Clef vs flowkey: Honest Comparison

What each app is

flowkey (flowkey GmbH) is a piano learning app for phone, tablet and laptop. It has thousands of songs arranged by professional pianists in four difficulty levels, video of a pianist playing each piece, step-by-step courses including reading sheet music, and feedback through your device's microphone or Bluetooth/MIDI. A limited set of lessons and classical songs is free; the Yearly plan starts with 7 free days. On November 1, 2026 it held a 4.7 rating from about 66,000 US App Store ratings.

Clef is a piano drill app for iPhone and iPad with 15 practice tracks (treble notes, bass notes, grand staff, ledger lines, intervals, key signatures, keyboard mapping, five-finger patterns, triads, seventh chords, triad inversions, major scales, minor scales, arpeggios and hand coordination). An FSRS spaced-repetition model schedules each session around what you miss. You answer on screen or with a connected MIDI keyboard; Clef does not listen through the microphone.

This page is written by the Clef team. Facts about flowkey come from its App Store listing and public site as of November 1, 2026 and can change; check the source before you buy.

Choose flowkey when

• You want to learn particular songs, from classical to pop and film music.
• You learn best by watching a real pianist's hands.
• You want one app that works on phone, tablet and laptop.
• You play an acoustic piano and want feedback through the microphone.

Choose Clef when

• Reading is what slows you down, not repertoire.
• You want each session chosen for you, based on what you keep missing.
• You want to drill intervals, key signatures, triads, scales and arpeggios, not just play pieces.
• You have a few minutes away from the piano.
• You want a free tier with no time limit for treble and bass reading.

Feature comparison (2026)

Details as of November 1, 2026, from each app's App Store listing and public site. Ratings are US App Store figures on that date.

Where flowkey is stronger

Music and teaching. flowkey's library, pianist videos and slow-down practice tools make learning a real piece far easier than any drill app, and it covers scales, chords and improvisation tutorials for experienced players too.

Where Clef is stronger

Recall you can measure. flowkey shows you the notes while you learn a piece; Clef hides the answer and asks you to recall it, times you, and brings back the items you miss on a spaced-repetition schedule. That builds the reading speed that makes the next flowkey song quicker to learn.

Can you use both?

Yes. Many players use a song app for repertoire and a drill for fundamentals. Three minutes of Clef before a flowkey session warms up your reading for the piece you are about to play.

Clef vs flowkey FAQ

What is the main difference between Clef and flowkey?

flowkey teaches songs with pianist videos, an arranged sheet-music library and feedback through the microphone or MIDI. Clef is a drill app: it trains note reading, intervals, key signatures, chords, scales and arpeggios in short sessions scheduled by FSRS spaced repetition.

Does flowkey help with sight reading?

It includes courses on reading sheet music and you read while you play. It does not run repeated, scheduled note-recall drills. Clef is built for exactly that skill.

Which is better for adult beginners?

If you want to play songs soon, flowkey. If you can already find middle C but read notes slowly, Clef targets that gap directly. Many adult beginners use both.

Does Clef work with an acoustic piano?

Clef does not listen through the microphone. With an acoustic piano you answer on the iPhone or iPad screen; with a digital piano or keyboard you can connect MIDI and answer on real keys.