Pianoforall vs Simply Piano: Which Suits Adult Beginners?

Pianoforall and Simply Piano come up together a lot, because they are two of the best-known ways for adults to learn piano at home. They are built on very different ideas, so the better choice depends on how you like to learn rather than which one is "best". This comparison uses each company's own pages and help center, read on October 19, 2026. I have not used either one. I am an affiliate for Pianoforall and not for Simply Piano, so weigh my view accordingly; my aim is to describe both fairly.

The short version

• Choose Simply Piano if you want an app that listens to you play and tells you right away whether you hit the right note, and you like short, game-like daily sessions.
• Choose Pianoforall if you want a teacher-led course of videos and ebooks built around chords, rhythm and playing by ear, with a one-time price instead of a subscription.

Both can work for a complete beginner. Neither replaces a live teacher who can watch your hands.

Side by side

• Format. Pianoforall: video lessons and ebooks in an online "Academy". Simply Piano: an interactive app for phones and tablets.
• Feedback on your playing. Pianoforall: none; the vendor says it does not listen to you. Simply Piano: listens through the microphone or a MIDI connection and gives instant feedback.
• Teaching approach. Pianoforall: chords and rhythm first, with reading music added gradually. Simply Piano: step-by-step courses from reading music to playing with both hands, plus a song library.
• How you pay. Pianoforall: a one-time payment with lifetime access, per the vendor. Simply Piano: an auto-renewing Premium subscription.
• Ways to try it first. Pianoforall: sample videos on the vendor's site. Simply Piano: a no-cost first course (Piano Basics) and a 7-day trial on the yearly plan.
• Refund route. Pianoforall: a 60-day money-back guarantee through ClickBank, per the vendor. Simply Piano: through your app store or the company's own terms.

The sections below explain each difference.

How each one teaches

Pianoforall is a course by teacher Robin Hall. The vendor describes a "play first" approach: you start with chords and rhythm patterns using both hands, then add playing by ear, improvisation and, gradually, reading music. You follow short video lessons and ebooks, and the vendor says you can use them online, offline or printed.

Simply Piano is an app from the company Simply, formerly called JoyTunes. Its help center says the app listens to the notes you play and gives live feedback, color-coding notes you got right, notes you got right after a hint, and wrong notes. Its app store listing describes step-by-step courses, a large song library and personalized five-minute "workouts".

Feedback: the biggest difference

This is the deciding factor for many people. Simply Piano's whole design is built on hearing you play, either through the device's microphone or a MIDI connection to a digital keyboard. Its help center has a long section on improving note recognition, which suggests the microphone does not always hear perfectly in a noisy room, and that MIDI is more reliable.

Pianoforall does not listen to you at all. The vendor says this openly and describes the course as more like learning with a teacher who explains and demonstrates. That means you have to judge your own playing, which suits some adults and frustrates others. Recording yourself on your phone once a week helps, whichever you choose. My practice routine for adults has a simple way to do it.

What each costs

Pianoforall: the vendor's FAQ lists the main course at $49 as a one-time payment with lifetime access, with a separate classical course at the same price and a bundle of both. Payments go through ClickBank.

Simply Piano: the app costs nothing to download, and its help center says the first course, Piano Basics, is free to use with no subscription. Full courses and the song library need a Premium subscription. The help center says the 7-day free trial is only offered on the yearly plan and only once per account. The app store listing says subscriptions renew automatically unless you turn off auto-renewal at least 24 hours before the period ends. I could not find one fixed price, since it varies by country, platform and plan, so check it in the app.

The Pianoforall vendor says subscription apps can cost over $700 across two years. That is the vendor's own figure, and it is not specific to Simply Piano. Do your own sum: the monthly or yearly price shown to you, times how long you expect to keep learning.

Devices and equipment

Both need a real piano or keyboard to get far. Pianoforall's vendor suggests at least 61 full-size, touch-sensitive keys and a sustain pedal. Simply Piano says it works with any piano or keyboard, and it also has touch courses that turn your screen into a keyboard so you can try it without one.

Pianoforall works on a computer, tablet or phone with one account, per the vendor. Simply Piano is an app for phones and tablets, and its store listing says one plan can have up to five profiles, which helps if several people in a household want to learn.

Who each one suits

Simply Piano may suit you if:

• You want to know instantly whether you played the right note.
• You like short daily sessions, streaks and songs you recognize.
• You are happy to pay a subscription while you are learning.

Pianoforall may suit you if:

• You want to play chords and accompany songs early on.
• You prefer a teacher explaining things over an app scoring you.
• You prefer paying once, and like having ebooks you can print.

Neither may suit you if you want graded exams, detailed technique correction or classical repertoire from the start. A local teacher is better for that, even for a few lessons. Learning piano as an adult covers how to choose.

A fair way to decide

1. Try Simply Piano's Piano Basics course, which costs nothing, for a few days.
2. Watch the sample videos on the Pianoforall site.
3. Notice which one you actually wanted to come back to.
4. Before paying for either, check the refund route. For Pianoforall that is ClickBank's 60-day process, explained in how to get a refund on a ClickBank purchase. For Simply Piano, check the terms in your app store and set a reminder before any trial ends.

If you are leaning toward Pianoforall, is Pianoforall legit? covers what can be checked before you buy, and my Pianoforall notes go into who it may suit. If you want to see the current details, here is the Pianoforall vendor's page (affiliate link). Simply Piano is available in the Apple and Google app stores.

Disclosure again: I earn a commission if you buy Pianoforall through that link, at no extra cost to you. I earn nothing from Simply Piano.