The Best Guitar Learning Apps for Beginners to Professionals
Hey guitar enthusiasts! As someone who's tested every major guitar learning app on the market, I'm excited to share my ranking of the best guitar learning platforms available today. Whether you're just starting your musical journey or looking to break through that dreaded intermediate plateau, this comprehensive guide has got you covered.
After extensive hands-on testing, careful analysis of features, pricing, and user experience across tablet, desktop, and mobile, here's how the best guitar learning apps stack up.
If you want to jump straight to the best app that I would recommend depending on what kind of learner you are - scroll to the bottom and look for the heading, Choosing Your Perfect Guitar Learning App.
The Ultimate Guitar Learning App Ranking
# 1. 🥇 Gibson App (9.5/10)
Price: Free with limited features | Paid subscription: £16.99 - £19.99/month or £99.99 - £119.99/year | 7-day free trial
Key Stats: 10,000+ lessons | 1 million users
Claim to Fame: #1 guitar learning app
Why It's My Top Pick
The Gibson App represents the gold standard of modern guitar learning applications and is by far the most thought through out there. Built specifically for mobile and tablet use, this app combines the legendary Gibson brand heritage with cutting-edge tech like Audio Augmented Reality, AI feedback on how you play, as well as digital amps and pedals to shape your tone (to name just a few standout tech features). The note recognition technology that syncs your playing with interactive tabs and backing tracks works seamlessly with minimal tech glitches. While the famous songs library isn't as extensive as some competitors, it's constantly growing and provides excellent value. The graphics and overall app design is slick. I’d go as far to say it’s the best looking guitar learning app out there.
For me the Gibson App combines the best of all other apps I’ve reviewed in style, features, technology, lesson content & quality and future potential. This isn’t a static app that you’ll get bored using after a few months. It’s dynamic and frequently updated - you’re growing in your ability to play the guitar alongside an app that’s evolving with you too. It’s doesn’t go all-in on a particular level, playing ability or style either. Which makes it’s a great all-rounder for the player who wants to improve but isn’t hyper focused on a niche, style, genre or artist. It’s content and lesson options are balanced whereas other apps definitely feel like they’re more for the beginner player, or the more advanced.
If you’re after an app that makes learning to play the guitar fun and less like a classroom exercise - then this is the app for you. It’s addictive and will keep you playing a lot longer than other options.
Best overall guitar learning app goes to…the Gibson App.
What Makes It Special
- Real-time feedback using advanced audio recognition that actually works reliably.
- Gamified learning with leagues, streaks, and challenges that keep you motivated.
- Celebrity lessons from renowned guitarists like Kirk Fletcher.
- Digital amp and pedals built right into the app for authentic Gibson tone.
- Weekly content updates including festive challenges, new songs and guides.
Best For: Players who want a modern, engaging app experience that makes learning guitar fun and motivational by giving you real-time feedback on what you play and how you play as well as encouraging you to play more to maintain your position in their user leagues. A bit of competition is always healthy and it's done in a way where the user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) doesn't feel gimmicky, for kids, or solely for beginners.
Full review coming soon - subscribe to my newsletter to be alerted when it's posted.
# 2. 🥈 TrueFire (9.0/10)
Price: £119.99/year on desktop (Black Friday deals often available for £99) | 14-day free trial | 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Key Stats: 85,000+ lessons | 30,000+ guitar tabs | 20,000+ jam tracks | 1,800+ courses | 400+ top artists and educators | 3,000,000+ guitar players
Claim to Fame: The #1 most trusted music education resource for guitar players of all skill levels.
The Content King
TrueFire has been the go-to choice for serious guitarists since 1999, and for good reason - it’s simply unmatched in terms of the amount of lessons, courses, tabs and jam tracks available. With content rich, world-renowned artists and educators imparting their guitarist golden words of wisdom, backed with player-friendly feature-rich video and tab sync playback functionality - it’s been my go-to website for learning guitar for years. You can scratch the surface or dive as deep as you wish - there’s something for everyone on TrueFire.
The recent improvements to their tablet and mobile app have been significant, though desktop remains the optimal experience. The sheer amount of content can be overwhelming for beginners, but for intermediate to advanced players looking to seriously improve their skills, TrueFire is unbeatable.
