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 higher refresh rates than 144Hz, like 180Hz. The recommended monitors below reflect that and have native 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 390 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 GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSNative Refresh RateHzMax Refresh Rate320 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160The best 144Hz monitor that we've tested is the KOORUI S2741LM. It's a versatile 4k monitor that's great for different types of gamers. It has a native 160Hz refresh rate with its 4k resolution, and it performs well at 144Hz, too. It has a consistently fast response time at any refresh rate, resulting in minimal motion blur, and it has low input lag for a responsive feel as well. It even has a dual-mode feature to boost it to 320Hz with a lower 1080p resolution, giving you versatility if you want to game at higher refresh rates. It also has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth to take advantage of HDMI 2.1 graphics cards.
Besides its great gaming performance, it also delivers good picture quality. It uses Mini LED backlighting that helps provide a decent local dimming feature. It improves black levels with minimal haloing around bright objects, but there's some black crush in dark scenes. It also gets incredibly bright, so it fights glare well and makes highlights pop in HDR. A downside is that it's inaccurate out of the box, so you may have to calibrate it for accurate images.
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Best Mid-Range 144Hz Monitor
PC GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSNative Refresh RateHzMax Refresh Rate320 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution3840 x 2160If the KOORUI S2741LM is out of your price range and you want to save some money when looking for a 144Hz monitor, then look into the Acer Nitro XV275K P5biipruzx. It's another 27-inch, 4k option with many similarities. It has the same 160Hz refresh rate with a dual-mode feature to increase it to 320Hz with a 1080p resolution. That said, it has worse motion handling, particularly with VRR enabled, so there's more blur with fast-moving objects. It at least has the same HDMI 2.1 bandwidth and low input lag as the KOORUI.
While it also features Mini LED backlighting, there's a trade-off for getting this monitor over the KOORUI. You can't use its local dimming in SDR, meaning blacks look gray, and highlights don't stand out. It looks decent in HDR as well, but there's more haloing around bright objects, and its colors aren't as vivid. On the plus side, it has better out-of-the-box accuracy than the KOORUI, which is something to consider if your games require accurate colors.
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Best Budget 144Hz Monitor
PC GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeVANative Refresh RateHzMax 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 GamingResponse TimeHDR PictureSDR PictureBrightnessSize27"Panel TypeLCDSub-TypeIPSNative Refresh RateHzMax Refresh Rate180 HzSee all our test resultsNative Resolution2560 x 1440If you find the AOC Q27G3XMN too expensive, and you're looking for something cheaper 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. Plus, 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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HyperX OMEN OLED 27q:
The HyperX OMEN OLED 27q is a QD-OLED with a 240Hz refresh rate that's in the same price range as the KOORUI S2741LM. It's something to consider if you don't mind having a higher refresh rate, as it has better motion handling. However, it isn't as bright as the KOORUI.
See our review -
MSI MPG 274URDFW E16M:
The MSI MPG 274URDFW E16M is a 4k Mini LED monitor that competes directly with the KOORUI S2741LM. Although it's similar for the most part, one downside is that its local dimming feature performs worse in SDR. It also has worse motion handling than the KOORUI.
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 can be harder to find.
See our review
Recent Updates
May 19, 2026:
We replaced the hard-to-find Dell Alienware AW3423DWF with the newer KOORUI S2741LM. In the Notable Mentions, we removed the Dell Alienware AW3425DW and the MSI G274QPF-QD, and we added the HyperX OMEN OLED 27q and the MSI MPG 274URDFW E16M.
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.
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.