The 9 Best Cheap Keyboard Pianos That Don’t Suck [2022]

We’re compiling a list of the best cheap keyboard pianos that prove you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a great sound. Each of these beautifully-crafted digital keyboards have been selected due to their budget-friendly price tag, high-quality construction and range of built-in sounds. So, when we say “cheap”, we simply mean the best budget keyboard piano - as these instruments would easily slot into any professional studio and stage set-up.

The best budget music keyboards and cheap pianos can vary massively in terms of their features and size, but we've compiled a list that shows off our awesome range. No matter if you're looking to get to grips with a full-sized cheap keyboard piano for the first time or if you're searching for the best small keyboard piano out there - you can find it at PMT. Some of these instruments have been chosen as they're the best keyboard for beginners and a great option for those just learning, but others are simply budget piano keyboards that can still be used across a range of applications.

Here’s what we think are the best cheap keyboard pianos that don’t suck:

The Carry-On Folding Digital Piano 88 is ideal If you’re looking for a cheap piano keyboard for recording at home. It’s also easy to operate and a great keyboard for beginners too as it folds away into a backpack-friendly size. There's also MIDI functionality too! 

WHY IS THIS A CONTENDER FOR THE BEST CHEAP KEYBOARD PIANO?

At under £100 this is one of the cheapest piano keyboards available - it’s not going to break the bank and would make an excellent gift. The smaller size makes it ideal for portable studios and touring musicians as well as beginners who want something they can pack away easily. We love this keyboard piano as you have 88 high-quality keys that are easy to play, 128 voices and a range of functions that beginners and pros alike will benefit from. The fact you have onboard MIDI functionality is absolutely mind blowing, as you have a full size piano that you can fold away AND control your studio and MIDI enabled devices with. Although it’s definitely appropriate for younger players and beginners, you’ll find some extremely useful sounds and functionality like Sustain, Metronome, and more to sculpt your music with.  Watch the video below and see how useful this foldable piano really is. 

Should you want to make a jump in functionality, we have the Yamaha PSR-E273 Portable Keyboard, a perfect beginners keyboard that studio owners and musicians of all levels will find a use for.

Why is this a contender for the best cheap keyboard piano?

Well, at way under £200 it’s definitely the cheapest keyboard in the list that experienced players could consider, but don’t let the price fool you as it’s packed with a huge array of sounds and effects. In fact, there are over 400 instrument voices including a classic and beautifully sampled Grand Piano sound, a host of electric pianos, sound effects and even drum sounds meaning you have everything you need to hone your skills and record high-quality music.

There’s also a set of built-in speakers and a headphone input too, so you can perform and practice wherever you like. A host of learning functions have also been built into the Yamaha PSR-E273 Portable Keyboard including the "Guess the note" quiz learning feature as well as a host of other lesson functions modes which encourage a positive learning experience and allow you to learn at your own pace, should you need to take the lessons that is!

Should you want more functionality and 622 high quality voices, the Yamaha PSR-E373 Portable Keyboard is also available, for a little extra cost - but it's still one of the top picks if you're looking for the best budget piano keyboard! 

Next up we have the extremely popular Yamaha Piaggero NP12 Portable Digital Piano, pictured here in Black. We’re moving more into the performer and experienced player territory here, but still well within our budget-friendly price tag at just over £160. With beautifully sampled pianos and expert playability, this makes our best cheap keyboard pianos blog with ease.

WHY IS THIS A CONTENDER FOR THE BEST KEYBOARD PIANO?

Again, the price is astonishing considering the sounds you get within this keyboard piano. Each of the 10 preset voices including the 2 x acoustic piano sounds, 2 x electric piano, 2 x organ sounds and even the strings, vibes and 2 x harpsichord sounds are beautifully sampled and respond instantly to the touch response keyboard. The 61 keys give you enough space to play your music whilst the built in speakers and headphones input ensure you can play and practice wherever you like. At a width of 1,036mm and a weight of 4.5kg, you can slot this into your existing workflow and carry it with you anywhere. An expressive piano keyboard that sounds great, is highly portable and at a price point we can all afford.  

Whether you have no musical experience at all, or you just need a no fuss, premium digital keyboard piano to create music on, the Roland Go:Piano GO-61P Digital Piano is an ideal option.

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We love the Roland Go:Piano GO-61P Digital Piano and feel it’s one of the best cheap keyboard pianos for a number of reasons. It’s just over £200, so still very affordable, features 61 full size keys and is packed with a selection of acclaimed Roland Piano, Electro Piano, Organ and Drum sounds. The authentic touch response ensures your keyboard piano responds accurately to your playing dynamics and effectively portray the character of each note. Bluetooth connectivity allows you to hook up your smartphones and tablets and take advantage of the 3 months free Skoove learning tool, stream music and use the array of free Roland piano apps out there. It’s also battery and AC adaptor powered, highly portable and has 2 speakers built-in so you can play at any time.

