Guitar Start Guide
Guitar Tricks runs at roughly $20 a month, or about $150 a year on annual billing, at the time of writing. Nobody learns guitar in twelve months, so the figure that matters is the one over the time you’ll actually keep playing: three years on the annual plan is somewhere near $450.
Jamorama covers the same beginner ground for a single payment of around $97, with 60 days to claim your money back, and the lessons come in an order a teacher set rather than one you assemble. The library is smaller. For a first couple of years, that is rarely the thing holding anyone back.
See why we recommend Jamorama →
Before you commit to any subscription it helps to know exactly what you’re paying for. This guide breaks down the Guitar Tricks cost in plain terms — monthly versus annual, the free trial, and what you actually get for the money — so you can decide whether it’s the right home for your first year of learning. Prices shift over time, so treat the figures below as approximate and check the current rate before you sign up.
Guitar Tricks pricing at a glance
Guitar Tricks runs on a single all-access subscription — there’s no confusing tiered menu. You choose to pay monthly or annually, and the annual plan works out significantly cheaper per month. At the time of writing, expect something in these ballparks:
| Plan | Approx. price | Effective monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial | Free (limited period) | — |
| Monthly | Around $20/month | ~$20 |
| Annual | Around $150/year | ~$12–13 |
The single-plan approach is one of the things we like: everything is included, so you’re not nickel-and-dimed for the “good” lessons. If you’re comparing subscriptions across the board, our reviews and comparisons hub lines them up side by side.
What the free trial gives you
Guitar Tricks typically offers a free trial so you can explore the platform before paying. Use it deliberately rather than just browsing: work through the first few lessons of the Core Learning System, try the song lessons, and see whether the teaching style clicks. A trial only tells you something if you actually play during it.
One tip — note the trial end date in your calendar. Like most subscriptions, it can roll into a paid plan automatically if you don’t cancel, which is standard but easy to forget.
What’s included in the price
The subscription unlocks the whole library, not a slice of it:
- The Core Learning System — a structured beginner-to-intermediate path for acoustic and electric
- Thousands of song tutorials across genres
- Style courses (blues, rock, country, fingerstyle and more)
- Multiple instructors, so you can find a teacher you gel with
- Practice tools and progress tracking
That Core Learning System is the real selling point for a beginner — it’s the ordered path that free YouTube libraries lack. For the full breakdown of the lessons themselves, see our Guitar Tricks review.
Monthly vs annual: which makes sense?
Learning guitar is a months-long commitment, not a weekend project, so the annual plan usually wins on value if you’re serious. That said, if you’re unsure whether you’ll stick with it, start monthly. Paying month-to-month for the first couple of months is a small premium for the freedom to walk away — and it’s a better test of your own commitment than locking in a year on day one.
How it compares on price
Guitar Tricks sits in the mid-range of paid options. It’s pricier than a free route like JustinGuitar but cheaper per year than some competitors on monthly billing. Worth reading alongside:
If a $0 option appeals first, it’s genuinely worth trying the free route before you pay for anything — then upgrade to Guitar Tricks if you want more structure.
Is it worth the money?
For a beginner who wants a proven, all-in-one path and will actually practise, yes — the annual price works out to a few dollars a week, less than a single in-person lesson, for a library you could spend years in. If you’re a disciplined self-starter happy to piece together free videos, you may not need it. It comes down to how much you value structure and having everything in one place.
Worth weighing before you subscribe: Guitar Tricks is fair value if you’ll use it consistently, so the real question is which platform you’ll actually stick with. It’s worth putting the price next to Jamorama, which covers similar beginner ground and may suit your budget and learning style better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Guitar Tricks have a free trial?
Yes, it typically offers a free trial so you can test the platform before paying. Make the most of it by actually working through lessons rather than just clicking around.
Is the annual plan much cheaper?
Considerably. The annual plan usually brings the effective monthly cost down to roughly $12–13 versus around $20 on monthly billing, at the time of writing.
Can I cancel Guitar Tricks anytime?
Yes. You can cancel to stop future billing; monthly plans simply end at the next cycle. Always cancel before a trial ends if you don’t want to be charged.
Is Guitar Tricks cheaper than in-person lessons?
By a wide margin. A whole year of Guitar Tricks often costs less than two or three private lessons, though it can’t give you the personalised feedback a good teacher does.
What to Read Next
- Fender Play Cost & Free Trial: What You Actually Pay
- Is JustinGuitar Really Free? What’s the Catch
- Jamorama Review 2026: Is It Worth It for Beginners?
- More reviews & comparisons
If the recurring charge is the part you keep hesitating over, the alternative is straightforward. Jamorama costs about $97 once at the time of writing, carries a 60-day money-back guarantee, and gives you a beginner path in a set order. Roughly five months of a Guitar Tricks subscription, and then nothing further.
How we reviewed this (updated 16 October 2026): this page is based on the vendor’s official information, pricing and policies and on public user feedback. We have not hands-on tested Guitar Tricks.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we genuinely rate.