What Makes It Special
- Interactive tab syncing that perfectly matches with video playback.
- Celebrity instructors including Steve Vai, Tommy Emmanuel, Yngwie Malmsteen.
- Advanced video player with multiple view options and PDF downloads.
- Virtual jam sessions with professional backing bands.
- Multi-instrument support (guitar, bass, banjo, ukulele, mandolin).
Best For: Serious guitarists who want comprehensive, high-quality instruction from world-class musicians.
Full review coming soon - subscribe to my newsletter to be alerted when it's posted.
# 3. 🥉 Pickup Music (9.0/10)
Price: $29.99/month or $179.99/year | 14-day free trial | 60-day money back guarantee
Key Stats: 1000+ lessons | 60+ courses | 50,000+ players
Claim to Fame: We specialise in taking players stuck in a guitar rut and turning them into advanced guitarists.
The Modern Innovator
With a recently refreshed site and app (May 2025), Pickup Music feels like stepping into an Apple Store for guitar learning. Their focus on helping intermediate players break through the plateau into the advanced level is refreshing in a market oversaturated with beginner content.
The Pickup Music app is still building out its content library, but what's there is of exceptional quality. The 91% improvement rate reported by members speaks volumes about their structured approach to advancement. It’s one to try and certainly one to watch. It’s a growing name in the market, which you’ll have bound to have come across through their targeting ads on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, and with a tech-savvy, music-loving, guitar-passionate young team of mentors, instructors and artists joining their roster in increasing numbers, it’s a crowd I would whole-heartedly throw myself into.
What Makes It Special
- Cutting-edge UI/UX that feels like a modern app rather than a website.
- Personalised learning pathways based on your skill assessment.
- Live backing band integration where you can swap out the guitarist with your own playing.
- Weekly live group sessions and community feedback.
- Original song content that avoids licensing issues while focusing on technique.
Best For: Intermediate players stuck in a rut who want modern, personalised instruction, with the ability to submit video footage of your playing for feedback from one of their expert instructors at no additional cost.
Full review coming soon - subscribe to my newsletter to be alerted when it's posted.
# 4. Justin Guitar (9.0/10)
Price: Website mostly FREE | App £8/month or £59/year
Key Stats: 976,000+ registered students | 1,340+ free lessons | 779+ song tutorials
Claim to Fame: Trusted by millions of students worldwide.
The Free Learning Champion
Justin Guitar deserves massive credit for providing the largest collection of free, high-quality guitar lessons available anywhere. With over 1,340 free lessons and a thriving community of 2.4 million learners, it's an incredible starting point for any guitarist.
Justin Guitar is more than just an online guitar learning website, it’s an entire guitar learning ecosystem and community - and the best part is it’s 90% for free. If I was starting out all over again I would whole heartedly recommend Justin Guitar as your springboard into the guitar learning community. Exhaust what the site has to offer for free before you pay for the app or additional content though.
What Makes It Special
- 90% of content is completely free - unprecedented in the industry.
- Comprehensive curriculum from Grade 1 to Grade 9 (advanced grades coming 2026).
- Massive community with forums, open mic events, and live sessions.
- Professional instructor network for one-on-one lessons.
- Multiple learning tools including strumming machine, chord library, and tuner.
Best For: Beginners who want comprehensive, free instruction with strong community support.
Full review coming soon - subscribe to my newsletter to be alerted when it's posted.
# 5. Paul Davids Guitar (8.5/10)
Price: $129 - $199 per course | Lifetime access | 14-day risk free guarantee | 50% discount for any add-on courses at checkout
Key Stats: 5 online courses | 200+ videos
Claim to Fame: YouTube sensation with over 3.6m subscribers and multi-million video views.
The YouTube Educator
Paul Davids Guitar leverages his 3.6 million YouTube subscriber base to deliver thoughtful, well-structured courses focused on making you a better overall musician rather than just learning songs.
The lack of a dedicated app is compensated by excellent mobile/tablet responsiveness. Paul's teaching style is personable and easy to follow, lighthearted, and certainly not as overwhelming on content as some of the other major online courses out there. The lifetime access model is refreshing in a subscription-heavy market. Paul Davids Guitar is a good place to start for guitarists looking for a focused course rather than a Pandora’s box of online guitar lesson content that covers everything under the sun.
