Top 10 Budget-Friendly Digital Pianos for Beginners

P-45 is one of Yamaha's top-selling digital pianos worldwide and is the only model from the brand available for around 500 USD. Featuring Yamaha's AWM (Advanced Wave Memory) stereo sound sampling technology, it delivers rich, lifelike piano tones. The P-45 retains the compact and lightweight design of its predecessor, the P35, making it an ideal choice for those who need portability and ease of storage in smaller spaces.

P-45 has integrated 2x12 cm speakers (6W + 6W amplifier). The sound is powerful enough for practice in smaller rooms or for performing in front of a small audience, though it may not be sufficient for larger venues. While the piano does not come with a stand, its compact size allows it to sit comfortably on a desk or any flat surface. You can also purchase an optional X-style stand or the L85 furniture stand. The P-45’s control panel is very straightforward, and the sound remains clear and distortion-free even at maximum volume. With basic features like adjustable tempo, time signature, and metronome volume, the P-45 is a perfect fit for beginners.

Roland FP-10 is the latest addition to Roland’s portable FP digital piano series. Before its release, the FP-30 was the most affordable digital piano in the series. The FP-10 shares many similarities with its predecessor, including high-quality piano sound and hammer action. It surpasses the FP-30 in terms of price and is a fantastic entry-level acoustic piano under 500 USD, making it especially suited for beginner to intermediate piano students. However, it can also be used for performance purposes.

The fact that the 88 keys of the Roland FP-10 are powered by a sound engine and offer a feel similar to the FP-30 makes the FP-10 highly appealing when compared to the FP-30. The FP-10 comes in a reasonably sized box (not too large compared to other keyboards) with a power chord, a music rest, a sustain pedal, and a user manual. The piano has a sleek, modern design, resembling a slightly simpler version of the FP-30. The FP-10 is lighter and more compact, making it a great option for musicians who travel frequently or live in smaller spaces.

Known as the successor to the highly popular PX-150, the PX-160 inherits a range of features from previous models, including the multi-dimensional AiR sound engine and the Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action II. Casio has further improved the PX-160 by addressing the weaknesses of its predecessor and adding new functionalities. The redesigned speaker system offers a significantly enhanced sound experience. Weighing just 25.5 lbs without the stand, the PX-160 is a highly compact and lightweight digital piano with 88 keys.

With a depth of only 11.5 inches, the PX-160 is one of the thinnest 88-key digital pianos available. This makes it ideal for smaller spaces and even allows it to be placed on a desk. The portability of this model is another key feature, as its size and weight make it easy to carry to performances or rehearsals, making it a perfect choice for musicians who travel frequently. Despite being made entirely of plastic, the build quality is excellent, and it offers a comfortable touch and good sound quality. The PX-160 is available in three colors: black, white, and champagne gold. These colors are modern, subtle, and fresh in appearance.

Although the YPG-535 was released quite some time ago, it remains one of the most popular 88-key keyboards in its price range. The piano is the predecessor to the Yamaha YPG-235 (which has 76 keys), essentially the same keyboard but with one less octave, making it more compact and affordable. As part of Yamaha’s ‘Portable Grand’ series, the YPG-535 offers a portable design, numerous piano-focused features, and authentic Grand Piano sound.

The YPG-535 is a mobile keyboard with built-in speakers and a matching stand. It’s a perfect choice for those living in small apartments or dorm rooms where space is limited. While there are smaller keyboards available, they usually lack the sound quality and features that the YPG-535 offers. The keyboard comes with a sturdy, well-built black stand to securely hold it in place and prevent wobbling. The control panel may seem overwhelming with over 40 buttons and various controls, but there’s a dedicated button for nearly every function and setting available on the YPG-535.

Casio’s renowned Privia series has been a favorite for many years, and the PX-S1000 garnered significant attention upon its release. The PX-S1000 was the world’s slimmest and lightest digital piano when it first launched. Over the past 15 years, Casio’s Privia pianos have delivered pure piano experiences, and now the PX-S1000 brings an entirely new design to the series, turning advanced technology into an essential part of your musical journey. It features stunning piano tones with damper resonance and string resonance, along with 17 other voices. The keyboard action is the Smart Scaled Hammer Action with ivory and ebony texture simulation.

The PX-S1000 is even lighter than the Yamaha P-45, once one of the most portable digital pianos, weighing in at only 25 lbs (11.3 kg). The top-mounted control panel has a sleek, polished finish with illuminated touch controls. Bluetooth audio support is integrated, allowing you to play along with your favorite songs. The PX-S1000 also works with the free Chordana Play for Piano app on both iOS and Android devices. With its slim, lightweight build, powerful stereo speakers, and dual headphone outputs, it offers exceptional versatility. An optional battery-powered system is available, along with an AC adapter.

