AudioFuAudioFu Chart · October 2026
Best General Digital Pianos Under $800 2026
The top pick is Kawai ES-120 B ($671). Casio CT-S1 76 BK gives you the most for the money at $256. Ranked by the AudioFu Index from 13 models across 7 brands, prices checked every night.
Last updated: October 11, 2026
Top 10
Full detail for the 10 highest AudioFu Index scores. Every other model is listed below.
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- Weight12 kg
- Key actionWeighted keys
The ES-120 B is a solid entry-level digital piano offering a surprisingly good playing experience for the price. It's ideal for students, beginners, or those needing a portable stage piano – the action is much better than you’d expect for this tier, and the Bluetooth connectivity is a real bonus.
Pros
- Responsive Hammer Compact action provides surprisingly realistic key feel.
- Kawai's sound engine delivers a warm, nuanced grand piano tone.
- Bluetooth MIDI & Audio offer modern connectivity and convenience.
Cons
- RHC action, while good, lacks the depth of Kawai's higher-end actions.
- Limited sound selection compared to more expensive stage pianos.
59AudioFu
IndexStableno change since Aug 14Aug 14$671 now$671€599 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
- Weight7.1 kg
- Key actionSemi-weighted keys
The Alesis Concert is a solid, budget-friendly option for beginners or those needing a portable practice instrument. It won't fool a seasoned pianist, but it's perfectly adequate for learning the basics and experimenting with different sounds. A great choice for students or anyone needing a compact, all-in-one solution.
Pros
- Affordable entry point for aspiring pianists.
- Decent selection of basic instrument voices.
- Integrated metronome is surprisingly useful for practice.
Cons
- Semi-weighted action lacks the nuance of a real piano.
- Polyphony limit can cause note drop with complex layering.
57AudioFu
Index↓ 13.5%since Aug 14 · lowest so far$347 · Aug 14$300 now$300€268 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
- Weight59 kg
- Key actionWeighted keys
The Thomann DP-51 WH is a surprisingly capable entry-level digital piano. It delivers a solid playing experience with a weighted action and a respectable sound, making it a great option for beginners or those needing a budget-friendly stage piano—just be prepared to move it, it's a beast!
Pros
- Solid, weighted action mimics acoustic piano feel.
- Surprisingly rich sound for its price bracket.
- Comprehensive connectivity for studio and live use.
Cons
- The built-in sounds, while decent, lack nuanced character.
- The sheer size and weight make transport a significant undertaking.
56AudioFu
Index↓ 4.9%since Aug 14 · lowest so far$705 · Aug 14$670 now$670€598 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
- Weight46.2 kg
- Keys88 keys
- Key actionWeighted keys
The Gewa DP 510 is a solid entry-level digital piano offering a surprisingly realistic Steinway piano sound and useful app integration. It’s a great option for students, beginners, or anyone needing a compact and feature-rich instrument for home practice or casual playing – the customization options are a real bonus.
Pros
- Steinway D274 sample delivers a surprisingly authentic, warm grand piano tone.
- GEWA Piano Remote App offers genuinely useful customization and control.
- Illuminated soft-touch buttons are a surprisingly elegant and practical touch.
Cons
- Speaker system, while decent, lacks the depth for serious performance environments.
- Limited sound library, though the core piano sounds are excellent, restricts versatility.
55AudioFu
IndexStableno change since Aug 14Aug 14$783 now$783€699 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
- Weight5.3 kg
The CT-S1 76 BK is a surprisingly capable and remarkably light keyboard – a great option for beginners, students, or anyone needing a portable instrument. The extended 76-key range gives a more piano-like feel than smaller models, and the Chordana app is a real bonus for learning. Just don't expect a professional-grade keybed or booming sound.
Pros
- Lightweight design (5.3kg) makes it highly portable for lessons or gigs.
- 76 keys offer a more natural feel and wider range than smaller keyboards.
- AiX sound engine provides surprisingly realistic piano tones for its price point.
