Simply Piano costs $9.99 to $17.99 per month and requires a smartphone app. BeatKey Virtual Piano is completely free, runs in any browser, and uniquely shows the exact Hz frequency for every note you play.
Simply Piano (by JoyTunes) is one of the most downloaded piano learning apps globally, with tens of millions of installs on iOS and Android. It teaches piano through guided lessons, structured courses (from beginner to advanced), and a song library ranging from classical pieces to pop songs. The app listens to your acoustic or digital piano via microphone and gives real-time feedback on accuracy and timing.
Simply Piano requires a subscription ($9.99 to $17.99/month or $119.99/year) after a short free trial. It is app-only (no web browser version). It is excellent for learning to play piano but has no features designed for music producers, 808 tuning, or frequency reference.
| Feature | Simply Piano | BeatKey Virtual Piano |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 to $17.99/month | Free forever |
| Subscription required | Yes | No |
| App download | iOS + Android only | No download, browser only |
| Desktop browser support | No | Yes (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) |
| iPhone support | Yes (app) | Yes (Safari browser, no app) |
| Hz frequency display | No | Yes, real time per note |
| MIDI number display | No | Yes, real time per note |
| 4 waveforms | No | Yes (sine, triangle, square, sawtooth) |
| Computer keyboard input | No | Yes (A-S-D-F-G-H-J layout) |
| 808 tuning guide | No | Yes (notes.beatkey.app) |
| BPM + Key detector | No | Yes (beatkey.app) |
| Chord detection from audio | No | Yes (chords.beatkey.app) |
| Guided piano lessons | Yes (with subscription) | No |
| Song library | Yes (with subscription) | No |
Simply Piano shows you which keys to press to play a song. BeatKey Virtual Piano shows you the exact frequency of every note, which producers need for:
Simply Piano requires $9.99 to $17.99/month after the free trial. BeatKey Virtual Piano is free forever with no trial period, no credit card, and no account required.
If you need to check note frequencies for 808 tuning, EQ work, or sample root identification, BeatKey shows Hz and MIDI numbers in real time. Simply Piano does not.
Simply Piano has no desktop web version. Its online presence is limited to marketing pages. BeatKey Virtual Piano runs in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge on any computer without installing anything.
Need to hear how a chord sounds before building it in your DAW? BeatKey has a Quick Chords panel with 8 common chords and note names displayed instantly. No subscription, no setup.
BeatKey Virtual Piano is one of eight free music production tools. All run in the browser with no account required.
BeatKey Virtual Piano is a free browser-based piano keyboard with no subscription, no account, and no app download required. It works in any browser and shows the exact Hz frequency and MIDI number for every note you play, which Simply Piano does not provide.
Simply Piano has a limited free trial but requires a subscription ($9.99 to $17.99/month or $119.99/year) for full access to its song library and lesson courses. BeatKey Virtual Piano is entirely free with no paid tiers and no subscription ever.
No. Simply Piano is a piano learning app focused on guided lessons and song tutorials. It does not show Hz frequencies or MIDI numbers for played notes. BeatKey Virtual Piano shows the exact Hz and MIDI number in real time for every note, which is essential for production tasks like 808 tuning and EQ decisions.
BeatKey Virtual Piano is built for music producers and musicians who need frequency reference and production tools, not structured piano lessons. For learning piano with guided exercises and a song library, Simply Piano is the better choice. BeatKey is for production workflows: 808 tuning, chord checking, Hz reference, and BPM detection.
No subscription. No app download. No account. Just open it in your browser and start playing.