Comparisons

Honest comparisons of sight-reading apps, and what to look for in one.

Two panels comparing MIDI input at under 20ms with microphone transcription at about 174ms

1 August 2026 · 18 min read

Why do sight-reading apps need a MIDI keyboard?

A MIDI keyboard tells an app exactly which key you pressed and when. A microphone has to work it out from sound. Here is what that difference costs, with the numbers from the transcription research, why MIDI is still the input we recommend, and what our own microphone mode can and cannot do.

A treble clef and musical stave painted on a concrete floor

10 July 2026 · 6 min read

Sight Reading Factory alternatives: an honest comparison (2026)

Looking for a Sight Reading Factory alternative? Where it shines, where it frustrates solo learners, whether it’s free, and the tools worth switching to, including one that listens as you play.

A pianist wearing headphones practising at a digital piano, with a laptop on top

10 July 2026 · 4 min read

Is there a free sight-reading app? What “free” really means (2026)

A straight answer on free piano sight-reading apps: which have a real free tier, which are only free trials, and what you can practise without paying.