Cons
- Key action is synthetic and lacks the nuanced response of a weighted action.
- Polyphony limit (64 voices) can lead to dropouts with complex arrangements.
54AudioFu
Index↓ 28.5%since Aug 14 · lowest so far$357 · Aug 14$256 now$256€228 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
Roland GO-61P GO:PIANO 61-Key Digital Piano
GO:PIANO 88PX · Roland
16 for sale on Reverb2 finishes at Thomann
The GO:PIANO 88 is a clever, portable solution for students, beginners, or anyone needing a lightweight 88-key instrument. It's surprisingly playable thanks to the Ivory Feel keys, and the Bluetooth integration is a real plus. Don't expect a concert grand experience, but for the price and convenience, it's hard to beat.
Pros
- Lightweight design facilitates easy transport for lessons or gigs.
- Ivory Feel keys offer a surprisingly realistic, tactile playing experience.
- Bluetooth connectivity simplifies integration with learning apps and mobile devices.
Cons
- Key action lacks the depth and responsiveness of higher-end weighted actions.
- Sound engine, while decent, isn’t as nuanced as more expensive digital pianos.
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- Weight54 kg
- Key actionWeighted keys
The Hemingway DP-501 MKII RW is a solid, budget-friendly option for beginners or students needing a full-sized, weighted action digital piano. The rosewood finish is a nice touch, and the recording features are genuinely useful for learning and composing. It's a practical choice, but experienced players will notice limitations in the key action and sound quality.
Pros
- Rosewood finish adds a touch of elegance and warmth.
- 3-pedal system offers expressive playing capabilities.
- Internal 3-track recorder is surprisingly robust and useful.
Cons
- The key action, while weighted, lacks the nuance of higher-end models.
- 16 sounds are adequate but lack the depth and variety of premium pianos.
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- Weight38.5 kg
- Key actionWeighted keys
The Thomann DP-32 B is a solid entry-level digital piano, offering a weighted action and a surprisingly usable sequencer for the price. It's a great choice for beginners or those needing a functional practice instrument without premium features or a high-end sound. Don't expect concert hall acoustics, but it's a competent performer for home use.
Pros
- Solid 88-key weighted action provides a surprisingly realistic piano feel
- Decent speaker system for practice, avoids tinny digital sound
- The sequencer is a genuinely useful feature for composition and practice
Cons
- Sound engine lacks the nuance and depth of higher-end digital pianos
- USB host functionality limited to MIDI only, no audio transfer
53AudioFu
Index↓ 5.9%since Aug 14 · lowest so far$593 · Aug 14$558 now$558€498 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
- Weight53 kg
- Key actionWeighted keys
The Thomann DP-95 B is a surprisingly capable entry-level digital piano. It's a solid choice for beginners or those needing a home practice instrument with a decent range of sounds and accompaniment features – it won’t blow you away, but it delivers a lot of functionality for the price.
Pros
- Solid 88-key weighted action provides a realistic piano feel
- Ample 500 sounds offer versatility for various musical styles
- Built-in accompaniment styles simplify creating backing tracks
Cons
- USB connectivity limited to MIDI only, no audio output via USB
- The LCD screen is likely basic and not ideal for complex editing
53AudioFu
Index↓ 5.2%since Aug 14 · lowest so far$649 · Aug 14$615 now$615€549 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗ -
- Weight37.7 kg
- Keys88 keys
- Key actionWeighted keys
The Gewa CP 510 Black is a solid entry into the digital piano market, offering a surprisingly good Steinway sample and useful customization options via the app. It's a great choice for students, beginners, or anyone needing a compact and versatile instrument for home practice or smaller gigs – just be aware of the plastic build and limited sound palette.
Pros
- Steinway D274 sample provides a remarkably authentic, warm piano tone.
- User Calibration Tool offers surprisingly deep control over keyboard feel.
- GEWA Piano Remote App simplifies sound selection and customization.
