How to choose a digital piano in 2025 – a complete buying guide
Choosing a digital piano isn’t easy. With so many different models available, making the right choice can quickly feel like an impossible mission. How much should you invest in a digital piano? Which one should you choose if you have a tight budget? This article will finally answer all of your questions.
I’ll start by showing you the most popular digital pianos on the market. After that, we’ll look at the different categories of keyboards so you can find the one that suits you best. By the end of this buying guide, you’ll have all the information you need to confidently choose the right digital piano for you!
Digital piano – which one for you?
Which digital piano should you choose to start or to improve? This question comes up often, and before you try to answer it, you’ll need to establish a solid foundation for your search. Your choice will depend on your expectations, your skill level, and your budget. So, set some clear rules for yourself, including a budget limit and specific requirements for a brand, the number of keys, or a particular feature. But don’t worry—if you don’t know how to answer these questions yet, I’ll help you see things more clearly!
To do this, I’ll give you a detailed look at all the most common categories of this musical instrument, so you can finally answer that essential question: which digital piano should you choose?
Choosing a digital piano based on keyboard type
First, it’s important to understand that digital pianos come in several major families. Each family has its own unique features and is designed to meet different needs. Let’s review them now.
Portable digital piano
A portable digital piano is a digital piano that can be transported without a fixed stand. This means that when you buy one, you receive just the keyboard, unlike most of the models people are familiar with.
This type of musical instrument is an excellent alternative for many people who don’t know which digital piano to choose. However, it’s important to remember that these keyboards have both advantages and disadvantages. Here are a few:
✅ Key strengths
- Easy to store and transport
- Very lightweight
- Discreet
- Less expensive than a version with a stand
❌ Potential drawbacks
- Less stable
- Less aesthetic
Digital console piano
The digital console piano, unlike its portable version, is a model with a fixed, solid stand. It therefore aesthetically looks like a classic upright piano that we are used to seeing.
If you are looking for more stability and elegance, this type of instrument is an ideal solution. Just keep in mind that it will be much more imposing and often more expensive than its portable equivalent.
✅ Key strengths
- Fixed, solid stand
- Better stability
- Elegant design
❌ Potential drawbacks
- Imposing model
- More expensive than a portable version
Digital grand piano
The digital grand piano is undoubtedly the most impressive of all! It imitates the design of a grand piano while retaining the benefits of a digital keyboard.
This asset makes it truly imposing and incredibly elegant, and many people will want one for the sheer presence it exudes. Of course, such instruments are not at all suitable for a tight budget!
✅ Key strengths
- Perfect stability
- Exceptional design
- Superior quality
❌ Potential drawbacks
- A very imposing instrument
- For a savvy budget
Choosing your digital piano based on the number of keys
You now know a little better which digital piano to choose, but there are many other selection criteria. So let’s look at the number of keys! In my opinion, anything below 61 keys is clearly not worth considering. To get a proper start, 61 notes is an absolute minimum! The best option is obviously to go with 88 keys, which is the same as a real classic piano, but this will make the instrument more expensive.
61-key digital pianos
A 61-key digital piano is a great way to get started, and it’s ideal for a beginner. When you’re just starting to practice the piano, it’s true that you’ll be able to get by just fine with this number of keys.
In contrast, an experienced pianist will quickly feel restricted by this number and will prefer a full 88-key version. So prioritize this type of instrument if you’re a beginner, as these models have the advantage of being much cheaper and much lighter!
✅ Key strengths
- Suitable for beginners
- Easy to transport
- Lightweight
- Accessible price
❌ Potential drawbacks
- Fewer keys than a classic piano
- Unsuitable for an experienced pianist
- Inferior overall performance
88-key digital piano
The 88-key digital piano is, on the other hand, more suitable for most pianists because it has the same number of keys as a real acoustic piano. This allows you to play every scale and every repertoire without being limited by extremely low or high notes.
If you don’t know which digital piano to choose, this type of keyboard is probably the most suitable! You won’t risk making too many mistakes by choosing a model in this category. Be aware, however, that the price will inevitably be higher than a 61-key version.
✅ Key strengths
- Same number of keys as an acoustic piano
- Suitable for pianists of all levels
- Better overall performance
❌ Potential drawbacks
- Heavier than a 61-key version
- Higher price
Choosing a digital piano by brand
You can also choose your digital piano based on its manufacturer. There are many different brands, and they all offer compelling reasons for their popularity. Here’s a brief summary of what each brand offers.
Yamaha: This brand needs no introduction. As the world’s largest musical instrument manufacturer, it guarantees reliable, high-performance models, though at a higher price than many competitors.
Roland: A benchmark in the field of electronic musical instruments. It’s suitable for both beginners and experienced pianists and offers many solutions for composers and stage performers.
Casio: Also globally recognized for its innovations in electronics, this manufacturer offers many beginner digital keyboards. However, several of its more innovative models are perfect for more advanced pianists.
Korg: A leader and true expert in digital instruments. They also offer a wide range of solutions, especially for more experienced pianists or composers.
Rockjam: The ultimate budget brand! For starting without breaking the bank, this manufacturer is undoubtedly the best choice you can make. Naturally, this brand is not suitable for advanced pianists.
Alesis: They also offer excellent, affordable solutions for beginners. But unlike Rockjam, they have certain models that can also meet the needs of more advanced pianists.
Donner: A brand that is getting more and more attention. It stands out for the aesthetic quality of its models and its wide range, which serves everyone from beginners to more experienced pianists.
Choosing a digital piano based on your skill level
Yes, your skill level is a crucial factor to consider when choosing your musical instrument! You should always ask yourself which digital piano to choose based on this essential parameter. Don’t neglect this step, as it will allow you to get started with the keyboard that’s best suited for your needs.
If you’re a beginner who isn’t sure this new passion will last, it would be a shame to invest in an expensive model with exceptional performance, only to lose interest a week later! On the other hand, an experienced pianist will want to invest a good amount in a model that meets their level, otherwise, they will be very quickly limited by an instrument that doesn’t meet their expectations.
So be smart with your choice and take the time to evaluate your skill level. And if you’re a beginner, I’ve created a buying guide just for you, specifically for digital pianos for beginners!
Choosing your musical instrument by price
The final and most important factor to help you know which digital piano to choose is, without a doubt, the price! After answering all the previous questions, you’ll have narrowed down your search, and you might have several models at your disposal. If they are all similar, choose the one that best fits the price limit you set for yourself.
It’s crucial to set a price limit—unless, of course, your budget is unlimited, in which case you’re lucky! Personally, I had to set a price when I bought my digital piano. Before I chose the one I have now, another instrument caught my eye, and I was so close to giving in to temptation. But it was far too expensive for me, and even if I technically had the funds to buy it, it would have put me in a serious financial bind! Sometimes, you have to be wise.
Therefore, once you’ve defined your main criteria (number of keys, keyboard type, features, etc.), choose the models you can truly afford!
Let’s sum up
That concludes this buying guide on how to choose your musical instrument. By now, you should have all the information necessary to know how to best choose a digital piano. Remember, this instrument will be your companion for many years of practice. So take your time to make the best possible choice.
You can also look into the essential accessories for playing the piano. I wish you a good time with your piano and, above all, enjoy practicing. And never give up!