Electronic keyboards are an excellent alternative to full-sized pianos as they're inexpensive, portable and easier to get used to, making them ideal for beginners or piano newcomers.
They sound similar to normal acoustic pianos; some of them even feature the same 88 keys and 6 octaves that acoustic pianos have.
Excellent for piano beginners, they're also suitable for children, which is great if they're learning piano at school and need to continue their skills at home. We've included a plethora of options in our roundup, with varying price ranges, plus ones that are ideal for children.
Ultimately, electronic keyboards are versatile and usually separated into two categories: for professional and educational purposes.
It's important to note that keyboards for professional purposes are usually much more expensive, as they are designed to create music for studio or live performances.
What is an electric keyboard?
It's an electronic version of an acoustic piano. Some may have fewer keys than a traditional piano, but others are available with the full range. Keyboards are portable, have a wide range of sound effects available and some can even be plugged into your computer.
They're different to digital pianos, which according to iconic piano brand Roland, feel more like an acoustic piano than a keyboard, due to the weightiness of the keys. We have included two in this list if that's more your style.
The best electronic keyboards in 2021
Best electric keyboards for live performances
Description
A feature-packed keyboard, this product sports some incredibly powerful speakers, making them ideal for any live performance, as the audio will be easily projected and therefore heard by a wide range of people. It additionally boasts 290 different beats, so you can play drumbeats in the background whilst you play the keyboard, helping you hone your rhythm, as well as 790 onboard sounds.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Keys | 61 |
| Velocity sensitive | Yes |
| Number of sounds | 790 |
| Number of rhythms | 290 |
Best electric keyboard for beginners
Description
This is an absolutely brilliant digital piano, and it's ideal for beginners. This is due to a number of reasons, one being that it has a feature called lesson plan, which essentially divides the 88 keys into two sections and allows you to sit next to someone and play simultaneously. It even sports a MIDI output, which allows you to connect the keyboard to a Mac or PC, so you can follow the screen as you play.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Keys | 88 |
| Velocity sensitive | Yes |
| Number of sounds | 128 |
| Number of rhythms | N/A |
Best budget electric keyboard
Description
If your child or teenager has recently started playing the piano, then the Casio CTK-1500AD might just be the right fit. It has a very attractive price tag, a hundred songs in its lesson library and plenty of dance music settings - which kids will love!
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Keys | 88 |
| Velocity sensitive | No |
| Number of sounds | 120 |
| Number of rhythms | 70 |
Best electric keyboard for professionals
Description
We love this keyboard for professionals because it provides full audio and a grand piano sound. It truly resembles an acoustic piano, with weighted keys at the low end and lighter keys at the high end. Additionally, it sports Dual mode, which lets you combine two voices together such as strings and piano, meaning you can create layered audio.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Keys | 88 |
| Velocity sensitive | No |
| Number of sounds | 120 |
| Number of rhythms | 70 |
Recommended
Description
This keyboard is superbly lightweight and compact, making it ultra-portable. It also boasts a very fun dance mode and with the audio input, you can connect a media player to it. Professional players may require more features, but this is still a great choice for beginners or intermediaries.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Keys | 61 |
| Velocity sensitive | Yes |
| Number of sounds | 400 |
| Number of rhythms | 77 |
Best for transportability
Description
An impressively lightweight, compact, and ultimately mini electronic keyboard, designed with transportability in mind. Whether it's for your child's performances or you're carrying it to your friend's house to jam, it's very easy to transport. Of course, as it's a mini design, it has fewer keys than usual (37 to be exact), so may not be enough for adults or more intermediary musicians.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Keys | 37 |
| Velocity sensitive | Yes |
| Number of sounds | 42 |
| Number of rhythms | 138 |
FAQs
Can I play piano if I learn keyboard?
Absolutely! Of course, this largely depends on whether you're playing on a 37-key keyboard such as the Yamaha PSS-A50, or whether you're learning on a keyboard with the same number of keys as an acoustic piano (88), like the Alesis Recital Grand.
Either way, you can definitely learn the basics and get to grips with piano playing on a keyboard. However, if you want to get as close to an acoustic piano as possible, it's best to get a keyboard that has 88 keys or opt for a digital piano, which has weightier keys, similar to a traditional piano.
What is the best electric keyboard for beginners?
The Alesis Recital Grand would be the best for beginners, as it has 88 full keys which makes it very similar to an acoustic piano. It also boasts a feature that's great for lessons, which divides the 88 keys into two sections and allows you and another person to play simultaneously.
Of course, if you're purchase is for a child or an adult who has just started out, we would suggest a more budget-friendly keyboard, such as the Casio CTK-1500AD.
What to read next:
The best guitar amp simulators for beginners to professionals
Isabel Martins is a Commercial Content Writer for What's The Best, specialising in technology.
Subscribe to the What’s The Best Newsletter to keep up to date with more of the latest reviews and recommendations from Isabel and the rest of the What’s The Best team.