Cons
- Plastic construction, while functional, feels less premium than competitors.
- Limited sound library compared to higher-end digital pianos.
51AudioFu
IndexStableno change since Aug 14Aug 14$783 now$783€699 at Thomann · in stockCheck price ↗
All 13 general digital pianos
Same index, same nightly prices — compact. Colour options of one model share a row. Tap a photo to zoom.
General Digital Pianos by the numbers
Measured across all 42 models we track, not a sample.
Median $670 — half of all general digital pianos here cost less.
median of 39 models · 5.3 kg–59 kg
most common · 35 models
How to choose the best general digital pianos
Action
Forget weighted, you need graded hammer action. The nuance of a piano depends on the response of the keys, and cheap actions feel... cheap. A decent graded action lets you shape dynamics; a mushy one doesn't.
Sound Engine
Most under $800 use sampled sounds. Listen for clarity, especially in the higher register - that ice-picky harshness is a deal-breaker. A warm, slightly forgiving tone is more usable than something sterile.
Polyphony
128 voices is the absolute minimum. Anything less and complex chords or layered sounds will drop notes - not cool for a gig. 192 is preferable.
Connectivity
USB MIDI is essential for recording. Aux outs are a bonus for connecting to an amp or PA. Line-level outputs are better than 1/4" inputs.
Portability
Let's be honest, you'll probably move it. Weight and size matter. A compact design is a big plus, especially if you're lugging it to rehearsals.
Buying guide
Alright, so you're in the market for a digital piano but you're not looking to drop a grand. It's a totally reasonable goal - you want something that'll cut through a rehearsal without sounding like a toy, and maybe even record decently. This list focuses on the sweet spot: solid keys, usable sounds, and enough features to get you gigging or laying down tracks without breaking the bank. Let's get you playing.
At this price point, compromises are inevitable. You won't get a boutique piano feel, but you can find something that's genuinely usable. Pay close attention to the action - that's where most of the budget gets spent.
Don't expect pristine recording quality without an external audio interface and decent mics; the built-in sounds are a starting point. Prioritize a responsive action and a usable sound engine over flashy features you won't need.
How the AudioFu Index works
Five measured signals and nothing else — no stars from strangers, no “tested by experts” we didn’t do. The weights are fixed and public. We don’t play these instruments; we measure the market around them.
This chart covers 42 general digital pianos from the Thomann catalogue. Before you buy, read hands-on reviews and, where you can, play it. Full methodology.
AudioFu earns a commission when you buy through our Thomann links. It never changes the order — the index does.
- Demand40%
How many of this exact model are for sale on Reverb right now — what musicians actually buy and resell.
- Lineup20%
How many finishes Thomann stocks — makers expand the models that sell.
- Price15%
Where the price has moved since we started tracking in August.
- Specs15%
How completely the maker documents it.
- Maker10%
How deep the brand’s range is in this category.
Questions
What's the difference between weighted and graded hammer action?
Weighted keys try to mimic the feel of a piano, but they're often heavy and unresponsive. Graded hammer action gets the weight right - lighter in the treble, heavier in the bass - for a more realistic playing experience.
Can I record directly into my computer with these pianos?
Most have USB MIDI connectivity, so yes. You'll need a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) software on your computer to record the MIDI data, then use virtual instruments to create the sound. The piano's keys send data, the computer does the sound-making.
Are the sounds any good?
They're serviceable. Expect a range of piano sounds, electric pianos, organs, and maybe some basic strings or pads. Don't expect concert grand piano quality, but they'll work for practice and basic tracking.
What about sustain pedal? Does it come included?
Most come with a basic sustain pedal, but it's often a pretty basic one. Upgrading to a continuous pedal (one that responds to how far you press it) is a worthwhile investment if you're serious about piano playing.
Is it better to buy used?
Absolutely. You can often snag a higher-end model for the same price as a new budget piano. Just be sure to inspect the action and keys for wear and tear before you commit.
