Best Budget Keyboard Piano

Are you a beginner or someone who loved piano at first sight and is interested in learning it? No need to break the bank to find out if you want to stick with it. You need the best budget keyboard piano you can get.

IN THIS REVIEW

The Best Budget Keyboard Piano
Our Favorite Budget Keyboard Pianos
Our Top Picks
Best Budget Keyboard Piano Review
1. Alesis Melody 61
2. Alesis Recital 88 Key Digital Piano Best For Quality Sound
3. Hamzer 61-Key Electronic Keyboard Piano Best Under Budget
4. Casio CTK-3500 61-Key Touch Sensitive Portable Keyboard
5. Yamaha PSR-EW300 76-Key Portable Keyboard
6. YAMAHA NP12 61-Key Lightweight Portable Keyboard Best Overall Keyboard
7. Moukey MEK-200 Electronic Keyboard Portable
8. RockJam 88-Key Beginner Digital Piano
9. Donner DEP-10 Beginner Digital Piano
10. Souidmy Full-Size Electric Keyboard Piano
Buying Guide
Things to Consider Before Buying a Keyboard Piano
Frequently Asked Questions
– Are 61 keys enough to learn piano?
– Should I get a 61 or 88 key keyboard?
– Is it OK to learn the piano on a keyboard?
Overall Top Choice
Conclusion

The Best Budget Keyboard Piano

The piano is so charming that almost everyone ends up falling for it. With a set of keys and tunes to it, imagining a musical without it is impossible. After all, it is the one that gives a melody and touchy feel to so many of our songs. 

Loved by all ages, the real problem isn’t learning a piano, but getting your hands on a decent and affordable one. With the piano’s craze reaching new heights, an increase in its price is observed. 

Such expensive ones are hard to adjust to our budget. So we have come up with a list of the best budget keyboard pianos. Being small and portable, the keyboard is created to be an alternative to the real piano. 

They function the same way and are within various sizes and budget ranges. Therefore, they are worth the hype. Great for kids and new piano learners, they come with a different number of keys and specifications. Let’s have a deeper look at what more they offer.

Our Favorite Budget Keyboard Pianos

Overall Best Budget Keyboard Piano

YAMAHA NP12 61-Key Lightweight Portable Keyboard

Our Top Picks

1. Alesis Melody 61

2. Alesis Recital 88 Key Beginner Digital Piano Best For Quality Sound

3. Hamzer 61-Key Electronic Keyboard Piano Best Under Budget

4. Casio CTK-3500 61-Key Touch Sensitive Portable Keyboard

5. Yamaha PSR-EW300 76-Key Portable Keyboard

6. YAMAHA NP12 61-Key Lightweight Portable Keyboard Best Overall Keyboard

7. Moukey MEK-200 Electronic Keyboard Portable

8. RockJam 88-Key Beginner Digital Piano

9. Donner DEP-10 Beginner Digital Piano

10. Souidmy Full-Size Electric Keyboard Piano

Best Budget Keyboard Piano Review

Here are our full reviews for keyboard pianos.

1. Alesis Melody 61

With a top-notch range of musical instruments hidden up its sleeve, Alesis is a trusted name across the globe. Being an easy alternative to the piano, Melody 61 is a great pick for new learners. 

Weighing around about 7 pounds, it is fairly lightweight and easy to carry around. Another plus point is that with 6AA batteries, it can work on the go as well.

Style and Layout

Made for the best learning experience for kids, this unit comes with a total of 61 keys and 200 different sounds. 

These multiple sounds will not only make your kid excited but will also offer a great room for practice and improvement. Inclusion of up to 10 demo songs is also really great for engaging your kids. 

Sensitive Actions

With a decent style and layout, its keys are super sensitive and give the perfect click. An LCD Display is also linked to Melody 61’s keypad. Control buttons for easy operations and a pair of speakers are also included on either side.  

Quality Accessories

For a better sound experience, a set of headset and microphone also comes in with the package. To ensure that the keyboard stays steady a stand comes along as well.

2. Alesis Recital 88 Key Beginner Digital Piano – Best For Quality Sound

Termed as the beginner’s piano, keyboards are highly involved in the music learning process. Alesis 88 has all the specs and features you look for in an entry-level digital keyboard.

