BluePiano LE vs bFaaaP Pro & Switch
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BluePiano LE
Transform your iPhone or iPad into a virtual Bluetooth MIDI piano keyboard. Easily connect to other compatible apps to create music, offering octave scrolling and playthrough options.
- Virtual Bluetooth MIDI piano
- Connects to other MIDI apps
- Sends standard MIDI events
- Octave scrolling
- Playthrough option
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BluePiano turns your iPhone or iPad into a virtual Bluetooth MIDI piano keyboard that can be used in other Bluetooth LE MIDI-capable apps. As soon as you launch the app, a Bluetooth MIDI service is advertised. Pressing keys on the keyboard sends standard MIDI events to any connected clients. You can perform two-finger swipes to scroll through octaves and enable or disable playthrough. BluePiano is the easiest way to use your iOS device as a MIDI piano keyboard for apps like GarageBand running on your Mac, for example.
bFaaaP Pro & Switch
This app works with a special device to allow individuals with leg disabilities, young children, and the elderly to play the piano with sustained tones using head movements. An iOS device detects head motion and transmits signals to activate an electric piano pedal.
- Head motion detection via iOS device
- Sustained piano tones without foot pedal
- Electric piano pedal activation
- Accessibility for leg disabilities
- User-friendly setup guide
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bFaaaP Pro & Switch turns head movements into piano sustain-pedal control, so you can play the pedal completely foot-free. It is the companion app for the bFaaaP barrier-free assist pedals — one app that drives two devices, depending on your instrument: - bFaaaP Pro (acoustic pianos): a motorized device that physically presses the real sustain pedal. It anchors with an inflatable "airback" — non-destructive, no bolting — and self-calibrates. - bFaaaP Switch (digital pianos): switches the sustain electronically through the pedal jack. Small, light and motor-free. Using the front camera, the app detects the angle of your head and converts it into pedal ON/OFF signals, sent over Bluetooth Low Energy to the bFaaaP device on your instrument. The same head-angle control works for both devices. This lets people who cannot use a foot pedal — including wheelchair users and players with limited leg mobility — enjoy expressive, pedal-based performance. WHO IT IS FOR - Pianists who cannot operate a foot pedal - Music therapy, special-needs and inclusive music education - Anyone exploring accessible, barrier-free music making HOW IT WORKS - Detects head angle with the front TrueDepth camera (ARKit face tracking) - Converts the angle into sustain pedal ON/OFF - Sends the signal over Bluetooth Low Energy to bFaaaP Pro or bFaaaP Switch PRIVACY - The camera is used ONLY to read your head/face angle. - That value is processed on-device, used to generate the pedal signal, then discarded. - No face data, image or video is stored or shared with anyone. AN OPEN-SOURCE PROJECT bFaaaP is an open-source, open-hardware barrier-free project by Shishido & Associates. The source code, hardware build details, the story behind it, and ways to contribute are public: - Project & community: https://bfaaap.com - Source code (open source): https://github.com/bfaaap/bfaaap_opensource - Developer & related services: https://saaipf.com SEE IT IN ACTION Watch bFaaaP being played in real concerts and recitals, with setup and how-to guides: - How the system works (overview): https://youtu.be/iyRqPa8TLgE - Live concert — grand piano + bFaaaP Pro: https://youtu.be/V3cXeNW9jXY - How to use bFaaaP Switch (electronic piano): https://youtu.be/XOVENtBsOp4 - Full performance & demo collection (English): https://saaipf.com/en/bfaaap/#videos - Build & set up your own — step-by-step guide (English): https://bfaaap.com/en/build/ - All videos (YouTube channel): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcAvTy1k8rHs2WrEKPx1amg The app's source code is open and free on GitHub, so anyone can build and run it themselves. This App Store version is free, too — just install it and start playing. If you would like to help keep bFaaaP free and open for everyone, donations and support are always welcome (see the links above and at saaipf.com). Thank you for your support. You will need a bFaaaP Pro or bFaaaP Switch device to control a real pedal. Both are open hardware — visit bfaaap.com to learn how they are built and how to take part.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: bFaaaP Pro & Switch at Free against BluePiano LE's $4.99. bFaaaP Pro & Switch also leads on iOS requirement (14.5 vs 16.0). BluePiano LE's advantage is update cadence (every 6 months vs every 20 months). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
bFaaaP Pro & Switch is free to download; BluePiano LE costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
BluePiano LE ships an update every 6 months, bFaaaP Pro & Switch every 20 months. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BluePiano LE | bFaaaP Pro & Switch |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months — better | Every 20 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 14.5 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 40 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Furnace Creek Software LLC | Tomoyuki Shishido |
In-app purchases
BluePiano LE
No in-app purchases
bFaaaP Pro & Switch
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is BluePiano LE free?
Is bFaaaP Pro & Switch free?
Do BluePiano LE or bFaaaP Pro & Switch have ads?
Which is updated more often, BluePiano LE or bFaaaP Pro & Switch?
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