Everyone knows the importance of a fantastic monitor for gaming, business, and everything in between. And while there are many screens out there that are really expensive, you shouldn’t let that get in the way of your search. The following reviews feature some of the best budget monitors that offer performance at a reasonable cost.

These budget-friendly monitors boast a great response time, crisp resolution, and a decent-sized screen. Some even feature some more premium offerings like a curved screen, height-adjustability, speakers, and VESA wall mounting.

Whether you need a monitor for graphic design, answering emails, or gaming, read on to find the best budget monitors on the market.

TLDR

Best 24 inch Monitor on a Budget

 24” of screen estate is more than enough for working from home, casual gaming, and design work. The best cheap 24-inch monitor is the HP V24i, which boasts tilt adjustment, a 175° viewing angle, a small stand, and a borderless design – which offers you an immersive viewing experience.

Other stunning options for a cheap 24 inch monitor are:

• ViewSonic VA2459-SMH
• BenQ 24 Inch IPS Monitor

Best Budget 27 inch Monitor

A 27” monitor gives you a larger area to work with which is ideal no matter what work you do. The Samsung T550 Series offers 27-inches of crisp display on a curved screen as well as a high refresh rate and a low response time.

Other affordable in contention for the best cheapest 27 inch monitors are:

• Philips 273V7QJAB
• AOC B27B2H

Best Affordable Monitors for Design

If you need a monitor for photo editing, graphic design, or illustration, the Samsung T550 Series is once again the best budget PC monitor thanks to a VA panel that shows even the deepest blacks. This means you’ll have good color accuracy with fantastic contrast ratio, meaning there aren’t many limitations on contrast

Another budget monitor with high contrast to look at is the:

• AOC 27B2H

Cheap Monitors for Gaming

A good cheap gaming monitor needs an HD screen, great response time, and a high refresh rate. The best cheap computer monitor for gaming is the 21.5” Acer SB220Q, with a 75 Hz refresh rate and a wide 16:9 aspect ratio.

However, there are other options out there that rival the SB220Q as the best low-price monitor for gaming:

• LG 22MK430H-B
• ASUS VA24EHE

Best Budget Computer Monitor Comparison Table

This table gives a quick overview of the cheapest monitors that still pack a punch. If you read on, you’ll find more in-depth reviews later on in the article.

Best Cheap Monitor Reviews

There are plenty of high-quality, affordable monitors on the market. Below are reviews of the best cheap monitors.

Acer SB220Q | Best Budget Monitor

• Screen size: 21.5”
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Response time: 4ms
• Refresh Rate: 75Hz
• Panel type: IPS

If you’re looking for the best budget monitor, the Acer SB220Q is a great option. This ultra-thin HD screen is sleek and stylish and features an IPS display panel.

With this monitor, we were able to experience crisp image quality. The stand also allowed us to easily tilt the screen while the monitor stayed securely in place. We found the biggest drawback of this monitor is that we couldn’t mount it.

The monitor comes with VisionCare technology to make sure that your eyes don’t suffer after hours of screen time. The screen might be a bit small for professional designers and hardcore gamers, but it does a lot for a low price.

The monitor uses Radeon FreeSync technology, eliminating any stuttering or screen tearing during gameplay. The impressive 4ms response time allows for seamless gaming sessions.

Whether you’re answering emails, catching up on Netflix, or playing games endlessly on Steam, this is the best budget computer monitor.

LG 22MK430H-B Affordable Monitor

• Screen size: 21.5”
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Response time: 5ms
• Refresh Rate: 75Hz
• Panel type: IPS

This 21.5 inch-display LG screen offers HD quality at a low price range. If you’re looking for budget gaming monitors, this is one of the best.

One of our favorite things about the LG 22MK430H-B is that it left us with more desk space after mounting it on the wall. Adjusting the screen is easy using the stand’s tilt capabilities. The monitor also has on-screen controls, where you can adjust brightness, volume, and the picture.

The LG 21-inch monitor comes with AMD FreeSync Technology and Game Mode, including Dynamic Action Sync. This minimizes input lag, allowing you to catch every moment in real time.

Game Mode also comes with Black Stabilizer, which brightens dark scenes, a feature most budget monitors don’t have. This allowed us to effectively identify enemies in the dark before they could attack. This LG monitor is a great option for gamers on a budget.

