Best Keyboard Piano
A Quick Look: Best Digital Pianos in 2023
- Best Overall – Yamaha P45 88 Key
- Editor’s Choice – Donner DDP-80 88 Key
- Best for Kids – aPerfectLife Kids 37 Key
- Best for Beginners – RockJam 61 Key
- Best for Advanced Players – Alesis Recital Pro 88 Key
- Best for Professionals – Yamaha CP88 88 Key
- Best Under $100 – Hamzer 61 Key
- Best Under $500 – Donner DEP-10 88 Key
- Best Under $1,000 – Casio Privia PX-770 88 Key
- Best With Weighted Keys – Yamaha DGX-670 88 Key
- Best Portable Digital Piano – Finger Dance Folding Keyboard Piano
- Best Stage Piano – Roland RD-88 88 Key
- Best Midi Controller – Alesis V61 Midi
Playing the keyboard piano can either be a hobby, or a full time profession, either way it’s important to get the best digital piano possible to fit your needs. While the highest quality keyboard pianos are expensive, quality digital pianos start at less than $500, whereas a traditional grand piano costs well over a thousand dollars.
Overall, my favorite keyboard piano is the Yamaha P45 due to its price, quality build, and numerous features. However, I know everyone looking for a keyboard piano has different needs, so in the following list of keyboard pianos, I tried to find the best piano keyboard for every skill level, budget, and situation.
While I didn’t play every piano on the list, I played most, and spent over 100 hours watching YouTube videos from professional players and examined reviews across multiple websites to select the best options.
Below is the list for the best keyboard piano of 2023
Yamaha P45 88-Key Weighted Digital Piano
Best Overall
Quick Specs:
- Number of keys: 88
- Item weight: 33 pounds
- Polyphony: 64
- Number of voices: 10
- Weighted keys: yes
Pros:
- Less than $500
- Good for all users
- Realistic feel
Cons:
- Only 64 polyphony
The Yamaha P45 is an amazing option for beginners, advanced users, or anyone looking to downsize from a grand piano to a digital piano.
The keyboard has a full 88-key design, with weighted keys that have heavier touch in the low end and lighter touch in the high end, just like the hammers inside an acoustic piano. The matte finish on the black keys is easier to grip when playing for long periods of time.
When looking at this piano keyboard, you’ll notice there aren’t that many buttons, which helps to streamline the look and keep it simple for beginners and older users.
This piano utilizes samples from a real grand piano, so the sample that you hear will be very realistic. In total, there are ten unique voices that you can play on this piano keyboard.
Read the full review here: (coming soon)
Donner DDP-80 Piano Keyboard
Editor's Choice
Quick Specs:
- Number of keys: 88
- Item weight: 54 pounds
- Polyphony: 128
- Number of voices: 1
- Weighted keys: yes
Pros:
- Best looking keyboard on the list
- Good for all users
- Realistic feel
Cons:
- Only one voice
The Donner DDP-80 is a great looking digital piano. It has a nice wood finish that looks elegant in any room, but is still much smaller than a grand piano.
The keyboard has a full 88-key design with Donner’s heavy hammer action keys, designed to stimulate the acoustic piano and accurately capture the strength of your fingers like a real piano.
At first glance, you’ll notice it’s a very basic looking keyboard piano. It is minimalistic on purpose, as it is truly designed to be as simple to use as possible. This makes it a great choice for older users, kids, or those who wish to replace a grand piano.
This piano utilizes Donner’s Advanced French DREAM sound, bringing you a realistic auditory experience.
Read the full review here: Donner DDP-80 Review
aPerfectLife Kids Keyboard Piano
Best for Kids
Quick Specs:
- Number of keys: 37
- Item weight: 5 pounds
- Polyphony: N/A
- Number of voices: 12
- Weighted keys: no
Pros:
- Cheap for kids
- Small and easy to move
- One-year warranty
Cons:
- More of a toy than a piano
- Should be for kids under 5
- Only 37 keys
The aPerfectLife kids piano is a great gift for children under the age of five. It’s safe and fun to play for children while also helping to teach them about music.
