Although 24-inch and 25-inch monitors aren't as popular as larger monitors, and companies aren't producing as many models as before, they're still useful for some people. They're a good choice if you have limited desk space or if you find larger screens too big. Despite most 24- or 25-inch monitors coming out now are focused on gaming, there are still some with office-oriented features, so you'll have to think about how you're going to use the monitor before looking for one.
Gaming monitors of this size tend to have low resolutions and high refresh rates, making them ideal for competitive gaming. They also have low input lag and VRR support, but you also have to consider their response time so that motion is sharp. As for office monitors, there are a few factors to think about, like their brightness, ergonomics, and features. While monitors in this size range don't tend to cost as much as larger displays, they're still available at any price point, so your budget is something else to consider.
We've bought and tested more than 325 monitors, and below are our recommendations for the best 24- and 25-inch monitors. Check our recommendations for the best monitors under $200, the best budget and cheap monitors, and the best gaming monitors under $300.
The best 25-inch monitor we've tested is the Dell Alienware AW2523HF. It's a versatile monitor that has gaming-focused features, like its fast 360Hz refresh rate that's ideal for competitive gaming. While its 1080p resolution may seem low and doesn't deliver the sharpest detail, this is what you have to expect for something in this size range, and the low resolution requires less bandwidth on your graphics card, making it easier to maintain high frame rates. Even at that, due to its higher pixel density, it still has decent text and image clarity.
It delivers good motion handling at high refresh rates thanks to its quick response time, and it also has a quick 60Hz response time, which is ideal for gaming at lower refresh rates. Despite being focused on gaming, it's still good if you want to use it for other tasks as it gets bright enough to fight glare and has great reflection handling, so visibility isn't a problem in well-lit rooms. It also has wide viewing angles and excellent ergonomics, making it easy to share your screen with someone next to you, like a coworker or friend.
While you can often find the Dell Alienware AW2523HF at a low cost, if it's still too much out of your price range or you don't need something with such a high refresh rate, you can consider the ViewSonic XG2431, which is also the best 24-inch gaming monitor you can get on a budget. Although it has a lower 240Hz refresh rate than the Dell, it's still high enough for most gamers. It provides impressive gaming performance and has a fast response time, so motion looks crisp with minimal blur.
Unlike the Dell model, it has a unique backlight strobing feature to reduce persistence blur that many budget monitors don't have. You can customize its pulse width and phase, letting you fine-tune the backlight strobing to something you prefer. Unfortunately, it doesn't work at the same time as VRR though. Besides that, it's still good for office work or content creation, as it has great color accuracy and gets bright enough to fight glare.
If you're looking for the best 24-inch monitor and don't mind getting a cheap display, check out the AOC 24G15N. It has a 24-inch, 1080p display like the ViewSonic XG2431 but has a lower 180Hz refresh rate, which is still fine for most gamers with entry-level setups. The main downside of using it is that it has noticeable smearing and motion blur with fast-moving objects, which is disappointing for playing fast-paced games. If that's important for you, it's better to go for the higher-end ViewSonic, otherwise the AOC offers what you need in a cheap 24-inch monitor for gaming.
It's even a good choice if you want to use it in a dark room, as it has a high native contrast ratio, and the black uniformity is decent. Although it doesn't get bright enough to fight a ton of glare for use in a well-lit room, it's still fine if you have a few lights around, and it has good reflection handling.
If you need something mainly for working, check out the Dell P2423D, which is the best 24-inch monitor for productivity. Although the monitors mentioned above are still fine if you want to use them for productivity when you aren't gaming, this monitor has a higher 1440p resolution than the Dell Alienware AW2523HF, resulting in higher pixel density and sharper text clarity. This is useful if you need to read documents or browse the web all day.
It comes with an extremely ergonomic stand, making it easy to adjust, and its wide viewing angles help if you need to share the screen with someone next to you. It also has good enough reflection handling 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's important to note that this monitor has limited gaming features, as it doesn't even support VRR, which is why it's something to get only for work; otherwise, go for one of the other options mentioned.
Should you need something simple and cheap for the office, then look into the Dell P2425H. It's a step down from the Dell P2423D as it has a lower 1080p resolution, so images aren't as sharp and detailed, but that's the trade-off for getting something cheaper. It doesn't get as bright either, but it still has good reflection handling and is fine if you want to use it in a room with a few lights around. Despite being an entry-level monitor, it still comes with a very ergonomic stand, so it's easy to adjust, and its wide viewing angles are ideal if you need to share your screen with someone else.
It actually has a few extra features compared to the P2423D, like the fact that it has a USB-C port. Although it doesn't support DisplayPort Alt Mode and you can't display an image from your laptop, it's still useful for charging devices with its 15W of power delivery. It also has three USB-A ports to which you can connect your keyboard and mouse if your computer doesn't have any available ports.
Aug 29, 2024: We removed the Dell Alienware AW2524H because it's hard to find. We also added the AOC 24G15N and the Dell P2425H to their respective categories.
Jun 05, 2024: Moved the ASUS VG246H to the Notable Mentions as it's harder to find. Added the Dell P2423D as 'Best Office' because it has a higher resolution and more office features than the other monitors mentioned.
Apr 17, 2024: Ensured our selections are accurate and up to date and removed the Acer Nitro XF243Y Pbmiiprx as a Notable Mention.
Jan 31, 2024: Replaced the Acer Predator X25 bmiiprzx with the ASUS ROG Swift Pro PG248QP in the Notable Mentions because the ASUS has a higher refresh rate and is easier to find.
Nov 16, 2023: Moved the Acer Nitro XF243Y Pbmiiprx to Notable Mentions because it's hard to find.
Our recommendations are based on what we think are the best 24-inch and 25-inch monitors currently available, including the best 24-inch gaming monitors. They are adapted to be valid for most people in each price range. 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 24-25-inch monitor reviews. 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.