ViewSonic VA2459 Cheap LCD Monitor

• Screen size: 24”
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Response time: 14ms
• Refresh Rate: 60Hz
• Panel type: IPS

ViewSonic’s 24” monitor has a sleek, eye-catching design that will be a great addition to your workspace. Stunning brightness and contrast at various viewing angles are just a few of the benefits of this Full HD ViewSonic monitor.

The monitor uses Flicker-Free technology and a Blue Light Filter that reduces eye strain, this especially helped us when working long hours. We found the quality of the built-in speakers a little disappointing, but they’re better than nothing.

The handy screen controls allowed us to seamlessly switch between Game, Movie, Text, and Web modes. Unfortunately, the monitor stand is limiting and doesn’t allow for height adjustment. The cheap computer screen comes with a VESA-compatible mount, which let us secure it to the wall easily.

All in all, it’s one of the best 24 inch monitors, but gamers and designers are better with a different, inexpensive monitor.

BenQ 24 Inch IPS Cheap Monitor

• Screen size: 24”
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Response time: 5ms
• Refresh Rate: 60Hz
• Panel type: IPS

This BenQ 24” monitor is the perfect edition for your home office. It has a sleek HD screen with a slim bezel design, maximizing screen space. The monitor has a carbon fiber design and texture which helps to resist everyday scratches.

The monitor is kind to the eyes, especially if you’re working long hours. It uses brightness intelligence technology that adjusts brightness for comfortable viewing. Low blue light and zero flicker technology drastically reduced our eye strain. Not to mention, the IPS monitor delivers a smooth viewing experience with its display panel.

Unfortunately, the built-in speakers are of poor quality. It also doesn’t feature an adjustable stand, but the fact we could mount it on the wall using the VESA wall mount.

This 24” monitor is a great addition to any home office. But if you’re a gamer or a designer, there are better options available.

Samsung T550 Series | Best 27 inch Monitor 

• Screen size: 27”
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Response time: 4ms
• Refresh Rate: 75Hz
• Panel type: VA

The best 27-inch monitor, this Samsung T550 Series screen boasts a minimalist design featuring a 1000R curvature that’s easy on the eyes. It’s curved to closely match the human field of view to reduce eye strain and offer an immersive experience. Of course, this also meant we basically had an ultrawide monitor that made gaming a lot easier with the wider FOV, meaning it could also easily be the best budget gaming monitor.

Featuring a fairly small stand, it can fit on nearly all desks without disturbing your workflow. It’s perfect for gaming thanks to its FreeSync capabilities and low input lag, although its slow response time makes motion blurry at times.

Still, it’s the best cheap 27 inch monitor and is worth buying thanks to its above-average refresh rate. This ensures images will look smoother compared to traditional 60Hz refresh rates.

While the -20° to 5° tilt range is great, we found that the ergonomic design still has room for improvement in the form of height adjustability. The thin bezels are perfect as they won’t be too distracting while you game or work away.

Plus, the monitor’s VA panel offers great contrast, which displays the deepest of blacks, which is important for image performance.

Asus VA24EHE Budget Monitor

• Screen size: 23.8”
• Resolution: 1980 x 1080
• Response time: 5ms
• Refresh Rate: 75Hz
• Panel type: IPS

The Asus VA24EHE offers a faster refresh rate other monitors in this price range can’t offer. The monitor uses Adaptive Sync to eliminate tracing, and we could see how much this helped in providing us with crisp and clear video playback.

Besides the vivid image quality, the monitor also comes with AsusGame Plus. This technology was developed with pro gamers and allows you to practice and improve your gaming skills. It also comes with a crosshair and a timer, something only a few budget monitors can say they have, if any.

The frameless monitor design is perfect for those using multi-display setups, allowing for a seamless viewing experience. The monitor is created with ASUS Eye Care technology. This ensures a comfortable viewing experience with flicker-free technology and a blue light filter.

Overall, the monitor ensures comfortable working as well as the ability to play like a pro.

HP V24i | Budget 24 inch Monitor 

• Screen size: 24”
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Response time: 8ms
• Refresh Rate: 60Hz
• Panel type: IPS

This HP 24 inch computer monitor is a fantastic pickup for a screen that does it all. It features exceptional borderless video and image quality atop a small stand, so we could use it for gaming as well as any and all work.

It’s ergonomically designed, allowing for 175° viewing angles of lifelike color and a -20°to 5° tilt range. Plus, the HP low Blue light gave excellent protection to our eyes, which was perfect for long computing sessions.

The affordable monitor has a fairly decent response time, which you can even drive down to just 5ms for gaming using the four overdrive profiles. However, going further than the second profile will lead to visible visual trails.

