Uke Like the Pros vs. Ukulele Buddy
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Which online ukulele lesson site is best?
Here’s the short answer: It depends what you’re looking for! This time, we’re taking an up-close look with a side by side review of Uke Like the Pros and Ukulele Buddy.
They’re two of the most popular places to learn ukulele online, but that’s where most of the similarity ends.
What's Here
Our Testing Process
To provide in-depth reviews of both sites and offer this comparison, we purchased online ukulele lessons from Ukulele Buddy, and we purchased the full membership from Uke Like the Pros. In addition, we took the following steps, testing each site to its full capacity.
Uke Like the Pros | Ukulele Buddy |
| Purchased full membership | Purchased full lesson pack |
| Played our way through all courses | Played our way through the entire course |
| Participated in weekly Q&A sessions | Read the bonus booklets |
| Tried Uke Like the Pros challenges | Played the songs in the printable bonus songbooks |
| Read the blog | (No blog available) |
| Shopped in the online store | (No online store) |
Uke Like the Pros vs. Uke Buddy: What’s Available?
- Clear instructional path for beginning and intermediate players
- Weekly Q&As included
- Plenty of content for advanced players
- Not the cheapest option
- Clear instructional path for beginning and intermediate players
- Weekly Q&As included
- Plenty of content for advanced players
- Not the cheapest option
- Affordable
- Simple to follow
- The instructors are knowledgeable and friendly
- Videos aren’t the sharpest
- Affordable
- Simple to follow
- The instructors are knowledgeable and friendly
- Videos aren’t the sharpest
If you decide to visit these sites for yourself, you’re going to notice the same thing we did: They’re vastly different from one another. Ukulele Buddy takes a very simple approach with a single, focused product while Uke Like the Pros is a massive site with tons of options to appeal to a wider audience.
Both models are appealing but for different reasons. Before we dig deeper into our comparison of course quality and materials, let’s take a closer look at what each site has to offer.
Feature | Uke Like the Pros | Ukulele Buddy |
| Step-by-step learning method | ü | ü |
| Ukulele lessons for beginners | ü | ü |
| Ukulele lessons for intermediate players | ü | |
| Ukulele lessons for advanced players | ü | |
| Blog | ü | |
| Ukulele reviews | ü | |
| Online store | ü | |
| Interaction with instructor | ü | |
| Free instructional material | ü | |
| Different membership levels | ü |
What’s Included in the Courses or Membership?
We developed in-depth reviews of both Uke Like the Pros and Ukulele Buddy, taking our time to fully engage with each site to the fullest extent possible. We recommend that you visit each one to form your own opinion, but it isn’t possible to see everything without investing. We purchased full access to both sites so you don’t have to! Here are the main takeaways.
Ukulele Buddy Course Review: What’s Available?
Ukulele Buddy (also known as UkeBuddy) offers a single set of lessons aimed at teaching raw beginners how to play the ukulele in a fun, relaxed setting. The instructors, JP Allen and Mitch Chang are likeable, and they share plenty of useful insight during each lesson. If you opt into this program, here’s what you’ll find:
- Single purchase
- Material for ukulele only
- Well-organized materials
- Short lessons
- Simple, relaxed format
- Step-by-step teaching method
- Chord lessons
- Simple song lessons
- Play-along format
- Bonus materials with purchase
Ukulele Buddy Course Quality
Playing through these lessons, we found that the instruction method was sound, and we felt like we were in a fun, casual setting with two knowledgeable instructors. This having been said, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.
Ukulele Buddy has older videos with fairly low production value. There is nothing fancy about these lessons, and some people really enjoy this.
Mitch and JP use a simple whiteboard to illustrate concepts.
You’ll see closeup shots throughout the lessons, which are very helpful in showing beginners where to place their hands and exactly how to strum along.
You’ll find that the bonus materials are simple yet useful.
Here’s the takeaway: At the end of the day, it’s possible for beginners to learn how to play the ukulele at Uke Buddy and that’s what matters most.
