Our Top 100 Budget Buys: Affordable, Tested Tech That’s Actually Worth It
(Credit: Bob Al-Greene)
The dictionary defines “testy” as easily annoyed or bad-tempered. But maybe it should refer to our reviewers?
Testing technology products is our whole schtick, after all. We do it at least 1,500 times a year, striving for the unbiased, lab-based results that make us the independent guide to technology. And we love the latest $5,400 mobile workstation, $5,000 8K TV, or the loaded $7,999 Apple Mac Studio. Why shouldn’t we? Car magazines review Ferraris, after all.
Most folks, however, don’t drive them. And most of us don’t buy cost-no-object technology, especially in an age of inflation and supply-chain shortages. That’s why we’re particularly pleased when we find products that deliver performance and value, elegance and affordability, plus features and frugality. Telling you about our favorite bargains is the best part of our job.
The PCMag Cheap 100 is our ongoing recommendation list of outstanding values in 100-odd product categories from hardware to software, from home entertainment and health to PCs and smartphones. Our editors scoured our vast field of reviews to assemble this mega-guide of picks. And we update it regularly, as a cut-to-the-chase supplement to our many bargain-conscious buying guides. (Examples of those, among many, include The Best Cheap Printers, The Best Cheap Robot Vacuums, and The Best Cheap Gaming Laptops.) We hope this timely, curated list helps you keep a little more money in your wallet.
You can check out a quick, list-style summary of our current picks below. Note: It’s scrollable, and searchable via the field up top…
…and further down, we’ve got blow-by-blow details on each winner, with links to full reviews of them all.
Have a budget buy you love? Let us know in the comments. Value hunters, unite!
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Cheap Laptops
Best Cheap General-Use Laptop
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
4.0
If you want our favorite all-around bargain among budget laptops we’ve tested, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 tops the list. While its 11th Gen Intel processor isn’t the latest, the laptop still pumps out peppy performance, with a colorful design in a quality build. A comfortable keyboard and a reasonable starting price seal the deal. Also, Microsoft with this generation has incorporated a swappable SSD and chassis parts for longevity. Though equipped with a not-quite-1080p display and a basic 720p HD webcam, it’s a budget laptop that’s more stylish and better-made than most of its low-cost rivals.
Starts at $599.99
$625.00
at Amazon
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Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 Review
Best Cheap General-Use Laptop (Alternate Pick)
Acer Aspire 5 (2022, A515-57-56UV)
4.0
If our favorite budget pick is out of stock, or you want something a little different, we suggest our second-favorite budget laptop of the moment: the Acer Aspire 5 (model A515-57-56UV). With decent performance from a 12th Gen Intel CPU and more than 11 hours of battery life, it’s excellent for daily use. Throw in a comfortable keyboard and touchpad, reasonable memory and storage capacities, and an affordable price, and it’s the easy pick as the understudy to our favorite budget laptop.
Starts at $369.99
$599.99
at Acer
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Acer Aspire 5 (2022, A515-57-56UV) Review
Best Cheap 2-in-1 Convertible
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14-Inch (2022)
4.0
Lenovo’s IdeaPad Flex 5i 14-inch is a well-built, low-cost convertible laptop with a snappy keyboard and a bright screen. It offers decent performance for its price and includes both HDMI and USB Type-C ports. While the battery life and display aren’t front-line strengths, it is a solid option for general office work, internet browsing, and webcam sessions. If you want a modestly priced, versatile, and fairly portable convertible, this is our current low-cost favorite.
Base Configuration Price $669.00
$774.99
at Lenovo
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Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14-Inch (2022) Review
Best Cheap Tablet Detachable
Lenovo IdeaPad Windows Duet 5i
4.0
When it comes to affordable Windows 2-in-1 laptops, the top cheap detachable 2-in-1 is Lenovo’s IdeaPad Duet 5i. With the option to use it as a slim, sturdy tablet, or a capable laptop with an included keyboard cover, it’s ideal for grab-and-go use, whether it’s for productivity or entertainment. Highlights include a sharp, 2.5K resolution display with vivid color, a surprisingly snappy Intel Core i3-1215U processor, and a day’s worth of battery life. The end result: better value than most competitors, and a perfect alternative to more expensive 2-in-1 laptops.
MSRP $789.99
$529.99
at Lenovo
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Lenovo IdeaPad Windows Duet 5i Review
Best Cheap Chromebook
Acer Chromebook 514 (2022, Kompanio 828)
4.0
Acer’s ARM-based version of its Chromebook 514 is the best cheap Chromebook on the market, thanks to a perfect balance among style, performance, and affordability. It stands out for its capable ARM Kompanio CPU that outperforms most budget Intel models, and powers you throughout the day with an 11-hour battery. The laptop’s solid and elegant construction are protected by an included padded carrying sleeve, making it convenient for commuting or traveling, but the most attractive element is surely the price. If you want the best budget Chromebook right now, this is it.
MSRP $459.99
$402.65
at Amazon
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Acer Chromebook 514 (2022, Kompanio 828) Review
Best Cheap Gaming Laptop
Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 7
4.0
If you want a standout value for a gaming machine, there’s no ignoring the Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 7. Though it comes in above the $1,000 mark most budget shoppers hold to (models start in the mid-$1,200s), this rig is worth the investment for the exceptional performance. (“Cheap” gaming laptops have become less cheap over the last couple of years.) The combination of an Intel Core i7-12700H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 GPU isn’t unusual for affordable gaming, but it performs more like an RTX 3070. Pair that better-than-expected graphics performance with a 165Hz, 1440p display and ample connectivity, and it becomes a slam dunk for gamers who want to stretch their dollar without giving up gaming capability.
Starts at $1,249.99
$1,379.99
at Lenovo
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Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 7 Review
Cheap Phones & Tablets
Best Cheap Voice Phone
Nokia 6300 4G
4.0
Candy-bar phones forever! Nokia’s $50 model 6300 works on all U.S. 4G networks and is an ideal replacement for an older 3G phone. Its quasi-smartphone operating system also supports Whatsapp, which unlocks better texting capabilities than most other basic phones.
MSRP $69.99
$69.00
at Amazon
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Nokia 6300 4G Review
Best Cheap Android Phone
Motorola Moto G Power
4.0
The 2022 Moto G Power is a good no-frills phone that won’t break the bank, starting at $199.99. It handles basic tasks with ease, doesn’t have bloatware, can easily get you through a day between charges, and sports a display with a 90Hz refresh rate. We also like its solid performance, and reasonably good camera.
MSRP $199.99
$150.00
at Amazon
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Motorola Moto G Power (2022) Review
Best Cheap iPhone
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
3.5
Apple’s 2022 iPhone SE keeps the crowd-pleasing small design and Touch ID fingerprint sensor of the previous model. It also now has 5G, which gives it better reception than its predecessors, especially as T-Mobile and Verizon expand their 5G networks. Of course, if you can find a 2020 model of the SE around, you can get similar app performance for even less money.
MSRP $429.00
$429.00
at Amazon
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Apple iPhone SE (2022) Review
Best Cheap Android Tablet
Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022 Release)
3.5
The $100 Amazon Fire HD 8 is a simple media consumption slate that costs less than most other 8-inch tablets. It won’t wow you, but it doesn’t need to.
MSRP $99.99
$99.99
at Amazon
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Amazon Fire HD 8 (2022 Release) Review
Cheap Desktops, PC Components & Upgrades
Best Cheap Tower-Style Desktop
Acer Aspire TC-895-UA91
4.0
In the world of no-fuss, plug-and-go desktop PCs that won’t break your wallet, it’s hard to beat the various models in Acer’s Aspire mini tower series. We last tested the Aspire TC-895-UA91, and its Intel Core i3 performance is snappy enough considering its price and intended use. It’s a perfectly affordable fit for everyday home and light office tasks, and its design is attractively compact. Sure, you can find cheaper alternatives, but many are hit-and-miss when it comes to supporting features, while the Aspire has it all: You get onboard Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, a USB-C port and an SD card slot, and even an optical drive if you want to kick it with old-school discs.
