Maybe you’re looking to start learning the piano, or maybe you’re returning to it after some time apart. Maybe you don’t have space for a full-size piano, or maybe you just want something that you can have a bit more fun on. Well, this guide is here to take you through all the best keyboard pianos if you’re looking to spend a little bit less. After all, you want to make sure your money is spent on the best option for you and you want to make sure you’re going to get the use out of this piano.
This guide will take you through the top 5 cheap keyboard pianos on the market right now, some of the factors to consider before you buy, and an FAQ guide to answer all your most pressing questions.
The Best Cheap Keyboard Piano – The Top 5 Reviewed
Now let’s get down to business and review some of the best cheap keyboard piano. Please know we only considered the highest rated cheap keyboard piano for this list:
- Yamaha P125 88-Key Weighted Action Digital Piano
- Casio CTK-2550 Keyboard
- Casio WK7600 PPK Keyboard
- Casio SA76 EDP Keyboard
- Alesis Melody 61 MKII Keyboard
We used consumer reviews and our own research to compile this list. These are unbiased reviews designed to help you pick the best possible cheap keyboard piano.
1. Yamaha P125 88-Key Weighted Action Digital Piano
You’ve probably already heard of Yamaha, and if you haven’t you soon will. Yamaha is a giant in the music industry and whatever instrument you can think of Yamaha has probably made some of the best models. Pianos are no exception
This is a digital piano which is great for anyone on a budget because it’s digital this piano is very user friendly and easy to interact with. The sound is truly incredible especially for the price and far surpasses a lot of other keyboards on the market. It’s touch-sensitive which helps create the beautiful sound you get with this model and the keys are weighted which makes the response incredibly close to an acoustic piano.
Weighted keys are also great for beginners because it helps to build proper fingering techniques if you do decide to upgrade to an acoustic you won’t have to waste time correcting your technique. The keys are also matte-finished so you won’t find them slippery meaning you can play for longer. This model is also very portable which is perfect if you’re looking for something to take to choir practice or even small gigs like a coffee house or café.
Pros
- Touch-sensitive
- Very portable so great for taking to gigs or practices
- Perfect for beginners or intermediate players
- Matte-finished weighted keys to help with technique
- Amazing sound
Cons
- You’ll probably need to get a stand to play comfortably as it’s a little bulky just to put on a table
2. Casio CTK-2550
This is another great option for a beginner who wants to have everything they need to start playing. This keyboard comes with 400 different voices so if you’re looking to have fun or just play as a hobby than this a great option for you. It comes with a pair of headphones so if you need to you can practice without worrying about disturbing anyone, a fully collapsible keyboard stand, and a stand for your music.
This is everything a beginner could need in one easy bundle. It also includes a step-up learning system that will teach how to read music and learn melodies as you wish. It’s fully compatible with computers, so you can use it for music input too. The tone and the feel are great for a beginner, but if you a more advanced or intermediate player than this isn’t the best choice. You’re not going to become a world-famous pianist on this, but it’s perfect for getting to grips with playing and having fun while you do.
Pros
- 400 voices, so there’s lots of different things to try out
- Comes with everything a beginner will need to get started including a learning system to help you master the basics
- Includes headphones, so you won’t have to worry about bothering the neighbors
- Great quality sound
- The small screen will show you what note you playing and in what key which will help you progress quickly
Cons
- If you decide to get more serious about your music you’ll have to upgrade
3. Casio WK7600 PPK
If you’re looking for something with a bit more weight to it, but don’t want to sacrifice on budget or quality than this is a great option. This is a keyboard you could use in the studio or if you’re gigging. Whether you’re just looking to get back into music, or you want to take your music more seriously after mastering the basics, than this model includes a lot of bang for your buck! It includes headphones, a keyboard stand that’s fully collapsible to save on space, and comes with 820 tones and over 250 rhythms.
If you’re looking to play around a bit and find your sound than this is a great keyboard to do it on. The variety of tones and rhythms will keep you busy for a long time and the sound is pretty incredible. If you’re starting to grow bored with your beginner’s keyboard and are looking for something to take you up a level then this is a good place to start. This keyboard also includes a sustain pedal, marking as the option for intermediates and beginners who are looking to improve a bit faster. If you’re looking at maybe producing your music it also has a 17-track sequencer and can easily be connected to a computer.
Pros
- Comes with headphones and keyboard stand
- Great for beginners looking to take their music seriously, but could easily be played by intermediate or advanced players too
- A great variety of tines and rhythms so you can have fun and try out lots of different sounds
- A great piano for a budding producer due to the sequencer and mix
Cons
- You have to type in the number for the tone you want. Many other similar pianos use a dial for a more intuitive feel, but it’s only a small issue
4. Casio SA76 EDP
If you’re looking for a keyboard that’ll suit a kid who has just begun learning than this is probably the best! It looks like a toy so doesn’t seem intimidating, but it’s still a great instrument to learn on. The keys are smaller so perfect for child-sized fingers, it’s lightweight and portable so great for taking on the go to encourage practice even when not at home. The dials and buttons are easy to use, and any young learner will soon get a handle on them due to a friendly user-interface.
The keyboard comes with 50 piano lessons, which are a great supplement to any music lessons the child might be having. The lessons are designed to feel like a game to encourage practice, and the keyboard comes with headphones so practice won’t be disruptive. The keyboard also has 100 sounds which helps to encourage playing for fun rather than reducing practice to a chore.
