free trial that auto-renews into a paid subscription. They're different products: Simply Piano teaches you piano from scratch, Piano Nova helps you practice pieces you've already chosen.
Simply Piano has a free trial that auto-renews into a paid subscription unless you cancel. Simply does not publish a single price — its help centre states that cost varies by country, by store (App Store or Google Play), and by plan, so you have to check in-app. Third-party reviews put the US individual plan around $17.90/month or $169.90/year. Piano Nova has a free tier with 2 scores and 2 PDF/image pages (MusicXML uploads don't count toward the page limit), with every practice feature included.
No. Simply Piano only works with songs from their built-in library. You cannot upload PDFs, MusicXML files, or images. Piano Nova lets you upload any score in these formats.
Simply Piano uses simplified notation. Piano Nova renders full traditional sheet music notation, which helps build sight-reading skills alongside playing ability.
Piano Nova. Once you're past the beginner stage, you need tools for practicing specific pieces — tempo control, looping, and your own sheet music. Simply Piano is designed for beginners learning from scratch.