# Pianist vs Celesta Sim

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pianist | Celesta Sim |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.6 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pianist/id284622652/reviews) | **[4.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celesta-sim/id6738886432/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **8** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 68.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#123** | — |
| Size | 11 MB | 119 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MooCowMusic Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/283853765) | [Alper Kahriman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1054578352) |

## What reviewers say

### Pianist

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

**Currently charting:** #123 Top Paid · Music (US App Store)

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


### Celesta Sim

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celesta-sim/id6738886432)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Get Premium | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pianist free?

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

### Is Celesta Sim free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pianist or Celesta Sim?

Celesta Sim is rated higher. Pianist averages 3.6 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Celesta Sim averages 4.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do Pianist or Celesta Sim have ads?

Celesta Sim shows ads; Pianist does not.

### Which is updated more often, Pianist or Celesta Sim?

Pianist ships an update every 6 months, and Celesta Sim every 4 months. Most recently, Pianist was updated on October 31, 2026 and Celesta Sim on October 30, 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.*