This keyboard is very small, with only 37 keys, so it should not be used for any child looking to take up piano as an actual hobby. Additionally, it feels very toy-like, so if you are looking for a better digital piano for your kid, keep reading below to see the RockJam model I recommend.
The piano has many buttons for kids to press that play beats, change the sound of the piano, play animal noises, and record the sounds they create.
RockJam 61-Key Keyboard Piano
Best for Beginners
Quick Specs:
- Number of keys: 61
- Item weight: 36 pounds
- Polyphony: n/a
- Number of voices: 200
- Weighted keys: no
Pros:
- Under $120
- Includes a seat and headphones
- Many voices
- Free lessons using the Simply Piano app
Cons:
- Keys are not weighted
The RockJam 61-Key Keyboard is a great choice for beginners as it includes all the accessories you need to start playing right out of the box for under $120. It comes with a seat, headphones, and an app to teach you how to play.
Although the keys are not weighted, they are full size, and the keyboard includes a pitch bend switch to adjust the sound of the notes as you play. The kit also includes stickers to place on the keys to mark notes while you are trying to learn.
This digital piano includes an aux and USB input that allow you to play along to the songs of your choice, or you can choose from the 40 demo songs, or 200 rhythms. If you want to play along with different sounds, decide from up to 200 voices, and use the built-in record and playback feature to add your own twist on any song.
Overall, this is a fantastic keyboard pianos for beginners of any age. With 61 keys, it offers enough variety to play most new pop songs and lessons while remaining portable and well-priced.
Read the full review here: RockJam 61-Key Keyboard Piano Review
Alesis Recital Pro 88-Key Digital Piano
Best for Advanced
Quick Specs:
- Number of keys: 88
- Item weight: 26 pounds
- Polyphony: 128
- Number of voices: 12
- Weighted keys: yes
Pros:
- Hammer weighted keys
- Three-month piano lesson subscription is included
Cons:
- None noted
While the RockJam Keyboard was my favorite for beginners, this is my favorite for advanced, because the Alesis Recital Pro has a full 88-keys that are hammer-weighted. This allows you to practice with the feel of a real piano for about $300.
Alesis is a well-respected musical instrument company and has been in business for over three decades. Their keyboards include a three-month subscription to a teaching app they developed to help you develop your skills even further.
When you take a look at this keyboard piano, it’s basic looking, but that’s because the bells and whistles are inside. It includes 12 voices, powerful 20W built-in speakers, must-have connectivity options, and an immense 128-note maximum note polyphony.
Overall, it’s a great option for beginners looking to upgrade to a full size 88-option, or advanced players.
Read the full review here: Alesis Recital Pro Review
Yamaha CP88 88-Key Stage Piano
Best for Professionals
Quick Specs:
- Number of keys: 88
- Item weight: 41 pounds
- Polyphony: 128
- Number of voices: 57
- Weighted keys: yes
Pros:
- High-quality built for traveling musicians
- Variety of hookups for recording and playing out loud
Cons:
- Expensive
Touring musicians require a durable, reliable, and keyboard. The Yamaha CP88 is made from a durable frame and has sturdy knobs and controls that can survive rough travel.
The user interface is easy to understand, and controls allow you to switch between different sounds easily. The main sections are divided in a user-friendly way, and the control screen is easy to read.
The keyboard action is similar to what you can expect from a high-end Yamaha stage piano and has a great feel. It uses natural wood graded touch, so the feel and touch are almost identical to an acoustic piano.
The sound on this piano keyboard is very realistic, although there are no built-in speakers, so you will need your own set-up.
Overall, it’s am upgrade from Yamaha’s very popular CP-40 stage piano, and excels in almost every regard.