Price as Tested $429.99
$583.98
at Amazon
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Acer Aspire TC-895-UA91 Review
Best Cheap All-in-One Desktop
Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 3i
4.0
Affordable all-in-one (AIO) desktops continue to be a shrinking portion of the PC market, and really good ones are hard to find. In our recent tests, we found the Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 3i to be one of the sleekest-looking budget AIOs of recent memory. For the money, the IdeaCentre delivers in the screen department, backed up by decent speakers for an all-around enjoyable multimedia experience in the low-cost category. With reliable day-to-day productivity performance in our test model, the IdeaCentre AIO 3i gets enough right to top this small class.
Base Configuration Price $529.00
$799.99
at Lenovo
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Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 3i Review
Best Cheap CPU
AMD Ryzen 5 4500
3.5
Yes, AMD’s current desktop-CPU line is the Ryzen 7000 series, and the Ryzen 5000 series, still viable, preceded it. But almost all of the new chips in both lines have been high-end and midrange offerings, so don’t ignore this budget option. At a highly affordable $129.99 MSRP (and cheaper at street price if you bargain-hunt), the Ryzen 5 4500, released to PC builders and upgraders in 2022, is a hard-to-ignore AM4-socket option when it comes to budget CPUs—if you already own a decent video card.
Its price is sufficiently low that it competes directly with AMD’s Ryzen 3 and Intel’s Core i3 processors, both of them quad-core lines. The Ryzen 5 4500 features six CPU cores that enable it to handily outperform that competition in most tests. You’ll need to pony up considerably more for any faster Ryzen 5 or Core i5 alternatives. Simply put, if you’re on a tight budget and can carry over a video card (the chip lacks built-in graphics), you can’t go wrong with it for the bucks.
MSRP $129.99
$80.41
at Amazon
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AMD Ryzen 5 4500 Review
Best Cheap PC Case
ADATA XPG Valor Air
4.0
Below $100 is deep into budget territory for a full-size PC case, and the XPG Valor Air deserves a medal for meritorious conduct at its $59.99 price. This chassis provides plenty of flexibility for air cooling, includes four fans already installed, and flaunts an attractive glass side panel and a striking front-face design. Plus, it can take slightly oversize motherboards that edge out past the ATX spec. The build quality is light and not especially rugged-feeling, but this ace of a case will take it easy on your budget.
MSRP $59.99
$74.99
at B&H Photo Video
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ADATA XPG Valor Air Review
Best Cheap Motherboard
ASRock B760 Pro RS
4.0
Like with most other components, motherboard prices have trickled upward in recent years. But budget options with solid features still do exist. ASRock’s B760 Pro RS is the best budget Intel motherboard that we’ve reviewed recently. Based on Intel’s B760 chipset, this board features support for Intel 12th Gen “Alder Lake” and 13th Gen “Raptor Lake” processors, as well as DDR5 memory. And it has a solid feature set for just $179.99 MSRP, or as low at this writing as $139.99 on sale.
You don’t give up too much for that price, either. The B760 Pro RS can’t overclock, lacks 20Gbps USB support, and doesn’t have a Wi-Fi controller (the last, nothing that a cheap USB Wi-Fi adapter can’t fix if you need it). It’ll get you in on the ground floor of Intel’s latest desktop chips, with their dual Performance and Efficient core designs, for a fine price, and you won’t feel under-served.
MSRP $179.99
$139.99
at Newegg
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ASRock B760 Pro RS Review
Best Cheap Internal SSD
Crucial P3
4.5
The Crucial P3 may seem to be just a PCI Express 3.0 drive adrift in a world of 4.0 models. But plenty of PCs out there simply need an inexpensive 3.0-compatible M.2 drive for a quick-and-dirty upgrade from a small SSD or (heaven forbid!) a hard drive. The P3 uses economical QLC memory, so it isn’t designed for your video-editing workstation or web server, but it’s a fine value for your average PC and a cheap drop-in drive if you have an extra slot on your desktop to let you expand, say, your Steam game library. Plus, it performs well enough to squeeze the reasonable max out of the PCI Express 3.0 bus. And a 4TB top-end capacity means you can go huge for under a dime a gigabyte, if you have the need for that much space.
Starts at $49.99
$31.99
at Amazon
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Crucial P3 Review
Best “Cheap” (MSRP) Graphics Card
AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
3.5
When we reviewed AMD’s Radeon RX 6500 XT, we found it a bit lackluster, with underwhelming benchmark results. In today’s graphics-card world, though, actual street price looms over everything, and some RX 6500 XT cards have fallen below Nvidia’s suggested MSRP of $199.99. (This Eagle card we tested was around $180 from some sellers at this writing.) Not only does this make many RX 6500 XT cards as much as a hundred dollars cheaper than the competing Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050, but it also makes it a far more attractive option in terms of how much performance you get for your buck.
MSRP $199.99
$229.99
at Amazon
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Gigabyte Radeon RX 6500 XT Eagle 4G Review
Cheap PC Peripherals & Networking Gear
Best Cheap Productivity Monitor
Acer SB220Q
3.5
For home-office workers strapped for both space and cash, the Acer SB220Q is a basic but highly cost-effective monitor, with a consistently under-$100 selling price among major retailers. Its 21.5-inch IPS screen has FHD (1080p) resolution, is reasonably bright at 240 nits, and has excellent sRGB color coverage. The SB220Q’s design has a touch of elegance, with an ultra-thin, nearly bezel-less black frame. The stand, affixed to a circular base, is sturdy, with ergonomics limited to tilt control. But ports are conveniently outward-facing in back, and inputs include HDMI and VGA. For the price, take two to boost your daily productivity.
MSRP $99.99
$89.99
at Amazon
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Acer SB220Q Review
Best Cheap External SSD
ADATA Elite SE880 External SSD
4.0
We’ve been fans of ADATA’s Elite SE SSDs for a while; they’re rugged and compact, and get you lots of gigs on the cheap. (What more to want from a basic external SSD?) The thing about the SE880 is that it has a hidden bonus—support for the uncommon USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 spec—that promises excellent, Thunderbolt-like transfer speeds, but you likely won’t be able to leverage it. (Reason why? Gen 2×2 ports are rare.) Still, even at ordinary speeds, the SE880 is a good value, coming in at 13 to 15 cents per gigabyte at list price, and likely cheaper from resellers. As long as 500GB or 1TB is enough space for your needs, it’s a fine, economical pick—it even includes discrete cables for USB Type-A and Type-C system-side hookups.
Starts at $79.99
$69.99
at Amazon
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ADATA Elite SE880 External SSD Review
Best Cheap Inkjet Printer (for Offices)
Brother MFC-J4335DW
4.0
The $159.99 Brother MFC-J4335DW offers paper handling suitable for a micro/home office or personal use and stands out for its speed and low cost per page (0.9 cent for monochrome pages, 4.7 cents for color ones). As a four-function all-in-one or multifunction printer, the MFC-J4335DW prints, copies, scans, and faxes. It offers a 150-sheet input tray, plus a single-sheet bypass feeder and has a 20-sheet ADF for copying or scanning multipage documents. It can connect to your computer via USB, Wi-Fi, or Wi-Fi Direct, and it prints from iOS and Android mobile devices using the Brother mobile app. (See more cheap printers.)
MSRP $159.99
$179.99
at Amazon
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Brother MFC-J4335DW Review
Best Cheap Inkjet Printer (for Homes)
Epson Expression Home XP-5200 All-in-One Printer
4.0
This low-cost all-in-one inkjet model is suitable for both homes and home offices, so long as your emphasis is on the printing side of things, not scanning or copying multipage documents. (It has a flatbed scan surface, but no automatic document feeder.) You get impressive output quality for just a bit over $100, and the printer itself is compact for what it is. We’d opt for this model over some closely matched, similarly priced competitors if your print jobs tend to include some photos in the mix.
