Cheap piano – what choices do we have in 2025?
When you start playing piano, it’s often a good idea to look for a cheap piano. If you’re unsure whether your passion for the instrument will last, investing in a high-end model can be a daunting financial commitment. That’s why many people choose to buy a budget-friendly digital piano.
Unfortunately, with so many products on the market, the choice can be overwhelming. That’s why this article exists. In it, I’ll present the advantages of an entry-level piano and, more importantly, recommend several interesting models. With this information in hand, you’ll finally be able to easily find your perfect cheap piano!
Why choose a cheap piano?
Buying a cheap piano comes with several pros and cons. Let’s take a look at the different points to consider.
✅ Key strengths
First, let’s list the many significant advantages of buying a cheap piano!
Budget-friendly: By purchasing an entry-level digital piano, you’ll save a lot of money compared to a more elaborate version! This makes the decision much easier to commit to.
A low-risk way to test your passion: If you’ve never really played piano and want to start without knowing if you’ll stick with it long-term, buying a cheap piano is an excellent idea! If you decide to stop, you’ll have fewer regrets about the expense than if you had bought a more costly model.
A great second piano: Many pianists already own a high-end instrument but would like a second one that’s easy to take with them. If that’s the case, a small, cheap piano can be a perfect solution if you need to travel but still want to practice. At the very least, it’s a lot easier to fit in the car than a grand piano!
In short, buying an entry-level digital piano is a great choice for many people who are mindful of their spending. However, it’s also important to acknowledge that this choice comes with some disadvantages, which we’ll detail next.
❌ Potential drawbacks
Here are the main disadvantages you will encounter when purchasing such a model.
Overall performance is limited: You have to admit that at such low prices, you won’t have a high-performance machine in your hands! You’ll have to accept a model with fewer keys, fewer sounds, less realistic touch feel, and overall lower performance than a high-end model.
You’ll outgrow it quickly: The models I’m presenting here have only 61 keys, so you will be quickly limited in your learning if you start to learn pieces that require more keys. You’ll have to transition to an 88-key digital piano fairly quickly.
Make sure you take all these factors into account. If you’ve decided to buy a cheap piano, let’s not wait any longer and discover the models waiting for you!
Which affordable digital piano to choose?
To know which cheap piano is best for you, you’ll need to pay attention to a few points. Your decision will depend on your preferences and your budget. All the models presented here have a very competitive price, but I have still sorted them for you by increasing price! If one of them interests you, simply click its associated button to read my full review.
The Casio CT-S100 – the most affordable digital piano
The Casio CT-S100 is the most affordable digital piano on the list. There are even cheaper versions with 54 or even 32 keys, but at that point, I would call it a toy, not a piano. Here, you get 61 keys, which is sufficient for playing most pieces you’ll encounter! It also has decent sound quality for the price. Small and practical, you can transport it wherever you want, and most importantly, play anywhere thanks to its battery power. Finally, you can connect it to a computer with its USB/MIDI port and also plug in headphones.
A big downside, however, is that this cheap piano does not have a jack for a sustain pedal. It’s a shame because up to that point, it was a flawless choice. But this small detail makes it lose a lot of points. If you want to use a pedal, it’s better to choose a superior model.
Aside from this drawback, the keyboard remains a smart choice for a small budget.
Know more about the Casio CT-S100Alesis Melody 61 – the ideal compromise
The Alesis Melody 61 offers a lot of value for its price. First, it comes as a complete bundle with a stand, bench, headphones, music rest, and even a microphone! This saves you from having to invest in these accessories later on. Plus, it includes a built-in learning app, which is ideal for beginners looking to improve.
One confusing point is that a sustain pedal isn’t included in the box, although luckily, it does have a dedicated jack so you can add one. Unlike the Casio CT-S100, this keyboard does not have a USB/MIDI input, so you can’t connect it to an external device. Its sound and touch quality are also inferior to the previous model.
Despite these drawbacks, it remains a very competitive model and will delight beginner pianists.
Know more about the Alesis Melody 61The Rockjam 61 – the most complete cheap piano
The Rockjam 61 is a cheap piano that is incredibly versatile. It comes with all the advantages of the previous model while adding two significant strengths: USB/MIDI connectivity and an included sustain pedal. It trades the microphone for the pedal, but I would argue that’s a worthwhile exchange! It also includes a learning app and is battery-powered.
However, you should be aware of a couple of downsides. It has only 61 keys, which means it is not suitable for an experienced pianist who needs a full-range keyboard.
Despite those limitations, this keyboard offers an excellent value that will suit many people!
Know more about the Rockjam 61The Casio CT-S200 – a step into the big leagues
The Casio CT-S200 digital piano is a huge step up from the CT-S100. While the previous model lost points for not having a pedal jack, this instrument makes up for it by finally including a jack for a sustain pedal! On the other hand, you’ll still have to buy the pedal yourself. It still doesn’t come with a stand or bench, but it compensates for that with sound and touch quality that is far superior to previous models. It’s still an entry-level model, but the feel is starting to be genuinely satisfying for the price.
The Casio CT-S200 is a high-quality, cheap piano that will help you start playing at a low price.
Know more about the Casio CT-S200Let’s sum up
In conclusion, a cheap piano is a perfect solution for many people who want to start playing without breaking the bank. You can discover the instrument and master it, then decide if you want to upgrade to a higher-end model. However, this type of instrument won’t be suitable for experienced pianists. If you’re an intermediate or advanced player, you’ll need to move to much more expensive models.
I sincerely hope this article has helped you find what you were looking for. If not, and you want to discover other types of instruments, I can recommend you check out our guides on console pianos or even grand pianos.