What Makes It Special
- Easy to follow and clear lessons.
- Detailed handbook guidance to download and print for offline use.
- Massive community with forums, open mic events, and live sessions.
- Focus on making you a better guitarist rather than a guide to learn more songs.
- Community Q&A Sessions at the end of each course where Paul takes your questions and feedback.
Best For: Players who want to understand music theory and become well-rounded musicians.
Full review coming soon - subscribe to my newsletter to be alerted when it's posted.
# 6. Guitar Tricks (7.5/10)
Price: Free Basic Access | Full Access: $29.95/month or $99 - $179/year | 60-day money back guarantee
Key Stats: 11,000+ lessons | 1,000+ songs | 44 Instructors
Claim to Fame: Coached over 4 million members - most fun way to learn guitar.
The Desktop Learning Pioneer
As the self-proclaimed inventor of online guitar lessons (founded in 1998), Guitar Tricks offers a comprehensive desktop-focused learning experience with thousands of lessons and an extensive song library. There’s plenty to dig into for free initially so be sure to exhaust this suite of content first (especially if you’re a beginner).
Unfortunately the app experience is notably poor with numerous bugs and sync issues. If you opt for Guitar Tricks, use it for the desktop browser-based learning experience, although it does lack modern interactive features like synced tabs (compared to the competition). The aggressive email marketing after signup can be off-putting. But if you catch an annual Full Access promo it's worth trying the desktop version for 12-months for the quality of their lessons, content, and song selection - although I'd pick either TrueFire or Guitar Tricks. Don't sign up to both. Check the links below for a 14-day free trial or 20% off their subscription.
What Makes It Special
- Structured Core Learning System with guided paths.
- Excellent song selection for all skill levels.
- Professional instructor feedback via video submissions or live sessions.
- Comprehensive toolbox with tuner, chord finder, scale finder.
- Free content to try before you buy.
Best For: Desktop learners who want structured lessons with a large song catalog.
Full review coming soon - subscribe to my newsletter to be alerted when it's posted.
# 7. Simply Guitar (7.0/10)
Price: £14.49 - £21.99/month or £129.99 - £197.99/year | Free 7-day trial
Key Stats: ~500,000 ratings in the Apple App Store of 4.7 average
Claim to Fame: Millions of learners in over 180 countries.
The Family Learning Solution
Simply Guitar shines in its focus on family-friendly learning, offering a gamified experience that works well for children and beginners. The family plan extending to piano, singing, and drawing apps adds significant value.
The content feels geared more towards younger learners and beginners, lacking depth for intermediate+ players. The note recognition can be unreliable without proper setup (iRig recommended). That being said, if you’re new to playing the guitar, want to combine learning guitar with singing or piano, or want to encourage a family-focused educational set up - then I don’t think there’s anything else that can beat this.
What Makes It Special
- Real-time note and chord recognition (works best with headphones).
- Gamified progression with sounds, animations, and streaks.
- Parent engagement tools with progress updates.
- Multiple instrument access under one family subscription.
- Child-safe learning environment with family member updates on learning progress.
Best For: Families with children learning guitar, or absolute beginners who enjoy gamified learning.
Full review coming soon - subscribe to my newsletter to be alerted when it's posted.
# 8. Fender Play (6.0/10)
Price: £17.99/month or £134.99/year | 14-day free trial
Key Stats: 55,000,000+ lessons taken | 3,000+ lessons available | 1,000+ songs
Claim to Fame: Start for free. Play for life.
The Brand-Backed Option
Fender Play benefits from the backing of one of guitar's most iconic brands, offering bite-sized lessons with MatchMySound technology for real-time feedback.
Unfortunately I was initially plagued with account management issues, with a confusing separation between Fender shopping accounts and Fender Play, but it was quickly resolved by their excellent customer service team. The content does feel less structured and more self-directed than truly instructional, and advanced content is limited. Comparing desktop access to the application, the app provides a much more dynamic and user friendly experience and this is where their pitch and rhythm recognition software came into its own and started to score my playing in a gamified manner - although it falls short of the likes of the Gibson App that presents a much more comprehensive, engaging and reliable live playing feedback proposition.
