- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Best Monitor
- Best Gaming
- All Reviews
- Discussions
- Store-bought monitors; no cherry-picked units
- Easily comparable results
- No ads; unbiased reviews
- Supported directly by you via insider access and when you purchase through our affiliate links
You don't necessarily need to spend a small fortune to get a decent monitor. Although they typically lack more advanced features, budget monitors can still deliver a decent experience for most uses if you're not too picky. Monitors in this price range are typically smaller-sized and limited to 1080p resolutions, which is still just fine for occasional use or casual gaming.
We've reviewed over 95 monitors and below you'll find our top picks for the best monitors under $200 available for purchase in 2020. See also our recommendations for the best gaming monitor under $200, the best budget gaming monitors, the best budget monitors, and the best 1080p monitors.
-
Best Monitor Under $200: Dell P2417H
Size 24"Resolution 1920x1080Refresh Rate 60 HzLCD TypeIPSVariable Refresh RateNoThe best monitor under $200 we've tested is the Dell P2417H. It's a 24 inch IPS monitor that delivers decent overall performance and maintains an accurate image when viewed from the side. It has a 1080p resolution, which is okay for its size, and it has great ergonomics to help you position it comfortably with ease. The thin bezels and its budget price make it a good candidate for multimonitor setup either for office use or gaming. It has an abundance of connectivity options, including a 4-port USB hub that can remain active even when the monitor is in standby, and a VGA port along with the most common HDMI and DisplayPort ones.
Unfortunately, just like most IPS monitors, the Dell doesn't perform well in a dark room where blacks look gray, and has no premium features like FreeSync or HDR support.
Overall, this is a good monitor for those who plan to use it in an office or for gaming, and won't cost you an arm and a leg.
-
Smaller Alternative: Dell P2217H
Size 22"Resolution 1920x1080Refresh Rate 60 HzLCD TypeIPSVariable Refresh RateNoIf you have limited space and want a smaller monitor than the 24 inch Dell P2417H, get the Dell P2217H. It's a decent 22 inch monitor that costs less and should probably fit your desk. Performance-wise, it's very similar to the other Dell, and any differences can be attributed to panel variance.
If you want the best monitor under $200, get the P2417H; otherwise, if you need a smaller one with a similar overall performance, the Dell P2217H will do the job and costs a little less.
-
Best Gaming Monitor Under $200: Acer XF251Q
Size 25"Resolution 1920x1080Refresh Rate 75 HzLCD TypeTNVariable Refresh RateFreeSyncThe best gaming monitor under $200 we've tested so far is the Acer XF251Q. This is a very good 1080p gaming monitor with an excellent input lag and an amazing response time to help reduce motion blur. Its native refresh rate of 75Hz might be low for some gamers, but it supports AMD's FreeSync variable refresh rate technology (VRR) to ensure a nearly tear-free gaming experience.
The contrast ratio and black uniformity are both mediocre on the TN panel, so if you game in a dark room, dark scenes won't look good. However, it handles reflections well and has decent peak brightness to combat glare in bright rooms. The 25 inch screen has poor viewing angles, so it's probably not a good choice for co-op gaming, but the stand has good ergonomics allowing you to adjust the monitor however you like.
Unfortunately, this monitor doesn't support HDR, but if you're not looking for that, this is the best gaming monitor under $200 we've tested so far.
-
Alternative With A Better Stand: ASUS VG245H
Size 24"Resolution 1920x1080Refresh Rate 75 HzLCD TypeTNVariable Refresh RateFreeSyncIf you want a monitor with a better swivel range, check out the ASUS VG245H. This 24 inch monitor performs almost identically to the slightly larger Acer XF251Q, but it has a better height adjustment, much wider swivel range, and a better tilt range. This makes it easier to place it in an ideal viewing position without VESA mounting it. On the other hand, the ASUS has worse black uniformity than the Acer, so it doesn't look as good in a dark room.
Overall, the Acer and the ASUS are extremely similar. The Acer is the best gaming monitor under $200 for most people, but if you want a better stand and don't plan on using it in a dark room, the ASUS is a good alternative and is one of the best PC monitors under $200.
-
144Hz Alternative: ViewSonic XG2402
Size 24"Resolution 1920x1080Refresh Rate 144 HzLCD TypeTNVariable Refresh RateFreeSyncIf you're looking for a monitor with a refresh rate of 144Hz, the ViewSonic XG2402 is a good choice. The Acer XF251Q has a better contrast ratio and black uniformity, but the ViewSonic has much better out-of-box color accuracy, and gamers will be pleased with the incredibly low input lag and the outstanding response time that produces clear motion. It supports FreeSync over both HDMI and DisplayPort (DP) and the refresh rate can drop as low as 20Hz. Unfortunately, the disappointing contrast ratio and black uniformity mean dark scenes won't look as dark as they should, but it handles reflections well in bright rooms.
If you're looking for the best gaming monitor under $200, check out the Acer, but if you're looking for a monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate, look into the ViewSonic.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best monitors under $200. They are adapted to be valid for most people. Rating is based on our review, factoring in price and feedback from our visitors.
If you would prefer the make your own decision, here is the list of all of our monitor reviews 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.
Recent Updates
03/09/2020: Only minor updates to the text and verification for accuracy; no changes in product picks.
Recommended Articles
Unlimited access to full product reviews, test measurements and scores
Product prices across the site on reviews, tables and tools
Additional votes for our
next reviews
Early Access
to our reviews and test measurements