MSRP $129.99
$79.99
at Amazon
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Epson Expression Home XP-5200 All-in-One Printer Review
Best Cheap Laser Printer
Pantum M7102DW
4.0
Move over, Canon and HP! Pantum’s M7102DW mono laser all-in-one is compact enough to serve as a personal printer, but capable enough for a small office or workgroup, delivering fast output and solid text quality. It’s not a feature powerhouse, and you’ll want to reserve it for document printing, as opposed to graphics output. But it’s competitively fast for its price range, and ideal if you want all the advantages of an AIO without paying a lot in cash or desk space.
MSRP $209.89
$209.89
at Amazon
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Pantum M7102DW Review
Best Cheap Snapshot Printer
Kodak Step Instant Mobile Photo Printer
4.0
Kodak’s line of snapshot printers is a solid-value budget photo-printing option, and the Step Instant Mobile Photo Printer cranks out quick, high-quality snapshots using Zero Ink (Zink) paper, which uses crystals embedded in the surface to generate the image. Zink printers can’t match the image quality of dye-sublimation models, but this Kodak is a small-format pocket photo printer that’s easy to like primarily because of its extraordinary value, at just $70. Or, you can opt for a $120 starter bundle that includes a 20-pack of paper, a carrying case, a small photo album, markers, thousands of stickers for a host of occasions, and even an improvised clothesline for drying your creations. An optional battery lets you print on the go, too—it’s rated for up to 25 prints on a charge.
MSRP $69.99
$69.99
at Amazon
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Kodak Step Instant Mobile Photo Printer Review
Best Cheap 3D Printer
Monoprice Mini Delta V2 3D Printer
4.0
The Monoprice Mini Delta V2 3D Printer costs a pittance for a full-size 3D printer (list price is $199.99, and we’ve seen it for less), yet it proved a cinch to set up and use—it requires no calibration and provided nearly misprint-free printing in our testing. The V2 uses the “delta 3D” printing architecture, which is quite different from the Cartesian architecture found in the vast majority of filament-based printers. It supports a variety of filament types, including PLA, ABS, and TPU. Its print size is small, and print quality is only average, but it’s a great way for 3D printing newbies to dabble in the hobby on a budget. (See more cheap 3D printers.)
MSRP $199.99
$179.99
at Amazon
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Monoprice Mini Delta V2 3D Printer Review
Best Cheap Photo Scanner
Epson Perfection V39
4.0
The Epson Perfection V39 has been on the market for a long time. This moderately priced ($99.99) flatbed scanner specializes in photographic prints; it outdoes the general-purpose scanners built into all-in-one printers when it comes to high-quality photo scanning. The V39 can also scan pages into searchable PDF and other formats, although its lack of a sheet feeder limits it to scanning short documents for non-photo work. One note: It can’t handle film or negatives. (You’d need a pricier scanner for that.)
MSRP $99.99
$119.99
at Amazon
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Epson Perfection V39 Review
Best Cheap Home Projector
Vankyo Performance V700W
4.0
Vankyo’s Performance V700W is a 1080p projector that’s designed for home entertainment. It delivers surprisingly robust audio and high brightness for its price class, plus good input lag for casual gaming. Plus, its use of a single LCD and a white-LED light source guarantees an image that’s free of rainbow artifacts, which will be a big deal for those users who are prone to seeing them. (Not everyone is.)
MSRP $299.99
$246.74
at Walmart
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Vankyo Performance V700W Review
Best Cheap Portable Projector
Kodak Luma 75 Portable Pocket Projector
4.0
The Kodak Luma 75, at around $180, is a tiny, finely crafted yet minimalist take-anywhere portable projector. Weighing just 5 ounces and measuring 0.8 by 3 by 3 inches, it easily slips into a coat pocket. Its native resolution is 640 by 480 pixels, though it can display 1080p input without introducing scaling artifacts. A built-in battery lets you project for 90 minutes between charges. This easily focused projector handles photo and video content well and can mirror PowerPoint presentations; its 1-watt speaker is adequate for a small room. Its rated 30 lumens of brightness limits your image size, but for such a tiny device it does a more than credible job.
MSRP $189.99
$179.99
at Amazon
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Kodak Luma 75 Portable Pocket Projector Review
Best Cheap Keyboard
Cherry Stream Wireless Keyboard
4.0
The Stream Wireless is a branded, basic keyboard from Cherry. Now, Cherry is the most recognizable key-switch brand around when it comes to gaming and enthusiast productivity keyboards. But while the company’s iconic mechanical key switches are second to none, how does Cherry’s general-use, non-mechanical keyboards fare?
The answer: extremely well. The Stream Wireless works over a 2.4GHz connection protected by 128-bit AES encryption. Designed for everyday work and outfitted in sober style, it features a silent keystroke, and the comfortable SX scissor key switches deliver an immaculate typing feel. It may have limited support for macOS (keep it to Windows) and modest customization software, but it delivers the basics on an attractive low-profile platter that’ll run you just $50.
MSRP $49.99
$45.26
at Amazon
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Cherry Stream Wireless Keyboard Review
Best Cheap Mouse
Microsoft Ocean Plastic Mouse
3.5
The $24.99 Ocean Plastic Mouse represents Microsoft’s continued sustainability effort. Made from 20% recycled ocean plastic and shipped in 100% recyclable packaging, this budget mouse delivers quality tracking for a mobile clicker and impressive battery life. The Ocean offers the basics, nothing more and nothing less, but it’s easy to forgive its lack of extra features considering its attractive design and ease of use. That, and you can feel good knowing that you’ve made the earth a little bit greener—or should we say, bluer?
MSRP $24.99
$15.99
at Amazon
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Microsoft Ocean Plastic Mouse Review
Best Cheap Wi-Fi Router
TP-Link Archer AX10 (AX1500) Wi-Fi 6 Router
3.5
The Archer AX10 is a trifecta: For starters, it’s about as inexpensive as Wi-Fi 6 routers get, with an MSRP of just $80 and often on sale for less. But the low price is only part of its appeal. Unlike other cheap routers, the AX10 actually delivers decent performance where you need it most, on the 5GHz band. And while you don’t get the 160MHz channel bandwidth that’s the hallmark of flagship routers, you do get almost everything else, from parental controls to easy web- or app-based setup.
MSRP $79.99
$64.99
at Amazon
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TP-Link Archer AX10 (AX1500) Wi-Fi 6 Router Review
Best Cheap Wi-Fi Mesh System
Vilo Mesh Wi-Fi System
3.5
Yes, it’s possible to cover your entire home in a blanket of Wi-Fi for less than $100. We know this because the Vilo Mesh Wi-Fi system can do it. This ensemble isn’t the fastest mesh system on the market, but it significantly undercuts any other three-piece mesh network we’ve tested on price. The Vilo kit is sure to eliminate any dead spots a midsize house could have, and it’s an unbeatable value as long as you’re not looking to stream 4K video or download huge amounts of data. (See more budget routers and mesh systems.)
MSRP $59.99
$99.99
at Amazon
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Vilo Mesh Wi-Fi System Review
Best Cheap NAS Drive
Asustor Drivestor 2
4.0
You might think there’s no reason to splurge on a network-attached storage (NAS) device to build your own media collection, when you can get your favorite content from streaming services for a few bucks a month. You’d be right except for two things. First, not even remotely everything is available on streaming. Second, the Drivestor 2 is just $170, meaning even if it saves you just $10 a month in streaming costs it’ll pay for itself in a year and a half.