What Makes It Special
- Industry elite instructors backed by Fender's reputation.
- Multi-instrument support (guitar, bass, ukulele).
- Listening technology for play assessment.
- Brand integration with exclusive Fender gear discounts.
- Live instructor office hours.
Best For: Beginners who want brand recognition and don't mind paying premium prices.
Full review coming soon - subscribe to my newsletter to be alerted when it's posted.
# 9. Songsterr (6.0/10)
Price: £9.99/month | Free version available
Key Stats: 400,000+ songs | 1,300,000+ tabs | 60,000+ artists
Claim to Fame: Millions of guitarists, bassists and drummers worldwide have used Songsterr Plus.
The Tab Specialist
Songsterr serves as a cleaner, more organised alternative to Ultimate Guitar, offering over 400,000 songs with 1.3 million tabs from 60,000 artists.
The reliance on community-generated tabs means quality varies significantly and at £120/year, the subscription doesn't offer enough value over the free version for most users. It lacks structured learning paths or technique instruction, but it does excel at what it was built for - providing guitar tablature in a tech-friendly and easy-learning manner. It does this better than all other tab sites in my opinion. This one is for the song-learner and campfire strummer.
What Makes It Special
- AI tab generation from YouTube URLs.
- Community-driven content with revision history.
- Clean UI/UX across all platforms.
- Multi-instrument tabs (guitar, bass, drums).
- YouTube integration for original track playback (premium only).
Best For: Players who know specific songs they want to learn, aren't looking for lessons, courses or instruction, and prefer a cleaner interface than Ultimate Guitar.
Full review coming soon - subscribe to my newsletter to be alerted when it's posted.
Socials: None
# 10. Yousician (5.0/10)
Price: £7.99 - £20.99/month or £59.99 - £134.99/year | 7-day free trial
Key Stats: 20,000,000+ active users | 10,000+ lessons | 2,000+ songs
Claim to Fame: Play the songs you love.
The Multi-Instrument Gamer
Yousician's strength lies in its gamified approach to learning multiple instruments simultaneously (guitar, bass, piano, singing, ukulele).
Compared to others, it lacks in song selection (despite pitching itself as a song-learning platform) with regional restrictions significantly hampering the experience. The lack of instructor-led content and focus on beginner material also limits its long-term value. The companion GuitarTuna app offers better value as a free alternative to Ultimate Guitar.
What Makes It Special
- Live feedback technology tracks your playing in real-time.
- Badge and streak systems for motivation.
- Celebrity endorsements from Billie Eilish, Metallica, Jason Mraz.
- Family-friendly interface with progress tracking.
- Cross-platform synchronisation.
Best For: Complete beginners who want to learn multiple instruments with a game-like experience.
Full review coming soon - subscribe to my newsletter to be alerted when it's posted.
# 11. Jamie Harrison Guitar (4.0/10)
Price: £39.99/month or £319/year | 7-day free trial
Key Stats: 50,000,000+ YouTube views | 400,000+ online followers | 30,000+ satisfied customers | 100+ hours of guitar courses
Claim to Fame: The world's highest-rated guitar courses.
A Hidden Gem
Jamie Harrison Guitar offers unparalleled instruction for learning John Mayer, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Eric Clapton styles and songs, backed by millions of YouTube views proving the quality of instruction.
However, with updates to the website, proposition and commercial model (moving away from a one-time purchase / lifetime access model to a monthly / annual subscription) the pricing has become prohibitively expensive - in fact it’s the most expensive option I’ve reviewed. The desktop version works fine but the app quality is poor with bugs affecting core features like the tab display. Content updates have stagnated, with minimal social media activity or new course releases. But if you really wish to master ‘Slow Dancing in a Burning Room’, ‘The Wind Cries Mary’, ‘Neon’, or ‘Layla’ (to name a few of his song covers that he teaches) - you won’t find a better option out there and for that alone it’s worth the price.
What Makes It Special
- Specialised artist focus with authentic technique instruction.
- Custom roadmap generation based on your goals and time commitment.
- Tone & gear guides for every song to help match the sound of the real track.
- Plugin development for achieving authentic tones.
- Advanced technique focus for experienced players only.
