iPhone and iPad apps can supplement piano education, but they shouldn't replace human instruction according to an AppleInsider writer who tested both Duolingo Piano and Simply Piano. After 525 days with Duolingo and 48 days with Simply Piano, plus eight sessions with a live teacher, the author concludes apps lack the depth of in-person guidance.

Simply Piano offers a subscription service at roughly $150 annually, though the author encountered confusing pricing disparities. The app connects directly to pianos and uses a scrolling cursor system to teach pop songs, employing finger-numbering techniques. Despite frustrating upselling prompts and missing Mac support, it provides better structured learning than competitors.

Duolingo Piano suffers from poor design choices including sudden topic introductions, gamification elements like virtual chests, and questionable statistics claiming subscribers are 4.7 times more likely to complete courses. The app sometimes incorrectly marks answers wrong during note-dragging exercises.

While both apps serve casual learners, neither matches the effectiveness of traditional piano instruction. The author recommends combining app practice with live teacher sessions for meaningful progress.