Music is for everyone, and the instruments used to facilitate it should be reasonably accessible as well. When it comes to purchasing the best digital piano under 500 dollars, you need to select one that suits your needs.
But, we are here to show you that it doesn’t have to be that way. Although it’s a stereotype that digital pianos are expensive, you can still find plenty of instruments at a fair price.
There are a lot of good-quality digital pianos on the market that don’t cost more than you can manage. Of course, it takes time and effort to research and sample which instrument suits you best. But, we have undertaken this task to ensure that you find a digital piano worth your purchasing power.
We have curated 5 of the best digital pianos under 500 dollars, to help you make an informed decision towards the keyboard of your choice.
1. Alesis Coda Pro 88-Key Digital Piano
First on our list of the best digital piano under 500 is the Alesis Coda Pro. It is a full-featured, 88-key digital piano that has the versatility and rich sound you desire. The keyboard is part of the Alesis Coda Series-which comprises of full-sized digital pianos that are ideal for a wide variety of performing and recording purposes.
Alesis has made the Coda Series perfect for students, studio and stage use, houses of worship, and even in theatres.
Elegant and subtle, the Alesis Coda Pro is designed with simplicity and an easy to use interface. With its full-range built-in features, this digital piano has elements that make it easy for you to be at your creative best.
Measuring at 59″ x 19″ x 9″, the Alesis Coda Pro is a very compact and portable instrument. You can easily set it up or store it anywhere without it inconveniencing your space. And it only weighs 27 lbs, making it a lightweight device that won’t be a hassle to move around.
Since the Alesis Coda Pro is a full-sized digital piano, it features 88 velocity-sensitive keys. The velocity-sensitive keys also come with a hammer action, which is quite impressive at the piano’s price range. Therefore, you can play all kinds of pieces with the Alesis Coda Pro-that includes both simple as well as more complex pieces. The velocity-sensitive keys offer authentic playability experience with varying levels of response.
Sound is a significant factor in any digital piano, and Alesis seems to have a grasp of what that means. The Alesis Coda Pro features exclusive built-in sounds from world-class virtual instrument developers AiR Music Technology and SONiVOX. Furthermore, it has 20 built-in voices, with the ability to split or layer two voices simultaneously.
The digital instrument also comes with 60 Preset songs that you can play along to, and improve your piano playing skills.
For Duet Mode, you get 50 accompaniment patterns drawn from different music genres, including Slow Rock, Jazz, and many more. With such accompaniments, you get to have an impressive performance with the Alesis Coda Pro. The digital piano comes with a maximum polyphony count of 64-notes.
It is a decent count for beginners, but there are some intricate music pieces that you can’t play with a polyphony count of 64-notes.
Onboard also on the Alesis Coda Pro are all kinds of sound effects. The piano features Reverb, EQ, and Chorus effects. They facilitate the delivery of a more robust and much more vibrant sound from the keyboard.
Alesis Coda Pro hosts fantastic connectivity options. You can connect your computer to the Alesis Coda Pro through a USB MIDI Port that offers complete control over the instrument’s software and plug-ins.
The piano also provides both the Aux Input as well as the Output connectivity options. You also get a headphone jack on the back panel, and the keyboard comes with a sustain pedal as well.
For beginners, piano enthusiasts, and professionals in search of a full-sized, versatile digital piano that offers excellent value, you couldn’t do better than the Alesis Coda Pro. It is one of the best and most affordable entry-level digital piano under $500 quick, that can still match up to a pro’s expectations.
2. The Artesia PA-88W Digital Piano
Artesia is a brand not known by many, but it also has something unique to offer at this price point. The Artesia PA-88W doesn’t rank second on our list of the best digital piano under 500 without a good reason. It is a musical instrument that hoards capabilities worth your money. It is an entry-level digital piano that best suits the needs of a beginner.
The piano is also a fantastic consideration for parents who want a budget-friendly instrument for their kids. The Artesia PA-88W is extremely affordable and the best digital piano under 500 dollars.
So, is it the right piano for you? Let’s have a look at what the Artesia PA-88W offers.
Right off the box, the PA-88W is a very lightweight digital piano. Most of the time, for manufacturers to come up with light and portable keyboards, they swap heavy-duty materials for lighter ones. Thankfully, this is not the deal with the Artesia PA-88W. You get a carrying case that will keep this piano safe whenever you intend to move with it.
The Piano has 88 fully-weighted keys, but with a Spring Action. The Spring Action is more substantial than a synth-action keyboard but lighter than a Hammer Action piano. Therefore, the Artesia PA-88W digital piano doesn’t do much to replicate the touch and feel of an acoustic piano.
The keyboard is an excellent choice for those who like to play with a softer feel or the ones who haven’t played an acoustic piano before. If you are coming to the Artesia PA-88W from a digital piano with a Hammer Action or an acoustic, the key action will need some getting used to.