It also comes with VESA mounting, allowing you to easily mount the monitor on the wall if you work in a static area.

Dell SE2419Hx | Best Value Monitor

• Screen size: 23.8”
• Resolution: 1980 x 1080
• Response time: 5ms
• Refresh Rate: 60Hz
• Panel type: IPS

This Dell 24” monitor is great value for money, offers a good response time as well as refresh rate. You’ll easily be able to tilt this monitor to your preferred view.

It’s an ideal option for working from home or at the office. The thin bezel offers a large amount of screen space as well as a crisp display. The compact base ensured it didn’t take up too much room on our desk.

It also comes with an HDMI cable to plug into the HDMI port, meaning you can easily just take it out of the box and start using it right away. We were disappointed at the fact the monitor didn’t come with a wall mount and lacked built-in speakers.

The monitor also has a ComfortView mode which is easy on the eyes. If you’re working this feature helps to reduce eye fatigue, allowing you to work comfortably for longer.

Phillips 273V7QJAB 27-inch Cheap Computer Monitor

• Screen size: 27”
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Response time: 5ms
• Refresh Rate: 60Hz
• Panel type: IPS

The Phillips 273V7QJAB offers vivid and crisp HD images on a 27” screen. The thin borders allow for maximum viewing size and minimal distractions. This makes a multi-display setup seamless.

This Phillips monitor makes use of SmartContrast and SmartImage. This technology analyzes the content displayed and optimizes the display accordingly. There’s also an EasyRead mode which allows for a paper-like reading experience.

The display also offers a LowBlue mode which efficiently reduces eye strain. The built-in speakers are of poor quality. Even though the tilt function works well, the stand itself isn’t adjustable.

This monitor allows for comfortable, efficient working at an affordable price. It’s not an ideal screen for design or gaming but it is perfect for answering emails, creating documents, and browsing the web.

AOC 27B2H | Best Budget Versatile Monitor 

• Screen size: 27”
• Resolution: 1920 x 1080
• Response time: 8ms
• Refresh Rate: 60Hz
• Panel type: IPS

The AOC 27B2H is another screen in contention for best value 27 inch monitor. It offers an immersive viewing experience thanks to boasting ultra-thin bezels and an IPS panel for wide viewing angles.

Despite being one of the cheap PC monitors, we were shocked to see that AOC takes care of the user’s eyes via their flicker-free technology and low Blue mode. This removes the flickering and reduces the effects of the Blue spectrum of light, making for comfortable use.

The monitor features VESA-compatible wall mounting, which ensured we could enjoy the perfect viewing angle at all times. If you constantly change angles while switching between work and gaming, you’ll be happy with the tilting function, although it’s not height-adjustable.

With a 60Hz refresh rate, this budget screen works perfectly for design, business, editing, or general use. While its 8ms response time isn’t great for fast games, it still qualifies as one of the best budget monitors for gaming.

Best Budget Monitor Accessories

There are plenty of budget-friendly ways to spruce up your monitor. Below is a list of affordable accessories that’ll take your monitor to the next level.

Speakers

Even if the monitor you buy does have built-in speakers, these are notorious for being of low quality. It’s a good idea to invest in a good set of speakers, especially if you’re gaming, watching Netflix, or listening to music.

Oontz Angle 3 Speakers

Crystal clear stereo sound, rich bass, and louder volume are just a few of the capabilities of this Bluetooth speaker. It comes in a variety of colors and doesn’t have any pesky wires. A full charge will give you 14 hours of playtime, no matter where you are.

AmazonBasics USB Powered Speakers

These high-performance speakers are an affordable addition to your workspace. You simply plug them in and press play. These guys offer dynamic sound as well as a sleek design at an incredibly low price.

Webcam

Something most people take for granted on laptops is the webcam and microphone. Most monitors don’t have these so it might be worth investing in one, especially if you do a lot of online meetings.

Angeltube PC Webcam

This handy webcam offers 1080p image quality and comes with a mic. It also offers a wide-angle lens, allowing the camera to see more. It’s a great option for meetings, family calls, and more.

NexiGo Webcam with Microphone 

 The NexiGo Webcam is the perfect partner for one of the best budget computer monitors. It has a built-in noise-canceling microphone and HD video capture, making it perfect for work uses. With a plug-and-play setup, you can use the camera as soon as it arrives and enjoy using its 110° field of view.

