Colossus Piano vs PianoRemote
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Colossus Piano
Experience incredibly realistic piano sounds with a vast library of acoustic and electric piano models. This app offers advanced features like multi-velocity layers, pedal support, and MIDI integration for a professional playing experience.
- 13 high-quality piano models
- 24 velocity layers per key
- Sustain, Sostenuto, and Soft pedal support
- MIDI integration (In/Out)
- Audio Unit v3 and Inter-App Audio support
- Low latency disk streaming
- Adjustable tuning options
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Colossus Piano sets a new standard in terms of realism, detail and overall quality of piano sounds on your iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. There are 8 acoustic piano models available as 8 individual in-app purchases, plus 5 E-Piano legends bundled as 1 sound set with this app, together those 13 piano models make up 30 Gigabyte of sound material. All keys of all piano models were recorded in full length with a recording quality of 24 bit and 96 kHz stereo. Note: this app requires in-app purchases to provide its functionalities! Minimum Requirement: at least iPad 3 / iPad Air 1 / iPad mini 2 / iPhone 5 / iPod touch 6th gen. Recommended: iPad Air 2 / iPad mini 4 / iPad Pro / iPhone SE / iPhone 6s or higher. The dark brown „Colossus Concert Grand” model:³ • 24 velocity layers per key. • Dedicated sustain samples. • Release hammer sound. • Optional pad sound. • 14 GB in size (SSD space). The white „Baby Grand” model: • 12 velocity layers per key. • Dedicated sustain samples. • Release hammer sound. • Optional pad sound. • 6 GB in size (SSD space). The „Upright Piano” model: • 8 velocity layers per key. • Dedicated sustain samples. • Release hammer sound. • Optional pad sound. • 3.4 GB in size (SSD space). The „E-Piano” sound set: • 5 legendary E-Piano models (plus different model generations or configurations). • 17 E-Piano sounds in total. • Optional pad sound. • Optional tremolo effect. • 1.6 GB in size (SSD space). For information about the other piano models, please visit our product website! This app supports Audio Unit v3, Inter-App Audio and Bluetooth LE MIDI ! Software features: • Modulation wheel support for controlling the most relevant sound parameter of the currently selected sound. • Warm pad sound of a well known analogue synthesizer (not available for all models) can be turned on/off as support for the piano sound; volume can be controlled by mod. wheel and expr. controller. • Sustain pedal support for holding notes. • Sostenuto pedal support for holding individual notes. • Soft pedal support for a more gentle sound. • Expression pedal support for controlling optional pad layer's volume. • Hammer sound when releasing keys, uses round robin, can be turned on/off and volume controlled (some acoustic pianos only). • Polyphony of up to several hundred stereo voices.² • Low latency disk streaming. • Configurable audio latency down to 1 ms. • Integrated effects (18 presets). • App States: Save app's entire state as user presets. • MIDI velocity response curve editor. • App can keep running in the background. • Master Tune, Scale Tuning & Hermode Tuning. • Provides Audio Unit v3 plugin version of this app, which allows it to be used as virtual instrument directly within 3rd party multi-track DAW apps. • Supports Apple's "Inter-App Audio" system. • Virtual on-screen piano keyboard with velocity support, scalable & scrollable. MIDI Player / Recorder: • Record, save and load your songs in standard MIDI file format. • Share your songs easily as audio file. • Unlimited amount of tracks. • Unlimited recording and playback length. • Open MIDI (.mid) files directly from other apps (i.e. from Safari, Mail). • Download or upload MIDI files with iTunes. • Metronome. • Use the "Tempo Zoom" dial knob to i.e. slow down playback at any time, learn your favorite songs more easily. ¹ For more information about supported adapters and MIDI keyboards, please visit our product website. ² Some sounds might use several voices per note. Polyphony depends on the exact device model being used. You find a polyphony table on our product website. ³ Important: the dark brown „Colossus Grand” piano model requires a large amount of main memory, so we only recommend this piano model for device models mentioned as „recommended” above.
PianoRemote
Control your Kawai digital piano with ease from your smartphone or tablet. Adjust settings, change sounds, and access built-in music with intuitive controls. Features include lesson modes and virtual technician adjustments.
