A free, open-source flowkey alternative
Sheet music, a mode that waits for the right note, and feedback through your microphone or MIDI keyboard. Free, in your browser.
flowkey teaches with sheet music next to video of a real pianist's hands, and waits for you to play the right notes. Full access is a subscription. OpenKeys also runs in the browser and waits for the right notes, and it is free and open source.
OpenKeys goes further on feedback: notes are marked in place on the sheet music, wrong notes appear as ghost noteheads, and your trouble spots become short loops you can drill.
OpenKeys and flowkey side by side
| OpenKeys | flowkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free. No subscription, no ads, no in-app purchases | Subscription for full access; a few songs free |
| Account | Not needed | Needed |
| Where it runs | Any modern browser on a computer, tablet or phone; installs as an app | Web browser and apps |
| Listens through a microphone | Yes, with a setup wizard for your room | Yes |
| MIDI keyboard | Yes, in Chrome, Edge and Firefox (Safari: microphone only) | Yes |
| Import your own files | Yes: MusicXML, MIDI and ABC | No, its own catalogue |
| Songs | 15 built-in public-domain pieces in graded versions, plus anything you import | Large catalogue, including pop and film music |
| Instruments | Piano and keyboard | Piano |
| Source code | Open source, MIT licence | Closed source |
| Your data | Audio and progress stay on your device | Account and progress stored by the service |
Compared in November 2026 from each app's public information. Prices and features change, so check their sites.
When OpenKeys is the better fit
- You want Wait mode and sheet-music practice without a subscription or account.
- You want to import your own scores from MuseScore (MusicXML), MIDI or ABC.
- You want detailed feedback after each take, and loops of the bars you miss.
- You want your audio and progress to stay on your device.
When flowkey is the better fit
- flowkey has video of a pianist's hands for each song. OpenKeys shows notes on the sheet, falling notes and an on-screen keyboard, but no video.
- flowkey has a much larger song catalogue. OpenKeys has 15 public-domain pieces plus your imports.
What OpenKeys does
Listens through your microphone
Put a laptop or tablet on the music stand of any piano or keyboard. No cable needed. A setup wizard tunes it to your room in about 2 minutes.
Exact with a MIDI keyboard
Plug a USB MIDI keyboard into Chrome, Edge or Firefox and every note, its timing and how hard you played it are read exactly.
Waits for the right note
Wait mode stops until you play the right keys, then tells you what you played instead: "That was E4; try D4, 2 keys lower".
Falling notes and sheet music
Practise with sheet music, falling notes or both. Notes turn green or red in place, and wrong notes show as ghost noteheads.
Loops the bars you miss
Results show your top trouble spots bar by bar. One click loops them, and Loop drill raises the tempo 5% after each clean pass.
Your own music
Import MusicXML (from MuseScore), MIDI and ABC files by drag and drop, or write exercises in the built-in editor.
A course and drills
A 7-lesson course from finding middle C to playing with both hands, plus scales, arpeggios, chords, sight-reading, rhythm and ear training.
Free, with no account
No sign-up, no subscription, no ads and no trial. MIT licensed and open source on GitHub.
Private and offline
Audio never leaves your device. Your progress is stored in the browser, and OpenKeys installs as an app that works offline.
Questions
Is there a free flowkey alternative?
Yes. OpenKeys is free with no subscription, runs in the browser and waits for the right notes like flowkey does.
Is OpenKeys really free?
Yes. There is no subscription, no trial, no ads and nothing to unlock. The code is MIT licensed on GitHub, so it stays available even if the project stops.
Do I need to download anything or make an account?
No. Open openkeys.live in Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari and start playing. You can install it as an app from the browser if you want it offline.
Does it work with an acoustic piano?
Yes. OpenKeys listens through your device microphone. Single notes are detected precisely; for chords it checks the notes it expects. When it is not sure, it shows "?" and never counts that against you.
What do I need to start?
A piano or keyboard and a computer, tablet or phone. A USB MIDI cable is the most accurate. With no instrument at all, you can play with the computer keys.
Try it now
OpenKeys opens in your browser in a few seconds. No account, nothing to install.