A flowkey alternative with a free first stage
flowkey and Keystair share a lot. Both run in your web browser on a computer, both can read a digital piano through MIDI or listen through the microphone, and both offer seven free days on the yearly plan. They differ in how they teach, how much is free, and what you pay afterward.
Checked October 7, 2026.
At a glance
| Keystair | flowkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | A web browser on a computer, phone, or tablet | A web browser on a computer, plus apps for iPhone, iPad, and Android |
| Hears you through | A USB keyboard, the microphone, or the computer or on-screen keys | The microphone or a MIDI keyboard; microphone only in Safari and Firefox |
| Free without paying | All of Stage 1: 23 lessons with their songs and workouts, for good | A few songs and course lessons |
| Free trial | 7 days on the yearly plan | 7 days on the yearly plan |
| Price in the US | $12.99 a month, $79 a year, or $199 once | From $16.49 a month or $99.99 a year; no lifetime plan |
| How it teaches | A graded path of short lessons in standard notation; each waits until you’ve got it | Video of a pianist’s hands over the sheet music, and courses on reading, chords, and scales |
| Songs | 59 public-domain pieces: folk songs, Bach, Beethoven, Joplin, and more | Thousands of arrangements in every genre |
| Languages | English and Spanish | 11, Spanish among them |
Where Keystair is different
Keystair is one graded course rather than a collection of songs. Each short lesson teaches one thing and waits until you can do it before moving on, and older skills come back as quick warm-ups so you don’t forget them. flowkey’s free account includes a few songs and lessons, while Keystair’s Stage 1 has 23 free lessons that never run out.
Keystair also costs less. In the US, flowkey starts at $16.49 a month or $99.99 a year, with no lifetime plan. Pro on Keystair costs $12.99 a month or $79 a year, or $199 once for a lifetime plan.
Where flowkey is the better pick
flowkey has videos of a pianist’s hands above the sheet music, which really helps if you learn by watching, and Keystair doesn’t have anything like that. flowkey’s library is much bigger too, with thousands of arrangements, including pop and film music on its Premium plan. All of Keystair’s 59 songs are folk tunes or classical pieces.
flowkey is a trademark of its owner. Keystair isn’t connected with it.