While many monitors can cost a lot, there are still some good options for under $200. Although most monitors in this price range are basic and don't offer extra features you'd find on higher-end models, some are still good enough for various usages. With the monitor market continuously growing, even cheap displays are starting to get some extra perks, but they still lag behind more expensive options in terms of performance.
There are a few factors to consider when looking for a monitor, like the variety of models available in this price range and what you need your monitor for. For example, if you want a monitor for gaming, it's important to get something with good motion handling, but versatile ergonomics are more important for work purposes, so there's no perfect solution for everyone.
We've bought and tested over 325 monitors, and below, you'll find our top picks for the best monitors that you can find for under $200. See our recommendations for the best budget and cheap gaming monitors, the best budget and cheap monitors, and if you're willing to stretch your budget a bit, the best gaming monitors under $300.
The best monitor under $200 that we've tested is the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx. It's a unique low-cost monitor because it has features most entry-level monitors don't have, and it's worth getting when it's on sale below $200. It uses Mini LED backlighting and has an okay local dimming feature, which helps it display deep blacks in dark rooms, and there isn't much blooming around bright objects either. It even gets incredibly bright, so it fights glare well and makes highlights pop in HDR for a fantastic viewing experience, which is ideal for watching your favorite content.
It's mainly focused on gaming, as it has a 170Hz refresh rate and VRR support to reduce screen tearing. However, it doesn't have the best gaming performance because it has smearing and blur with fast-moving objects. It also lacks HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take full advantage of gaming consoles, which is what you have to expect for a low-cost monitor.
If you're looking for the best gaming monitor under $200, look into the Dell G2724D. It's a 27-inch, 1440p monitor that performs well for gaming. You can get it for a low cost directly from Dell's website. Although the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx is also a good choice for gaming, mainly because it has better picture quality due to its Mini LED local dimming feature, that monitor has more smearing. This means if you care about pure gaming performance and want better motion handling, the Dell is the better choice for that. Additionally, it has a similar 165Hz refresh rate with low input lag and VRR support.
Unlike the Acer, it even supports VRR with both the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, so it reduces screen tearing with either console. It also gets bright enough to fight glare and has good reflection handling, but it has a low contrast ratio, so it isn't as good to use in dark rooms as the Acer.
Should you need a simple and cheap monitor for office work, and you don't need the gaming features of the Dell G2724D, then look into the Dell P2425H. While both the G2724D and the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx are good to use for productivity thanks to their 27-inch, 1440p screens, they don't have any work-specific features. That's something the P2425H has, and unlike most entry-level monitors, it has three USB-A ports and a USB-C port to connect various devices. However, because the USB-C port doesn't support DisplayPort Alt Mode, you can't use it to display any video signal, and it's really meant for data transfer or charging.
Besides that, it has good reflection handling, so it's fine if you want to use it in a room with a few lights around, but it doesn't get bright enough to fight intense glare. It also has wide viewing angles and fantastic ergonomics that make it easy to share your screen with someone else.
Sep 19, 2024: We added the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx as the 'Best Monitor Under $200' because it dropped in price. Because of that, we renamed the Dell G2724D to 'Best Gaming Monitor Under $200.' We also replaced the ASUS VG246H with the Dell P2425H for consistency with other recommendations and renamed the category 'Best Office Monitor Under $200.'
Jun 28, 2024: Replaced the Gigabyte GS27QC with the Dell G2724D as the 'Best Monitor Under $200,' as it has better motion handling, wider viewing angles, and gets brighter. Renamed the ASUS VG246H as the 'Best 24-Inch Office,' as the Dell is also the best office monitor in sizes larger than 24-inches. Removed the Dell S2721HGF and added the ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q1A as a Notable Mention.
May 06, 2024: Replaced theĀ ASUS VG248QG with the Gigabyte GS27QC as the 'Best Monitor' for consistency with other articles and because of availability. Added the Dell G2724D and removed the LG 27MN60T-W and the MSI Optix G273 in the Notable Mentions.
Mar 05, 2024: Removed the Gigabyte GS27QC because it's hard to find, and renamed the ASUS VG248QG as 'Best Monitor.'
Jan 11, 2024: Replaced the Acer Nitro XF243Y Pbmiiprx with the Gigabyte GS27QC for consistency with other articles and because of availability; removed the MSI Optix G272 because it's hard to find; replaced the HP X24ih with the MSI Optix G273 in Notable Mentions.
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best monitors that cost less than $200 that are available to purchase. They're adapted to be valid for most people. The rating is based on our review, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.
If you would prefer to make your own decision, here is the list of all our reviews for monitors under $200. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. Most monitors are good enough to please most people, and the things we fault monitors on are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.