# PianoStream vs NS MIDI Player

The clearest difference is monetization model: NS MIDI Player at free with in-app purchases against PianoStream's subscription. PianoStream's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and chart position (#149 vs unranked). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PianoStream sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days and NS MIDI Player sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PianoStream holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 217 and 211 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of PianoStream's written reviews are positive against 84% of NS MIDI Player's.

PianoStream ships an update every 2 months, NS MIDI Player every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PianoStream | NS MIDI Player |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (217 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pianostream/id1232509288/reviews)** | [4.5 (211 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ns-midi-player/id1514225088/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **217** | 211 |
| Positive reviews | **93.9% of reviews** | 83.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#149** | — |
| Size | 39 MB | 130 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 17.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [B&T Entertainment Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/484279008) | [Nitin Seshadri](https://appshunter.io/developer/1241696993) |

## What reviewers say

### PianoStream

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pianostream/id1232509288)

**Currently charting:** #149 Top Grossing · Music (US App Store)

Experience high-quality piano performances on your player piano or digital piano. Enjoy curated stations, exclusive artist content, and seamless playback. Upload your own MIDI files and create custom playlists for a personalized musical experience.

**Highlights:** Live concert-quality piano performances, Curated music stations by genre and era, Universal compatibility with digital and analog pianos, Upload personal MIDI files, Create custom playlists, Exclusive artist content

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Trial Weekly | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Subscription | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Trial Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $24.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $179.99 | per year |
| Premium Trial Yearly | $179.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy setup and use
- 🚀 Seamless Bluetooth/MIDI connectivity
- 💎 Extensive music library with frequent updates
- 🔊 High-quality piano performances
- 💯 Excellent customer support and responsiveness

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional technical issues with connectivity
- 🔍 Lacking advanced search/filtering features
- 📱 User interface could be more intuitive

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional app crashes or freezes
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between digital and analog modes

**Requested features**

- Ability to create and save custom playlists
- Landscape mode support for better tablet experience
- Expanded audio output options (e.g., integrating with home audio systems)


### NS MIDI Player

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ns-midi-player/id1514225088)

This application allows users to play MIDI files on their Apple devices. It supports various MIDI formats, custom sound fonts, and synchronized lyrics. Advanced features like audio export and MIDI output connection are available via a one-time purchase.

**Highlights:** Play standard MIDI files (.mid, .midi, .kar), Support for custom SoundFonts (.sf2, .dls), View time-synced lyrics, Connect to MIDI outputs, Export MIDI as audio, Queue multiple songs, Background audio and AirPlay support

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Thanks | $0.99 | one-time |
| Small Tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| NS MIDI Player (Full Unlock) | $7.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
- 🎵 Excellent sound quality with soundfont support
- 💰 Free version available with core functionality
- 🎧 Custom soundfont compatibility
- 📱 QuickLook/QuickView integration for quick previews

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing issues
- ⏱️ Slow loading times for large MIDI files
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- ❌ Limited free version functionality
- 💸 Premium features behind paywall ($7.99-$22)

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently during normal use
- Settings menu causes crashes
- Export/conversion button force closes app
- Soundfont file picker fails to open
- Audio initialization errors with some soundfonts

**Requested features**

- Playlist creation and management
- Instrument selection/replacement per channel
- Background playback with screen off
- Auto-play all files in folder
- Pitch adjustment capability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PianoStream free?

PianoStream is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is NS MIDI Player free?

NS MIDI Player is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PianoStream or NS MIDI Player?

PianoStream is rated higher. PianoStream averages 4.8 out of 5 from 217 ratings, while NS MIDI Player averages 4.5 from 211 ratings.

### Do PianoStream or NS MIDI Player have ads?

Neither PianoStream nor NS MIDI Player shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PianoStream or NS MIDI Player?

PianoStream ships an update every 2 months, and NS MIDI Player every 3 months. Most recently, PianoStream was updated on November 6, 2026 and NS MIDI Player on November 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*