And don’t think you’ll be missing out on cutting-edge features, either—it’s not often you see multi-gig LAN ports or 4K video transcoding capabilities in this price category. Oh, and did we mention the maximum capacity of 36TB? Yes, like with most modern NAS units, you’ll have to supply your own hard drives. But good luck running out of things to watch.
MSRP $169.99
$179.00
at Amazon
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Asustor Drivestor 2 AS1102T Review
Cheap Cameras & Gear
Best Cheap Mirrorless Camera
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7
4.0
You’re not going to find any ultra-affordable cameras these days, at least none worth buying—if that’s the type of camera you want, you’re better off with a smartphone. Swappable lens models are going strong, though, and there’s still value to be had in shopping for an older, but still available option, like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7. Its 16MP Micro Four Thirds sensor supports 4K video recording, is compatible with a wide array of lenses, and offers speedy 8fps burst capture. True, you miss out on some modern creature comforts—the sensor isn’t stabilized—but it’s hard to turn up your nose at the G7’s current price of around $700 with a starter lens.
MSRP $799.99
$547.99
at Amazon
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7 Review
Best Cheap Full-Frame Camera
Canon EOS RP
4.0
With smartphone cameras as good as they are, there’s little reason for budding photographers to grab a compact. If you want to get started with a full-frame model, the same type of sensor format the pros use, we recommend starting with the Canon EOS RP. It’s the best way for beginners and price-sensitive shoppers to get started with a full-frame sensor, either for $999 as a body only or $1,299 with the RF 24-105mm STM kit lens. Additional lenses start at $199.99 if you want to expand your kit.
MSRP $1,299.00
$999.00
at Amazon
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Canon EOS RP Review
Best Cheap Lens for Canon
Canon RF 16mm F2.8
4.0
Canon may have been initially slow to release affordable lenses for its EOS R mirrorless system, but it has done a good job playing catch-up. The $300 RF 16mm F2.8 is our favorite affordable lens for the EOS R. Its ultra-wide angle of view is perfect for interiors and landscapes, and it should be a hit with the vlogging crowd too.
MSRP $299.99
$279.99
at Amazon
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Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM Review
Best Cheap Lens for Sony
Rokinon 35mm F2.8 AF
4.0
Sony started with full-frame mirrorless cameras before anyone else, and as a result has the biggest library of lenses with robust support from third parties. The Rokinon 35mm F2.8 AF (also sold under the Samyang brand) is one of the low-cost superstars, available for around $200 in a favorite moderately wide focal length. What really wins us over are its featherweight build and sharp optics.
MSRP $399.00
$199.00
at Amazon
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Rokinon 35mm F2.8 AF Sony E Review
Best Cheap Instant Camera
Fujifilm Instax Mini 12
4.0
Instant cameras are always a hit at parties, and a breath of fresh air from the smartphone photos that dominate our social feeds. The $80 Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 is the latest in a long-running series that prints glossy, high-quality instant photos on either color ($7.50 for a 10-shot pack) or black-and-white ($8.25 for a 10-shot pack) Instax film. It couldn’t be easier to use—there’s just one button and a nifty twisting lens collar for mode selection.
MSRP $79.95
$79.95
at B&H Photo Video
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Fujifilm Instax Mini 12 Review
Best Cheap Action Cam
GoPro Hero8 Black
4.5
You can score the 2019 GoPro Hero8 Black for under $300. While there are cheaper action cams out there, none matches up with the video quality and sturdy build of this slightly older model, which includes excellent Hypersmooth digital stabilization for handheld recording, supports 4K60 and 1080p240 slow motion, and is waterproof without the need for an add-on case.
MSRP $399.00
$264.15
at Amazon
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GoPro Hero8 Black Review
Cheap Smart Home Devices
Best Cheap Smart Speaker
Amazon Echo Dot With Clock (5th Gen, 2022 Release)
4.0
The fifth-generation Amazon Echo Dot With Clock adds new visible information like song titles and weather conditions, making it an ever smarter speaker than the previous model for the same price.
MSRP $59.99
$59.99
at Amazon
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Amazon Echo Dot With Clock (5th Gen, 2022 Release) Review
Best Cheap Smart Display
Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen)
4.0
Adding a screen to a smart speaker to make it a smart display lets you see more information and even watch videos on it. Of course, it can also make the device much pricier. The Amazon Echo Show 5 thankfully remains affordable at a starting price of $85, with sales often cutting it to as little as $55. It can do everything an Echo Dot can, plus it lets you watch movies on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, check your Ring doorbell and home security cameras, and make video calls with friends. It works well as a bedside clock radio, too.
MSRP $84.99
$84.99
at Amazon
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Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen, 2021 Release) Review
Best Cheap Smart Light Bulb
Wyze Bulb Color
4.5
The Wyze Bulb Color is a refreshingly affordable smart light bulb you can control with your phone and voice. At $39.99 for a four-pack, it’s a small investment that delivers a big impact, with the ability to display 16 million colors. It also supports device-triggered automations, schedules, sleep routines, and more.
Starts at $20.99
$26.98
at Amazon
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Wyze Bulb Color Review
Best Cheap Robot Vacuum
Wyze Robot Vacuum
4.0
If you’re looking for an affordable robot to clean your floors, the aptly named Wyze Robot Vacuum offers a lot to like for a reasonable $249.99, including 2,100Pa of suction power and a laser sensor for mapping your home (a feature typically reserved for more expensive models). It works quickly and methodically, effectively collecting debris and pet hair from hard floors and carpet. You can use an app to direct the vacuum to clean certain rooms and create virtual walls to cordon off areas you want it to avoid, making it one of the smartest robot vacuums in its price range.
MSRP $249.99
$274.90
at Amazon
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Wyze Robot Vacuum Review
Best Cheap Smart Plug
Wyze Plug
4.0
At $15 for a pack of two, the Wyze Plug is easily the most affordable smart plug we’ve tested, but that doesn’t mean it skimps on features. With this little device, you can turn anything that plugs into a wall outlet into a connected gadget you can control from your phone. It has a built-in Wi-Fi radio, supports Alexa and Google voice commands, and works with other Wyze products and loads of third-party smart devices using the IFTTT protocol.
MSRP $14.99
$11.01
at Amazon
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Wyze Plug Review
Best Cheap Home Security Camera
Wyze Cam V3 Pro
4.5
Improving your home security doesn’t have to break the bank. The Wyze Cam V3 Pro is the latest model in the company’s line of affordable security cameras. For the low price of $50, you get sharp 2K video, flexible storage options, a built-in spotlight and siren, intelligent alerts, and motion tracking. Aside from Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice support, it also works with IFTTT, which enables lots of third-party device interoperability. It’s simply an exceptional value if you need to monitor the inside or outside of your home.
MSRP $49.99
$49.99
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Wyze Cam V3 Pro Review
Best Cheap Video Doorbell
Wyze Video Doorbell Pro
4.0
When we reviewed the standard Wyze Video Doorbell, we gave it high marks for its affordable price, numerous integrations, and free cloud storage, but lamented the device’s missing support for voice commands, wired setup, and subscription-locked features. The Wyze Video Doorbell Pro hits those same high marks and introduces improvements such as a wireless design, a higher-resolution camera, and support for Alexa and Google Assistant voice control. You still have to pay a small fee for intelligent alerts, but that’s not enough to prevent the Wyze Video Doorbell Pro from being our top pick for affordable smart doorbells.
MSRP $93.99
$99.98
at Amazon
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Wyze Video Doorbell Pro Review
Cheap TVs & Media Streamers
Best Cheap TV
Hisense 65U6H
4.0
The Hisense U6H proves that you can get superb panel performance while still spending relatively little money. This budget-priced TV features incredible color, covering almost the entire DCI-P3 digital cinema color space with strong accuracy out of the box. It also has the feature-filled Google TV smart TV platform with hands-free Google Assistant, and both Google Cast and Apple AirPlay for streaming from your Android or iOS device. It makes some concessions in contrast, but considering the 65-inch model is list-priced at $900 and we’ve seen it available for far less than that, that’s a small trade-off for an excellent value.
