JustinGuitar vs Fender Play: Free Course or Short Lessons?
Quick answer
Try JustinGuitar first. Its Beginner Course is free, so you lose nothing if guitar does not stick. Move to Fender Play if you would rather have short, polished lessons and you are fine with its terms: $19.99/mo or $149.99/yr, and no refunds for partial periods.
Buttons go to each official site, not an affiliate link; confirm trial terms there.
Choose JustinGuitar if
You want to learn the eight essential open chords and basic strumming without paying, from a single, graded course.
Choose Fender Play if
You like short guided lessons, may want the annual 10% Fender gear discount, and will decide within the trial.
Read the Fender Play review Fender Play official site ↗
Trial: 7-day free trial on monthly plan; 14-day free trial on annual plan (new members; auto-rolls to paid unless cancelled) (official site, not an affiliate link).
The deciding difference
Risk. JustinGuitar costs nothing to start, while Fender Play's only real test is its trial (7 days monthly, 14 annual), because its terms rule out partial-period refunds. Fender Play gives you short lessons and a 10% Fender gear discount on the annual plan.
Key facts side by side
| JustinGuitar | Fender Play | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free Beginner Course; paid app (price varies by location) | $19.99/mo (last confirmed Oct 17); $149.99/yr |
| Free trial | Not needed for free courses | 7 days monthly, 14 annual |
| Refund | Not verified for the app | No partial-period refunds |
| Structure | Beginner Grades 1-3, Intermediate 4-6, Advanced 7 | Thousands of lessons |
A sensible way to try both
- Start JustinGuitar's free Grade 1 now. Module 0 covers tuning, reading chord boxes and holding a pick.
- Practise for two weeks. If you are keeping it up and enjoying it, you may not need to pay for anything yet.
- If you miss song depth or want a different teaching style, start the Fender Play trial and judge it against what you have already learned.
- Before the trial ends, decide or cancel using our Fender Play cancel steps.
More options: Fender Play alternatives, Fender Play review, best lessons for complete beginners.
FAQ
Which is better for a total beginner?
Both are built for beginners. JustinGuitar is free to start. Fender Play is paid, with short lessons and no partial refunds.
Can I use both?
Yes. Many people start the free course and only pay once they know they will keep practising.
Sources checked
- Fender Play (checked 2026-10-17): www.fender.com/products/fender-play-subscription - play-support.fender.com/hc/en-us/articles/44538271886235-Fre - www.fender.com/play/pages/annual-plan-special-offer
- JustinGuitar store and FAQ (free courses, app pricing varies by location) (checked Oct 20 2026): www.justinguitar.com/store
- JustinGuitar Beginner Guitar Course, Grade 1 outline (checked Oct 20 2026): www.justinguitar.com/classes/beginner-guitar-course-grade-one
- JustinGuitar Lessons & Songs app page (checked Oct 20 2026): www.justinguitar.com/store/lessons-songs-app
Fender Play pricing was last confirmed Oct 17, 2026 (its pricing page could not be re-read on Oct 20). Prices are US-dollar list prices. Some platforms (Yousician, for example) price by country, so you may see a different price outside the US. JamPlay is now sold as JamPlay + TrueFire All Access. Confirm current terms at checkout. Common questions about trials, refunds and billing are answered in our online guitar lesson FAQ.
How this page was made
An editorial comparison built from each platform's own published prices, trials and refund terms - 4 sources checked (listed above), last verified Oct 2026. Not based on hands-on testing. How we rate.
Update log: Oct 2026 - prices, trials and refund terms re-checked against official pages (date per source above). Fender Play pricing was last confirmed Oct 17, 2026.