Sensitive Keys

Armed with a set of full-sized semi-weighted keys, this product has already scored a point. Its keys are sensitive and have an adjustable touch response. Hence, you can always play it in your signature style. 

You can bring almost 128 different notes from this piano. The recital 88 is automatically shut off within 30 mins, if not used. This one feature economizes the power and energy of the unit.

Minimal Design

Matte and Glossy combination of the keys blend in flawlessly with its minimal design. Though it’s for new learners, it offers more than five voices that include an organ, synth, bass, and acoustic and electronic piano. A USB port, mic/headphone jack, and a Line output is also offered.

Real Sound 

Alesis incorporates in it, a pair of 20W speakers that give justice to each note played. For ease of use, a ¼ inch stereo headset and RCA connection outputs are included in the package. 

With over three operational modes- layer split and lesson, the recording is one thing. It even assists in voice editing enhancing its range and target audience. Connecting a pedal to the digital unit creates a resonance in the audio making it best for quality sound.

3. Hamzer 61-Key Electronic Keyboard Piano – Best Under Budget

Amongst a range of expensive and pricey instruments, this best digital piano under budget is a breath of fresh air. 

Multi-ranged Sound Effects

With over 100 timbres up its sleeve, the 61-key keyboard has some crazy sound ranges to experience. Hamzer inserts 2 quality built-in stereo speakers that give extra strength to the sound offered by the system.  

Further, the addition of 8 percussion presets and 32 stage adjustable tempo speed and auto-bass chords have given the digital keyboard a new standard. 

Effortless Operation

It incorporates a built-in recorder that helps out when learning and observing the mistakes yourself. For beginners learning directly from a trainer, using the split keyboard is a fresh option. 

It helps you play on one side with the trainer on the other. Like other digital piano sets, you get access to a standard microphone and headset jack in the piano. 

Good for All

With greater quality specs to offer than its counterparts in the same price range is absolute madness from Hamzer’s side. It is not only great for beginners but also for people who want to polish their practice. 

A stand and a stool also come with the package. You may use it portably with the help of 6AA batteries or by connecting into an 110-120 volts power socket.

4. Casio CTK-3500 61-Key Touch Sensitive Portable Keyboard

Known for its solid and durable framework, Casio products are meant to last for a long time. Be it in your home or a car, with a battery-powered feature, you can always carry this keyboard around with you. Record your melodies and songs on the go and make the most out of your experience.

Turn the Speakers Up

The CTK-3500 is not an ordinary digital toy. With over 400 high-quality tones and up to 150 built-in rhythms, this is the music buddy you were looking for. 

Functioning with a total of 61 full-sized keys, this unit is compact and perfect for new pianists. For an added experience, it takes help from its built-in speakers and a clear LCD Display Screen.

Dance Music Mode

Whether it’s about using your tune or remixing another song, with this new feature you can step up the experience by using up to 50 Electronic Dance Music styles. For further experimentation, some drum beats, bass, and synth features are supported by this unit.

Generous Connections

Connecting to other devices is easy peasy with it allowing a handful of port options. These would be a mic and headset jack, a USB MIDI interface, and the ever-necessary USB A-B cable to link with almost every other device. It allows assists while recording and play-backing.

5. Yamaha PSR-EW300 76-Key Portable Keyboard

Budget instruments are hard to find, but if found right, they can open up a new musical experience for you. Yamaha is in the list of such keyboards that have standard specs for beginners wrapped in a decent price tag.

Perfect for All-Ages

Sporting a compact design and modern look, the device comes in at 13 pounds on the weight scale. As a result, it is a great choice for both kids and adults. 

Yamaha has installed in this unit, a pair of twelve-inch speakers and 2.5+2/5 W amplifying power that takes its sound to another level. Along with over 500 different sounds, it allows effects like chorus, harmony, reverbs, and equalizer.

Sound Modes

48-note polyphony, a duo mode, split, and dual-mode all are part of its sound features. Layer a sound over another to get a better full sound. Further, it supports tempo, volume, and beat adjustments. Including a total of 154 songs in its library, you can also save up to 5 songs and 2 tracks of your choice.

Connection Ports

The USB port is a must in all digital devices as it makes the data transfer and storage. Along with this, a basic audio output port and a MIDI port is adjusted in its durable framework. Though it doesn’t support Bluetooth, the above features are enough for connections.