MSRP $899.99
$549.99
at Amazon
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Hisense 65U6H Review
Best Cheap Media Streamer
Chromecast With Google TV
4.5
The Chromecast With Google TV finally adds a remote and on-screen interface with a new and simple menu system to the popular media streamer.
MSRP $49.99
$49.99
at Amazon
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Chromecast With Google TV Review
Best Cheap Soundbar
Roku Streambar
4.0
The Roku Streambar isn’t the biggest or most powerful soundbar, but it’s one of the most affordable, at $130 (and often on sale for $100). The Streambar almost certainly offers better, louder sound than your TV’s speaker, and its built-in Roku interface supports most major streaming services and even Apple AirPlay 2 in a compact size that’s easy to fit into just about any home theater setup.
MSRP $129.99
$129.99
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Roku Streambar Review
Cheap Health & Fitness Gear
Best Cheap Smart Bathroom Scale
Wyze Scale
4.5
For a couple of bucks more than a generic, non-connected bathroom scale, the $20 Wyze Scale offers unbeatable value, with the ability to read a lot more than just your weight. It measures 12 metrics including your body mass index, body fat percentage, body water percentage, heart rate, muscle mass, protein level, and weight (up to 400 pounds), then syncs your data to the Wyze app via Bluetooth so you can monitor your stats over time. It automatically recognizes up to eight users and even offers a mode for those who are pregnant or wearing a pacemaker, an extra typically found only on more expensive models.
MSRP $19.99
$23.99
at Wyze
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Wyze Scale Review
Best Cheap Fitness Tracker
Amazon Halo View
4.0
If you need some motivation to get active, but don’t want to spend big bucks on a fitness tracker you’re not sure you’ll stick with, consider Amazon’s $79.99 Halo View. The Halo View measures your activity, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), heart rate, sleep, and skin temperature, while its companion app offers tons of features to help you improve your results, including a library of workout videos, audio meditations, and healthy recipes.
$79.99
at Amazon
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Amazon Halo View Review
Best Cheap Fitness Machine
Peloton Guide
4.0
Smart fitness machines can easily run you $1,000 or more. The Peloton Guide, by contrast, is a relatively affordable camera that connects to your TV and lets you see yourself on the screen, alongside the instructor, so you can check your form in real time. The Guide uses computer vision to track your strength training movements, gives you credit for staying active throughout each set, and gamifies the experience by awarding achievement badges based on your performance. It also keeps track of your workouts and offers personalized class recommendations to help you hit all of your major muscle groups each week.
MSRP $295.00
Peloton Guide
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Peloton Guide Review
Cheap Headphones & Audio
Best Cheap True Wireless Earphones
Monoprice Horizon ANC
4.0
Monoprice’s Horizon ANC earphones offer a rich, detailed audio signature and surprisingly competent active noise cancellation (ANC) for just $60. On top of that, they work with both the AAC and AptX Adaptive codecs, a rarity in this segment. Decent battery life and a slightly-better-than average IPX5 rating are also highlights, though they would benefit from more reliable controls and a companion app. Still, if you want good sound and the most possible features for the least amount of money, you can’t go wrong with these earbuds.
MSRP $59.99
$51.37
at Amazon
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Monoprice Horizon ANC Review
Best Cheap Headphones for Kids
Puro Sound Labs JuniorJams
4.0
The Puro Sound Labs JuniorJams hit a number of sweet spots for kid-friendly headphones. Sonically, they feature a volume-limited wireless experience that still delivers solid bass depth, so that their relatively low volume doesn’t feel like a punishment to your child. There’s also a cable included for wired listening, and it too limits volume levels. At $69.99, the price is slightly high for this category, but the JuniorJams offer the best value for the price.
MSRP $69.99
$79.00
at Amazon
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Puro Sound Labs JuniorJams Review
Best Cheap Speaker
Anker Soundcore Mini 3
4.0
The $40 Anker Soundcore Mini 3 offers solid audio in a tiny, waterproof package. It sounds far better than its size should allow (even if it doesn’t pump out much bass), and it pairs with an app that provides access to an adjustable EQ. The Soundcore Mini also has built-in microphones, so you can use it as a speakerphone.
MSRP $39.99
$40.99
at Amazon
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Anker Soundcore Mini 3 Review
Cheap Gaming Gear & Games
Best Cheap Console
Nintendo Switch Lite
4.0
Five years in, the Nintendo Switch remains an amazing game system that features excellent exclusives and a massive library of classic and indie games. The Switch Lite is the handheld-only version of the system that removes the dockable option and cuts the price by a third, to just $199.99. It’s an ideal device for playing games on the go, or even just kicking back on the couch.
MSRP $199.99
$199.99
at Target
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Nintendo Switch Lite Review
Best Cheap Gaming Keyboard
IOGear Kaliber Gaming Hver Stealth Keyboard
3.5
Budget-priced mechanical gaming keyboards are hard to come by and often aren’t worth your time, but IOGear scraped together a solid mechanical model with some snap. The Kaliber Gaming Hver Stealth may lack some of the features found on higher-priced keyboards, but its key switches, a crossbreed type that falls somewhere between linear and tactile switch designs, deliver a sensitive key press that’s ideal for first-person shooters and similar twitchy titles. And given that the Hver is just $50, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better deal on some seriously solid gear.
MSRP $49.95
$66.85
at Amazon
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IOGear Kaliber Gaming Hver Stealth Keyboard Review
Best Cheap Gaming Mouse
HyperX Pulsefire Haste Gaming Mouse
4.5
Our reigning esports champ also happens to be one of the best gaming mice out now—and one of the cheapest, too. The Haste is extremely lightweight, with a terrific sensor for the price that guarantees precision when playing fast-paced action games. The honeycomb chassis is easy on the eyes and keeps the design simple, with just two additional buttons and one profile available for onboard storage. But that hardly detracts from the awesome value on offer here, more than enough mouse to satisfy both experienced gamers and newcomers alike.
MSRP $49.99
$39.30
at Amazon
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HyperX Pulsefire Haste Gaming Mouse Review
Best Cheap Gaming Monitor
NZXT Canvas 32Q Curved
4.0
Curved monitors are an excellent way to immerse yourself in whatever you’re watching or whatever you’re playing, and today, the barrier of entry has never been lower. Enter the NZXT Canvas 32Q Curved Gaming Monitor, the first monitor release from boutique PC vendor NZXT. The curved monitor impressed us with its bold, clean design, good color range, and low input lag. It straddles the line of affordability, coming in at $339.99 with a stand and $289.99 without. This affordable curved panel does mandate some concessions, such as built-in speakers and tolerating a shaky HDR implementation. But the 165Hz refresh rate and wide, swooping panel makes up for it. If you’re looking to save some cash while maintaining high-frame-rate performance, the Canvas 32Q Curved Gaming Monitor is a worthy choice.
MSRP $339.99
$339.99
at NZXT
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NZXT Canvas 32Q Curved Review
Best Cheap Gaming Headset
Razer Barracuda X
4.5
The Razer Barracuda X offers wireless game audio for the PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, and even many Android phones with its USB-C transmitter (plus wired connectivity for everything with a headphone jack). It feels and sounds good, with a clear microphone for voice chat, recording, and streaming. It’s a lot of gaming headset for $99.99, and we’ve seen it on sale for way less.
MSRP $99.99
$125.99
at Amazon
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Razer Barracuda X Review
Best Cheap Gaming Chair
Razer Enki X
4.0
Now, cheap is relative here. We’ve seen cheaper chairs than the $299.99 Razer Enki X, but none built well enough for us to recommend. The Enki X feels like a premium gaming chair, with an attractive design and good materials such as diamond-quilted faux leather. The chair is as comfortable as more expensive seats, and its back reclines—a nice touch. On the negative side, it sacrifices a full-chair tilt mechanism to hit its wallet-friendly price. But it’s still a commendable value.
