Get insider access
Preferred store
Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.

The 4 Best Budget And Cheap Gaming Monitors - Spring 2024 Reviews

Updated
Best Budget Gaming Monitors

There are plenty of gaming monitors you can choose from if you're on a tight budget. These models are getting equipped with more gaming features, and while most don't have premium perks like HDMI 2.1 bandwidth or a 4k resolution, you'll still be happy with the performance of most low-cost gaming monitors, including some cheap models. They're available in different sizes, but ultimately, size is a personal preference.

When looking for a gaming monitor, consider your graphics card to ensure the variable refresh rate (VRR) format works with the monitor, although most monitors work with any graphics card. Having a high refresh rate is also beneficial, especially if you play competitive games, and some budget models include refresh rates up to 240Hz. In terms of performance, one of the most important factors for gaming is a fast response time so that motion looks sharp. Its input lag is also crucial, and most monitors have low input lag for a responsive feel anyway.

We've bought and tested over 305 monitors, and below, you'll find our recommendations for the best budget and cheap gaming monitors to buy. Also, see our recommendations for the best gaming monitors under $300, the best monitors under $200, and the best budget and cheap monitors.


  1. Best Budget Gaming Monitor

    The best budget gaming monitor we've tested is the ViewSonic XG2431, an impressive monitor with more features than similarly priced options. It has a fast 240Hz refresh rate, and even though its 1080p resolution and 24-inch screen size may seem limited, this is typical of budget gaming monitors. The high refresh rate is ideal for competitive gaming, and the lower resolution makes it easier for your graphics card to maintain high frame rates for a smooth gaming feel.

    This monitor's stand-out feature is its customizable backlight strobing feature, which allows you to adjust the flicker to your liking to reduce persistence blur. Many monitors can't do this, so it's a nice addition to a budget-friendly display. It also has incredible motion handling, thanks to the quick response time across its entire refresh rate range. Lastly, it has FreeSync variable refresh (VRR) support to reduce screen tearing, and it's also G-SYNC compatible, so it works with most graphic cards. However, its VRR support doesn't work at the same time as its backlight strobing feature, which is normal for most monitors.

    See our review

  2. Best Cheap Gaming Monitor

    If you're on a tight budget and are looking for something cheap, there are some useful monitors you can get that perform well for gaming, like the ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q1A. It's different from the ViewSonic XG2431 because it has a much lower 165Hz refresh rate, and it's a step down in overall gaming performance, but that's normal for a cheap gaming monitor. It also has much worse ergonomics, so it's hard to place in an ideal position, which isn't ideal for co-op gaming.

    That said, it's still very good for gaming as it has an incredibly fast response time at any refresh rate, resulting in minimal motion blur, and it also has FreeSync VRR and G-SYNC compatibility to reduce screen tearing. It has a backlight strobing feature to reduce persistence blur, but it isn't as customizable as the feature on the ViewSonic. It also has a limited 1080p resolution, but if you want something with a higher 1440p resolution for more detailed images, you can check out the Gigabyte GS27QC. It usually goes on sale, but this monitor has worse motion handling than the ASUS.

    See our review

  3. Best 27-Inch Budget Gaming Monitor

    If you find the ViewSonic XG2431 and the ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q1A too small and prefer a 27-inch gaming monitor, check out the Dell G2724D. It's different from the ViewSonic and the ASUS as it has a higher 1440p resolution, resulting in more detailed images, but it has a lower 165Hz refresh than the ViewSonic. That said, it's still excellent for gaming as it has an extremely fast response time at any refresh rate, and while it doesn't have an optional backlight strobing feature to reduce persistence blur, there's minimal blur trail with fast-moving objects.

    It supports all common VRR formats to reduce screen tearing, including HDMI Forum VRR, which most budget monitors don't support. This means VRR works with the PS5, and the monitor also downscales 4k @ 60Hz signals from consoles, resulting in a more detailed image than native 1440p. Unfortunately, this monitor is limited in picture quality, which is expected for a low-cost monitor, but the AOC Q27G3XMN is a good alternative if you care about that. It has Mini LED backlighting and a much better contrast but worse motion handling than the Dell.

    See our review

  4. Best 32-Inch Budget Gaming Monitor

    While bigger budget monitors generally don't offer the best performance, if you want the biggest possible size within your budget and you're okay with getting something with worse gaming performance than the Dell G2724D, check out the LG 32GN650-B, which you can also buy as the 32GN63T-B at different retailers. Both variants offer the same great gaming performance. It has the same 1440p resolution as the Dell, delivering the same amount of details, but because of its larger size, the pixel density is lower, so images aren't as sharp.

    It also has worse motion handling than the Dell due to its slower response time, but it's still decent enough for most casual gamers, and like most gaming monitors, it has VRR support to reduce screen tearing. It has a VA panel that displays deep blacks in dark rooms, but without a local dimming feature, highlights don't pop against the rest of the image for a satisfying HDR experience. Unfortunately, its panel has worse viewing angles than the Dell, meaning images look washed out from the sides, so it isn't a good choice for co-op gaming.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • Dell S3422DWG: The Dell S3422DWG is a good choice if you want a low-cost ultrawide monitor for an immersive gaming experience. However, it costs more than other budget monitors, like the LG 32GN650-B/32GN63T-B, so only go for it if you want the ultrawide screen. See our review
  • Dell Alienware AW2523HF: The Dell Alienware AW2523HF has a higher 360Hz refresh rate than the ViewSonic XG2431, which is great for competitive gaming. However, this monitor costs more most of the time. See our review
  • LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B: The LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B is comparable to the Dell G2724D as it has a 1440p resolution and performs similarly. However, it has a slightly higher 180Hz refresh rate and has backlight strobing, so it's worth considering if you can find it for a similar price as the Dell. See our review
  • Dell Alienware AW2724DM: The Dell Alienware AW2724DM is a higher-end model than the Dell G2724D, with extra features like an overclock and a USB hub. However, it tends to cost more for similar performance. See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Mar 14, 2024: Replaced the Gigabyte GS27QC with the ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q1A because the ASUS is cheaper and consistent with other recommendations. Added the Dell Alienware AW2724DM to the Notable Mentions.

  2. Feb 15, 2024: Moved the AOC Q27G3XMN to Notable Mentions as it's hard to find and removed the Acer Nitro XF243Y Pbmiiprx from Notable Mentions due to lack of availability.

  3. Jan 10, 2024: Added the AOC Q27G3XMN as 'Best Budget HDR Gaming Monitor' because it's much better in HDR than other budget monitors; added the LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B to Notable Mentions.

  4. Nov 30, 2023: Replaced the Acer Nitro XF243Y Pbmiiprx with the Gigabyte GS27QC because it's easier to find, and moved the Acer to Notable Mentions; replaced the Gigabyte M27Q P with the Dell G2724D because it's better for gaming and for consistency with other articles.

  5. Oct 31, 2023: Replaced the Gigabyte G27Q with the Dell Alienware AW2523HF in the Notable Mentions because it's a better gaming monitor; updated text for clarity throughout.

All Reviews

Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best budget gaming monitors currently available. They are adapted to be valid for most people, in each price range. 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 of our budget monitor reviews. 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.