6. YAMAHA NP12 61-Key Lightweight Portable Keyboard – Best Overall Keyboard

Though it’s a budget unit, it is extremely well-made with detailed attention given to its body and design. The ‘less is more’ look blends in really well with its nicely spread-out keys.

Responsive Keys

10 synth keys with 61 piano keys both have a great touch and feel to them. Not only the keys are sensitive but they are responsive and quick to give an output, definitely a treat for your fingers. The semi-weighted keys are easy to get used to and get better every time.

Strong and Sturdy Body

Budgeted keyboards are delicate because of the manufacturing plastic they use. They are bound to get damaged one way or another. But the best overall keyboard understands it. 

Though made from heavy-duty and long-lasting materials, Yamaha NP12 is not only light-weight but robust and solid at the same time.

Don’t Worry About Power

A perfect melody hardly comes easily and you don’t want to miss noting it down just because your power went out. Though such situations are inevitable, there is always a solution to it. You can always operate the set-up on battery and get the job done.

Sound Features

It gives a total of 10 sounds, out of which two are organ sounds, two piano sounds, an FM synthesis, and an electric piano sound. Other than that, you get orchestral Legato Strings, a Soft-Mallet Vibraphone, and a pair of Harpsichords sound.

7. Moukey MEK-200 Electronic Keyboard Portable

Portable and Electronic Keyboards are trends. This product from Moukey is one such example of quality and quantity together.

Full-sized Keyboard

Full-sized keys mean that the key size is similar to that of the original piano. That’s why a person who has mastered this size, can easily transition to the piano. 

Of course, Practice will be needed but it won’t be tricky for you anymore. The 61-keys are connected with the LED Screen to help you out with the recording and playback sounds.

Huge Music Directory

Apart from its keys, Moukey offers over 300 sounds and rhythms each supported by a total of 50 demo songs to learn and practice from. 

Further audio is enhanced by its built-in speakers that give their set of timbres and rhythms.  With its Intelligent Teaching System, the mystery of mastering a keyboard is eased.

Accessories Included

The keyboard comes with a pair of Z-style stands, a stool, microphone, and headphones in the packaging. For its operation, a power supply and a Moukey keyboard sticker are included. 

The bench or stool it comes with is comfortable followed by a stand that fits in the keyboard perfectly. This prevents it from wobbling or flickering while you are busy playing.

8. RockJam 88-Key Beginner Digital Piano

To name something that brings the most out of something average would easily be RockJam’s Digital Piano. Each tone and sound from this unit speaks volumes about its potential and strength.

Smooth and Bouncy Keys

Featuring a set of 88 semi-weighted keys gives the smooth yet bouncy feel to its keys. Its full-sized layout brings out the essence of a real piano with its velocity-sensitive feature. The more delicately you press it, the more delicate the sound it will produce and vice versa. 

That being said, don’t start bashing its keys to get a dramatic sound! This RockJam 88 digital piano keyboard has 88 full-sized, semi-weighted, velocity-sensitive keys that closely replicate the feel of a real piano.

Specific Sounds Offered

Each keyboard offers a set of specific sounds. With this piano in hand, you get over 10 different voices from it. These would be the sounds of an upright piano, electric keyboard piano, grand piano, strings, synth, bass, guitar, percussion, Hammond organ, and church organ.

Additional Features

Using its 24-watt stereo speakers, the sound quality is enhanced and improved. all basic ports are supported by RockJam with USB port and the headphone jack being the most focused on. Not only this, you can use a ¼ Inch sustain pedal input, ¼ Inch-soft-pedal input, a 7 pin sostenuto pedal input, and ¼ Inch microphone connector.

9. Donner DEP-10 Beginner Digital Piano

At Donner’s, great attention and detailed observation are involved in the creation of each product.  Bet on a digital keyboard or any other device, the standard is high with keeping things light and easy on your wallet.

Unique specifications

Donner uses a set of unique and creative features in its digital pianos. For keeping the musical rhythms in control, DEP-10 uses a 4-beat metronome for the process. 

This helps you keep your tracks in tune and perfect for recording.  Sound features like trill, suspension, and DSP effects can easily be applied at your track.

Half-weighted keys

Call it half or semi-weighted, the 88 keys not only expand the musical experience but are also a sign of an increase in sounds. Though the weighted keys depend on the smoothness and pressure of your hand, the other sounds are always experiential.

