Comparison

MIDIKeys vs iGrand Piano CS

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

MIDIKeys

This app acts as a virtual MIDI keyboard controller, allowing you to send MIDI messages to synthesizer apps and hardware. It offers customizable velocity, octave transposition, and tilt controls for expression.

Highlights
  • Virtual MIDI keyboard
  • Send MIDI messages
  • Octave transposition
  • Adjustable velocity
  • Tilt expression control
  • Customizable MIDI channel
Features
Read full description

MIDIKeys is a MIDI keyboard controller that can be used to send MIDI messages to synthesizer apps and hardware MIDI synthesizers. MIDIKeys doesn't produce any sound on its own, it is for playing hardware or software VST-style MIDI synthesizers via MIDI hardware interfaces connected to the iPhone dock connector or virtual MIDI instruments like IK Multimedia SampleTank® for iOS or ThumbJam running in the background on your iPhone. The entire range may be transposed up or down (up to a three octave limit) by touching the 8va -/+ buttons on the main screen. Touching the display for the transpose value between the octave shift buttons resets the transpose to C3 (60). Both fixed or variable note MIDI Note On event velocity based on touch position within the key are available as options on the settings page. While playing, you may also optionally send real-time volume, expression, modulation, or wind controller MIDI messages by tilting the iPhone/iPod Touch to the right or left. Set the transmit channel using the MIDI Channel slider. Any channel from 1-16 may be selected. Channel 1 is the default. Choose between "Omni" sending MIDI data to all CoreMIDI apps or "Virtual Port" sending to a named CoreMIDI virtual output port. When the "Virtual Port option is selected, MIDIKeys will show up as an input option labeled "MIDIKeys" in apps that support virtual ports like Sonosaurus ThumbJam and MIDIBridge. "Omni" mode is selected by default. Note-on events may be sent with either a fixed or variable velocity based on where you touch on the key. Set the maximum velocity using the Velocity slider. Any value from 0-127 may be selected. Default value is 100. Select between fixed or variable velocity mapped to the touch position using the selector. When the velocity is mapped to touch, the minimum velocity is approximately 10% of the value set on the Velocity slider and the max is 100% of the value. Touching lower or higher on the key (area below the black keys only for the white keys) results in lower or higher velocity values sent in the MIDI Note On event for the key. Black key highest velocity starts at the bottom of the key and gets lower as you touch higher. MIDIKeys can send Volume, Expression, Modulation, or Breath Control message by tilting the device to the right or left. Select a controller on the Tilt Controller selector. Default is no controller messages. When a controller is enabled, tilting the device to the right or left will send the selected controller messages to the external device. Values increase as the device is tilted farther to the right. You may set the tilt sensitivity using the Tilt Sensitivity slider. The range is from 1 to 4, with higher values being more sensitive. Default value is 1.5. If you ever have "stuck" notes, you may touch the "Shhh" icon on the main screen to send a MIDI "All Notes Off" message and stop the sounds. All settings are saved when exiting MIDIKeys and restored the next time it is run.

About

iGrand Piano CS

Experience concert-quality acoustic pianos with ultra-realistic sound and built-in recording. Edit and save custom variations, connect external keyboards, and compose or perform anywhere. Expand your library with additional instrument packs.

Highlights
  • Ultra-realistic acoustic pianos
  • Built-in recording (MIDI & Audio)
  • Instrument editor with EQ and variations
  • External keyboard support (iRig)
  • MIDI overdubbing and punch-in
  • Audiobus and Inter-App Audio support
Read full description

