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 | TrueFire All Access | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Beginners to early intermediate; song learners | Intermediate to advanced; style and technique depth |
| Catalogue | 11,000+ lessons, 1,000+ song lessons | 1,900+ courses, 85,000+ interactive lessons, 400+ educators, includes the JamPlay library |
| Price | $29.95 a month or $179 a year ($143.20 with SAVE20) | $249.99 a year at list, on sale at $77.88 for the first year when we checked; $29 a month through jamplay.com |
| Trial and refund | 14 days, 60-day guarantee | 7 days, 14-day satisfaction guarantee |
| Instruments | Guitar only | Acoustic guitar, electric guitar and bass |
| Feedback | Weekly Q&A video and instructor video feedback included | None included |
| Our pick | Beginners | Everyone past the basics |
The honest framing
These two are not really competing for the same person. Guitar Tricks is a course with a library attached. TrueFire is a library with courses inside it. Which you want depends on whether you need to be told what to do next.
Price
At list price Guitar Tricks is cheaper for a year: $179, or $143.20 with the code SAVE20, against TrueFire’s $249.99. In practice TrueFire discounts All Access aggressively and often; on the day we checked, the annual plan was $77.88 for the first year, advertised as 69% off, and the same membership is $99 a year or $29 a month through jamplay.com. Guitar Tricks runs its own $99-a-year sales a few times a year (one is live now, for Black Friday 2026). If you catch TrueFire on sale it is the cheaper subscription; if you do not, Guitar Tricks is. Guitar Tricks pricing in full.
For beginners
Guitar Tricks’ Core Learning System is one instructor, Lisa McCormick, taking you from holding the guitar to your first songs in three-to-five-minute videos, with tab and notation beside every one. Then four style courses carry on in the same way. You never have to decide what to do next.
TrueFire has learning paths and a course wizard to point beginners in the right direction, and some of its beginner courses are very good. But with 1,900 courses the temptation to wander is constant, and the beginners we have talked to tell us the same thing we found: it is easy to feel lost in the first month. If you have never played, Guitar Tricks.
For intermediate and advanced players
This is TrueFire’s territory. Its educator list includes Robben Ford, Tommy Emmanuel, Steve Vai, Marty Friedman, Andy Timmons, Larry Carlton, Eric Johnson, Eric Gales and Pat Martino, and it has whole paths in jazz, fingerstyle, blues and country. Guitar Tricks has four style courses and then thins out; our own hunt for jazz improvisation material found one short course on jazz lead and nothing on building your own lines. A player who already has their chords and scales will get years out of TrueFire.
Songs
Guitar Tricks is stronger: more than 1,000 song lessons, each broken into parts, with single-guitar arrangements and jam tracks. TrueFire has song lessons (450+ in the combined JamPlay + TrueFire count), but songs are not its focus; styles and techniques are.
Production and tools
Both use multiple camera angles. TrueFire’s interactive tab, jam tracks and looping tools are excellent, and so are Guitar Tricks’ tab, speed control and jam-track station. Both have iOS and Android apps. Call it even.
Other instruments
TrueFire covers bass as well as acoustic and electric guitar. Guitar Tricks is guitar only.
Guarantee and trial
Guitar Tricks gives you 14 days free (a card is taken at sign-up) plus a 60-day money-back guarantee, the most generous terms of any major platform. TrueFire gives 7 days free and a 14-day satisfaction guarantee after you subscribe.
Who should pick which
- Never played: Guitar Tricks.
- Can play open chords and a few songs, want to get properly good at one style: TrueFire.
- Want to learn specific songs: Guitar Tricks.
- Want lessons from famous players: TrueFire.
- Want instructor feedback included: Guitar Tricks.
- Want a long guarantee in case you do not stick with it: Guitar Tricks.
Frequently asked questions
Is TrueFire better than Guitar Tricks?
For intermediate players, yes. For beginners, no.
Is TrueFire All Access worth it?
On sale, it is the best value in online guitar if you will use the depth. At list, only if you are past the basics.
Does TrueFire include JamPlay?
Yes. The JamPlay library is on the TrueFire platform now and jamplay.com sells the combined membership. Guitar Tricks vs JamPlay covers that in detail.
Which has the longer trial?
Guitar Tricks, 14 days against 7.
Last compared 7 November 2026. Guitar Tricks review · TrueFire review · Guitar Tricks vs JamPlay, Fender Play, JustinGuitar, Yousician and Pickup Music.
