# Pianist vs Alina String Ensemble

The clearest difference is rating: Alina String Ensemble at 4.2 against Pianist's 3.6. Pianist's advantage is review sentiment (68% vs 52%) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 14.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Pianist costs $3.99 and Alina String Ensemble $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Alina String Ensemble holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 20 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 68% of Pianist's written reviews are positive against 52% of Alina String Ensemble's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Pianist ships an update every 6 months, Alina String Ensemble every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pianist | Alina String Ensemble |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | $3.99 |
| Rating | [3.6 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pianist/id284622652/reviews) | **[4.2 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alina-string-ensemble/id1036045790/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **20** |
| Positive reviews | **68.3% of reviews** | 52.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 11 MB | 131 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MooCowMusic Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/283853765) | [insideout ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/315046293) |

## What reviewers say

### Pianist

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pianist/id284622652)

Experience a realistic piano on your mobile device with a full 88-key keyboard. Record, overdub, and save your musical compositions. Features include virtual pedals, dual keyboard layout, and a configurable metronome for practice.

**Highlights:** Full 88 key piano keyboard, Record and save compositions, Overdubbing and note removal, Virtual soft and sustain pedals, Dual keyboard layout, Configurable metronome

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Best piano app
- 🎹 Realistic piano sound
- 🎶 Great for composing and recording
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🎛️ Customizable keyboard layout

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔇 Low volume output
- 📱 Limited by small screen size
- ⏱️ Slow startup time
- 🔀 Confusing recording/playback controls

**Reported bugs**

- Keyboard gets stuck or changes configuration
- App freezes or crashes after extended use
- Sustain pedal not functioning properly
- Bluetooth speaker connectivity issues

**Requested features**

- Add support for iPhone 5/newer displays
- Implement MIDI export/import
- Integrate with music streaming apps
- Expand sound library with more instruments
- Improve scrolling and key accessibility


### Alina String Ensemble

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alina-string-ensemble/id1036045790)

This app is a musical keyboard simulator that recreates the authentic sounds of the Solina String Ensemble from the 1970s. It features a 49-key, 4-octave keyboard with multiple instrument sounds and built-in effects like reverb and modulation.

**Highlights:** Solina String Ensemble sound simulation, 6 pre-loaded instruments, 49-key, 4-octave keyboard, Core MIDI and MIDI compatible, Built-in spring reverb effect, Adjustable modulation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pianist free?

Pianist costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Alina String Ensemble free?

Alina String Ensemble costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Pianist or Alina String Ensemble?

Alina String Ensemble is rated higher. Pianist averages 3.6 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Alina String Ensemble averages 4.2 from 20 ratings.

### Do Pianist or Alina String Ensemble have ads?

Neither Pianist nor Alina String Ensemble shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pianist or Alina String Ensemble?

Pianist ships an update every 6 months, and Alina String Ensemble every 4 months. Most recently, Pianist was updated on October 15, 2026 and Alina String Ensemble on September 29, 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.*