Artesia featured the PA-88W with a total of 12 instrument voices, which are quite remarkable at this price point. The standout, however, amongst these voices has to be the Grand Piano Sound. It has rich and much more authentic sounds as well as a triple-layered sample. As a result, you get a deep and expressive Grand Piano tone.
You also get the Split and Layer Functions to play with the twelve voices onboard. Among the sounds, the Artesia PA-88W also hosts Reverb and Chorus effects. You can, therefore, customize the sound of this instrument as you continue to perform.
One thing that did not amuse us much is the instrument’s polyphony count. A 32-polyphony note piano is not an appealing number for advanced players, but it is quite suitable for beginners.
Another advantage to beginners is that the Artesia PA-88W comes with 12 demo songs that you can play along to. Artesia PA-88W also comes with a Sustain Pedal and a music stand.
For connectivity, the Artesia PA-88W has the USB capability that you can use to connect to your DAW, learning software, or perhaps a music app. You also get output for the headphones, amplifier, and a jack for the pedal. For the best digital piano for 500, it’s a good option.
3. Yamaha P71 88-Key Digital Piano
The Yamaha P71 is also among the best digital piano under 500 dollars. Released at the end of 2016, the P71 is Amazon’s Exclusive electric digital piano by Yamaha. The piano has features that profoundly replicate an acoustic piano. It is portable and straightforward and comes in both a black and white finish.
Yamaha P71 is an affordable digital piano, and not many pianos in the same price spectrum can compare to its high-quality range of features.
Because of this, the P71 is amongst Yamaha’s best-selling digital pianos. So, if you want quality at a fair price, then you can’t afford to overlook the P71.
The piano has fully weighted 88 keys that have the Hammer Action. And since it is a Yamaha product, the P71 is featured with the company’s Graded Hammer Standard weighted action. The GHS action is perfect for beginners, which means that the P71 is an entry-level electric digital piano.
However, this doesn’t mean that experts can’t find use with the keyboard. The keys have four different sensitivity settings that include Fixed, Medium, Hard, and Soft. The default setting on the keys, which is Medium, is the closest to the feel of an acoustic piano.
Furthermore, the P71 features keys with a matte finish. Therefore, your fingers won’t slip from moisture over long hours of practice.
As you may know, Yamaha pianos have high-quality sounds, and the P71 is no different. The digital instrument comes packed with ten different piano voices.
The ten instrument voices include:
- Two Electric Pianos
- It comes with 2 Grand Pianos
- There are 2 Harpsichords
- 2 Pipe Organs
- Vibraphones
- Strings
The Yamaha P71 sampled tones are from actual acoustic Grand Pianos, and the piano features Reverb as the only sound effect. Additionally, the P71 features the Dual Mode, where you can play two different instruments on it, all at the same time.
Connectivity is also another aspect that the P71 manages to facilitate quite well. It features two jacks for headphones and a sustain pedal, as well as a USB port. With the USB port, you can easily connect a computer to the piano and integrate it with any music software. Therefore, you can record your MIDI tracks in your preferred audio workstation.
Finally, it is essential to know that the P71 comes with pedals. Not many digital pianos come packing with such accessories. You either have to purchase separately, and others don’t even support pedal functionality. So, for a keyboard to offer two pedals as accessories at this price range, the Yamaha P71 is an exceptional digital piano.
ALSO READ: The Best Digital Piano Under $1000
4. Roland GO: PIANO88 Full-Size Digital Piano
When playing the piano, having 88 keys on board makes a big difference. A full-sized digital keyboard such as the Roland GO: PIANO88 helps you develop the right technique and improves your playability. Unlike most digital pianos, the Roland GO delivers on both quality performance as well as portability, which makes the piano rank among the best digital piano under 500 dollars.
On top of that, it is a road-ready instrument with optional battery power. The piano has a fantastic onboard speaker system, which means you don’t need to carry an amp with you all the time.
GO: PIANO88 has full-size keys for authentic playing feel as well as tender touch inspired by the keyboards on acoustic grand pianos. With such a keyboard, you can play more demanding music and develop the right technique for both the right and left hands. Although the piano features only velocity-sensitive keys, it ensures a smooth transition should you decide to upgrade to a piano with a weighted Hammer Action keyboard.
The keys have three touch-sensitivity options where you can customize the touch settings to suit your preferences. One surprising takeaway is how the keys have standard spacing. Rarely do you get a piano with such a keyboard at this price point?
To accompany the GO: PIANO88’s 88-note full-size keyboard, are onboard sounds derived from Roland’s acclaimed premium pianos. When you strike a key, you hear notes full of character, which change seamlessly in response to your touch. The same is the case with a beautiful acoustic piano. Some of the sounds present include an electric piano, organ, and strings, which facilitate your exploration of different musical styles.
