Best
Budget Digital Piano
-
Overall: The Best Budget Slimline Modern Piano Available
-
Best Feature: Synthetic Ebony and Ivory keys provide that premium grand feel
-
TedScore™: 9/10
Best
Digital Upright Piano
-
Overall: Best for Music students and intermediate users seeking a piano that provides crystal clear sound
-
Best Feature: Each key has a balanced pin and smooth motion; 44 included tones; dual playing mode
-
TedScore™: 9/10
Best
Digital Grand Piano
-
Overall: Best for Music schools and advanced piano performers
-
Best Feature: Manufactured by one of the best piano brands so far; Grand-Touch-S keyboard; rich audio songs library
-
TedScore™: 10/10
When choosing a piano, the ranking of piano brands can be as diverse as the music they make. You want the best instrument, right?
That’s why I’m here to give a comprehensive guide with piano brands ranked, offering valuable insights to help you make an informed decision on your next piano purchase. Whether you’re an aspiring musician, a music enthusiast, or love a good tune, the right piano can transform any space into a musical haven.
Let’s explore the world of top piano brands together and find the perfect instrument for you. Join me as we discover the best piano makers, ensuring your next performance is truly exceptional.
Best Piano Brand No. 1: Kawai
Kawai is a Japanese musical instrument manufacturer known for its outstanding grand pianos, upright pianos, digital pianos, and electronic keyboards and synthesizers. The company was founded in 1927 and is named after its founder, Koichi Kawai.
The Kawai brand was later expanded and managed by Koichi Kawai’s son Shigeru Kawai. The grand pianos, Shigeru pianos, are named in his honor and are known as some of the best pianos in the world.
Shigeru pianos are present in numerous concert halls alongside its competitors, like Bösendorfer pianos, Steinway pianos, Fazioli pianos, and Yamaha pianos.
One of the best Kawai pianos you can purchase online is this digital piano:
BEST FOR: Concert venues and pianists who need an exceptional quality digital piano
FEATURES: uses Kawai's acclaimed sound technology, Harmonic Imaging™, and 88 key sampling
Kawai KDP120 Digital Piano
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Improved sound
- Chic look with a modernised key cover appearance
- Natural acoustic details like a key-off effect
- 192-note polyphony
- No dedicated line out
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Best Piano Brand No. 2: Korg
Korg is a well-known Japanese corporation with a wide offer of musical instruments and accessories. The company was founded in 1962 under the name “Keio Electronic Laboratories”.
The company started manufacturing keyboard instruments and kept improving their quality through the years. Korg is the company that manufactured Japan’s first synthesizer and needle-type tuner.
Today, the Korg piano factory keeps creating innovative instruments that maintain quality and inspire professional pianists to play.
The best Korg piano you can find online is the Korg SV2S Stage Piano.
BEST FOR: Intermediate and professional pianists performers
FEATURES: Delivers authentic rendition like many classic keyboards; 72 in-built sounds; provides a rich sound
Korg SV2S Stage Piano
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Portable, weighs only 21.5 kilograms
- Has numerous input-output options
- Durable and a high-quality stage piano
- Expensive
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Best Piano Brand No. 3: Yamaha
Yamaha is one of the most versatile piano brands offering everything from accessories and equipment to whole, high-quality musical instruments for all levels. The company was founded in 1887, which is more than a century ago.
In the 80s, Yamaha partnered with Korg, supplying its partner with quality pieces and accessories for manufacturing pianos and other instruments. The partnership ended in a few years, but the companies kept working as two independent ones.
The name of this corporation is given by Torakusu Yamaha, the man who manufactured the first Yamaha piano in 1900.
The best Yamaha piano you can find online (and in our opinion, the best digital piano – period) is Yamaha N1X AvantGrand Hybrid.