MSRP $299.99
$299.99
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Razer Enki X Review
Best Cheap Action Game
Trek to Yomi
4.0
Developers Flying Wild Hog and Leonard Menchiari blend Japanese history, mysticism, black-and-white visuals, and fantastic sound design to create a highly cinematic game that pays homage to classic samurai films from the 1950s and 1960s. However, Trek to Yomi’s simple, satisfying sword-based combat is what drives you through its five-hour runtime. This $9.99 indie game isn’t particularly difficult or complex, but it’s hard not to recommend this stylish budget title to anyone looking for a short, fulfilling actioner. (See our roundup of favorite PC games.)
MSRP $19.99
$19.99
at Steam
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Trek to Yomi (for PC) Review
Best Cheap Action RPG Game
Vampire Survivors (for PC)
4.0
Vampire Survivor has all the hallmarks of a cheap Steam shovelware title that’s worth no one’s attention outside of YouTube mockery. However, this survival game’s $3 price, early-access status, and suspiciously familiar sprites hide an amazingly addictive retro-shooter that’s similar to Robotron. It’s filled with surprising strategic depth and lots of unlockables, plus it receives regular updates that add more characters and weapons.
MSRP $2.99
$2.99
at Steam
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Vampire Survivors (for PC) Review
Best Cheap Sports Game
Windjammers 2
4.0
Imagine a fast and frantic one-on-one sports game that features potent special moves, unique playable athletes, and tight defensive options. Now imagine said sports game as a weirdly addicting cross between Pong, flying disc, and volleyball. That’s Windjammers 2. The $19.99 sequel to the classic Neo Geo arcade sports title has all of the original game’s intense action, plus new mechanics and near-flawless rollback netcode. If you’re tired of Madden NFL’s stale annual releases, give this thrilling alternative a try.
MSRP $19.99
$19.99
at Steam
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Windjammers 2 (for PC) Review
Best Cheap Beat-‘Em-Up Game
Yakuza 0
4.0
Witness the origins of the Kazuma Kiryu, the Dragon of Dojima, with Yakuza 0 ($19.99). Come for the thrilling, melee-brawling action, but stay for the engrossing story, hilariously quirky side characters, and wacky mini-games. There are mundane activities to explore, such as buying Japanese snacks from convenience stores or hitting up the batting range. Conversely, the more involved side quests see you recruit real estate agents or manage a cabaret club for massive profits. Yakuza is a story about beating up gangsters, but it’s also a hyperbolic slice of Japanese life.
MSRP $19.99
$19.99
at Humble Bundle
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Yakuza 0 (for PC) Review
Best First-Person Shooter
Postal: Brain Damaged (for PC)
3.5
Retro first-person shooters (aka “boomer shooters”) are all the rage right now, but perhaps the most surprising to emerge from the heap of ’90s and ’00s nostalgia is none other than Postal, the infamous shooter that brought ultra-violence and some serious off-color attitude to the masses. While the first game didn’t set the world on fire, its sequel, Postal 2, shocked the gaming world, earning ire from critics and a cult following. Postal: Brain Damaged, while being a spin-off of the main series, shies away from the controversies of previous games and ends up being a surprisingly great callback to old-school FPS, complete with the trappings of just about every classic game from the era—along with, for better or worse, Postal’s trademark lowbrow humor.
MSRP $19.99
$19.99
at Steam
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Postal: Brain Damaged (for PC) Review
Cheap Antivirus & Security
Best Cheap Antivirus
K7 Antivirus Premium
3.0
Antivirus protection is a must in this modern world of ransomware, data-stealing Trojans, and collateral damage from cyber attacks. Dozens of companies vie for your dollars, most asking roughly $40 per year to protect one PC. K7 Antivirus Premium bucks that trend, listing for $15 per year and currently discounted to $9. It gets good scores from the independent testing labs that have examined it. Offering firewall protection, a vulnerability scan, and control over USB drive security, it goes well beyond the basics.
Per Year, Starts at $15.00
$9.00
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K7 Antivirus Premium Review
Best Cheap Entry-Level Security Suite
K7 Total Security
3.0
When you graduate to a full security suite, you get much more than basic antivirus protection. In addition to the firewall, vulnerability scan, and other bonus features found in K7 Antivirus, K7 Total Security adds spam filtering, parental control, system tuneup, ransomware protection, and more. Listing for $27 per year, it costs considerably less than most competitors. Its features don’t all perform on par with the best, but if its strengths match your needs, it can be a good choice.
Per Year, Starts at $27.00
$16.20
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K7 Total Security Review
Best Cheap Top-Tier Security Suite
K7 Ultimate Security
3.0
Like the company’s antivirus and entry-level security suite, K7 Ultimate Security costs a good bit less—in some cases a whole lot less—than competing products. Its usual price of $38 per year was discounted to $21 at this writing, while rivals cost anywhere from $60 to over $100. This security mega-suite is loaded with features and extends security protection to macOS, Android, and iOS as well as Windows devices. Besides enhancing the system tuneup and parental control components found in the entry-level suite, it adds a full local-only backup system.
Per Year, Starts at $38.00
$19.00
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K7 Ultimate Security Review
Best Cheap Antivirus (for 10 Licenses)
Sophos Home Premium
4.0
At $60 per year, Sophos Home Premium doesn’t sound like a cheap antivirus solution—until you realize that that subscription lets you install and manage protection on up to 10 PCs or Macs. That brings the price per device down to $6, undercutting even K7 Antivirus Premium’s discounted price. Only one of the testing labs we follow includes Sophos in its regular reports, but that lab awards it AAA certification. And the program earned an excellent score in our own hands-on malware protection test. Best of all, you can manage your installations remotely, even from your smartphone. No more driving across town to sort out an aging relative’s antivirus woes.
Per Year, Starts at $60.00
$39.99 Per Year
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Sophos Home Premium Review
Best Cheap Security Suite (for 10 Licenses)
Avast Premium Security
3.5
When you purchase a security mega-suite, especially one that covers Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices, you’re not looking for a single license. Rather, you want enough to protect all your gear. Avast Premium Security gives you 10 licenses for $89.99 per year, which is less than $10 per device. All the antivirus labs we follow consider Avast important enough to test, and it routinely earns perfect or near-perfect scores. It also performs well in our hands-on tests. On Windows, you get a full-fledged suite with antivirus, firewall, secure deletion, ransomware protection, and more. Avast also boasts a rich feature set on Android, though it doesn’t do as much to protect your macOS and iOS devices.
Per Year, Starts at $89.99
$39.48
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Avast Premium Security Review
Best Cheap Ransomware Protection
Data443 Ransomware Recovery Manager
3.5
A movie director who doesn’t like how a scene is playing out can yell “Cut!” and roll back to the beginning. Likewise, if Data443 Ransomware Recovery Manager detects ransomware activity, it can roll back your system to before the attack. Every time you reboot, it restores your PC to a previous malware-free state, wiping out any changes except your own documents, pictures, and so on. The tool can’t claw back any data that malware has already exfiltrated from your system—it only reverts your PC, not the outside world. In testing, it detected and disabled all our real-world ransomware samples, though its file recovery wasn’t always perfect.
Per Year, Starts at $8.99
$8.99 Per Year
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Data443 Ransomware Recovery Manager Review
Cheap VPNs & Streaming Services
Best Cheap VPN for Flexible Pricing
IVPN
4.0
With a VPN, your ISP can’t see what you’re up to online, and it’s harder to track your movements across the web. IVPN is one of two VPNs we know that use a special account system that builds in privacy while doing away with cumbersome passwords. If you want to use it truly anonymously, you can pay for it in cash by sending your dollars to IVPN’s headquarters.
