A Synthesia alternative that also shows the sheet music

Synthesia is a polished app for practicing MIDI songs with a keyboard. If you would rather open it right in your browser, want to see the actual notation next to the falling notes, or want to make piano videos, Piano: Soloist may suit you better.

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.
Runs in the browser
Open the site on a computer, tablet or phone and it runs right away.
Real notation on screen
The sheet music is shown and highlighted as it plays, so you learn to read the score, not only the falling bars.
Scores, not just MIDI
Open MusicXML, MIDI, printed PDF scores or a piano recording.
Video making
Record or render a clean video for YouTube, Shorts and Reels, in 2D, 2.5D or 3D.

How to use it

  1. Open the app.
  2. Pick a piece or load your own file.
  3. Connect a MIDI keyboard if you want to practice in Wait mode.

Comparison: Piano: Soloist · Synthesia

Piano: SoloistSynthesia
Where it runsBrowserDesktop / mobile app
Sheet music shownYes, highlighted while playingOptional notation view
FilesMusicXML, MIDI, PDF, audioMIDI
MIDI keyboard practiceWait mode (Chrome / Edge)Yes, with more learning options
Video recordingBuilt inUse separate screen capture

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

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

Is Piano: Soloist really free?
Partly free. The core features and the 400+ 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.
Can I use my MIDI keyboard?
Yes, in Chrome or Edge on PC and Android. Safari does not support Web MIDI.

Try a ready-made piece