The device includes a sustain and a triangle pedal to give a new sound to the track, along with this, a built-in mp3 player and a pair of 25-watt speakers is also included

Versatile sounds

A great mix of 8 versatile voices and 128 polyphony presets are included in this little equipment. The voices are from an acoustic piano, electric grand piano, and a church organ amongst others. This being said chorus and reverb can also be easily applied to the audio track, all while playing with its feel.

10. Souidmy Full-Size Electric Keyboard Piano

It’s not easy to offer such generous features as Souidmy does. It is the creator of one of the most power-packed keyboard devices that are as good and as real to the original instrument. It does this all while staying affordable and cost-effective.

Layered Sounds

Offering a 24-bits stereo sampling accuracy, a 20W 8Ω professional speaker, and 3 layered acoustic dynamic samples from concert pianos, Souidmy has put it all out in there for you. Its full-sized layout includes 88 keys that give 128-note polyphony to the sound.  The audio quality is crisp and clear, with the perfect piano feel added to it.

Connection Options

You can access its pair of ¼ inch headphone jack and sustain pedal input. That’s not all.  For better and improved connections, an intelligent jack to recognize recorders, mixers, amplifiers, and other related devices are also included in its compact structure. 

As a result, the transport and transfer of the file is convenient. By doing this, the data files stay in a safe, secure folder as well, just like you keep a record of other things.

Quality Add-onsThe unit comes with a sheet stand and a piano bag for your convenience. Next to it, a demo, tone, and rhythm sample is also included in the piano. This piano is the best for money. Hence, it supports the recording, arranging, and chord function all in a single device.

Buying Guide

Things to Consider Before Buying a Keyboard Piano

With many keyboard pianos available in the market, finding the right one can be a pain in the neck. 

For new learners and beginners, getting know-how and the basic terms of a keyboard piano is necessary. Hence, we’ve come up with three factors that are to be considered before buying a keyboard piano.

Price

As the name suggests, the keyboard pianos are an alternative to traditional, acoustic pianos. We use them for their portability and low price. Usually, pianos range from a maximum value of $4,000 to as low as $100. 

Therefore, your budget ones follow right in between the range of $300 to around $1,000.  The price is one thing but we don’t want to get our hands on any ordinary product. 

Hence, after checking the product looks for what it offers. If you like the product, then look for further options in that price range. By doing this, you may find better specs at the same price.

Keys

There are multiple sized keyboards in the market. Amongst them, the full-sized one is particularly famous as it covers the range of an original piano. 

It uses a total of 88 keys on which beginners practice. As a result, they can immediately learn the mistakes made on the real piano while paying for a budgeted one.

Weighted keys are touch-sensitive keys that alter the sound and tune with the pressure of our hand. Though they are not necessary for a beginner, if you’re serious about the piano you’ll have to upgrade this feature as quickly as possible. 

Therefore, it is suggested to look for something with such features beforehand. We suggest you go for a full-sized 88 or ¾ sized 64 keys keyboard as it gives the real experience of a piano.

Sensitivity

Touch sensitivity is a crucial aspect of the keyboard piano. These keys are the ones whose volume and sound depends on the stroke of your hand. The harder you hit, the louder the sound. Delicately touching it will lead to a soft sound. 

A keyboard’s touch sensitivity ranges from 2 to 6 and usually stays in between. Often budget keyboards don’t come with this feature, but if they do, it is suggested to find something in between.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Are 61 keys enough to learn piano?

Yes. For beginners and new learners, 61 keys is enough to learn piano.

Q2. Should I get a 61 or 88 key keyboard?

If you’re interested in learning a real piano, then go for the 88 key keyboards as it will help you become accustomed to a traditional, acoustic piano.

Q3. Is it OK to learn the piano on a keyboard?

YES. As the style and layout of both of the above are similar, it is possible.

Our Favorite Budget Keyboard Pianos

Overall Best Budget Keyboard Piano

YAMAHA NP12 61-Key Lightweight Portable Keyboard

Conclusion

Now that you know about the best budget keyboard piano, it’s time to get into action. 

Hopefully, this list would have helped you in making up your mind. That was it from our side. We hope this article was worth your time. 

Let us know in the comments below if we’ve missed any amazing products or you have any new and interesting ideas for our next topic.

See you next time with another creative read.

Till then, Happy Learning