Last updated: June 2026. Written by Josh Hutcheson, OnlineCourseing editor. See our review methodology.
QUICK VERDICT
Bottom line: For most beginners, Simply Guitar is the easiest app to start with — it listens to you play and gets you strumming real songs fast. If you want the best free option, Justin Guitar is outstanding; Fender Play is great for structured guitar, bass, and ukulele; and Yousician wins on gamified motivation. Here are the best apps to learn guitar and who each suits.
- Best for beginners: Simply Guitar
- Best free option: Justin Guitar
- Best for structure: Fender Play
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The best guitar apps at a glance
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| App | Best for |
|---|---|
| Simply Guitar | Beginners who want a guided, gamified start |
| Justin Guitar | The best free, comprehensive course |
| Fender Play | Structured guitar, bass, and ukulele |
| Yousician | Gamified motivation across instruments |
| ArtistWorks | Video lessons with real-instructor feedback |
1. Simply Guitar — best for beginners
Simply Guitar is the most beginner-friendly app on this list. It listens to you play a real acoustic or electric guitar, helps you tune, and walks you through chords, strumming, and songs with instant feedback. It is structured, motivating, and inexpensive — ideal for a child or a complete beginner who wants to play recognizable music quickly. Its limits (light on technique and theory, song-based with backing tracks) only bite later. For your first months on the instrument, it is the smoothest start. Read our full Simply Guitar review or try it free for 7 days.
2. Justin Guitar — best free option
If budget is the priority, Justin Guitar is genuinely excellent and largely free. Built by a beloved teacher, its structured beginner course is one of the most recommended in the guitar world, with clear lessons and a huge song catalogue. There is no real-time note detection like Simply Guitar, so you self-assess, but the teaching quality is hard to beat at any price — let alone free. We recommend it purely on merit; there is no affiliate relationship.
3. Fender Play — best for structure
Fender Play offers a polished, structured path through guitar — and also bass and ukulele — with high-quality video lessons organized by skill and genre. It is more of a guided course than a gamified app, which suits learners who want a clear curriculum from a trusted brand. A strong middle ground between a free course and a feedback-based app. (No affiliate relationship; listed on merit.)
4. Yousician — best gamified all-rounder
Yousician gamifies practice with missions and scores and, like Simply Guitar, listens to your playing for real-time feedback. It covers guitar, bass, ukulele, piano, and singing, so it is a good fit if multiple people or instruments are involved. The game-style motivation is its strength; depth for advanced players is its limit. (No affiliate relationship; listed on merit.)
5. ArtistWorks — best for real-instructor feedback
When you want a real teacher’s eyes on your playing, ArtistWorks is the closest an online platform gets. Its video-exchange model lets you submit clips and receive personalized feedback from accomplished instructors — addressing the technique blind spot every note-detection app shares. It costs more and demands more, but it is the bridge from app to genuine tuition. (Pairs naturally with an app for daily practice.)
How to choose
Want the easiest, most motivating start with instant feedback? Simply Guitar. Working on a budget? Justin Guitar is free and superb. Prefer a structured course from a big brand? Fender Play. Like gamified progress or multiple instruments? Yousician. Want real feedback on your technique? ArtistWorks or a teacher. As with any instrument, the winning move for most learners is an app for the daily habit plus, eventually, a teacher to fix what a screen cannot see.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app to learn guitar?
For most beginners, Simply Guitar — it listens to your playing and gets you strumming songs fast. For the best free option, Justin Guitar is outstanding, and Fender Play is excellent for a structured course.
Can you learn guitar from an app?
Yes — apps are great for learning chords, strumming, and songs and for building a daily habit. They can’t correct your hands the way a teacher can, so for technique and advanced playing, add a teacher or a feedback-based platform.
What is the best free guitar app?
Justin Guitar is the standout free option — a comprehensive, well-taught beginner course with a large song library, built by a respected teacher. Most paid apps offer a free trial rather than a full free tier.
RELATED GUIDES
- Simply Guitar review — our top pick, in depth
- Best apps to learn piano — the piano equivalent