Read the full review here: (coming soon)
Hamzer 61-Key Keyboard Piano
Best Under $100
Quick Specs:
- Number of keys: 61
- Item weight: 11 pounds
- Polyphony: n/a
- Number of voices: 61
- Weighted keys: no
Pros:
- Price
- Lightweight and portable
- Light up keys for playing along
Cons:
- Only 61 keys
The Hamzer digital piano has built-in speakers, or a headphone jack if you wish to practice quietly. It includes 255 timbres, 255 rhythms, 61 voices, and 24 demonstration songs.
The keyboard piano is designed for beginner use, as it has lighted keys that allow you to follow along to demo songs as they play. Included in the box are stickers to label the piano keys to learn notes faster.
With a microphone included, you can record music as you play on the piano, then listen back to it.
Overall, it’s a fantastic keyboard piano under $100, and is easy to use, lightweight, and easy to transport.
Read the full review here: Hamzer Keyboard Review
Donner DEP-10 Digital Piano
Best Under $500
Quick Specs:
- Number of keys: 88
- Item weight: 48 pounds
- Polyphony: 128
- Number of voices: 8
- Weighted keys: yes
Pros:
- Semi-weighted keys
- Includes a stand with three sustain pedals
- Beautiful and sleek design
Cons:
- None noted
This digital piano by Donner has a sleek and beautiful design with its matte black stand to match the piano. Include in the stand are three sustain pedals.
It utilizes semi-weighted keys to provide you with greater control over your music and a more realistic feel for learning or teaching. Built in to the keyboard are two 25W speakers and an MP3 player to bring you a better playing experience.
This digital piano comes with eight professionally crafted voices to let you enjoy a variety of instruments, and 128 polyphony. There’s a metronome with four variations of rhythms.
Overall, it’s a beautiful designed digital piano with textured keys that offer an exceptional playing experience. It’s a great option for players of all skill level.
Read the full review here: (coming soon)
Casio Privia PX-770 Upright Piano
Best Under $1,000
Quick Specs:
- Number of keys: 88
- Item weight: 70 pounds
- Polyphony: 128
- Number of voices: n/a
- Weighted keys: yes
Pros:
- Upright style digital piano
- Connect your phone with a built-in app
- Duet mode
Cons:
- Not great for recording music
The world-renowned Privia family of digital pianos grows with the PX-770, designed to provide a true grand piano experience in a slim, modern design. With authentic piano sound, natural feel and impressive features, the PX-770 is a brilliant instrument for inspiring brilliant performances.
Casio has wowed music critics for years with it’s Privia models, and that family grows larger with the PX-770. It’s designed to provide a grand piano experience with a slim and modern design.
The upright piano uses the same tri-sensor scaled hammer action II keyboard as Casio’s most popular modes and captures the dynamics of a performance with the speed and accuracy to support performers. The built-in amplifier results in a loud and clear performance without speakers.
The PX-770 comes with a built-in library of ten classical songs to play along with, but you can also plug in a phone or computer to play along with other songs, or record your own music.
Overall, it’s modern, and a great keyboard piano for individuals needing a realistic piano under $1,000.
Read the full review here: (coming soon)
Yamaha DGX-670 Piano Keyboard
Best with Weighted Keys
Quick Specs:
- Number of keys: 88
- Item weight: 47 pounds
- Polyphony: 256
- Number of voices: 630
- Weighted keys: yes
Pros:
- Realistic key feel
- 630 voices
- Bluetooth connectivity
Cons:
- Over $500
When searching for the best keyboard piano with weighted keys, the goal was to find the keyboard that most mimicked the feel of a traditional piano. After testing, the Yamaha DGX-670’s graded hammer standard had the most realistic feel.
Yamaha used CFX stereo sampling to accurately capture the sound of grand piano for a perfectly rich sound. The keyboard responds to your touch variation in the same manner as a grand piano.
The DGX-670 offers a wide range of 630 voices in addition to the piano. These include realistic-sounding instruments like the electric pianos, organs, and strings, to catchy synthesized sounds.
