Learning piano as an adult — starting, or starting over.

PianoForAll vs Rocket Piano: which suits an adult beginner?

Choose PianoForAll if you want to play recognisable songs quickly, learning by ear and by chord. Choose Rocket Piano if you prefer a graded, level-by-level structure that introduces reading music earlier and feels closer to traditional lessons. Both are one-time purchases sold with a 60-day guarantee. The right choice is the one whose teaching style matches how you learn.

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This comparison is researched from each course's published curriculum, format and guarantee, as of October 2026. It is not a hands-on test. Prices are not printed here because they change with promotions — check the current price on each course's page.

The two courses side by side

QuestionPianoForAllRocket Piano
Teaching approachChord-based and by ear first; reading introduced laterStructured levels mixing technique, theory and reading from earlier on
StructureA sequence of themed e-books to work through in orderThree graded levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced
FormatDownloadable e-books with embedded audio and videoDownloadable e-books, audio and video; a physical (shipped) edition has also been offered
How fast you play songsDesigned to get you playing simple songs in the first weeksSteadier build-up; songs arrive as technique develops
Reading musicTaught, but deliberately not the starting pointIntroduced earlier and woven through the levels
ExtrasStyle-focused books (blues, jazz, ballads, improvisation)Practice games and quizzes described by the vendor, plus fingering/technique drills
Payment modelOne-time purchase, no subscription (as presented by the vendor)One-time purchase for the download edition (as presented by the vendor)
Guarantee60-day money-back guarantee via ClickBank (as of October 2026)60-day money-back guarantee via ClickBank (as of October 2026)
Track recordSold since 2006; the better-known of the two, with a larger public buyer footprintLong-running as well, but with a smaller public footprint and thinner independent coverage
Best first stepOfficial siteOfficial site

Where PianoForAll is stronger

Motivation. Its method is built around sounding musical early — chords, rhythms and songs you recognise — which is what keeps most adults practising past the first month. It also has the longer, more visible track record, which matters when you are buying a course you cannot inspect first. Read our full PianoForAll review for the detail, including its weaknesses.

Where Rocket Piano is stronger

Structure. If you like knowing exactly what lesson comes next, and you want reading and technique built in from the start rather than added later, Rocket Piano's three-level layout will feel more comfortable. It is the closer of the two to a traditional method book, delivered digitally. Its public track record is smaller, so there is less independent evidence to lean on — a fair reason to value the 60-day guarantee and use it if the fit feels wrong.

Who each course fits — and who it does not

PianoForAll fits you if…

  • You want to play songs quickly and learn by ear and chord.
  • You are returning to piano and want to feel musical again fast.
  • You prefer a proven, widely bought course.

It does not fit you if…

  • You want graded, exam-style progression.
  • Reading sheet music fluently is your main goal from day one.

Rocket Piano fits you if…

  • You like clear levels and a method-book feel.
  • You want reading and technique woven in early.
  • You are a true beginner who finds open-ended courses overwhelming.

It does not fit you if…

  • You mainly want to jam, improvise and play by ear right away.
  • You need lots of independent reviews before you can trust a purchase.

Our verdict

It depends — genuinely. For the typical reader of this site, an adult with limited time who wants to enjoy playing songs at home, we lean PianoForAll: faster early wins and the stronger track record. If you know from experience that you thrive on structure and levels, choose Rocket Piano instead and do not second-guess it. Either way, both carry a 60-day guarantee, so the real risk is not picking the "wrong" course — it is picking none and losing another year. Compare this with the free routes in our full guide to learning piano online as an adult before you decide.

PianoForAll — official site   Rocket Piano — official site

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