BEST FOR: Everyone, including students, intermediate pianists, and professional pianists
FEATURES: 4-channel speaker system; a combination of two grand pianos in one (Bösendorfer piano and Yamaha CFX); smart pianist app
Yamaha N1X AvantGrand Hybrid
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Best for learning grand playing techniques
- One of the best luxury pianos by Yamaha
- Made of high-quality materials
- Expensive for Beginners
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Best Piano Brand No. 4: Roland
Roland Corporation is the world’s largest piano manufacturer and maker of world-class music instruments, equipment, and software. Roland has an excellent, lasting impact on music thanks to its outstanding Juno-106 synthesizer and TB-303 bass synthesizer.
Today, you can find numerous beautiful pianos by Roland, such as upright, digital, and stage pianos. Grand pianos joined the keyboard instrument list, too. You can also find baby grand and modern grand pianos by Roland.
The price range is also managed to meet everyone’s budget, starting from £/$300 to £/$5,000.
Our Roland choice is the Roland GP607 Digital Grand Piano.
BEST FOR: Serious pianists and stage performances
FEATURES: Compact and modern grand piano that fits home’s environment; equipped with a three-pedal system and MIDI/Bluetooth connections
Roland GP607 Digital Grand Piano
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Sleek, compact design
- 10-year warranty coverage
- You can edit the piano’s parameters by your preferences
- A heavy instrument; weighs 86 kilograms
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Best Piano Brand No. 5: Gear4music
Gear4music may not be a household name like Yamaha, but it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be on this list. Where they excel as piano makers are in providing amazing budget instruments, which are really well built, and outstanding value for money.
Will they be as good as a Roland or Yamaha? In all honesty, no. But then again, you’re not paying the price of one of the premium brands.
They are, however, better products than most of the other budget mass-produced rubbish on the market! And that’s the reason we have put them on this list.
BEST FOR: Beginner pianists who want brilliant value for money
FEATURES: Synthetic Ebony and Ivory keys provide that premium grand feel
DP-12 Compact Digital Piano by Gear4music
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- A built-in three-pedal unit
- 128-note polyphony
- 32 voices and two-track playback recording
- At some point you'll want to upgrade
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Best Digital Upright Piano Brand: Kawai
Kawai is one of the best piano brands when it comes to upright digital pianos. They look great, they sound great, and they feel great to play.
If you are interested in buying a Kawai upright piano, our top recommended model is Kawai CA59 Digital.
BEST FOR: Music students and intermediate users seeking a piano that provides crystal clear sound
FEATURES: Each key has a balanced pin and smooth motion; 44 included tones; dual playing mode
Kawai CA59 Digital
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Premium keyboard action
- Provides beautiful tone
- Compact piano design
- Heavy
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Best Digital Grand Piano Brand: Yamaha
Yamaha is one of the best piano makers in the world. They make amazing acoustic upright and grand pianos, but more than that, they really pioneered the digital piano. If you are interested in an excellent digital grand piano, we recommend choosing only trusted, world-class piano brands, like Yamaha.
Yamaha CLP 765 Digital Grand Piano is a brilliant, and fairly inexpensive choice for both beginners and advanced piano players. Are there cheaper instruments? Absolutely. But you really do get what you pay for…
BEST FOR: Music schools and advanced piano performers
FEATURES: Manufactured by one of the best piano brands so far; Grand-Touch-S keyboard; rich audio songs library
Yamaha CLP 765 Digital Grand Piano
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Comes in glossy white and black option
- A 5-year brand warranty
- 21 voice demo songs, 50 classics, and over 300 lesson songs
- No fourth pedal option
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Considerations When Buying a Piano
Acoustic vs Digital Piano
The main difference between these two instruments is how they produce sound. The acoustic piano uses hammers to strike metal strings, while the digital piano creates sound electronically using sensors.
Acoustic pianos need tuning and maintenance but produce high-quality sound that’s hard to beat. They can last 50 to 100 years.
Digital pianos are more affordable, low-maintenance, and portable, and they offer various features and sounds. However, due to technological advancements, they can become outdated.
Acoustic - Upright or Grand pianos
Firstly, it’s essential to understand the difference between an upright and a grand piano.
Upright pianos are compact and take up less space, with the strings and hammers placed vertically, making them a good choice for homes.
Yamaha upright pianos are recommended for their high quality and reasonable price, as Yamaha is a well-known and respected brand in the industry.