Cheap Computer Monitors – Buyer’s Guide

A good monitor can increase your productivity, save your eyes, and make desk work enjoyable. The most important things to consider when buying cheap desktop monitors are the screen size, resolution, response time, and refresh rate. It’s also a good idea to look at panel type.

Other factors to consider include the various features that are offered, such as ergonomic features, built-in speakers, curved display, and a touchscreen interface.

Top Computer Monitor Brands

The top computer monitor brands are HP, Dell, and Samsung. There are, however, plenty of other well-known brands that make quality computer screens, like Phillips and Asus. The brand name is a factor most people consider when buying a product. This article includes products from well-known brands that produce some of the cheapest PC monitors without compromising on quality.

Screen Size

Your screen size influences how much space you have to work or play. A bigger screen allows for greater visibility and productivity. However, a larger screen usually comes with a higher price tag.

Monitor screen size ranges from anywhere between 19 and 32 inches (although there are much larger screens on the market). The most popular sizes are between 21 and 24 inches. This size is perfect for working at home or in the office (and doesn’t take up too much desk space)

If you’re a designer or a gamer you might want to invest in a budget 27-inch screen. This will just give you a little extra screen space to optimize your (and your computer’s) performance.

For people who just want a second screen for their workspace but don’t have the desk space for even a 21” monitor, consider getting a budget portable monitor.

Resolution (Aspect Ratio)

The resolution of a PC monitor is an important factor to consider when looking at budget monitors. The resolution impacts the image quality of the screen. A large screen with a bad resolution isn’t worthwhile. The most popular resolution for cheap monitors is 1080p (1920 x 1080).

A higher resolution will come with a hefty price increase. Fortunately, 1080p offers crisp images perfect for work, play, or design. It’s the perfect resolution for 21 to 24-inch displays, but if you want a bigger screen size, it might be worth investing in a higher resolution.

1440p is the suggested resolution for games. The visual quality is noticeably better than even the best cheap 1080p monitors, and it won’t exhaust your graphics card. This higher resolution does come with a price increase, but there are some affordable options out there.

There are some incredible 4K monitors available, offering crisp and detailed displays. Unfortunately, these don’t work well on smaller screens and come with a higher price tag. They can also be quite taxing on your graphics card, and it’s tough to find affordable options without sacrificing refresh rates and response times.

Response Time

In short, response time is how long it takes for your monitor to switch from one color to another. This is measured in milliseconds (ms) and is normally under 10 ms. If you use your monitor for work or design, this won’t really affect you. However, if you’re a gamer, every millisecond counts.

Low response time can mean the difference between winning your game or losing. To make sure you don’t waste any time respawning your character, it’s best to choose a low response (between 1 and 5ms).

Refresh Rate

The refresh rate is important if you’re going to use your monitor for gaming. Simply put, the refresh rate is how often the monitor refreshes the images on the screen. It’s measured in hertz and determines how smooth the motion on the screen will be.

The higher the hertz the better when it comes to gaming. The lowest refresh rate you should consider when buying a budget monitor is 60 hertz (Hz) but this can go up to 240Hz. If you want a better gaming experience, you’ll definitely want to invest in a higher refresh rate.

Panel Type

There are three different panel types available in monitors: TN, VA, and IPS. TN is the most affordable, but it does offer lower quality.

VA panels are also a good option, they offer higher refresh rates but a low response time. They offer the best contrast and image depth and are generally more affordable than IPS.

Ideally, you should aim for a monitor with IPS panels, especially if you’re interested in design, photography, or art. These panels offer higher quality and allow for wider viewing angles and better color display. These panels offer faster response times than VA but generally don’t offer gaming-quality refresh rates.

Summary of Good Cheap Monitors

When buying a monitor, it’s a good idea to look at what you actually need. There’s no reason to spend more money on features that you won’t use. If you’re a gamer, refresh rates and response times are necessary. But you won’t need to worry about these if you’re working from home.

Gaming, designing, and working can be made a whole lot easier (and more fun) with a decent monitor. There are plenty of affordable computer monitors that offer high quality at an irresistible price.

Written by Matthew

Matt is about 80% nerd, 10% writer, 10% animal lover. His love for PC’s started at the tender age of 4 and his love for animation and motion graphics fairly soon after. You can normally find him behind a computer screen or playing with his dog Rusty.

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Matthew

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Matt is about 80% nerd, 10% writer, 10% animal lover. His love for PC’s started at the tender age of 4 and his love for animation and motion graphics fairly soon after. You can normally find him behind a computer screen or playing with his dog Rusty.

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