There are benefits to gaming at 144Hz, even if gaming monitors are coming out with higher refresh rates. For example, it isn't too demanding on a graphics card. However, the market for monitors with a native refresh rate of exactly 144Hz is limited, and there are many models with refresh rates slightly higher than 144Hz, like 180Hz. The recommended monitors below reflect that and have refresh rates as high as 180Hz, and you can easily use them at 144Hz instead.
There are a few factors to consider when looking for a gaming monitor. A fast response time is important for sharp motion so that there isn't much blur behind fast-moving objects. Getting a monitor with low input lag also makes gaming feel responsive, but most monitors have low input lag anyway. If you care about detailed images, you should also consider a monitor's resolution, like 1440p or 4k. Though, most entry-level and budget-friendly 144Hz monitors have a 1440p resolution.
We've bought and tested over 380 monitors, and below are our picks for the best monitors with native refresh rates from 144Hz to 180Hz. See our recommendations for the best 1440p 144Hz monitors, the best 4k 144Hz monitors, and, if you want a higher refresh rate, the best 240Hz 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 144Hz Monitor
PC Gaming8.9Response Time9.9HDR Picture9.3SDR Picture9.9Brightness6.7Size34"Pixel TypeQD-OLEDNative Refresh Rate165 HzMax Refresh Rate165 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3440 x 1440The best 144Hz monitor that we've tested is the Dell Alienware AW3423DWF. It offers fantastic gaming performance and superb picture quality. It's a 34-inch ultrawide that offers an immersive gaming experience, and despite having a native 165Hz refresh rate, it also performs well at 144Hz. Motion looks sharp at any refresh rate thanks to its near-instantaneous response time, and it also supports all common VRR formats to reduce screen tearing. Plus, it has low input lag at 144Hz for a responsive gaming feel.
The biggest advantage of gaming with this monitor is that content looks incredible. It has a QD-OLED panel with a near-infinite contrast ratio for deep blacks in dark rooms, and no haloing around bright objects. It also makes highlights pop in HDR, and it displays vivid colors. However, the downside is that blacks look purple in bright rooms, so you need to use it in a dark room to get the best picture quality.
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Best Mid-Range 144Hz Monitor
PC Gaming7.7Response Time7.5HDR Picture6.8SDR Picture7.1Brightness8.7Size27"Panel TypeIPSNative Refresh Rate160 HzMax Refresh Rate320 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160If you don't have the budget for a premium monitor like the Dell Alienware AW3423DWF, look into the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx. It's much cheaper than the Dell, especially when it's on sale. However, there are some notable trade-offs in terms of picture quality because it doesn't have an OLED panel. This means it can't display the same deep blacks in dark rooms without any haloing, and bright colors aren't as vivid. Instead, it uses Mini LED backlighting that gets much brighter, so it's the better choice for well-lit rooms. It also has a passable local dimming feature that you can use only in HDR. It displays fairly deep blacks, but there's noticeable haloing.
Another downside of getting this over the Dell is that there's more motion blur with fast-moving objects. However, it has some advantages for gaming. It has a native 160Hz refresh rate with a 4k resolution, so images are detailed, and it performs well at 144Hz. It's also versatile for playing different types of games because it has a dual-mode feature to boost its refresh rate to 320Hz with a lower 1080p resolution.
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Best Budget 144Hz Monitor
PC Gaming8.2Response Time8.5HDR Picture8.0SDR Picture8.2Brightness8.3Size27"Panel TypeVANative Refresh Rate165 HzMax Refresh Rate180 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution2560 x 1440If you're looking for the best budget 144Hz monitor, the AOC Q27G3XMN is a great lower-cost alternative to the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx. The main difference with the Acer is that it has a lower 1440p resolution; this means it doesn't display the same detailed images. While it has an even faster overall response time than the Acer, there's smearing with fast-moving objects. It also lacks HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, but you can still get a 144Hz signal over HDMI regardless.
Like the Acer, it utilizes Mini LED backlighting, which makes highlights pop in HDR. It also displays deeper blacks with minimal haloing, contributing to its excellent picture quality. Plus, it gets bright enough to overcome glare in most environments. You can use its local dimming as you wish in SDR and HDR, so it has better picture quality than the Acer in SDR. If you're looking for a monitor that has a better local dimming feature and gets even brighter, check out the similar AOC Q27G40XMN. However, it's available only in the US, and it has worse motion handling.
