A Neothesia alternative: Piano: Soloist

Neothesia is a free, open-source (GPL-3.0) desktop app for Linux, Windows and macOS that plays MIDI files as falling notes over a virtual piano, in the style of Synthesia. If you want the same falling-notes idea in the browser, with the real sheet music highlighted as it plays, MusicXML and PDF scores, and video recording, try Piano: Soloist.

Open it in your browserBrowse 400+ pieces

What you get

One-time Pro, no subscription
No account needed. Pro is a single one-time purchase, and its trial needs no card.
Score and falling notes together
The sheet music is highlighted as it plays while notes fall onto the keyboard.
Many file types
MusicXML/MXL, MIDI, printed PDF scores and piano recordings.
2D, 2.5D and 3D with themes
Space and Classic themes, Christmas and Neon with Pro, plus your own background.
Video recording
Landscape videos and vertical 9:16 renders for Shorts and Reels.

How to use it

  1. Open the app and load a MIDI file, or a MusicXML / PDF score.
  2. Connect a MIDI keyboard if you have one (Chrome or Edge on PC and Android).
  3. Turn on Wait mode to practice: the music pauses until you play the right keys.
  4. Use slow-down, one-hand view and loops for the hard bars.

Comparison: Piano: Soloist · Neothesia

Piano: SoloistNeothesia
Where it runsBrowser (computer, tablet, phone)Desktop app (Linux, Windows, macOS)
FilesMusicXML, MIDI, PDF, recordingsMIDI
Sheet musicHighlighted score above the notesFalling notes over a virtual piano
Views2D, 2.5D and 3D, with themesFalling notes
PricePartly free, Pro is a one-time purchaseFree and open source (GPL-3.0)

Comparison as we understand each product today; features and prices change, so check Neothesia's own site for its current details.

Which one fits you

You like open-source desktop software, especially on Linux
Neothesia is free, open source and runs natively on your computer.
You also want to read the score, or play on a tablet or phone
Piano: Soloist shows the real notation in sync and runs in any modern browser.

Basic vs Pro

Partly free: the basic features need no payment or account, and a one-time Pro purchase adds the following.

Basic (Free)Pro
PriceNo paymentOne-time lifetime purchase: $19.99 launch price until 2026-12-27 (regular $29.99). No subscription
Files you can openMusicXML (.musicxml, .xml, .mxl), MIDI (.mid), PDF scores, piano recordings and videos (MP3, WAV, M4A, MP4…)Same
ViewsFalling notes + highlighted score, 2D / 2.5D / 3D, themes (Space, Classic)+ Pro themes (Christmas, Neon)
PracticeSpeed 0.5–1.5×, one-hand view, jump to bar / loop, MIDI keyboardSame
Wait mode (waits for the right key)1 piece a dayUnlimited
High-quality piano (16 velocity layers)1 piece a dayUnlimited
Video recording / render (MP4)720p, 30 fps, watermark, 2D/2.5D, vertical 9:16 available1080p and 4K, 60 fps, no watermark, 3D
PDF to score3 a month (up to 10 pages)10 a day (up to 30 pages)
Recording to score3 a day (up to 8 min)20 a day (up to 8 min)
Fast recording conversion (GPU)1 a day10 a day, priority when busy
Medley (play several pieces in a row)—Yes
Saved scoresLatest 5Unlimited
AccountNot neededNot needed (activate with the key from your receipt)
Devices—Up to 3 per key
Trial and refunds—3-day trial (no card), refunds within 14 days

Only need more score conversions? Pro-Lite ($3.99, one-time): PDF to score 3 a day (up to 20 pages), recording to score 5 a day (3 fast), unlimited saved scores and no ads. Everything else is the same as Basic.

FAQ

Does it work on Linux?
It runs in a modern browser on Linux; Chrome or Edge is recommended, and MIDI keyboards need Chrome or Edge (Web MIDI).
Does it show the sheet music too?
Yes. The score scrolls above the falling notes and colors each note as it sounds.
Is it free?
Partly free. The core features and the free pieces are free to use. A few extras, such as the high-quality piano and medley mode, come with Pro — see "Basic vs Pro" above for every difference.

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