There are plenty of good monitors you can get for under $500. Compared to the rest of the market, most monitors in this price range are considered mid-range and budget options, so they don't have the best overall performance. That said, even entry-level models are coming with useful features, like Mini LED backlighting for improved HDR picture quality with deep blacks and bright highlights, or fast refresh rates for a smooth gaming experience. Luckily, there are options for various usages in this price range with different resolutions and sizes, so there's no perfect solution for everyone.
When looking for a monitor, it's important to consider what you'll use it for. You would need a different type of monitor for work than you would for gaming. For example, sharp text clarity is important for work, while a fast response time is beneficial for fast-paced gaming if you want minimal blur. If you want good picture quality, it's important for a monitor to have a high contrast ratio for deep blacks and display a wide range of colors for a realistic image.
We've bought and tested more than 395 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best monitors for under $500. Also, see our recommendations for the best budget and cheap monitors, the best monitors, and if you're looking for a specific size, the best 32-inch monitors.
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, all of which we purchase ourselves, without 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, custom tools to measure various aspects and deliver objective, data-driven results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance compared to the competition, and whether it's easy to find.
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Best Monitor Under $500
PC GamingConsole GamingOfficeEditingHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessColor AccuracyResponse TimeSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate320 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160The best monitor under $500 that we've tested is the KOORUI S2741LM. It's worth getting when you can get it on sale for less than $500. While it's not the best monitor for one specific usage, it's a jack-of-all-trades type of display that offers good value for whatever you need. The 4k resolution results in sharp text, which helps if you want to use it for work. It has a few productivity features, like a KVM switch and a USB-C port with 90W of power delivery that can keep your laptop fully charged while you're using it.
In addition to these features, it also offers some gaming perks. You can boost its native 160Hz refresh rate to 320Hz with a lower 1080p resolution, so it's versatile for playing different types of games. Gaming feels responsive thanks to its low input lag, and it has a consistently fast response time for sharp motion, but there's some blur behind fast-moving objects. It also delivers good picture quality thanks to its local dimming feature that improves the black levels and makes highlights pop. This makes it a good choice for watching content or playing games in HDR as it delivers an impressive viewing experience.
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Best Gaming Monitor Under $500
PC GamingConsole GamingOfficeEditingHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessColor AccuracyResponse TimeSize27"Panel TypeOLEDSub-TypeQD-OLEDMax Refresh Rate240 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution2560 x 1440Although the KOORUI S2741LM is a solid gaming display, if you want the best gaming monitor under $500, the HyperX OMEN OLED 27q is a great choice. There are a few advantages to getting it for gaming, like the fact that it has a 240Hz refresh rate with its native 1440p resolution. Even though it doesn't have the same dual-mode feature as the KOORUI, it still provides a smooth gaming experience. It has much better motion handling than the KOORUI thanks to its near-instantaneous response time, as there's no blur behind fast-moving objects. It also has lower input lag at its max refresh rate, leading to a more responsive feel.
Besides being the better choice for fast-paced games, this monitor also delivers better picture quality than the KOORUI. Its OLED panel delivers deep blacks without any haloing around bright objects against dark backgrounds. It also displays more vivid colors. However, you need to use it in a dark room for the best picture quality, as its black levels rise in bright rooms, making them look purple. Despite its positives, it's not the best all-around monitor in this price range because it has a lower 1440p resolution than the KOORUI, so text isn't as sharp. It also risks burn-in with constant exposure to the same static elements over time, like if you only use it for work, and that's why it's the better choice for gaming.
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Best 4k Monitor Under $500
PC GamingConsole GamingOfficeEditingHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessColor AccuracyResponse TimeSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSMax Refresh Rate60 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160If you don't need any of the gaming features of the monitors mentioned above, there are a few 4k work-focused monitors you can get for under $500. If that's what you're interested in, the best 4k monitor under $500 for work is the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV. While it has the same resolution as the KOORUI S2741LM, the ASUS has a few extra productivity perks. Firstly, it has a larger USB hub with three USB-A ports and two USB-C ports, making it easy to connect a variety of devices. Like the KOORUI, one of the USB-C ports supports DisplayPort Alt Mode with 90W of power delivery. It even supports daisy chaining to a second monitor, which helps if you want a multi-monitor setup.
This monitor is a great choice for content creators, as it offers multiple picture modes for various color spaces, from the basic sRGB color space to the wider Rec. 2020 space. It's also very accurate in sRGB, so you won't need to calibrate it unless you need perfectly accurate colors. However, it has worse HDR picture quality than the KOORUI and the HyperX OMEN OLED 27q because it has a low contrast ratio and a terrible local dimming feature, resulting in blacks that look gray and highlights that don't pop.