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Best Cheap 144Hz Monitor
PC Gaming7.3Response Time7.9HDR Picture5.4SDR Picture6.9Brightness7.3Size27"Panel TypeIPSNative Refresh Rate180 HzMax Refresh Rate180 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution2560 x 1440If you find the AOC Q27G3XMN too expensive, and you're looking for something cheap and more basic, check out the Dell Alienware AW2725DM. It has the same 1440p resolution as the AOC, with similar brightness in SDR, so it fights glare in most environments. Additionally, while it has a bit more blur with fast-moving objects than the AOC, it doesn't have any black smearing that the AOC has. Although it has a 180Hz native refresh rate, it also performs well at 144Hz.
However, the biggest difference between the two monitors is HDR performance. The Dell has a terrible local dimming feature that only works in HDR and introduces haloing around bright objects. Deep blacks appear gray, and it doesn't get bright enough for highlights to pop. Additionally, it has less vivid colors in HDR, so it doesn't deliver an impactful HDR gaming experience. It's still fine for SDR gaming, though, as it has accurate colors, and its wide viewing angle helps keep the image consistent from the sides if you want to share your screen for co-op gaming.
Notable Mentions
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Dell Alienware AW3425DW:
The Dell Alienware AW3425DW is a newer version of the Dell Alienware AW3423DWF with a higher 240Hz refresh rate. It's something to consider if you want the extra refresh rate for playing other games. However, the AW3423DWF is worth getting when you can find it for cheaper.
See our review -
Dell Alienware AW3225DM:
The Dell Alienware AW3225DM is a larger alternative to the AOC Q27G3XMN. It has the same 1440p resolution, and like the AOC, it has great contrast with local dimming off. However, it has far worse HDR performance, and fast-moving objects look a bit blurrier.
See our review -
ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS:
The ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS is an entry-level 27-inch, 1440p gaming monitor that competes with the Dell Alienware AW2725DM. The ASUS has some advantages, like the fact that it has better motion handling with VRR. However, it tends to cost more.
See our review -
MSI G274QPF-QD:
The MSI G274QPF-QD is a cheap gaming monitor with better colors than the Dell Alienware AW2725DM. However, it has worse motion handling than the Dell.
See our review
Recent Updates
Feb 23, 2026:
We replaced the hard-to-find BenQ MOBIUZ EX321UX with the Dell Alienware AW3423DWF. We also replaced the MSI G274QPF-QD with the Dell Alienware AW2725DM for consistency with other recommendations. In the Notable Mentions, we removed the Dell Alienware AW3425DWM and added the Dell Alienware AW3425DW and the G274QPF-QD.
Dec 08, 2025:
We replaced the Sony INZONE M9 II with the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx; we renamed it as the 'Best Mid-Range 144Hz Monitor' because the Acer is cheaper, and for consistency with other recommendations. We also removed the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx from Notable Mentions.
Aug 14, 2025:
We replaced the Dell Alienware AW3423DWF with the BenQ MOBIUZ EX321UX, as the BenQ gets much brighter and has a sharper screen. We also replaced the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx with the Sony INZONE M9 II, as the Acer is hard to find right now. Additionally, we added the MSI G274QPF-QD as 'Best Cheap'. Finally, we added the Dell Alienware AW3225DM and the Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx to the Notable Mentions.
Jul 07, 2025:
We removed the AOC 24G15N and replaced the Dell S3422DWG with the Dell Alienware AW3425DWM in the Notable Mentions.
Mar 28, 2025:
We removed the LG 27GP850-B/27GP83B-B because its price went up, and it's hard to find. We also changed the Notable Mentions to reflect changes in the article and the current monitor market by removing the Dell Alienware AW3423DW and adding the Dell S3422DWG and the AOC 24G15N.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best 144Hz monitors, including those with slightly higher refresh rates, and are currently available. They're adapted to be valid for most people in each price range. 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's the list of all of our monitors with a minimum native refresh rate of 144Hz and a maximum of 180Hz. 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.