It also has incredibly flexible pricing: Standard plans start at $2 per week and top out at $140 every three years, with numerous levels in between. The IVPN Pro tier, which adds port-forwarding and multi-hop connections, is more expensive but still very affordable, starting at $4 weekly and going up to $220 for three years.
Per Month, Starts at $6.00
IVPN Review
Best Cheap VPN for Privacy Hawks
Mullvad VPN
4.0
All VPNs do essentially the same thing: They encrypt your web traffic so your ISP can’t see what you’re up to, and they make it harder for snoops to track you as you move around the web. Mullvad(Opens in a new window) is no different. It uses a privacy-protecting account system and accepts cash deliveries if you don’t want to use an online payment method. Mullvad also takes a strong stance on privacy and transparency. This VPN service stands apart with its flat, cheap pricing: Five euros per month ($5.48 USD at this writing) gets you access to all the service’s features, including multi-hop connections. It’s close to half the price of what most competitors charge while offering most, if not all, of the same functionality.
Per Month, Starts at €5.00
Mullvad VPN Review
Best Cheap Video Streaming Service
Peacock
4.0
With Peacock, you can watch a Bel Air reboot featuring a sinister Carlton reimagining that must be seen to be believed. Or you can just rewatch The Office. NBC’s video streaming service ditched its previously excellent free tier, but now has one of the best low-cost tiers we’ve tested. The $4.99-per-month Premium plan lets you watch many entertaining, ad-supported TV shows and movies. Upgrading to the $9.99-per-month Premium Plus tier kicks the ads to the curb.
Per Month, Starts at $4.99
$0.00
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Peacock Review
Cheap Content Creation Software & Services
Best Cheap Video Editing Software
Movavi Video Editor Plus
4.0
You’ll get a surprising number of impressive video effects in a clear, easy-to-understand interface for a very reasonable $59.95 one-time price with Movavi. That’s saying a lot in today’s world of subscription-based media-creation software. With Movavi, you can perform chroma-keying, change the speed, easily add a wide selection of transitions, and even track an object’s motion in your video to add effects, text, or stickers. The package also includes one of the better Instant Movie features we’ve tested. It’s not the fastest at rendering video projects, but it’s far from the slowest video editor, and it’s an unbeatable bargain.
MSRP $69.95
$59.95
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Movavi Video Editor Plus Review
Best Cheap Photo Editing Software
Skylum Luminar Neo
4.0
You could pay Adobe $10 a month for the rest of your life for Lightroom or Photoshop, or you could get this slick $79 software from Ukraine-based developer Skylum as an inexpensive one-time purchase. Skylum Luminar does all the photo editing stuff you expect from today’s top-end software, and it adds a few special and unique AI-based features. As the company name suggests, it’s fantastic for improving the look of the sky in your pictures, but it also offers content-aware editing such as automagically removing power lines from city shots.
MSRP $149.00
$149.00
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Skylum Luminar Neo Review
Best Cheap Graphic Design Software
Serif Affinity Designer
3.5
The $54.99 Affinity Designer from Serif costs just a little more than you’d pay for a single month’s use of Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite. Sure, it’s not the industry standard that Illustrator is, but it’s a full-featured vector image editor with a familiar-feeling interface that’s snappy to use. You do lose some pattern-making ability, and you don’t get perfect compatibility with non-Serif software document formats. But for basic and intermediate use, you’ll find a tremendous amount of value here among graphic design packages.
MSRP $54.99
$54.99
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Serif Affinity Designer Review
Best Cheap Screenwriting Software
Fade In
4.0
If you write movie and TV scripts, you need a writing app that can help you appropriately format your work. The screenwriter’s fave Final Draft is the one you’ll hear mentioned most often, but Fade In’s $79.95 is a lot more palatable than that app’s $249 (even if Final Draft is often discounted to around $200). Despite its bargain price, Fade In is a competitive screenwriting package that helps scriptwriters work efficiently and in an organized fashion. It helps you keep track of all the details of your scripts, such as locations, character names, and scene numbers. Fade In is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux, and you can use the same license to install the software on as many personal desktops as you own. Once you pay for the software, you get free upgrades to any new versions. And you can add the mobile apps for just $4.99.
MSRP $79.95
$79.95
at GCC Productions
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Fade In Review
Best Cheap Cloud Storage
IDrive
4.5
IDrive is one of the fastest and most full-featured online backup players around. It’s also among the cheapest. Clear interfaces in the IDrive apps for all major platforms let you store, sync, and share cloud files easily. You also get a significantly higher storage quota than any major competitor, with plans starting at 5TB for under $80 per year (and that’s frequently discounted). IDrive also offers full disk-cloning software and remote web-based backup management.
Per Year, Starts at $79.50
$15.90 For First Year
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IDrive Review
Best Cheap Web Hosting
AccuWeb Hosting
4.0
You don’t needn’t spend a lot of money to get high-quality web hosting. AccuWeb Hosting offers thriftier clients a fantastic selection of low-cost hosting options, particularly its shared and WordPress plans. The longer you commit to a plan (12, 24, or 36 months), the cheaper the rate. You can even select plans for the Linux or Windows operating systems, which is a great option depending on your project.
MSRP $3.36
3.36 Per Month
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AccuWeb Hosting Review
So Cheap, It’s Free! (Games)
Best Free Fighting Game
Brawlhalla
3.5
Brawlhalla proves that Super Smash Bros. doesn’t have a monopoly on fun and frantic platformer fighters. You choose from a cast of colorful characters and try to smack them off the stage using your fists or wacky weapons—as they do the same to you. As a free-to-play game, Brawlhalla tempts you to spend real money to quickly unlock everything, but it costs nothing to start throwing some hands, unlike Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
$0.00
at Steam
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Brawlhalla (for PC) Review
Best Free Shooter
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (for PC)
4.0
Counter-Strike began as a humble Half-Life mod, but has become a foundational text for tactical, multiplayer shooters. Since 2012, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has continued the legacy as one of Valve’s most vibrant team esports titles. Other shooters come and go, but Counter-Strike’s finely tuned counter-terrorism firefights are forever—and free!
MSRP Free
$0.00
at Steam
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Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (for PC) Review
Best Free MOBA
League of Legends
4.5
The free League of Legends combines role-playing stat progression, tower defense, and real-time strategy to produce one of the most revered games in the genre. Every playable champion is rich and varied, and new ones get added regularly to shake up the meta. To top it off, the League’s competitive ranking system is perfectly designed to fire up your tier-climbing addiction.
MSRP Free
$0.00
at Amazon
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League of Legends (for PC) Review
Best Free MMO
Lost Ark
4.0
Featuring fantastic combat, great visuals, and expansive endgame content, Lost Ark will fuel your loot-grinding obsession for months to come. The game launched in other regions in 2019, so the Western release comes with two years’ worth of polish, content updates, and balance adjustments. The game uses a top-down, Diablo-esque camera perspective that’s different from other MMO titles, but once you get used to the look, there’s no shortage of brawl-heavy gameplay. And it’s free, unlike the $9.99 Black Desert Online.
MSRP Free
$0.00
at Steam
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Lost Ark (for PC) Review
Best Free Card Battle
Marvel Snap
4.0
A free mobile multiplayer card game based on Marvel superheroes sounds like something most serious gamers can safely ignore. However, the designers behind Hearthstone turned Marvel Snap into a deckbuilding masterpiece thanks to sublime strategy mechanics. Once you annihilate your opponent with Hulk or ruin their day with Hobgoblin, you’ll be ready to dive into another matchup. You can battle for free and unlock cards at a steady clip, too. Of course, you can turbocharge the experience by purchasing a battle pass that lets you quickly receive cards and bonus goodies.