- Control piano functions via smartphone/tablet
- Intuitive UI consistent with piano touch panel
- Music player with built-in songs
- Lesson and Concert Magic modes
- Adjust Metronome, Virtual Technician, Dual/Split
- Bluetooth MIDI connection
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PianoRemote is a control app developed for Kawai digital pianos, allowing players to change sounds, adjust settings, and enjoy the wide variety of built-in music.[*1] ■ Please note that PianoRemote requires Bluetooth permission in order to scan for Bluetooth MIDI devices. Please approve the Bluetooth permission request to ensure that PianoRemote functions correctly. ・ Easy operation of your Kawai digital piano using a smartphone or tablet PianoRemote allows various functions of the digital piano to be easily selected. ・ Consistent UI design with Kawai digital piano touch panel PianoRemote is designed to allow easy, intuitive operation via a smartphone or tablet. The user interface is standardised, meaning there is no need to learn new operations. ・ Music player feature that can be used like a music app PianoRemote includes a wide variety of songs and classical pieces that are built-in to Kawai digital pianos.[*2] This music can be controlled in the same way as regular music app. However, it’s also possible to change the sound used for playback, allowing songs and classical to be enjoyed with a different tonal character and atmosphere. ・ Interact with music using “Lesson” and “Concert Magic” modes In addition to listening to the built-in songs and classical pieces, the additional “Lesson” and “Concert Magic” modes allow musicians to practice the music, and non-musicians to enjoy playing pieces and learning rhythm with a single finger.[*3] ・ Control various built-in functions PianoRemote can be used to control various functions of the Kawai digital piano. For example, the Metronome is an essential aid for practise, the Virtual Technician allows the sound and other aspects of the piano to be adjusted to suit one’s person preference, while the Dual and Split functions allow different sounds to be combined for more engaging performances.[*4] ・ Straightforward connection using Bluetooth MIDI PianoRemote supports Bluetooth MIDI wireless communication, allowing immediate connection to the Kawai digital piano without the need for additional cables.[*5] *1 A compatible Kawai Digital Piano must be connected to a smartphone or tablet. *2 Copyrighted songs are not included among the piano’s built-in songs. *3 Some songs do not support “Lesson” and “Concert Magic” modes due to the composition of the data. *4 “Recorder” and “USB Memory Player” function control is not supported. *5 Connection via USB cable or a Bluetooth MIDI adapter such as the QuiccoSound mi.1 also supported.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Colossus Piano at 3.3 against PianoRemote's 2.5. Colossus Piano also leads on review sentiment (54% vs 16%) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). PianoRemote's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 9). On price, ratings volume, ads 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
Both are free to download. Colossus Piano sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. PianoRemote asks for nothing beyond the download.
Colossus Piano holds the better App Store score, 3.3 against 2.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 65 and 43 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of Colossus Piano's written reviews are positive against 16% of PianoRemote's.
Colossus Piano ships an update every 2 months, PianoRemote every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Colossus Piano | PianoRemote |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.3 (65 ratings) — better | 2.5 (43 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 54.5% of reviews — better | 16.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 65 — better | 43 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 384 MB | 80 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Christian Schoenebeck d/b/a Crudebyte | Kawai Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co., Ltd. |
Customer experience
Colossus Piano
PianoRemote
Bugs and requests
Colossus Piano
Reported bugs
27 issues- Crashes when exporting to WAV/M4A in GarageBand
- App crashes when switching piano models
- Audio Unit extension crashes
- No sound when exporting to GarageBand
- Plugin crashes in DAWs during export/freeze
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- App crashes when loading MIDI files
- Hammer sound too loud even at lowest settings
- Low C1 note out of tune
- Electric Grand F4 note sample start time issue
- Electric Grand G#4, D5 notes have noise on attack
- Plugin not loading properly in hosts
- AUv3 interface scaled back
- Exporting to WAV results in silence
- App crashes during export/freeze
- Japanese Grand has low volume
- Colossus Concert Grand needs improvement
- G1 key has loud, annoying noise
- B flat 3 key sounds too flat
- Crashing in AU mode
- Bass notes drop out when holding damper pedal
- Voice stealing makes piano perform unacceptably
- Bass is muddy in Concert Grand
- Note 26 (Bb2) sounds like an upright
- Subtle nuance playing is nearly impossible
- App crashes or freezes randomly
- MIDI player doesn't work with GarageBand
- Audio Units extension terminates unexpectedly
Requested features
14 requests- Add chorus effect
- Global EQ
- Release control
- Tap tempo for modulation speed
- Save velocity curves
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- More intuitive UI
- Zoom function for keys
- Add release samples
- MIDI export/import
- Three-band EQ
- Layering sounds on multiple MIDI keyboards
- Ability to save setups
- Improve AUv3 functionality
- Add more piano models
PianoRemote
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Colossus Piano
- Vintage Upright$9.99
- Historic S Grand$9.99
- Pianino$12.99
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- Japanese Grand$12.99
- Classic B Grand$15.99
- Upright Piano$19.99
- Colossus E-Piano Set$19.99
- Baby Grand Piano$26.99
- Colossus Concert Grand$49.99
PianoRemote
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Colossus Piano free?
Is PianoRemote free?
Which has better reviews, Colossus Piano or PianoRemote?
Do Colossus Piano or PianoRemote have ads?
Which is updated more often, Colossus Piano or PianoRemote?
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