The digital keyboard also includes a variety of other features like Bluetooth, microphone input, and an interface for the Yamaha app.
Read the full review here: (coming soon)
FingerDance Folding Keyboard Piano
Best Portable Digital Piano
Quick Specs:
- Number of keys: 88
- Item weight: 9 pounds
- Polyphony: n/a
- Number of voices: 128
- Weighted keys: no
Pros:
- Extreme portability
- 10-hour battery life
- Supports multiple apps
Cons:
- Sound quality
While I was reviewing portable keyboard pianos, I wanted to find a quality folding piano for this choice. Although you will lose sound quality on a folding keyboard, it’s an option some people need, so I included one in the list. If you do not want to sacrifice sound quality, I recommend a lightweight, non-folding option.
The creative foldable design, which can be folded in half, weighs only nine pounds and measures less than 28 inches after folding. It’s a perfect travel keyboard and comes with a travel bag. Or just fold it up at home after you are done playing to save space.
This folding keyboard piano includes built-in Bluetooth connection, allowing you to connect your devices like phones, PCs, or tablets. You can use your favorite teaching applications like Perfect Piano, Pop Piano, or other online music lessons.
If you are looking for variety, choose from 128 rhythms, 128 voices, and 21 demos to play along with.
Read the full review here: (coming soon)
Best Stage Piano
Quick Specs:
- Number of keys: 88
- Item weight: 30 pounds
- Polyphony: 128
- Number of voices: 12
- Weighted keys: yes
Pros:
- Natural keyboard action
- Simple interface
- Only 30 pounds
Cons:
- None noted
The RD-88 piano upgrades the tradition Roland models by providing a more portable and lightweight option for traveling musicians. At only 30 pounds, this stage piano doesn’t lose that classic RD feel, and still offers sturdy controls, and a reliable keyboard action that feels natural.
Roland uses its newly developed SuperNATURAL technology that allows you to drastically change the sound of the digital piano in just a few intuitive knob twists. For extra versatility, there’s a section of acoustic and electronic sounds found in Roland’s flagship synthesizers.
The RD-88 has a clean and compact design perfect for small spaces, a large stage, or cramped rehearsal spaces. It has a built-in speaker that can fill a small room with beautiful sound.
Overall, it’s a great stage piano for the travelling musician thanks to its lightweight design and quality features.
Read the full review here: (coming soon)
Best MIDI Controller
Quick Specs:
- Number of keys: 61
- Item weight: 10 pounds
- Polyphony: n/a
- Number of voices: n/a
- Weighted keys: semi
Pros:
- Intuitive design
- Easily connect to your favorite DAW
- Includes MPC Beats , Ableton Live Lite and Xpand!2
Cons:
- Control knobs are a little sensitive
With its series of pads, knobs, and buttons, the Alesis V61 is an easy-to-use, intuitive MIDI controller that allows you to be in control of your music software. This digital piano has 61 full-size and adaptive piano keys, octave up/down buttons, and allows you to expand the keyboard to play bass lines, chords, and melodies.
V61 includes four assignable knobs and buttons for controlling effect plugins or virtual instruments: open and close filters, adjust volume levels, activate effects, tweak parameters, and more. Eight velocity-sensitive backlit pads allow you to launch clips or finger drum with exceptional response. Use the pitch and modulation wheels to expand the expressive capabilities of your performing.
If you are new to music production, Alesis includes MPC Beats, Ableton Live Lite and Xpand!2. This top-of-the-line recording software suite provides core tools for any artist to create and record their ideas.
Read the full review here: (coming soon)
How to Choose the Best Keyboard Piano
Choosing a keyboard piano is not something you do every day, and since they are not cheap, it’s important that you pick a piano keyboard that’s best suited to your needs. When selecting your digital piano, take the following considerations into account before making your choice.
