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 affordable models 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 to use your air fryer for other cooking methods, 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 40 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 FryingMeasured Capacity6.3 qt (6.0 L)Large Batch CookingFrying PerformanceCooking SpeedSizeDual Cooking ChambersNoSee all our test resultsNonstick Coating TypePTFEThe COSORI TurboBlaze is the best budget air fryer we've tested. We recommend this medium-sized model in our best air fryers article, and it's a great option if you want an air fryer for around $100. Its 6.3-quart capacity is large enough to cook for about four people, with a good amount of cooking surface area for arranging ingredients in a single layer, which is important for achieving the crispiest results. It produces good-quality air-fried food, so most of your food gets evenly browned without being under- or overcooked.
It's very versatile, with five fan speed settings for different cooking methods. When baking, a medium fan speed is used to prevent cakes and cookies from drying out. Conversely, when dehydrating, a very low fan speed is employed 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 FryingMeasured Capacity5.9 qt (5.6 L)Large Batch CookingFrying PerformanceCooking SpeedSizeDual Cooking ChambersNoSee all our test resultsNonstick Coating TypePTFEThe best cheap air fryer we've tested is the Beautiful 6qt Digital. 'Beautiful by Drew' products are only sold by the brand at Walmart, and this model is usually available there for around $70. Like the previous pick, this is a medium-sized option. It has a 5.9-quart capacity and enough cooking surface area to arrange your food in a single layer. It's bulkier than the COSORI TurboBlaze, so it takes up more space on your counter for a slightly smaller cooking capacity, but it comes in a wide array of colors, which is rare for an air fryer.
It also makes good-quality air-fried food, so your veggies and chicken wings come out mostly evenly browned and crispy. It's fast and maintains a decently stable temperature, which helps with accurately following recipes. However, most air fryers offer additional functions for various purposes. There are no 'Bake' or 'Broil' settings; however, you can use it with a lower fan speed and lower temperature to achieve a dehydrating effect.
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Best Budget Large-Capacity Air Fryer
Air FryingMeasured Capacity8.0 qt (7.6 L)Large Batch CookingFrying PerformanceCooking SpeedSizeDual Cooking ChambersYesSee all our test resultsNonstick Coating TypeCeramicIf you need more capacity on a budget, the best option that we've tested is the Ninja Foodi DZ201. 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.
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. However, it's quite bulky for an air fryer of its capacity.
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
Recent Updates
Mar 17, 2026:
We removed the Gotham Steel Air Fryer from our Notable Mentions because it's unavailable and made minor edits for clarity.
Feb 20, 2026:
We removed the BELLA 6qt Pro 90165 from our Notable Mentions because it's been discontinued and added the Ninja Pro AF141 as a Notable Mention, as it's a great alternative to the COSORI TurboBlaze. We also made minor text edits for clarity.
Jan 09, 2026:
We've added the Gotham Steel Air Fryer to our Notable Mentions, as it offers decent frying performance at a very affordable price. We also made some minor edits for clarity.
Nov 12, 2025:
We removed the BELLA 8qt Pro 90088 as it's unavailable. We also made small edits for clarity.
Apr 23, 2025:
We've made a few small updates to the text for clarity, but our recommendations haven't changed.
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.