You might want an inexpensive air fryer if you only use one occasionally, if you want to try one out before committing to a pricier model, or, of course, if you're shopping on a budget. While the cheapest air fryers have some downsides compared to high-performing, pricier models, like fewer settings, slower cooking speeds, and smaller baskets, you can still find good budget options. The best budget air fryers combine a high maximum fan speed with a high maximum power draw and offer more cooking surface area, even in smaller-capacity models. This allows them to make crispy, well-cooked food quickly. If you plan on using your air fryer for other cooking methods, like baking or roasting, you can also look for a model with a low minimum fan speed, a wide temperature range, and a variety of preset cooking modes.
We've tested more than 50 air fryers, and below, you'll find our recommendations for the best budget and cheap models. If you'd like to see an overview of the best air fryers at different sizes, see our picks for the best 4-quart air fryers, the best 6-quart air fryers, and the best 8-quart air fryers.
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Best Budget Air Fryer
Air Frying8.0Measured Capacity6.3 qt (6.0 L)Large Batch Cooking7.8Frying Performance7.8Cooking Speed8.0Size7.5Dual Cooking ChambersNoSee all our test resultsNonstick Coating TypePTFEThe COSORI TurboBlaze is the best budget air fryer we've tested, offering the kind of impressive performance and versatility usually found only in much pricier models. Its 6.3-quart capacity is large enough to cook for about four people, and it has a good amount of cooking surface area for arranging ingredients in a single layer, which is important for achieving the crispiest results. It produces crispy, evenly browned air-fried food, with few under- or overcooked spots. You won't have to wait long for your food to finish cooking, either, thanks to its impressively fast cooking speed.
One of this model's biggest strengths is its versatility. It offers a wide range of temperature settings and five fan speed settings for different cooking methods. When baking, for example, it uses a medium fan speed to prevent cakes and cookies from drying out, and when dehydrating, it uses a very low fan speed to prevent lighter items from blowing around the basket. The downside of this model is that it preheats slowly and doesn't maintain the most stable temperature during cooking, making it more difficult to follow recipes accurately.
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Best Cheap Air Fryer
Air Frying7.7Measured Capacity5.9 qt (5.6 L)Large Batch Cooking7.6Frying Performance7.6Cooking Speed8.1Size7.1Dual Cooking ChambersNoSee all our test resultsNonstick Coating TypePTFEIf you're okay with losing some versatility to save a bit of cash, the Beautiful 6qt Digital is worth considering. While they have the same advertised capacity (6 quarts), this model has a slightly smaller capacity than COSORI TurboBlaze, with a little less basket surface area, too. This gives you less space to arrange food in a single layer, but your veggies and chicken wings still come out mostly evenly browned and crispy. It cooks quickly as well, which is useful if you want to make a quick snack or side.
The trade-off here is less versatility. Most pricier air fryers offer more features and functions, and while this model still offers a handful of cooking modes for different recipe types, they're not as effective as the COSORI, since there are fewer options for both temperature and fan speed settings. On the bright side, it maintains a decently stable temperature, which helps with following recipes accurately. 'Beautiful by Drew' products are only sold by the brand at Walmart, and this model is usually available there in a range of pastel colors for around $70 USD.
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Best Budget Large-Capacity Air Fryer
Air Frying8.0Measured Capacity8.0 qt (7.6 L)Large Batch Cooking8.0Frying Performance7.7Cooking Speed8.6Size6.8Dual Cooking ChambersYesSee all our test resultsNonstick Coating TypeCeramicIf you often cook for a crowd and want a larger-capacity air fryer, but don't want to spend a ton, the Ninja Foodi DZ201 is a good choice. This dual-basket model is pricier than our other picks, but it often goes on sale for around $150, and it offers a lot of versatility for the extra cost. Its dual baskets let you cook two different foods at once, each with its own settings, so you can prepare an entire meal without waiting or compromising on cooking methods. You can even use the 'Smart Finish' feature to have each basket finish cooking simultaneously. With this extra versatility and its larger 8-quart capacity, it's better suited to serving multiple people and preparing complete meals compared to our single-basket budget pick, the COSORI TurboBlaze, though it does have a much bulkier footprint, which is a downside for smaller kitchens.
It has a very good overall performance, air frying almost as evenly as the Beautiful 6qt Digital, so most of each batch comes out crispy and golden brown. You'll also find a range of fan speeds and temperatures tailored to different recipes and cooking methods, making this air fryer an excellent option for roasting, baking, and dehydrating. It preheats and cooks quickly, so you don't have to wait long for crispy meals and snacks, and it maintains a stable temperature during cooking, which helps you follow recipes accurately.
Notable Mentions
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Ninja Pro AF141:
The Ninja Pro AF141 is a great alternative to the COSORI TurboBlaze that can typically be found for around the same price. It's not as versatile, but it offers better temperature stability, making it easier to follow recipes accurately.
See our review -
Chefman Crispinator 8 Qt.:
The Chefman Crispinator 8 Qt. is a large single-basket air fryer. It doesn't cook as quickly or evenly as the COSORI TurboBlaze, but it's nearly as versatile. Plus, it has a window in its basket, so you can watch your food cook.
See our review
Recent Updates
Sep 01, 2026:
We verified that our picks are still the best options for most people and made minor edits to the text.
Jul 17, 2026:
We've made sure our recommended products are still in stock and remain the best fit for user needs.
Jun 03, 2026:
We've ensured all main picks are available and represent the best option for user needs. We've also made slight changes to the text of this article to explain the real-world impact of the designs and performance of our picks.
May 05, 2026:
We added the Chefman Crispinator 8 Qt. to our Notable Mentions for users who want a windowed air fryer at a budget-friendly price.
Mar 17, 2026:
We removed the Gotham Steel Air Fryer from our Notable Mentions because it's unavailable and made minor edits for clarity.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best budget and cheap air fryers for most people. We factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability.
If you'd like to do the work of choosing yourself, here's a list of all our air fryer reviews, sorted by price. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no air fryer is perfect, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you look for them.