Pianist vs Celesta Sim
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pianist
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.
- Full 88 key piano keyboard
- Record and save compositions
- Overdubbing and note removal
- Virtual soft and sustain pedals
- Dual keyboard layout
- Configurable metronome
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The first widely available mobile multi-touch piano, Pianist has been featured in a number of Apple advertising campaigns and was one of the 'Awesome iOS4 Apps' in an Apple iTunes promotion. Sound On Sound magazine listed Pianist in its pick of the Top 20 iPhone Apps, and T3 Magazine in its Top 100 iPhone Apps. Pianist has also been recommended by media sources such as the Mail On Sunday and Fox News. Pianist is considered so influential that it has now been listed as one of three examples of musical instrument apps in the primary academic reference: "The Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments". - Full 88 key piano keyboard sampled from a real piano for maximum authenticity. - Record and save your compositions for later playback. Overdub as many times as you want, and remove unwanted notes. - Virtual "Soft" and "Sustain" pedals, and expression depending on where you press the key. - Optional dual keyboard layout allows you to reach even more keys without the need to scroll. Up to four octaves can be displayed and played at once. - Stay in time with a completely configurable metronome. To take your music creation to the next step, be sure to also check out our new app: Looptical Music Studio.
Celesta Sim
This app brings the enchanting, bell-like tones of the celesta to your fingertips. Explore authentic sounds, multiple play modes, and built-in effects to create and share your music.
- Authentic celesta sound samples
- Multiple sound and play modes
- Real-time reverb and chorus effects
- Sensitive touch dynamics
- Microtonal tuning
- Built-in audio recorder
- Customizable keyboard layout
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Discover the enchanting sound of the celesta with Celesta Sim Whether you're a professional musician, composer, student, or simply curious about new instruments, Celesta Sim brings the magical, bell-like tones of the celesta to your fingertips. With authentic samples, intuitive controls, and expressive features, this app delivers a beautiful and inspiring musical experience—anytime, anywhere. Play a Rare and Magical Instrument The celesta is a unique keyboard instrument that sounds like a cross between a glockenspiel and a piano-soft, shimmering, and dreamlike. Play It Your Way – Choose Between Sound Modes Tailor your playing experience with three expressive sound modes: Multi Note Mode – Play freely with rich polyphony for layered melodies and harmonies. Single Note Mode – One note at a time, great for solo lines or precision performance. No Hold Mode – Notes stop immediately when released, giving a staccato or music-box-like effect. Enhance Your Sound with Built-In Effects Add emotion and space to your performance using real-time effects: Reverb – Create depth and atmosphere with adjustable echo. Chorus – Add shimmer and harmonic richness. Sensitive Touch Mode – Press lower on each key for louder, more expressive tones—works independently per key for ultra-realistic dynamics. Customizable Keyboard Experience Make the interface work for you with flexible visual options: Note Labeling Options – Choose between Do Re Mi or C1 D1 E1... notation to suit your preference. Adjustable Key Width – Access the full 88-key range of a celesta comfortably, even on small screens. Advanced Musical Controls for Creative Exploration Microtonal Tuning – Dive into world music by adjusting individual note pitches for maqams, ragas, and alternative scales. Transpose Function – Instantly shift the entire keyboard up or down to match other instruments or vocal ranges. Capture and Share Your Music Keep track of your creativity and share it with the world: Built-In Audio Recorder – Save your performances directly in the app. Easy Sharing – Send recordings through messaging apps or share on social media. Screenshot Tool – Capture visuals of your keyboard and share instantly. Perfect for Practice, Performance, and Composition Whether you're studying music, composing for film or games, or just relaxing with ethereal melodies, Celesta Sim offers a magical and professional music-making experience. Why You’ll Love Celesta Sim Authentic celesta sounds crafted from real instrument samples Three tone styles and three play modes for total control Real-time effects and dynamic key sensitivity Microtonal tuning and transpose for global musical compatibility Built-in recording and sharing tools Fully customizable layout with note label options Clean, intuitive interface for all skill levels Download Celesta Sim today and let your creativity shine through the delicate, sparkling tones of this magical instrument!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Celesta Sim at Free against Pianist's $3.99. Celesta Sim also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.6). Pianist's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On ratings volume, update cadence 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
Celesta Sim is free to download; Pianist costs $3.99 up front. Celesta Sim sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Pianist asks for nothing beyond the download.
Celesta Sim holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 3 respectively.
Pianist ships an update every 6 months, Celesta Sim every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pianist | Celesta Sim |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.6 (8 ratings) | 4.7 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 68.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 4 months — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 11 MB | 119 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | MooCowMusic Ltd. | Alper Kahriman |
Customer experience
Pianist
Celesta Sim
Bugs and requests
Pianist
Reported bugs
4 issues- Keyboard gets stuck or changes configuration
- App freezes or crashes after extended use
- Sustain pedal not functioning properly
- Bluetooth speaker connectivity issues
Requested features
5 requests- 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
Celesta Sim
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Pianist
No in-app purchases
Celesta Sim
- Get Premium$9.99









