Best Online Guitar Lessons (2026): GuitarTricks vs Fender Play vs Justin Guitar

When I started teaching guitar in 2006, my students either bought books or paid for weekly lessons. There was no middle ground. Today, they can learn from world-class instructors on YouTube, structured platforms, and apps, often for free.

The problem is deciding which platform is worth your time. I’ve spent the past two months reviewing every major online guitar lesson platform so you don’t have to.

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Quick Comparison

Platform	Price	Best For	Content Volume
Justin Guitar	Free	Self-directed learners	1,000+ video lessons
GuitarTricks	$19.95/mo	Structured learning path	11,000+ lessons
Fender Play	$9.99/mo	Absolute beginners	3,000+ song lessons
Yousician	$19.99/mo	Gamified learning	Large library
TrueFire	$29/mo	Intermediate-advanced	55,000+ lessons
ArtistWorks	$39/mo	Video feedback from pros	Genre-specific

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#1 Justin Guitar, Best Free Resource

Cost: Free (app: $14.99/month) justinguitar.com

Justin Sandercoe is a British guitarist and teacher who has been creating free, professional-quality guitar lessons since 2003. His Beginner Guitar Course alone takes most students 6–12 months to complete and covers everything from first chords to barre chords to lead guitar basics.

Why he’s the #1 free resource:

• Complete coursework organized from beginner to advanced
• No paywall on any lesson videos
• The free content is genuinely better than most paid platforms
• Estimated 4+ million students taught

The catch: No structured app experience (the website is functional but not slick), no direct instructor feedback, and you need self-discipline to follow the course without the gamification that apps provide.

My verdict: If you can find the motivation to follow a curriculum without hand-holding, Justin Guitar is the single best place to start. Spend 3 months here before paying for anything, then compare your progress against our 90-day guitar learning timeline.

Visit Justin Guitar →

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#2 GuitarTricks, Best Paid Platform

Cost: $19.95/month or $179/year Free trial: 14 days

GuitarTricks has been around since 1998 and is the largest paid guitar education platform with 11,000+ lessons. Their proprietary Core Learning System is what sets them apart: it’s a structured learning path that adapts based on your skill level and goals.

Standout features:

• Core Learning System (beginner → intermediate → genre specialization)
• 700+ song lessons with isolated guitar tracks
• Multiple instructors covering different styles
• Practice tools: slow-downer, loop sections, jam tracks

The catch: The interface feels slightly dated compared to newer apps, and at $19.95/month it’s the most expensive subscription platform.

Best for: Self-motivated learners who want a structured curriculum and a massive song library.

Try GuitarTricks Free (14 days) →

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#3 Fender Play, Best for Absolute Beginners

Cost: $9.99/month or $89.99/year Free trial: Free for 3 months (with new account)

Fender Play is designed from the ground up for people who have never touched a guitar. The entire UX is optimized for mobile, the songs are recognizable (Taylor Swift, Green Day, Beatles), and the interface holds your hand every step of the way.

Why beginners love it:

• Song-based learning (you’re playing songs from day 1)
• Easy-to-follow chord diagrams and slow-motion fingering videos
• Works on iPhone, Android, Mac, PC
• Huge song catalog across pop, rock, country, blues

The catch: Once you pass beginner level, the platform doesn’t grow with you. Intermediate+ players will outgrow it quickly.

Best for: Absolute beginners, occasional casual players, people who just want to play songs ASAP.

Try Fender Play Free →

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#4 Yousician, Best Gamified Learning

Cost: Free (limited) / $19.99/month unlimited

Yousician uses your phone’s microphone to listen to your playing and give real-time feedback, like Guitar Hero but for real guitar. The gamification (points, streaks, challenges) is uniquely motivating for players who find traditional lesson videos boring.

Best for: Teenagers and younger learners, or anyone who needs gamification to stay motivated.

The catch: The free tier is severely limited (15 min/day), and the feedback is automatic/AI-based, not from a real teacher.

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#5 TrueFire, Best for Intermediate and Advanced Players

Cost: $29/month truefire.com

TrueFire is where serious guitarists go for continuing education. With 55,000+ lessons from professional touring musicians, it’s the most comprehensive paid platform, but it’s not for beginners. The interface is dense, the courses assume you already know fundamentals, and the focus is on style development and technique refinement.

Best for: Players past beginner stage who want deep dives into specific genres (jazz, fingerstyle, blues improvisation).

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What I Recommend

Just starting out? → Start with Justin Guitar (free). Follow his Beginner Course for 3 months, using our can I learn guitar in 3 months guide as your checkpoint.

Want more structure and a song library? → GuitarTricks ($19.95/mo) is the best investment.

Mobile-first learner? → Fender Play ($9.99/mo) is the slickest experience.

Already intermediate? → TrueFire ($29/mo) for style-specific mastery.

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Should You Take Private Lessons Instead?

Online platforms don’t replace private teachers, they replace some of what private teachers do. The main advantage of an in-person teacher is technique correction: they can see that you’re holding the pick wrong or that your fretting-hand thumb is too high before the habit becomes permanent.

My recommendation for most beginners: Start with a free platform for 1–3 months. Once you have the basics (5 open chords, basic strumming), take 3–6 private lessons to check your technique. Then return to self-directed learning with a platform like GuitarTricks.

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Related: Basic Guitar Chords Every Beginner Must Learn · Guitar Practice Routine (30 Min/Day) · How to Read Guitar Tabs

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