Use Case
Are you using digital piano to perform on stage? What about a small show for your family? Or will it just be to practice on until you are ready to buy a bigger piano? Keyboard pianos have different sound quality, speakers quality, output connectivity, so if you are planning to play in front of crowd, you’ll need to spend more money to buy a quality keyboard.
If you are just using your keyboard to learn or play for yourself, you can go with a cheaper model, as the sound probably won’t need to be perfect, and the loudness of the speakers doesn’t matter.
Budget
Now, this goes without saying, but the price is important. For most people, the price is the most significant factor in making a purchase. On our list, we have our favorite keyboard pianos at multiple price points to help all buyers make their choice.
For under $500, you can get a high-quality piano keyboard like the Yamaha P45. If you are looking to spend less, you will give up some features like weighted keys, speaker quality, and polyphony. For $1,000 and above, you can get a top of the line stage piano like professionals use at concerts.
Skill Level
Skill level is kind of a weird one, because if you buy your digital piano with the intention of getting good at playing, you shouldn’t buy a low quality product at first. The main thing that comes to mind with skill level is going to be your connectivity options on the back of the keyboard.
Professionals need a variety of options to hook up multiple speakers, amps, foot pedals, and other accessories, whereas a beginner or advance player won’t need all of these options, unless they are planning to go on stage.
Weighted vs. Non-Weighted Keys
In a nutshell, weighted keys mean that the harder you press a key, and where you press that key, affect the sound the digital piano creates. The harder and lower on the key you press, the louder the sound will be, whereas the opposite is true if you press lightly.
This makes the biggest difference in low and medium-budget keyboard pianos. Anything under $300 is not going to have weighted keys. Non-weighted keys tend to make the piano keyboard feel more toy-like, hence the lower price tags.
I recommend everyone who can afford the extra couple of hundred dollars to opt-in for the weighted keys as it makes a big difference in feel, and the songs you can play and is important for traditional piano players.
Polyphony
Polyphony is the number of notes you can play at the same time. This also impacts price pretty heavily, with the higher polyphony models costing more than the low ones.
For beginners, polyphony is really not influential, anything over 64 will be fine, which everything on our list has, except the kids option, and under $100 option. However, for professionals, you will want at least 128.
Brand
The brand you select is critical for quality and warranty purposes. The higher quality brands like Yamaha, Casio, Roland, Alesis, and RockJam are going to have better warranties than some unknown brand you find on Amazon.
That doesn’t mean the unknown brands are bad, it just means they might not have the same customer service you can expect with a top five keyboard manufacturer.
Portability
If you need to transport your keyboard piano often, you’ll want to pay attention to the size and weight. The number of keys directly impacts the length, and the quality will influence the weight.
Digital Components
There are no ends to the amount of digital components available on different digital pianos. You can get it all like MIDI, USB, and Bluetooth connectivity. Maybe you need a headphones port to practice quietly, or an output for a speaker and an amp. Think about your needs before you make your choice.
Commonly Asked Questions Regarding the Best Piano Keyboards
What’s the Difference Between a Keyboard and a Piano?
The piano is an acoustic instrument, meaning its sound is produced and amplified physically, and can only play one voice. Pianos take up a lot of space, are not portable, and more subject to wear and tear than the best keyboard pianos.
In comparison, keyboards are electronic instruments with a variety of voices and options. Keyboard pianos can typically can produce sounds like piano, horns, strings, organs, synthesizers, and more.
How Much do Keyboard Pianos Cost?
On average, a beginner model keyboard piano costs roughly $300, whereas professional models can cost over $1,000.
Is it Better to Learn on a Digital Keyboard or Real Piano?
If you are a concert pianist, you might want to practice on a real piano, however for everyone else, a keyboard piano is perfect for learning. They are much more portable, easy to care for, and some even apps for free to help you learn.
Even if you have the hopes of playing a traditional piano one day, some of the best keyboard pianos offer keys designed to replicate the weight and reaction of a traditional piano.
Conclusion