You might want an inexpensive air fryer if you only use one occasionally, want to try one out before committing to a pricier model, or, of course, are 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 Frying8.2French Fries7.8Chicken Wings7.9Cooking Speed7.7Size7.7Cooking Versatility9.7Measured Capacity6.3 qt (6.0 L)Total Tray Surface Area75.5 in² (487.1 cm²)See all our test resultsTray Coating TypePTFEThe COSORI TurboBlaze is the best budget air fryer we've tested, delivering performance usually found only in much pricier models. 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.
Its 6.3-quart capacity can serve about three people at once, and it has ample cooking surface area to arrange ingredients in one layer, which is important for achieving the crispiest results. It produces crispy, evenly browned air-fried food, whether you're making frozen fries, cauliflower florets, or steak, and leaves proteins moist and juicy inside. You won't have to wait long for your food to finish cooking, either, thanks to its impressively fast cooking speed.
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Best Cheap Air Fryer
Air Frying7.0French Fries7.3Chicken Wings7.1Cooking Speed7.7Size7.2Cooking Versatility7.6Measured Capacity5.9 qt (5.6 L)Total Tray Surface Area70.2 in² (452.6 cm²)See all our test resultsTray Coating TypePTFEIf you're okay with sacrificing some performance and 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 somewhat smaller capacity than the COSORI TurboBlaze and a slightly smaller basket surface area, too. This gives you less space to arrange food in a single layer, but fried foods, like frozen fries or chicken nuggets, still come out quickly and mostly evenly browned and crispy. The biggest downside here is this model's performance for fresh veggies and proteins. They stay moist throughout cooking, but don't crisp up as evenly.
Versatility is also a trade-off. 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's, since there are fewer options for both temperature and fan speed settings. Similarly, it tends to undershoot its temperature, so it doesn't perform as well for recipes that require constant high heat, like crisping chicken wings or broiling steak. Finally, just know that 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 Frying8.0Cooking Speed8.6Size6.8Cooking Versatility8.6Measured Capacity8.0 qt (7.6 L)Total Basket Surface Area86.7 in² (559.5 cm²)See all our test resultsNonstick Coating TypeCeramicIf you want more capacity without spending 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. You'll 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. Its dual baskets let you cook a double batch with the same settings, or make two different foods at once with separate settings, so you can prepare an entire meal without waiting or compromising on cooking methods. Of course, the extra capacity also means that it has a much bulkier footprint than our top pick, the COSORI TurboBlaze, which is a downside for smaller kitchens.
The DZ201 offers good performance for fried foods, such as frozen onion rings and spring rolls. It cooks almost as evenly as the Beautiful 6qt Digital, so most of each batch comes out crispy and golden brown. 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, which is typically priced around the same. 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 as 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
Oct 16, 2026:
We've updated this article to align with our new Air Fryer Test Bench 1.1, but the picks remain the same.
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.
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.