Pianola vs Deck Lite
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pianola
This app turns your MIDI-capable piano into an interactive music player. Connect wirelessly or via USB to play your MIDI files, control tempo and pitch, and organize your music library. It's designed for an intuitive and effortless musical experience.
- Wireless Bluetooth MIDI connection
- USB MIDI support
- Library and playlist management
- Adjustable tempo and pitch
- Background playback
- Includes a starter MIDI library
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Pianola transforms your MIDI-capable piano into an effortless musical experience. Whether you have a digital piano or an acoustic piano outfitted with a PianoDisc, QRS PNOmation, or Yamaha Disklavier system, Pianola makes playing your favorite songs as easy as do-re-mi. Connect iPhone or iPad to your piano wirelessly via Bluetooth or with a USB MIDI adapter, browse your MIDI file collection, and let the music play! Key Features • Wireless Bluetooth MIDI — Connect to any BLE-MIDI compatible device with a single tap. • USB MIDI Support — Connect using a USB to MIDI adapter or a USB OTG cable on supported devices. • Simple Library Management — Browse MIDI files from your device, iCloud, or network storage. Create playlists to organize your music. • Tempo Control — Speed up or slow down playback. • Velocity Curves — Fine-tune the dynamics to suit your piano and room acoustics. • Pitch Adjustment — Transpose playback in real-time. Great for vocalists who want to sing along. • Background Playback — Music keeps playing while you use other apps. • Ready to Play — Includes a MIDI library to get the party started. Designed for Everyone Pianola offers an interface that feels familiar and intuitive. Large, clear controls. No hidden menus. No overwhelming options. Just the features you need, right where you expect them. Transform your piano into the jukebox it was meant to be!
Deck Lite
This app provides a streamlined interface for loading and playing AUv3 audio plugins on iOS devices. It features a card-based browser for easy plugin selection and adaptable controls for different screen sizes and orientations.
- AUv3 plugin hosting
- Card browser for plugins
- Adaptable interface for screen size
- Keyboard and controller support
- MIDI controller integration
- Live audio processing
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Your plugins. A place to play. Deck Lite opens one audio plugin at a time, with a card browser that makes your collection easy to explore. Pick a card and the plugin opens, ready for you to play. ROOM FOR YOUR PLUGIN Keep the plugin interface and its parameters together on a wide screen, or switch between them on iPhone. Enlarge the editor when you want more room. The controls adapt as you rotate your device. PLAY YOUR WAY Turn parameters on screen, navigate with a keyboard or compatible game controller, or use a MIDI controller. A connected Novation Launch Control 3 provides automatic parameter mapping and card selection in DAW Control mode. Other MIDI controllers can use Deck Lite's fixed command map. MADE FOR PLAYING Connect your instrument through a compatible audio interface, choose your plugin and enable LIVE. On iPhone and iPad, Deck Lite starts muted so you can get your audio route ready first. Effects process your incoming sound; instrument plugins receive MIDI notes. Deck Lite is free, with no subscriptions or in-app purchases. Use Deck Lite on iPhone and iPad with AUv3 plugins installed through compatible music apps. Plugin interfaces and features depend on their developer. Plugins pictured in store images are separate Untamed Audio products. Use headphones or a suitable monitored audio route when playing through a microphone or instrument input.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Deck Lite at Free against Pianola's $0.99. Deck Lite also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0) and update cadence (every 4 days vs weekly). Pianola's advantage is chart position (#193 vs unranked). On ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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
Deck Lite is free to download; Pianola costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Deck Lite holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.
Pianola ships an update weekly, Deck Lite every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pianola | Deck Lite |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #193 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 110 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Darrel Farris | Joshua Rideout |
Customer experience
Pianola
Deck Lite
In-app purchases
Pianola
No in-app purchases
Deck Lite
No in-app purchases