MSRP Free
$0.00
at Apple App Store
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Marvel Snap Review
So Cheap, It’s Free! (Software & Services)
Best Free VPN
Proton VPN
5.0
We love Proton VPN so much that it made this list twice. Not only is it our top pick for best cheap VPN for everyone, it’s also the best free VPN you’ll find. Flexible pricing and low overall cost make it a great choice for cash-strapped shoppers. Proton VPN also boasts a great set of privacy tools, including multi-hop connections and access to Tor via VPN. Its free subscription tier is really impressive: While you can only access 75 servers across three countries and connect just one device at a time, unlike most free VPNs, Proton VPN places no limit on how much data you can use. That alone is worth the price of admission (which is zero).
Price as Tested $9.99
$4 Per Month for Yearly Basic Plan
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Proton VPN Review
Best Free Antivirus
Avast One Essential
4.5
For many years, Avast has been a mainstay of free antivirus protection. With Avast One Essential, you get Avast’s powerful antivirus protection along with some elements of the Avast One security suite. All of the testing labs we follow test Avast, and it regularly posts perfect or near-perfect scores. This free tool extends protection to macOS, Android, and iOS devices, though not at the same level as its Windows protection. It earns excellent scores in our own hands-on tests, and its features include ransomware protection, a simple firewall, and a bandwidth-limited VPN.
MSRP Free
From $2.50/Month
at AVAST
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Avast One Essential Review
Best Free Email Encryption
PreVeil
4.5
Sending a message using traditional email is about as private as sending a postcard or thumb-tacking it to a community bulletin board. Even when your email travels over HTTPS channels, it’s still exposed to the email provider. With PreVeil, you get full-scale, business-grade email encryption at a cost of exactly zero. You don’t have to spin up a new email address, and the service integrates automatically with Apple Mail, Gmail, and Outlook. Forgot your all-important encryption password? A unique and sophisticated key recovery system lets you get it back with a little help from your friends.
MSRP Free
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PreVeil Review
Best Free Password Manager
Bitwarden Free
5.0
Bitwarden is an open-source password manager with a generous free tier and inexpensive premium plans. Under the free personal plan, you can store an unlimited number of passwords and sync them across all your devices. Bitwarden offers native apps for Windows (including a Microsoft Store app), macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Bitwarden’s browser extension supports Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, and Safari, as well as the less common Vivaldi, Brave, and Tor browsers. The free version also lets you enable multi-factor authentication via an authenticator app.
MSRP Free
$0.00
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Bitwarden Review
Best Free Audio Editing Software
Audacity
4.0
It’s hard to beat free, and if you’re looking to start a podcast or record music, or just need a tool to assemble and convert some audio samples, Audacity is your program. Now owned by Muse Group, this venerable software started life as an open-source, two-channel stereo editor, but it has grown and expanded to include multitrack recording, many effects, and spectral and spectrogram views for sample-level editing. Despite unlimited undos and redos and a new clip editor, Audacity is destructive at heart, with no support for VSTs or other real-time plug-ins. But if you’re careful with your edits, Audacity will get you where you need to go with no money down—or ever, in fact.
MSRP Free
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Audacity Review
Best Free Photo Editing Software
GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP)
3.5
When you need Photoshop but you don’t have Photoshop, you turn to GIMP. GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) is the longtime open-source photo editing alternative to Adobe Photoshop. It’s not nearly as slick or powerful as Photoshop, but it’s free. GIMP includes many of the same tools, features, and functionality as Photoshop, like layers, plug-ins, painting, text, filters, selection, and masking. It’s often slow and a little clunky, but if you need Photoshop but can’t afford it, use GIMP.
MSRP Free
$0.00
at GIMP
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GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) Review
Best Free Online Learning Site for University Courses
Coursera
4.0
Coursera is one of the best online learning sites, and it excels at giving you access to real courses from prestigious institutions such as Yale University, National University of Singapore, Sciences Po, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, and others—all at no cost. In other words, you can get all the lectures and reading materials from a real class at, say, Princeton University without paying a dime. Coursera partners with private companies, too, to offer free classes for personal enrichment. You can also pay for courses that result in a professional certificate or bachelor’s or master’s degree. If there’s something you want to learn about, from arts and sciences to programming, but you don’t have the funds, Coursera may make it possible.
MSRP Free
$0.00
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Coursera Review
Best Free Online Learning Site for Academic Learning
Khan Academy
4.5
Where can you go to learn the basics of something from school you’ve since forgotten? For most academic subjects, the best place is Khan Academy. Khan Academy is a free online learning service with course material covering math, science, art history, and other subjects. The lessons contain videos, readings, and interactive components, which are sequenced so you can start from square one with any subject and slowly build your knowledge. The site focuses on kindergarten through early college courses, making it an ideal help source for students. Given what it offers and the fact that it’s entirely free to use, Khan Academy is the best learning site for academic subjects.
MSRP Free
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Khan Academy Review
Best Free Language Learning Software
Duolingo
5.0
Duolingo(Opens in a new window) is one of the best apps for learning a language, and it just happens to be free. You’re unlikely to become fluent using only Duolingo, but it’s an excellent way to learn the ins and outs of a language that’s new to you or to improve your grasp of a language you’ve studied before through practice and exposure. Because it offers close to 40 languages, there’s a good chance it includes the one you want to learn. It’s appropriate for adults and children alike, with mobile apps and a web app that works more like a short video game than what you might expect of a language app.
MSRP Free
$0.00
at Apple App Store
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Duolingo Review
Best Free To-Do List App
Todoist
5.0
Considering that to-do list apps are a dime a dozen, it’s downright shocking that so few of them are truly helpful, well designed, and affordable. Todoist, however, is all that. Whether you use the wonderful free version or pay to upgrade to an inexpensive Premium account, Todoist is clearly the best to-do list app on the market. It works on all your devices, tracks your productivity, and lets you geek out on organizing and analyzing your life. If you need an app to organize your tasks, either by yourself or in collaboration with others, you need Todoist.
Per Month, Starts at $5.00
$5 Per Month
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Todoist Review
Best Free Dating App
Tinder
4.0
A dating app like Tinder, which prioritizes fast hook-ups over drawn-out relationship analysis, needs to have as many users as possible. That’s why it costs you nothing to sign up and instantly start swiping to let people know whether you find them hot or not. If you want to pay money for perks such as profile boosts and Super Likes, you can do that, too. Still, free Tinder promises plenty of potential romantic rewards, unlike eHarmony’s no-cost tier.
Per Month, Starts at $19.99
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Tinder Review
Best Free Website Builder
Wix Website Builder
4.5
Wix is an excellent website builder—and unlike many of its competitors such as Gator or Squarespace, you can use it for free. You won’t get a custom domain, and you’ll need to be okay with ads appearing on your site, but in return you’ll enjoy powerful tools for building fantastic desktop and mobile sites. Besides, there’s nothing stopping you from upgrading later on.
Per Month, Starts at $14.00
$14 Per Month for Combo Plan
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Wix Website Builder Review
Best Free Streaming Music
Spotify
4.5
Spotify is king of the streaming music service hill. Sure, it faces steep competition from the feature-rich Apple Music, but Spotify’s deep catalog, early-access albums, collaborative playlists, video, and renowned podcasts are second to none. Even better, Spotify offers ad-supported accounts with limited skips, which is something that Apple Music lacks once you exhaust that service’s free 30-day trial.
Per Month, Starts at $9.99
$9.99
at Spotify
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Spotify Review
Best Free Streaming Video
Tubi
4.0
Tubi doesn’t offer a limited free tier that simply acts as a teaser for a premium video streaming plan. Instead, it serves up its entire library of major studio releases—for free! Sure, it has ads, and certain movies and TV shows may come and go without warning. Still, Tubi proves you can enjoy great streaming video content without paying for a subscription.
$0.00
at Tubi
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Tubi Review
