Comparison · vs
Clef vs Simply Piano: drills vs gamified songs
Simply Piano and Clef aim at opposite ends of learning. Simply Piano is a gamified, mic-based app that gets you playing songs fast with lots of encouragement (iOS/Android). Clef ignores songs entirely and drills fundamentals, reading, intervals, chords, key signatures, scales, arpeggios, in short timed sessions with spaced repetition (iOS only). Choose Simply Piano for motivation and quick song wins; choose Clef to fix slow note-reading and build technique fundamentals. They work well together.
| Clef | Simply Piano | |
|---|---|---|
| Core job | Fundamentals & reading drills | Gamified song learning |
| Feedback | Tap / type / MIDI, timed | Listens via microphone |
| Teaches songs? | No | Yes |
| Reading focus | Direct & central | Gradual, incidental |
| Platforms | iOS only | iOS · Android |
| Free tier | Yes | Trial |
| Pricing | $6.99/mo · $39.99/yr · $99.99 lifetime (published) | Annual subscription; price shown in-app |
Clef pricing is published on clefdrills.com; Simply Piano does not display pricing on hellosimply.com. Verified August 2026.
Pick Simply Piano if
You want maximum motivation, fast early wins, Android support, and a guided path from zero. It's one of the best on-ramps for staying consistent in week one.
Pick Clef if
You can already fumble through songs but reading holds you back, or you want a daily fundamentals habit. iOS-only, and deliberately not a song app.
The honest recommendation
For an iPhone-using adult beginner, Simply Piano (or flowkey) for songs + Clef for reading/technique is a strong pairing that covers the gap song apps leave. Whichever you pick, the deciding factor is daily consistency, not the app, habit research puts the median time to automaticity at 66 days. See the full app comparison and our Simply Piano alternatives page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clef a good alternative to Simply Piano?
Only if your goal is fundamentals rather than songs. Simply Piano teaches you to play songs in a gamified way; Clef drills reading and technique and teaches no songs. They're better paired than substituted, Clef fills the reading gap Simply Piano leaves.
Does Clef work on Android like Simply Piano?
No. Simply Piano runs on iOS and Android; Clef is iOS-only as of 2026. Android users should choose a different fundamentals trainer.
Which is cheaper, Clef or Simply Piano?
Clef publishes its prices ($6.99/mo, $39.99/yr, $99.99 lifetime). Simply Piano shows its annual price only in-app, so compare there. Because they do different jobs, price isn't the main deciding factor.
Sources & primary references
- Clef (clefdrills.com), product & pricing, https://clefdrills.com
- Simply Piano (official site), https://www.hellosimply.com/simply-piano
- Lally et al., "How are habits formed: Modelling habit formation in the real world," European Journal of Social Psychology (2010), doi:10.1002/ejsp.674 (the UCL 66-day study), https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ejsp.674