This keyboard is proof that cheap pianos can still hold their own in a professional environment!

The Roland GO:Keys GO-61K Digital Keyboard is from the same portable series as the Roland GO:Piano, but offers 500 ready-to-play sounds derived from Roland’s incredible back catalogue of pro synthesisers. Again, it’s at a budget friendly price tag and features 61 full size keys, but a few differences that sets it apart.

WHY IS THIS A CONTENDER FOR THE BEST KEYBOARD PIANO?

If you want the option of switching between electric piano sounds and synthesiser sounds, then this is for you. 500 sounds have been built-in, expertly sampled to provide players with almost the entire back catalogue of Roland synths including boutique and out of production models. It’s like taking a whole studio’s worth of gear with you everywhere you go. The ivory feel keys are velocity sensitive so your sounds respond accurately to your playing dynamics and the easy to use Category buttons allow you to flick between sounds in an instant. Definitely one of the best keyboard pianos for the synth lovers out there.

Whilst we’re on the subject of portable piano keyboards, we have to include the Yamaha reface CP Electric Piano. This is a mobile, mini keyboard that easily stands up to some of the best full size digital piano keyboards thanks to the sounds within and the focus on playability.

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Don’t be fooled by its size – this is a highly professional mini keyboard packed with a selection of classic sound taken from the vintage Yamaha CP stage pianos from the 70s. You have 6 x classical keyboard sounds built in including the coveted Rhodes piano and even expectedly reproduced Wurlitzer sounds. The fact you have all these beautiful sounds as well as a collection of vintage effects makes this one of the best keyboard pianos and easily one of the best must-have studio additions. In addition, the Reface iOS app allows you to store voices, create your own setlists and share them with your friends, making it a particularly useful performance tool.

We’re just over the £300 mark here, but considering piano keyboards of this calibre can cost at least twice as much, we’re comfortable adding the Korg B2 Digital Piano to our best cheap keyboard pianos list. You get a lot for your money!

WHY IS THIS A CONTENDER FOR THE BEST KEYBOARD PIANO?

We feel Korg B2 is one of the best cheap keyboard pianos as it has been specifically designed to accommodate a wide range of uses including home, studio and stage use. This versatile keyboard piano has new piano sound engine which offers a great selection of sounds, all of which offer precise realism. The pair of 15-watt full-range speakers help reproduce the resonant tonal range of each instrument you play, including the Grand Piano – it sounds incredible. These sonic qualities are beautifully complemented by the NH (Natural Weighted Hammer) keyboard which provides a lighter response at the upper regions and a heavier touch in the lower registers – just like a real piano keyboard.

The Roland FP-10 Digital Piano is a little more pricey, but it is certainly worth it for those who plan on keeping up with their journey when it comes to learning piano. It's essentially a stripped back version of the FP-30 offering great playability, portability and instrument sounds but in a more streamlined fashion. This is £399 but it will last a lifetime and provide decades of enjoyment and high-quality performance for home, stage and studio.

WHY IS THIS A CONTENDER FOR THE BEST KEYBOARD PIANO?

This is included in our list of best cheap keyboard pianos as it features some professional-level design and sound features that really set it apart from other digital keyboards in its class. The Roland FP-10 Digital Piano is a slim, compact digital piano, featuring a PHA-4 Standard keyboard for authentic touch and maximum expression. You also have 15 Piano, Keyboard and Instrument tones built-in. The FP-10 utilises the SuperNATURAL Piano Sound so it’s quite the jump in quality of piano samples whilst the ebony and ivory moisture absorbing keys deliver a playing experience that mimics the feel and response of an acoustic piano beautifully, far surpassing any expectations you might have of an entry-level keyboard piano. Overall, this is a pro-level keyboard piano at a beginner price point encouraging a positive learning experience for beginners and a smooth, comfortable transition from the likes of an acoustic.

We’ve added the Yamaha P45 Digital Piano Keyboard in here as an honourable mention. It’s not strictly what we’d call ‘cheap’ as the price is just over £340. However, you get a lot for your money! Tucked inside the Yamaha P45 are 10 lush voices, 10 voice demo songs to play along with, 10 piano songs as well as a host of easily navigated settings to sculpt your sound. We love this as it features an 88 key Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) keyboard with touch sensitivity. This encourages a positive learning experience and allows for a hyper-realistic feel just like an acoustic piano. The lower you go on the register, the heavier the keys get. At just 11,5kg, it’s also a very lightweight option that you can easily move around a studio, live set or take to practice/rehearsal.  

Shop a full range of keyboard pianos and digital pianos over at PMT Online today or call in to your local PMT store to view and try-out a full selection for yourself. 

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Updated 2022-03-14