Uke Like the Pros Course Review
Uke Like the Pros is a feature-rich website with a lot to offer. Where Ukulele Buddy focuses solely on beginners, Uke Like the Pros brings everyone to the table. We’ll dig a little deeper into other site features in our overall comparison table; for now, here’s what you’ll find if you decide to take ukulele lessons at Uke Like the Pros:
- Free ukulele fundamentals course
- Many paid lesson options
- Material for ukulele, baritone ukulele, and guitalele
- Three membership levels
- Short lessons
- Simple, relaxed format
- Step-by-step teaching method
- Chord lessons
- Simple song lessons
- Intermediate and advanced song lessons
- Play-along format
- Bonus materials with some purchases
- A variety of lesson packs for a la carte purchase, all included with certain memberships
Uke Like the Pros Course Quality
As seasoned ukulele enthusiasts, exploring Uke Like the Pros has been (and will continue to be) a real treat for us. Instructor Terry Carter has gone to great lengths to expand the site and over time, he’s developed many different courses. If you take lessons at Uke Like the Pros, you’ll even see Terry’s look evolve over time which is fairly entertaining in itself.
As for overall course quality, the instruction method is relatable and friendly. Just like Mitch and JP at Ukulele Buddy, Terry has a fun, pleasant personality, and he does an outstanding job of teaching music theory in a way that’s easy to understand.
With the exception of some of the much older material, the videos at Uke Like the Pros are of excellent quality. Production value is high, with HD videos, backing tracks that can be played separately or downloaded, downloadable sheet music for each lesson, and quick links to other lessons found in the same course.
Most lesson videos have on-screen TAB, chords, and notation, plus closeup shots. The videos can be set on loop, which is a very convenient touch we appreciated.
Our takeaway: Beginners will find plenty of content to get started, and if they like Terry’s method and want to continue learning, they can stick with Uke Like the Pros.
Full comparison review: Uke Like the Pros vs. Ukulele Buddy
How much are lessons at ukulele buddy? What’s the price of a membership at Uke Like the Pros? You’ll find the answers to these questions (and many more!) in the table below.
Feature | Uke Like the Pros | Ukulele Buddy |
| Number of Lessons | 300+ and growing, plus many mini-tutorials | 72 |
| Trial Period | Yes, cancel anytime | 60-day guarantee |
| Money-Back Guarantee | Yes | Yes |
| Free Content | Yes | No |
| Courses Available | Multiple course and challenges available: · Free ukulele fundamentals · Beginning ukulele bootcamp · Master the ukulele 1 · Master the ukulele 2 · Beginning baritone ukulele bootcamp · Music reading course · Guitarlele for ukulele and guitar players · 15-day fingerstyle challenge · Beginning baritone ukulele bootcamp | Ukulele Lessons 4 Beginners |
| Social Aspects | Lots of interaction including weekly Q&A sessions. Uke Like the Pros has a strong social media presence for those who enjoy it. | None. |
| Price Range | Free – $19.95 / month. Many lower priced options and a la carte purchase options are available as well. Premium memberships come with full access to all lessons and courses. | $67 one-time purchase for the entire course. |
| Target Audience | Beginners – Advanced players. Those interested in baritone ukulele and guitalele can find quite a bit of information here, too. | Beginners on a tight schedule. |
| New Content Available? | Uke Like the Pros adds new content regularly, including fun challenges, blog posts, reviews, and other items ukulele enthusiasts appreciate. | No new content. |
Final Thoughts
Still on the fence? We don’t blame you. These two sites are very, very different from one another and each has something special and unique to offer. We encourage you to visit each one and form your own opinion, plus we’ve written full reviews of Uke Like the Pros and Ukulele Buddy with the aim of helping you make a well-informed decision.
Ready for more? Check out our in-depth Uke Like the Pros Review and our complete Ukulele Buddy Review. Happy strumming!
