Comparison

Tiny Instrument vs Gradation Piano

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

Head to head
About

Tiny Instrument

This app simplifies playing, recording, and exploring MIDI keyboards with real-time visual feedback. It allows users to record performances, import MIDI files, and customize instruments and playback settings.

Highlights
  • Plug & Play MIDI keyboard connection
  • Real-time note visualization on staff
  • Record and save MIDI performances
  • Import and play MIDI files
  • Customizable instruments with SF2 support
  • Flexible playback and display settings
Features
Read full description

Learn music by playing it. Tiny Instrument is a keyboard-first way to learn music theory, train your ear, and practice scales, chords, and songs on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Instead of treating theory like a textbook, it turns learning into something hands-on: play notes on the keyboard, hear how they sound, build chords and scales, train your ear, and explore ideas as you go. Start with the basics of notes, rhythm, intervals, scales, and chords. Then grow into keys, harmony, progressions, modes, and composition. Tiny Instrument keeps the experience light and musical with guided lessons, playful warm-ups, open-ended exploration, ear training, and beginner-friendly practice tools. Why Tiny Instrument feels different: - Learn theory through the keyboard, not away from it - Reinforce concepts with ear training and practice in the same app - Explore musical ideas through playful exercises and warm-ups - Sketch chord progressions and first song ideas in Compose - Use Aria, an optional learning companion, on supported Apple Intelligence devices - Keep learning across iPhone, iPad, and Mac - Connect a MIDI keyboard for a more instrument-like experience Tiny Instrument includes: - Guided music theory lessons - Ear training levels - Play & Explore exercises - Practice for scales, chords, songs, and MIDI - Beginner-friendly composition tools - Focus sessions for intentional practice - Music Library concept browsing - Spotlight search and other Apple-platform integrations The app is free to download and includes a genuine free tier you can keep using: Intro lessons, Keyboard basics, the Scales chapter, starter ear training in every stage, the first Play & Explore group, core practice tools, and Aria on supported Apple Intelligence devices. When you want more, additional chapters and tools are unlocked with one-time purchases. That includes deeper theory chapters, expanded practice and ear training, extra Play & Explore groups, and the Composition path. No subscription required. Whether you are starting from your very first keypress or filling in theory gaps as a self-taught player, Tiny Instrument is designed to make learning music feel more playful, connected, and alive. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Gradation Piano

Features
Read full description

Play the piano and watch your music come alive. Gradation Piano turns every note into a burst of color. Press a key and vibrant fluid — unique to that pitch — erupts from the keyboard and swirls across the display in real time, powered by a Metal-based fluid simulation. Features Full 88-key range — scroll freely from A0 to C8 Color-coded keys — each of the 12 pitches has its own hue, making it easy to recognize notes by sight Live fluid visuals — Metal GPU simulation reacts instantly to every touch, blending colors as you play chords Adjustable keyboard width — zoom in for larger keys or zoom out to see more of the keyboard at once Multi-touch — play full chords and let the colors mix

Screenshots

Tiny Instrument4 screens
Gradation Piano1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Gradation Piano at none against Tiny Instrument's 10. Tiny Instrument's advantage is device support (4 vs 1). On price, ads and iOS requirement 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. Tiny Instrument sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Gradation Piano asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Tiny Instrument versus Gradation Piano: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTiny InstrumentGradation Piano
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings4 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.4 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size307 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCodeloopMASATO MISAWA

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Tiny Instrument

One-time10
  • Small Donation$0.99
  • Keyboard Themes$1.99
  • Core Theory$2.99
Show 7 more
  • Chord Lab$2.99
  • Medium Donation$2.99
  • Composition Studio$4.99
  • Advanced Theory$4.99
  • Practice Studio$4.99
  • Large Donation$4.99
  • Full Library$14.99
None

Gradation Piano

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Tiny Instrument free?
Tiny Instrument is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Gradation Piano free?
Gradation Piano is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Tiny Instrument or Gradation Piano have ads?
Neither Tiny Instrument nor Gradation Piano shows ads.

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