Easiest Healer to play?

[Thoosa]

WHM is easiest but most boring later on. AST is much more interesting compared to WHM but it’s more challenging. Sch imo was ruined - it used to be the high DPS healer with somewhat more dps skills than the others, plus the fairy was much stronger. These days AST is equally good at shields and better at dps. SCH should be made the DPS healer again to restore its identity.

[Caliburn]

Easiest: White Mage (WHM)

WHM is the most straight-forward healer with very few gimmicks. It's the archetypal "I am the healer" class and I'd always recommend it for beginners.

WHM playstyle: basic single-target and AoE heals and healing over time. Several instant heals at higher level. Opportunity to spam massive AoE heals at high levels.

WHM flavour: holy, light, elements, prayer

---

Middle-of-the-road: Astrologian (AST)

AST isn't difficult, but you have more to think about due to the card system. You'll need to split your awareness between healing and managing cards, so it's not quite as simple as WHM.

AST playstyle: basic single-target and AoE heals with a choice of regen or shields. Heavy focus on card management for buffing party. Interesting moves like timed heal "bomb" and duplicating heals which require preemption and strategy.

AST flavour: stars, divination, time, lights

---

More complex: Scholar (SCH)

Scholar, in my opinion, is the most challenging healing job to pick as someone new to healing in FFXIV. It's not hugely difficult, but there are a lot more buttons to press, and a focus on preemptive shielding and pet management. It's the least "classic" healer IMO.

SCH playstyle: Smaller basic heals. Preemptive shielding. Pet management (actions, positioning). Combining actions to buff or alter your shield spells. Limited charges per minute for "big" spells with risk of leaving yourself vulnerable if expended too quickly.

SCH flavour: academia, fairies, tactics, tech (sort of)

---

TL;DR/summary: You'll be fine no matter which job you play, but I think you'll have the easiest time with WHM. WHM is a good introduction to healing with fewer gimmicks to worry about until higher levels. AST and especially SCH are more complicated. I would not advise SCH as a first healing class unless you really like the sound of it.

[glamazon]

Pick the healer you like. None are difficult. Once you get in the swing of things you’ll be fine. Also don’t listen to people who try to micromanage how you play.
Are you keeping your party alive?
Are you doing damage to the enemies?
Are you having fun?

Then you are doing your job the right way. If someone has a tip listen and judge if it’s right for you and if it isn’t ignore them.

[Veis_Alveare]

Then you are doing your job the right way. If someone has a tip listen and judge if it’s right for you and if it isn’t ignore them.

There are objectively right and wrong ways to play a job, though healers do have more subjectivity to their decision making than tanks or dps.

Still, a healer sticking single target regens on the whole party when they could just use their AoE regen would be a good example of an objectively poor choice.

Don't get your head stuck in the sand. If someone understands more then you about healing their advice will likely be correct even if it contradicts your instincts.

[Lyrica_Ashtine]

Still, a healer sticking single target regens on the whole party when they could just use their AoE regen would be a good example of an objectively poor choice.

Sort of off-topic, but this is basically the healer's equivalent to Ice Mages from way back (unless it's still a thing)

[glamazon]

There are objectively right and wrong ways to play a job, though healers do have more subjectivity to their decision making than tanks or dps.

Still, a healer sticking single target regens on the whole party when they could just use their AoE regen would be a good example of an objectively poor choice.

Don't get your head stuck in the sand. If someone understands more then you about healing their advice will likely be correct even if it contradicts your instincts.

When your aoe is on cd and you have a single target spell that will put both a regen and a shield on the target then yes I’m putting that on the target

[YusiKha]

When your aoe is on cd and you have a single target spell that will put both a regen and a shield on the target then yes I’m putting that on the target

You realise Neutral Sect also applies to Aspected Helios, right?

[AnotherPerson]

When your aoe is on cd and you have a single target spell that will put both a regen and a shield on the target then yes I’m putting that on the target

Aspected Helios, the said AoE - is a GCD action which shares the same cooldown timer as Aspected Benefic.
If you can apply more than 2 Aspected Benefics, you might as well apply an Aspected Helios in that timeframe.

[Liam_Harper]

When your aoe is on cd and you have a single target spell that will put both a regen and a shield on the target then yes I’m putting that on the target

When I need to slice bread, I too like to use a spoon. Someone tried to offer me a bread knife once so I ignored them and haven't talked to them since.

[Veis_Alveare]

When your aoe is on cd and you have a single target spell that will put both a regen and a shield on the target then yes I’m putting that on the target

Your AoE can't be on CD - Aspected Helios, just like Aspected Benefic, is a GCD action. You can use it every 2.5 seconds, sps dependent.