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Xascada vs Synthesia.
Synthesia is a song-learning app: falling notes show you what to play, you practise hands separately, and a library of 150 included songs plus a Music Store, your own MIDI and MusicXML files, feed it. It is a free download with a one-time purchase. Xascada shares the falling-note idea, then serves a different day: graded ABRSM technique work scored against your personal best, the key and chord read out live, and a performance you can export as a video for YouTube, TikTok, Reels and Shorts.
Facts checked September 9, 2026 against synthesiagame.com , Synthesia — download page , Synthesia — FAQ . Prices in USD as shown that day. Something changed? Tell us and we'll fix it.
| Xascada | Synthesia | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A desktop piano instrument: live play with the key, chord and Roman numeral read out as you go, graded ABRSM practice with scoring, a compose engine, and cinematic export to video. | In their words: The Original Piano Practice App — a fun way to learn how to play the piano. |
| Platforms | Mac & Windows · iPad coming soon | Windows (7 64-bit and later), macOS (10.9 and later), iPad, Android tablets (5.0 and later), and Chromebooks with Google Play. |
| Price | 14-day free trial, then $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year ($4.17 a month billed annually). Cancel anytime. | Free download; a one-time purchase listed at $39, shown on sale for $29 on the date checked. |
| Learning approach | Graded ABRSM exercises, Grade 1 to 8 — scales, arpeggios, broken chords, contrary motion — drilled in step-mode and scored: accuracy, streak, perfect/good/miss, a star rating against your personal best, trouble spots. | Learn songs from falling notes, practise hands separately, finger-number hints, 150 included songs plus a Music Store, and your own MIDI and MusicXML files. |
| Feedback | Every run scored — accuracy, weighted score, streak, perfect/good/miss, star rating against your personal best — and auto-detected trouble spots. | Real-time feedback and long-term progress tracking. |
| Theory while you play | Key, chord and Roman numeral read out in real time while you play. | Not listed. |
| Notation and hardware | Not a feature. Xascada shows the keyboard and the falling light, not notation. Any standard MIDI keyboard; no lighted-key integration. | Optional musical notation for any song. Supports lighted keyboards to show upcoming notes. |
| Video export | 1080p at 30fps — 16:9 for YouTube, or 9:16 (1080×1920) for TikTok, Reels and Shorts with the bands those apps overlay shaded in the preview. Built-in synth or your own recording. | No video export listed. A multi-track recorder for songs. |
| Latest version listed | Updates ship with every plan; see the changelog. | Version 10.9 on the download page. |
Choose Synthesia if
- You want to learn specific songs from a library, with hands-separate practice.
- You want a one-time price rather than a subscription.
- You use a lighted keyboard, or want notation on screen.
- You need an Android tablet app today.
Choose Xascada if
- You want graded ABRSM technique work scored against your personal best, not a song course.
- You want the key, chord and Roman numeral read out live.
- You want to export the performance as a video for YouTube, TikTok, Reels and Shorts.
- You compose: build progressions from a chord heat-map and send them to practice.