Best For: Die-hard John Mayer fans willing to pay premium prices for specialised instruction.
Full review coming soon - subscribe to my newsletter to be alerted when it's posted.
# 12. Rocksmith+ (3.5/10)
Price: £119.99/year | 7-day free trial
Key Stats: 7,500+ songs | 50 new songs added each month | 5,000,000+ learners
Claim to Fame: Guitar for the gamer.
The Gaming Experiment
Rocksmith+ attempts to gamify guitar learning through its video game heritage, offering 7,500+ songs with 50 new additions monthly.
For me, the focus on gaming over learning creates visual chaos that hinders actual skill development. The 3D tabs are difficult to follow during fast passages, making learning stressful rather than enjoyable and at £120 annually for what's essentially a game, educational value is questionable. I felt more like I was trying to master a game rather than the guitar - maybe that’s why it’s also a popular option for Twitch streamers.
What Makes It Special
- 3D interactive tabs with gamified visual feedback.
- PlayStation integration for console gaming experience.
- Community arrangements allowing user-generated content.
- Ubisoft Connect integration for rewards and achievements.
- Multiple arrangement options per song.
Best For: Gamers who want to play around with guitar-based games rather than seriously learn the instrument, or guitarists who want to attract a gamer audience by live streaming performances on Twitch.
Full review coming soon - subscribe to my newsletter to be alerted when it's posted.
# 13. Chordify (3.0/10)
Price: Free with limited access | Paid subscription: £2 - £8/month or £24 - £48/year | 14-day money back guarantee
Key Stats: 36,000,000+ song chords
Claim to Fame: #1 platform for chords.
The One-Trick App
Chordify's AI-powered chord detection from audio is its sole claim to fame, automatically generating chord progressions from songs.
Some recent reports suggest the main YouTube integration feature has stopped working. The narrow focus makes it difficult to justify subscription costs when better alternatives exist. Most useful as a free tool for occasional chord identification or if you’re a solo artist and want to take requests and play along to the original song with the chords laid out in front of you.
What Makes It Special
- AI chord detection from YouTube URLs or uploaded audio.
- Search by chords to find songs using specific chord progressions.
- Live chord recognition for practice (premium+ only).
- Multi-instrument support (guitar, piano, mandolin, ukulele).
- Music theory dictionary.
Best For: Musicians who occasionally need chord identification for covers or jamming, but not as a primary learning tool.
Full review coming soon - subscribe to my newsletter to be alerted when it's posted.
Honorable Mentions
Tabs: Ultimate Guitar | Sheet Music Direct
Online Courses: Masterclass | Get Fret Wise | ArtistWorks
Printed Materials: The Guitar Institute | ChordFiles
🎯 Choosing Your Perfect Guitar Learning App
For Beginners
Justin Guitar offers the best free starting point, while Simply Guitar provides excellent family-friendly paid options.
For Intermediate Players
Pickup Music specialises in breaking through the intermediate plateau, while TrueFire offers comprehensive advancement and education opportunities.
For Advanced Players
TrueFire remains unmatched for serious study, with Paul Davids Guitar and Pickup Music offering focused skill development.
For Mobile-First and Tablet-First Learners
The Gibson App provides the best app-native experience with modern features and regular updates.
For Budget-Conscious Learners
Justin Guitar's free content is unbeatable, with paid options starting at very reasonable prices.
💭 Final Thoughts
The guitar learning app landscape has evolved dramatically, with each platform carving out its own niche. The days of one-size-fits-all solutions are over - today's best approach is to match the app to your specific learning style, skill level, and goals.
The Gibson App tops my ranking for its innovative approach to mobile learning, combining brand heritage with cutting-edge technology. However, TrueFire, Pickup Music, and Justin Guitar each excel in their respective areas and could be the perfect choice depending on your needs.
Remember, no app alone will make you a great guitarist - consistent practice, proper technique, and a genuine passion for music remain the foundation of musical growth. These tools are here to guide, motivate, and accelerate your journey.
What's your experience with guitar learning apps? Drop a comment below and let me know which platform has helped your playing the most! Don't forget to sign up to my newsletter and to my YouTube channel for more in-depth guitar, gear & technology reviews and chit chat.
Keep playing, keep learning! 🎸