Grand pianos are much larger than uprights and are often seen in concert halls due to their ability to project sound. They have a deeper, warmer tone with more powerful bass, and you can open the lid to enhance projection.
If you’re considering a grand piano, two top German piano brands are Steinway and Bechstein.
Steinway is the standard for concert grand pianos. Fazioli also makes exceptional instruments, but they come with hefty price tags. While some people appreciate Blüthner pianos, we believe their new instruments don’t match the quality of a Steinway grand piano.
Remember that grand pianos are made with high-quality materials and take a year to build, so they come with a significant price tag, often reaching five or six digits.
Digital Piano
Digital pianos are the most commonly purchased piano type. If you are a beginner or intermediate user or a parent searching for a piano for their children, digital pianos are the best choice.
Digital pianos have different sounds that you can experiment with, and crucially, you can plug in headphones and play the piano ‘silently’ to the outside world. This means practicing in the middle of the night is now possible without getting angry neighbors!
They are also a good option for students since they are much more affordable and don’t require maintenance or tuning.
Budget
Money matters when it comes to pianos. Grand pianos are expensive, while upright pianos can range from $1,500 to $30,000.
Digital pianos are the most affordable, starting at around $400 and going up to about $8,000. Cheaper instruments can be found, but they may need to be well-designed and could sound terrible, so it’s best to be cautious when considering them.
Your Goals
What do you want your piano for? If you’re a beginner and are just learning at home, then a digital piano will be perfect.
If you’re an intermediate player, you’ll need a really good digital piano or an average upright to practice.
If you’re an advanced player, you’ll probably already know what you want; and that’ll be a great upright or a fairly decent grand piano.
Set your goal and your budget, and you’ll have a set of parameters to work with.
Piano Brand Ranking
Summary
We hope this piano brands ranking has helped you decide which piano is right for you. The piano industry is a competitive place, and each manufacturer has its pros and cons.
All of the brands mentioned above are excellent, and they all excell in their own ways. You just need to figure out what exactly you want from the instrument, and then find the make and model that fits your needs the best.
Whatever you end up buying, do let us know in the comment box below, and keep us informed on what impresses you (or not!) about the instrument you’ve purchased.
Good luck on your quest, and if you need any more help, if may be useful for you to look at our:
Digital vs Acoustic Pianos article, our Digital Piano Buyer’s Guide, our recommended list of 24 Best Weighted 88 Key Digital Pianos, and recommended Best Digital Piano for Classical Pianists and lastly, our list of the 15 Best Keyboard Pianos And Digital Pianos.
It’s a lot of reading, but it’ll prepare you fully for whatever instrument you need to buy.
Great, just when I thought I had made up my mind on a piano, your article comes along. Thanks for the existential crisis, Robert Emery. Now to reconsider my life choices, starting with Kawai or Yamaha.
good luck Max. I’d go with the Yamaha…
After reading your article, I realized my piano skills are more ‘Golden Girls’ theme song and less Chopin nocturne. Still, a Yamaha might make my renditions sound more sophisticated!
noticed an error in your digital piano segment. you mentioned Kawai as the best digital upright but then also called it the best for another category. was that a mistake or am I missing something?
not sure I agree with gear4music being top 5, their pianos are ok but not on the same level as roland or yamaha imo. any reason they made the cut? feels like there are other brands that could’ve been on this list instead.
I found your section on acoustic pianos delightful, Robert Emery. Owning a grand piano has always been my dream. Your article reignited that passion. I guess it’s time to start saving up again!
hey, was thinking of getting a digital piano cause my apartment’s not huge. saw you put Kawai as top for digital upright. is it really better than Yamaha for space-saving needs? btw, awesome rundown on the brands, learned a lot!
I’ve owned both Kawai and Yamaha digital pianos and honestly, you can’t go wrong with either. It might come down to personal preference in sound and touch.
Really loved your deep dive into the differences between digital and acoustic pianos, Robert Emery! As someone who’s played both, it’s a conversation I have often with my students. Your insights help bridge that knowledge gap for beginners.