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Best Ultrawide Monitor Under $500
PC GamingConsole GamingOfficeEditingHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessColor AccuracyResponse TimeSize34"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeVAMax Refresh Rate180 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3440 x 1440Although all the monitors recommended so far have the common 16:9 aspect ratio, there's a class of monitors with a wider 21:9 ultrawide aspect ratio and 34-inch size. These offer more horizontal screen space for a more immersive gaming experience, like for sim racing or atmospheric games. The best option in this size range under $500 is the Dell Alienware AW3425DWM. It's versatile as it isn't the best option for any specific use. Its wide screen helps with productivity, but it has a lower resolution than the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV, so text isn't as sharp.
It also has a few gaming features, including a 180Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take advantage of modern graphics cards and gaming consoles. However, it has black smearing with fast-moving objects in dark scenes. It also has an ineffective local dimming feature that worsens picture quality in HDR, leading to haloing around bright objects. That said, it has a high native contrast ratio outside of HDR, so it displays deep enough blacks for decent overall SDR picture quality.
Notable Mentions
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Dell S3225QC:
The Dell S3225QC is a 4k monitor with better picture quality than the KOORUI S2741LM, thanks to its QD-OLED panel. It's a good choice if you want its deeper blacks and more vivid colors. That said, it risks burn-in, and it has a lower refresh rate for gaming.
See our review -
LG 27GX704A-B:
The LG 27GX704A-B is a 1440p OLED gaming monitor that competes with the HyperX OMEN OLED 27q. It's the better choice for well-lit rooms because it doesn't have the same black level rise. However, its colors aren't as vivid, and it sometimes costs more.
See our review -
AOC Q27G3XMN:
The AOC Q27G3XMN is an entry-level 1440p gaming monitor that costs less than the HyperX OMEN OLED 27q. It offers good value as it has Mini LED backlighting with good picture quality. Unfortunately, it has a lower refresh rate and worse motion handling for gaming.
See our review -
Dell S2725QC:
The Dell S2725QC is a good-value work monitor that's cheaper than the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV. It's worth getting the Dell if you want to save money, but it has a smaller USB hub than the ASUS.
See our review
Recent Updates
Jun 19, 2026:
We replaced the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx with the KOORUI S2741LM, which has better overall picture quality. We also replaced the LG 27G850A-B with the HyperX OMEN OLED 27q in the gaming category, and removed the 'Best HDR Gaming Monitor Under $500' category because of the HyperX's superior HDR picture quality. We renamed the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV to the 'Best 4k Monitor Under $500' to better reflect its position in the market. In the Notable Mentions, we removed the LG 27GX700A-B, the AOC Q27G40XMN, and the Dell Alienware AW3225DM, and we added the LG 27GX704A-B and the AOC Q27G3XMN to reflect the changes in the recommendation.
Apr 03, 2026:
We verified that all monitors are available to purchase for under $500 and updated the text for clarity throughout.
Feb 13, 2026:
We replaced the Dell Alienware AW2725QF with the LG 27G850A-B, which has a higher refresh rate. In the Notable Mentions, we replaced the LG 27GR93U-B and the Dell U2723QE with the Dell S3225QC and the Dell S2725QC, respectively.
Nov 28, 2025:
We added the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx as the best overall monitor because it's versatile. Because of this, we renamed the Dell Alienware AW2725QF to the 'Best Gaming Monitor Under $500' and the AOC Q27G3XMN to the 'Best HDR Gaming Monitor Under $500.' In the Notable Mentions, we removed the MSI G274QPF-QD and added the LG 27GX700A-B.
Oct 02, 2025:
We replaced the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx, which is hard to find, with the Dell Alienware AW2725QF. We removed the ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS as it doesn't fit into the scope of the article, and renamed the ASUS ProArt Display PA279CRV to the 'Best Work Monitor Under $500.' We also added the Dell Alienware AW3425DWM as the 'Best Ultrawide Monitor Under $500' to give another option. In the Notable Mentions, we removed the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM and added the Dell Alienware AW3225DM and the MSI G274QPF-QD.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best monitors for less than $500 currently available. They're adapted to be valid for most people. The rating is based on our review, factoring in price and visitor feedback.
If you'd prefer to make your own decision, here's the list of all our monitor reviews for products priced at $500 or less. 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.