Pros
- A great upgrade for a musical kid who wants to start learning properly
- Different sounds and rhythms make this a great one for learning to improvise early
- Portable so you can take it with you on vacation, or for joint lessons
- 50 lessons included helping encourage to practice
- Smaller keys, perfect for smaller fingers
Cons
- Any child will eventually grow out of this keyboard, so it’ll need to be replaced at some point
5. Alesis Melody 61 MKII
This is a really brilliant piano with loads of features that’ll suit any player, including a recording feature that lets you press a button and record your performance. What sets this keyboard apart from others that have the same feature is that this one has a microphone making it the perfect keyboard for a singer or songwriter. All you have to do is plug in the mic and press record. When you’re done you can then playback what you’ve recorded immediately, it couldn’t be any easier.
If you’re a beginner then the Melody 61 has 40 demo songs, and 300 accompaniment rhythms included which can help move your playing forward quickly. Plus, if you are looking for a keyboard as a singer or songwriter, these might be able to give you a push in the right direction. It is easy to set up and it only weighs 8.7 lbs. Everyone should be able to pick this up, making it nice and easy to take from gig to gig.
It comes with a stool, a stand, and headphones so really everything that a beginner needs to get started. The stool has three different heights so any player will be able to use it, making it a great option for kids, or adults. The stand itself is sturdy so if you’re an intense player you don’t have to worry about any accidents while you play.
Pros
- Large and clear buttons easy to press while playing
- Portable and easy to move about from gig to gig
- Microphone and easy recording, perfect for the budding singer/songwriter
- Comes with everything a beginner might need, including stool and stand
- Great sound, good for beginners and more advanced players
Cons
- This piano only has 61 keys, but if you want a keyboard the same size as an acoustic piano then you’ll need another instrument. 61 keys are more than enough for most players but it’s worth thinking about what you want
Final Thoughts
When deciding to buy a keyboard there are a few things that you need to consider. It’s important to think about these factors to make sure that you’re getting the best piano for you after all different people want different things. If you’re a budding composer than your going to want something different to a straight new beginner so make sure you’re looking out for what you need rather than just buying the first keyboard you come across.
If you’re a beginner then it’s probably best to go for weighted keys because they’re more like a traditional piano. Unweighted keys are easier to press down, but most keyboards with unweighted keys don’t mediate sound in the same way as a traditional piano. That’s fine if you’re more experienced because you probably know what sound you want a bit more. As a beginner, you’re less experienced so probably want something a little closer to something more traditional till you get the hang of it.
If you’re looking for something with a more electronic feel, or want to interface the keyboard with a computer than MIDI compatibility is something you’ll need. MIDI stands for ‘musical instrument digital interface,’ which essentially means that that your instrument can talk to other instruments by sending and receiving signals. It might not be needed for a beginner, but its something to watch out for.
Another related feature is computer connectivity. You don’t need this to learn to play, but if you think that you might want to compose or write your own songs with a music composition program than it’s worth considering. If you get a keyboard that doesn’t have this feature then you’ll need to upgrade in the future. Many modern keyboards, even beginner ones, have this so if you think it’s even a possibility than think about whether you want this on your keyboard.
It’s important to think about space when buying your keyboard too. Unlike a violin or a clarinet, or even a guitar a keyboard can take up a lot of space, so really think about what sort of size you’re looking for and where you’ll put your keyboard. There are easily storable models which comes with foldable stands so you can keep your keyboard in a cupboard or stow it away, but you don’t want to buy one then find you don’t have the space you need to play it.
If you’re a songwriter/singer than the recording capability of your piano is another factor to consider. Not all keyboards will come with a microphone for example, and if they don’t, you’ll need to purchase it separately and then make sure you’re able to plug it into your keyboard, same goes for headphones or a keyboard workstation– you’ll probably need to pick some of those up yourself. Make sure you keep in mind what you’ll be using your keyboard for when buying one, otherwise you’ll waste valuable time and effort finding one that fits your purpose. Much better to get it right first time.
The most important factor is sound. You want to make sure that your keyboard can produce the sound you want for your music. The best brands (like the ones included in this guide) will produce sounds equivalent to a traditional piano. You should also think about the polyphony (the number of sounds a keyboard produces at any time) and multitimbrality (if your keyboard can produce sounds like drums or strings as a background to the tune you play). If these things are important then you need to make sure you get a keyboard with this capability or buy a keyboard synthesizer.
FAQs
How much does a keyboard cost?
You can spend many thousands of dollars on a keyboard, but this guide is really for those on a budget. It’s perfectly possible to get a keyboard for under $100 or for slightly over $100 without compromising on quality. But there are obviously keyboards for all price ranges even up to $1000…and above.
Are 61 keys enough on a keyboard?
Absolutely. 61 keys are plenty for most musicians, especially beginners. If you’re just starting don’t worry too much about the number of keys, you have but focus on building your technique and skills. Once you’ve got that down then you’ll be able to play pretty much anything with any number of keys.
If I get a cheaper keyboard, will I have to replace it?
There are plenty of high-quality keyboards for those looking to spend a little bit less. That doesn’t mean you won’t have to replace your keyboard at some point, but that might be because you’ve simply outgrown your current one and want to move up a level. The most important thing is getting the right one for you, and the right one should last as long as you need it to.