THE CONCERT QUALITY PIANO APP UPDATED FOR AUDIOBUS AND INTER-APP AUDIO WITH NEW EXPANSION PACK, EQ AND USER VARIATIONS The ultimate piano instrument provides you with an extraordinary collection of ultra-realistic acoustic pianos along with built-in recording! Use the iRig KEYS and KEYS PRO portable keyboards (www.irigkeys.com) or the iRig MIDI 2 interface (www.irigmidi.com) to connect your external keyboard, and you're ready to compose, rehearse, perform and record with the very best instruments for your mobile world. You can now edit your sound even further with the new 3-band EQ and save up to 4 user variations per instrument. iGrand Piano puts the world's finest pianos right at your fingertips with studio-grade quality that stands up to the most powerful virtual instruments available on a computer. With high-definition stereo samples across multiple velocities, iGrand Piano brings you the most playable, expressive and beautiful sounding piano instruments available on a mobile device that you can play anytime and everywhere. iGrand Piano FREE gives you 2 world-class pianos (including one by registering) along with a capable recorder and metronome. The instruments in the FREE version are limited to the 4 octaves centered on middle C (C1 to C5). Purchase the “Upgrade to Full Version” option to get the full 88-note range and give your FREE app the same additional 6 instruments as the paid version. Add the Piano Expansion 1 via in-app purchase to extend your piano library with 9 additional high-quality instruments or the Piano Expansion 2 with 22 all-new instruments including the Hollywood Piano, piano + strings layers and harpsichords. Record your rehearsals or performances as MIDI with both overdubbing and punch-in capability, then export your track as audio via E-mail or File Sharing or Audio Copy to other iOS apps. With the built-in MIDI Recorder, you can change the tempo of your piece or even choose to use a different piano AFTER you've completed your performance! For composers of any level, the MIDI Recorder lets you capture and develop ideas anywhere your mobile life takes you. iGrand Piano also includes some professional MIDI performances to help you audition the various piano instruments or just inspire your own creative muse! The easy-to-use instrument editor puts real-time controls on the panel just above the keys to let you adjust the amount of ambience, the position of the lid (open, closed or anything in between), brightness, envelope release, key transposition and tuning. All edit knobs can be assigned to your choice of MIDI controllers for external fine-crafting of your instrument's sonic details. Virtual MIDI and MIDI Program Change are also supported along with Audiobus and Inter-App Audio for iOS 8. iGrand Piano features: - World-class, multi-velocity stereo grand and upright piano instruments (upright available by registering) - “Upgrade to Full Version” with 6 more pianos and full 88-note range instantly available via in-app purchase - Expandable libraries offer 31 additional instruments instantly available via in-app purchase - Intuitive instrument edit controls including ambience, lid, brightness, release, tuning and transpose - Included MIDI Recorder with overdub and punch-in capability - Export performances via E-mail, File Sharing and Audio Copy - Large visual metronome with variable click volume and adjustable tempo - Easy-to-use instrument editor with transpose to adjust ambience, tonality and tuning with 4 user variations per instrument - Audiobus and Inter-App Audio support for iOS 8 - Virtual MIDI and MIDI Program Change support - Low-latency for real-time playing - More than 64-voice polyphony on the latest devices - Designed in concert with iRig KEYS and iRig KEYS PRO portable MIDI keyboards and iRig MIDI 2 interface - Full version also available For more information: www.ikmultimedia.com/igrand www.irigkeys.com www.irigmidi.com

Screenshots

MIDIKeys2 screens
iGrand Piano CS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MIDIKeys at none against iGrand Piano CS's 3. MIDIKeys also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 6 months) and review sentiment (70% vs 49%). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. iGrand Piano CS sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. MIDIKeys asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MIDIKeys ships an update every 6 weeks, iGrand Piano CS every 6 months. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
MIDIKeys versus iGrand Piano CS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMIDIKeysiGrand Piano CS
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.4 (16 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews70.0% of reviews — better48.9% of reviews
Number of ratings16 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS10.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB589 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael EskinIK Multimedia US, LLC

Customer experience

MIDIKeys

All ratings16 ratings
Positive62.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative37.5%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive70.0%
Neutral5.0%
Negative25.0%

iGrand Piano CS

All ratings27 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral11.1%
Negative22.2%
Written reviews90 reviews
Positive48.9%
Neutral16.7%
Negative34.4%

In-app purchases

None

MIDIKeys

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

iGrand Piano CS

One-time3
  • Piano Expansion$14.99
  • Piano Expansion Pack 2$14.99
  • Upgrade to Full$19.99

Questions

Is MIDIKeys free?
MIDIKeys is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is iGrand Piano CS free?
iGrand Piano CS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do MIDIKeys or iGrand Piano CS have ads?
Neither MIDIKeys nor iGrand Piano CS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MIDIKeys or iGrand Piano CS?
MIDIKeys ships an update every 6 weeks, and iGrand Piano CS every 6 months. Most recently, MIDIKeys was updated on October 23, 2026 and iGrand Piano CS on October 23, 2026.

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