Yamaha has introduced the P-125 Digital Piano as the successor to the P115, positioning it as the new mid-range keyboard in the P series. The P-125 retains many features from its predecessor, which was already a well-regarded instrument. The body of the P-125 has received a slight redesign, making it look more modern, but it remains compact and relatively lightweight, making it ideal for both home use and for performances that require mobility. Crafted from plastic, the piano still offers the exceptional quality one would expect from Yamaha.

The minimalist design of the P-125 Digital Piano is complemented by a red felt strip along the top of the keys and a sleek curve on the front panel, inspired by the Yamaha CFX Concert Grand. The P-125 does not come with a furniture-style stand or a triple pedal unit, which are optional, making it a fantastic choice for users who plan to use the P-125 primarily at home. The portable keyboard is lightweight enough for most users aged 14 and up to carry and set up with ease. Its size even allows you to place it on a table for regular practice. Additionally, the P-125 integrates seamlessly with Yamaha’s Smart Pianist app, offering intuitive control over all the instrument's functions through an easy-to-use graphical interface.

The Kawai ES110 Digital Piano is designed to be as portable as possible. Weighing only 26 lbs, it’s a perfect choice for musicians who frequently perform and travel, or for those who prefer to set it up at home with its stand and pedal board for practice. Although its portability comes with some compromises, such as the lack of a display, its light weight gives it a competitive edge over heavier models like the Roland FP30, which weighs nearly 40 lbs.

The Kawai ES110 keys are highly responsive, thanks to sensors placed in the middle of the keys instead of at the tip. This results in a quicker key response compared to many spring-loaded keyboards in the same price range of around $700. The feel and weight of the keys mimic a more expensive instrument. Additionally, the ES110 comes with Bluetooth 4.0, allowing you to wirelessly connect to iOS or Android tablets, giving you the flexibility to adjust your sounds as you wish. While the ES110’s sound may not captivate you, it is clean and good enough to make playing enjoyable.

The Casio CTK-3500 is the upgraded version of the popular CTK-3200 and remains one of Casio's best-selling models in the budget segment. Competing directly with the Yamaha PSR E363 (formerly the Yamaha PSR E353), the CTK-3500 offers a responsive keyboard, USB MIDI connectivity, and a durable pedal input. The sound engine of this keyboard is well-developed, delivering impressive piano and electric piano tones. With 48 tones, it provides a surprising range for its price. The polyphony allows multiple notes to sound simultaneously, including the melody you're playing and the backing tracks.

The USB MIDI connector allows easy integration with computers, while the durable pedal input ensures consistent sound as you sustain notes. The interface is user-friendly, with configurable controls that enable you to save shortcuts for your most-used functions. You have up to 100 preset settings available, and you can set rhythms and songs for convenient playback during live performances. The Casio CTK-3500 is extremely portable, running on batteries or via its included AC adapter. Weighing only kg, it’s ideal for bringing to practice sessions, friends’ houses, or on the go.

Alesis may not be a household name in the digital piano industry, but the brand has certainly made a mark in the world of digital sound. The Alesis Recital stands out as one of the few budget-friendly keyboards featuring semi-weighted keys. Offering a full 88 keys with adjustable touch sensitivity, this fully functional digital piano provides rich sound and a real playing experience, enhanced by powerful 20-watt built-in speakers and a maximum polyphony of 128 notes.

The Recital allows you to customize your tone by layering two sounds simultaneously in the Layer Mode, creating a fuller, richer sound. It also includes intuitive controls on the piano’s interface, along with a display screen for easy navigation. With its basic recording feature, you can record and replay your performances, and it also offers USB-MIDI connectivity for integration with computers, educational software, or virtual instrument plugins. The Alesis Recital can be powered either through the included AC adapter or six D-cell batteries for ultimate portability.

Korg is a brand known for delivering everything you could want in a digital piano, and the B1 is no exception. Like most digital pianos on the market, the B1 offers a full range of essential voices, featuring eight different sounds including three acoustic piano tones, a couple of electric pianos, some organ tones, and even a harpsichord. What sets it apart from other digital keyboards is its key action. The B1 uses the Natural Weighted Hammer (NH) keyboard, which provides heavier touch in the lower registers and lighter touch in the higher ones, mimicking the feel of an authentic acoustic piano.

The Korg B1 excels at producing rich, full-bodied tones that are reminiscent of a traditional acoustic piano, thanks to Korg's proprietary MFB servo technology. This technology, along with the passive radiator and full-range speakers, helps the B1 create vivid sounds that emulate an acoustic piano experience. However, it doesn't offer an abundance of connectivity options; it provides the essentials, including a headphone jack and a pedal input, keeping things simple yet effective.