To ensure that none of your notes are immaturely cut off, the GO: PIANO88 has a maximum polyphony of 128 voices, and a sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz. The piano features only a Reverb effect, and this is not so bad since it is the most preferred and used among the other options.
For the generation of sound, this digital piano features two high-quality in-built Bluetooth speakers that measure 15 x 6 cm, respectively.
As for connectivity, you get an Output jack for your phone-the stereo miniature phone type. There is also 1/4 inch Pedal Jack, a USB Micro-B type port for when you want to connect your PC, and a DC IN jack. The best part about the GO: PIANO88’s connectivity options is its Bluetooth capability. It wirelessly pairs with your smartphone or tablet and makes learning a fun process.
Therefore, you can access songs from your music library or try some free online lessons. Furthermore, it has Metronome, Transpose, and Recording features that support daily practice sessions.
In the box, you get some accessories that include a Music rest, AC Power adaptor, and a Pedal Switch. The piano measures 50-9/16″ in Width, 11-1/2″ in Depth, and the Height reaches 3-7/16″ without the music rest. It is a lightweight digital piano that only weighs 15 lbs (7 kgs).
The Roland GO: PIANO88 offers premium piano performance in a compact, portable, and affordable nature. You only need to find a space, sit down, and start your musical journey with GO: PIANO88.
5. Casio CDP-S100 Affordable Digital Piano
We close our reviews on the best digital piano under 500 dollars with a Casio keyboard. The CDP-S100 is a slim, simple, and affordable digital piano with top-mark performance features. Its design comprises of a more traditional look with the usual knobs and buttons. The dimensions measure 52″ x 9.1″ x 3.9″, which makes it a very slim piano.
It is a lightweight at most, which only weighs 23.1 lbs (10.5 kg). You can quickly move around with this digital instrument and practice anywhere. To further exemplify this characteristic, the CDP-S100 can run on 6AA batteries. The battery life gives you up to 10+ hours of functionality.
The piano has a standard chassis built with plastic materials, but the surface has a matte textured finish. Therefore, you won’t have to worry about fingerprints with this finish.
With the CDP-S100, Casio has used its new 88-key, fully-weighted keyboard. The company calls it the Scaled Hammer Action II. The keys feature two-sensor key actions that track your keystrokes, which pass through each sensor. Although the keys are plastic, they have a simulated ebony and ivory feel, which reduces finger slipping occasions by giving you a subtle grip of the keys.
Casio also implemented Touch-sensitivity on the CDP-S100 quite nicely with three different intensity levels as well as an OFF option. However, if you prefer a closer feel to an acoustic, it would be best to stick with the default setting.
Most budget-friendly pianos don’t have the large samples of music sounds to choose from. Such sound capabilities require ample space and are quite costly. However, you still need detailed sounds for learning or practice purposes.
The CDP-S100 features an upgraded version of Casio’s AHL Sound Engine from previous pianos. Among that you get ten sounds in total which include:
- 3 Electric Pianos
- 2 Organs ( Pipe & Jazz)
- 3 Grand Pianos ( Bright, Standard, and Mellow)
- 1 Harpsichord
- and 1 String Orchestra variation
The sounds are well sampled and offer rich and deep expressions when you play. On top of the sounds, the CDP-S100 comes with two built-in effects that let you customize your performance. The two are the Reverb and a Chorus. The former offers four algorithms that include a small room and a large concert hall, among others.
As for the Chorus, it is available in four different types alongside an OFF option. The CDP-S100 has a maximum polyphony of 64-notes, which is enough for most song types.
Unlike most lowly-priced digital pianos, the CDP-S100 hosts dual 8W speakers that generate sounds very well. The keyboard also comes with a Layering Mode that allows you to play two sounds simultaneously. For the Functions, you have three main ones:
- Transpose to change the played key.
- Metronome.
- Master tuning.
Since it is a budget digital piano, the Casio CDP-S100 features basic connectivity options. They include an Audio In (3.5mm) jack, a Headphone/Output jack that also measures 3.5mm, a USB type B port for MIDI functionality, and a Damper Pedal jack. In the piano’s box, the CDP-S100 comes with a Music rest, an AC adaptor, SP3 damper pedal, and an owner’s manual.
In summation, the CDP-S100 is an affordable digital piano that offers true top-mark capabilities. It has features and design close to a prime keyboard, but it gives all very affordably.
Final Thoughts
As you have seen, you don’t need to break your bank account in order to buy a high-quality and budget-friendly piano. Just conduct your research well, and be completely sure of what you want. We highly recommend the best digital piano under 500 dollars.
Even for a budget-friendly digital piano, manufacturers still want you to experience authentic playtime with your instrument. Therefore, know your preferences and your preferred budget, then buy your desired piano.
