Comparison

Pianoesis vs FrankenJazz

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

Head to head
About

Pianoesis

This app transforms MIDI and MusicXML files into playable piano scores with a unique tap-anywhere interface. Enjoy solo play with an AI duet partner or collaborate with a friend in split-screen mode. Experience music in various visual styles, including an engraved staff view.

Highlights
  • Import MIDI/MusicXML/solo piano recordings
  • Tap anywhere on screen to play
  • Offline play
  • Solo play with AI duet partner
  • Duo Mode for split-screen play with a friend
  • Multiple visual modes (staff, piano roll, sprite jump)
  • Voice separation for complex pieces
Features
Read full description

Pianoesis is a fully offline rhythm-piano duet platform with zero learning curve. Import a local MIDI/MusicXML/solo piano recording and get a playable score in one tap. No keys to aim at — tap anywhere on screen to play. The tempo is entirely yours, so every performance stays true to the score yet sounds unmistakably like you. Play solo and the app is your duet partner; in Duo Mode, play both hands yourself — or split them with a friend, one hand each. MUSICXML & STAFF VIEW Import .musicxml, .xml, or .mxl. Scores are parsed on-device and open directly in the staff view, engraved by Verovio. Tap the score to seek, turn pages, zoom, expand repeat signs, and choose grace-note style; played notes light up their noteheads in track colors. Regular MIDI can also generate a staff score automatically. MusicXML is read-only: note editing, voice separation, track mapping, and original audio are unavailable; the file can be saved unchanged to My Folder and reopened as a staff score. SINGLE-HAND SPLIT SCREEN On wide screens, split the pitch area into two panes: same piece, same progress, with independent layouts (Horizontal / Sprite Jump / Vertical / Score). DUO MODE On iPad landscape or unfolded iPhone Duo, the screen splits into two halves, one hand on each side. Play with both hands yourself, or split the piece with a friend — one hand each. The two sides stay in sync — all you do is keep the beat. ▪ Built for iPad: the split layout, touch targets, and navigation are tailored to two-hand play on the big screen ▪ Duo Sprite Jump: twin sprites leap in sync, with live scoring and sync halos for even more ensemble fun ▪ Staff view: MusicXML or score-MIDI pieces support a full-width staff score WHY IT ALWAYS SOUNDS GOOD ▪ Every note lands right: the melody is locked to the source score, so any tap hits the correct pitch. ▪ A perfect duet by design: the app plays the other hand in real time — two-hand harmony without the coordination practice. ▪ True to the original: your part and the accompaniment both follow the original score. ▪ Two sound sources: a warm, lifelike MIDI piano, or the original piano recording in lossless quality. Switch anytime. OUR SIGNATURE VISUAL — THE TAIJI SPINNING STAFF On the home screen, treble and bass notes drift out along a slowly spinning taiji staff — a signature animation that brings the idea to life: 88 keys become one, and the app is your duet partner. MORE WAYS TO SEE THE MUSIC ▪ Taiji spinning staff ▪ Horizontal piano roll ▪ Sprite Jump ▪ Vertical waterfall ▪ Engraved staff score ▪ Single-hand split screen FOUR WAYS TO SEPARATE VOICES ▪ Ready-made tracks: pick one hand from a two-track MIDI and start playing. ▪ Smart separation: single-track MIDI or piano audio is split into melody and accompaniment automatically. ▪ Track mapping: carry a proven left/right-hand split from a reference score over to your piece. ▪ Fine editing: hand-assign individual notes for tricky passages. MusicXML scores use fixed treble/bass tracks and are excluded from voice separation and track mapping. FULLY OFFLINE ▪ Everything runs on-device. No account, no uploads. ▪ MusicXML scores are parsed and engraved on-device — never uploaded or distributed. ▪ No ads, no in-app purchases, no subscriptions. ▪ The built-in library is fully licensed for free distribution — per-piece sources and licenses are listed under "Copyright" in the library. ▪ Universal: iPhone, iPad, and Mac. SUPPORTED FORMATS ▪ MIDI: .mid / .midi ▪ MusicXML: .musicxml / .xml / .mxl (single-instrument piano grand staff) ▪ Audio: MP3 / WAV / FLAC / M4A / AAC — solo piano recordings work best SUPPORT & PRIVACY ▪ Sheet-music engraving: Verovio (RISM Digital Center, LGPL-3.0) ▪ Website: https://pianoesis.com ▪ Privacy policy: https://pianoesis.com/privacy ▪ Contact: support@pianoesis.com

About

FrankenJazz

Features
Read full description

Write a jazz progression, hear it immediately, and study what makes the changes connect. FrankenJazz is a private lead-sheet and harmony workshop for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Enter chord symbols in a compact chart, choose a key and tempo, then play the form with a responsive chord-tone piano. The app reads Roman-numeral context, traces guide-tone movement, and lets you compare five practical voicing families. Use the bundled progression library as a starting point or build your own. Change the key, tempo, groove, instrument, and voicing while the chart remains editable. Playback includes seeking and looping for close listening and practice. When the chart is ready, export a FrankenJazz document, plain text, or a standard MIDI file. Local recovery protects the current session if the app closes unexpectedly. FrankenJazz works without an account or network connection. It includes no telemetry, advertising, sample downloads, or cloud processing.

Screenshots

Pianoesis4 screens
FrankenJazz1 screens

Verdict

The call

Pianoesis and FrankenJazz are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Pianoesis versus FrankenJazz: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPianoesisFrankenJazz
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 10 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size111 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer征宇 孙Jeffrey Emanuel

In-app purchases

None

Pianoesis

No in-app purchases

None

FrankenJazz

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pianoesis free?
Pianoesis is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is FrankenJazz free?
FrankenJazz is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Pianoesis or FrankenJazz have ads?
Neither Pianoesis nor FrankenJazz shows ads.

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