While many monitors cost a lot, there are still some good options you can find for under $200. Most monitors in this price range are basic and don't offer extra features you'd find on higher-end models. That said, with the monitor market continuously growing, even cheap displays are starting to get some extra perks, and some are still good enough for various usages. However, they still lag behind more expensive options in terms of performance. With that in mind, it might be worth stretching your budget if you want an upgrade in performance, as even the best gaming monitors under $300 are better than some cheaper options under $200.
However, if you're on a tight budget, there are a few factors to consider when looking for a monitor, like the variety of models available in this price range and what you need your monitor for. For example, if you want a monitor for gaming, it's important to get something with good motion handling, but versatile ergonomics are more important for work purposes, so there's no perfect solution for everyone.
We've bought and tested over 370 monitors, and below, you'll find our top picks for the best monitors for under $200. See our recommendations for the best budget and cheap monitors, the best portable monitors, and, if you're willing to stretch your budget a bit, the best monitors under $500.
Quick Look
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, with units that we buy completely on our own, without any cherry-picked units or samples. We put a lot into each unbiased, straight-to-the-point review, and there's a whole process from purchasing to publishing, involving multiple teams and people. We do more than just use the monitor for a week; we use specialized and custom tools to measure various aspects with objective data-based results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance against the competition, and whether or not it's easy to find.
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Best Monitor Under $200
PC Gaming6.9Office7.7Response Time7.4SDR Picture5.8HDR Picture4.9Brightness7.1Color Accuracy8.1Console Gaming6.1Editing6.8Size27"Pixel TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate170 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution2560 x 1440The best monitor under $200 that we've tested is the MSI G274QPF-QD. It's a basic entry-level monitor that's versatile for different usages. It has a 27-inch, 1440p screen and focuses on gaming with a max refresh rate of 170Hz that you can reach over DisplayPort, whereas the max refresh rate over HDMI is 144Hz. It also supports FreeSync VRR and G-SYNC compatibility to reduce screen tearing. While it has low input lag for a responsive feel with reaction-based games, motion looks somewhat blurry with fast-moving objects, which is what you have to expect at this price point.
Despite being designed as a gaming monitor, it still has some useful perks for other usages. It comes with a USB-C port that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode, so you can connect a laptop to it, but because it's limited to 15W of power delivery, you'll still need a separate charging cable for your laptop. It also has better picture quality than most cheap monitors because it displays a wide range of accurate colors, and it gets bright. It has a low contrast ratio, though, as blacks look gray. If that's important to you, the Samsung Odyssey G55C S27CG55 is another 1440p option that has a higher contrast ratio. However, motion looks even worse on it.
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Best Gaming Monitor Under $200
PC Gaming7.0Office7.0Response Time7.5SDR Picture6.5HDR Picture4.8Brightness7.0Color Accuracy7.6Console Gaming5.1Editing6.6Size24"Pixel TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate180 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution1920 x 1080If you don't need something versatile and you want the best gaming monitor under $200, look into the LG 24GS65F-B, which offers good value. Although its smaller 24-inch screen and lower 1080p resolution don't offer the same versatility as the MSI G274QPF-QD for tasks like working or browsing the web, it has a slight advantage when it comes to gaming. For starters, it has a slightly higher 180Hz refresh rate, and because of its lower resolution, you can reach its max refresh rate with both DisplayPort and HDMI connections. It also has slightly better motion handling than the MSI, as there's less blur behind fast-moving objects. That said, it's worse for console gaming than the MSI because it has limited support with the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and games aren't as detailed.
Unfortunately, it has worse overall picture quality than the MSI. It doesn't display as wide a range of colors, and it's less accurate before calibration. On the plus side, it still gets bright enough to fight some glare, and its matte screen coating is effective at reducing glare in moderately lit rooms.
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Best Work Monitor Under $200
PC Gaming5.2Office7.1Response Time4.2SDR Picture6.7HDR Picture2.5Brightness2.6Color Accuracy7.8Console Gaming2.4Editing6.3Size24"Pixel TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate100 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution1920 x 1080If you need a simple and cheap monitor for work and don't need the gaming features of the MSI G274QPF-QD or the LG 24GS65F-B, look into the Dell P2425H. While more expensive options, like the MSI, are good for productivity thanks to their 27-inch, 1440p screens, they don't have many work-specific features. That's something the P2425H has, as unlike most entry-level monitors, it has three USB-A ports and a USB-C port to connect various devices. However, because the USB-C port doesn't support DisplayPort Alt Mode, you can't use it to display any video signal, and it's really meant for data transfer or charging.
Besides that, it has decent reflection handling, so it's fine if you want to use it in a room with a few lights around, but it doesn't get bright enough to fight intense glare. It also has wide viewing angles and fantastic ergonomics that make it easy to adjust your display or share your screen with someone else. Lastly, while it has a lower 1080p resolution than an option like the MSI, it still has decent text clarity.
Notable Mentions
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Samsung Odyssey G50D S27DG50:
The Samsung Odyssey G50D S27DG50 is a 1440p gaming monitor that competes with the MSI G274QPF-QD. The Samsung has some advantages, like the fact that it gets brighter, but it also tends to cost more than the MSI.
See our review -
Dell S2725QS:
The Dell S2725QS is a work-oriented 4k monitor that costs a bit more than $200. It's worth stretching your budget for if you want an upgrade in performance over the Dell P2425H, as it has a bigger screen and sharper text. However, it doesn't have any USB ports like the P2425H.
See our review
Recent Updates
Oct 08, 2025:
We replaced the Gigabyte GS27QC with the MSI G274QPF-QD, which is easier to find and is consistent with other recommendations. We removed the AOC 24G15N, which is hard to find, and replaced the Dell G2524H with the cheaper LG 24GS65F-B. In the Notable Mentions, we removed the LG 27GL850-B/27GL83A-B, and added the Samsung Odyssey G50D S27DG50 and the Dell S2725QS.
Apr 29, 2025:
We removed the Acer Nitro XV275U P3biipx and the Dell Alienware AW2724DM because they're out of stock and/or hard to find. In their places, we added the Gigabyte GS27QC as the Best Monitor and renamed the Dell G2524H to the 'Best Gaming Monitor.' We also added the AOC 24G15N as the 'Best Cheap Monitor.' We replaced the LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B with the cheaper LG 27GL850-B/27GL83A-B in the Notable Mentions.
Mar 13, 2025:
We replaced the LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B with the Dell Alienware AW2724DM because it's cheaper. We also replaced the AOC 24G15N with the Dell G2524H because it's better for gaming. We added both the 27GP850-B and the 24G15N to the Notable Mentions and removed the ASUS TUF Gaming VG249Q1A and the AOC Q27G3XMN from there.
Feb 19, 2025:
We replaced the Dell G2724D with the LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B because the Dell is hard to find. We also added the AOC 24G15N to give another option and the AOC Q27G3XMN as a Notable Mention. We introduced a new format to the article and updated the text to reflect these changes.
Dec 09, 2024:
Verified our picks for accuracy and consistency.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best monitors under $200 that are available to purchase, including the best gaming monitors under $200. They're adapted to be valid for most people. The 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 our reviews for monitors under or around $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.