Disclosure: We are a professional review site that receives compensation from the companies whose products we review.
By the KYI Team. Last compared 7 November 2026; prices and trial terms were checked on both platforms’ own sites that day.
Quick verdict
| Guitar Tricks | Pickup Music | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29.95 a month or $179 a year ($143.20 with SAVE20) | $29.99 a month or $179.99 a year ($14.99 a month billed annually) |
| Trial and refund | 14 days, 60-day money-back guarantee | 14 days, 60-day money-back guarantee for first-time sign-ups through the website |
| Structure | Core Learning System, four style courses, open library | Learning Pathways: six grades, daily lessons, play-along workouts, a performance challenge with a live band at the end of each grade |
| Feedback | Weekly Q&A video and instructor video feedback included; custom lesson plan ($39) and 1-on-1 lessons extra | 1-on-1 video feedback from coaches and weekly live lessons, included |
| Songs | 1,000+, part by part | Fewer; the focus is skills and performance |
| Instruments | Guitar | Guitar, bass and piano (drums listed for 2027) |
| History | Since 1998, 4 million+ players | Newer, modern platform |
| Our pick | Beginners who want songs and breadth | Intermediate players who want coaching and a defined curriculum |
Price: a dead heat
$179 against $179.99 for the year, both with 14-day trials and 60-day guarantees. The only difference is the SAVE20 code on Guitar Tricks, which brings it to $143.20, and Guitar Tricks’ occasional $99 sales (one is live now, for Black Friday 2026). Price should not decide this one. Guitar Tricks pricing in full.
Structure
Pickup Music is the more modern design. Six grades, a daily lesson, play-along practice, and a performance challenge at the end of each grade where you play a song with a live backing band. It is closer to a music school term than to a video library. Guitar Tricks is a course that becomes a library: the Core Learning System and style courses are linear, and after that you browse.
If you like being told exactly what to do today, Pickup Music. If you like having a huge library to explore once you can play, Guitar Tricks.
Feedback: closer than it used to be
Pickup Music includes 1-on-1 video feedback from coaches and weekly live lessons in the membership. Guitar Tricks now includes its own Feedback System (submit a video, get a private video reply from an instructor) and a weekly Guitar Insider Q&A video, while its Custom Lesson Plan ($39) and live 1-on-1 Zoom lessons cost extra. On included human feedback the two are now close; Pickup Music still leads on live, scheduled teaching.
Songs and breadth: Guitar Tricks’ strongest card
Guitar Tricks has more than 1,000 song lessons broken into parts with jam tracks, four deep style courses, Artist Studies and lessons in 12 further styles, built up since 1998. Pickup Music’s library is newer and smaller, and songs are not its focus. If learning songs you love is why you are picking up the guitar, Guitar Tricks.
Beginners vs intermediates
Guitar Tricks’ beginner course is the gentlest start in the category. Pickup Music’s Grade 1 is good but moves faster and assumes you will practise daily. For an intermediate player who has plateaued, Pickup Music’s graded pathway and coach feedback are exactly the fix; Guitar Tricks’ intermediate material is where it is weakest.
Other instruments
Pickup Music includes bass and piano, with drums listed as coming in 2027. Guitar Tricks is guitar only.
Who should pick which
- Complete beginner who wants songs: Guitar Tricks.
- Intermediate player who is stuck: Pickup Music.
- Want live coaching included in the price: Pickup Music.
- Want the biggest library of songs and styles: Guitar Tricks.
- Play bass or piano too: Pickup Music.
- Cannot decide: both trials are 14 days and both guarantees are 60 days. Run them back to back on the same song.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pickup Music better than Guitar Tricks?
For intermediate players wanting live coaching, yes. For beginners wanting songs, no.
Which is cheaper?
Almost identical; Guitar Tricks with SAVE20 is about $36 less for the year.
Does Pickup Music have song lessons?
Some, but it is a skills-and-performance platform first.
Do both have money-back guarantees?
Yes, 60 days each (Pickup Music’s applies to first-time sign-ups through its website).
Last compared 7 November 2026. Guitar Tricks review · Guitar Tricks vs JamPlay, TrueFire, Fender Play, JustinGuitar and Yousician.
