Gaming doesn't have to break the bank. In 2025, the market for budget gaming monitors is packed with impressive options. You can get excellent performance without spending a fortune. Modern budget monitors offer features that were once only found in premium displays, giving you fantastic value.
When you're looking for the best budget gaming monitor, there are a few key things to consider. These factors help you get the most for your money. Resolution is often the first thing people think about. While 1080p monitors are a great entry point, many budget 1440p options deliver sharper visuals and still fit your budget. For ultimate clarity, 4K options are becoming more affordable, though they still cost a bit more.
Refresh rate is another crucial factor for smooth, responsive gaming. Many gamers find 144Hz to be the sweet spot, offering fluid motion without the high price of super-high refresh displays. A good budget gaming monitor typically offers at least 60Hz, but 144Hz is becoming the standard for competitive play.
Panel technology affects image quality and response times. Budget gaming monitors usually feature VA, TN, or IPS panels. Each has its own benefits: VA panels offer deeper blacks, TN panels often provide faster response times, and IPS panels deliver better colors and wider viewing angles.
Console gamers also have specific needs. If you play on a PS5 or Xbox Series X, look for monitors that support HDMI 2.1 and variable refresh rate (VRR) technology. Many excellent cheap gaming monitors for PS5 prioritize these features.
Many budget gaming monitors in 2025 also include adaptive sync technologies like FreeSync or G-Sync compatibility. These reduce screen tearing without the premium price tag of fully certified versions. Even very cheap gaming monitors are starting to include these features as standard.
For very tight budgets, you can even find a decent gaming monitor under $100, though you'll see some compromises. A cheap 144Hz gaming monitor offers great value by focusing on speed. Overall, the best budget gaming monitors of 2025 show how far technology has come, making quality gaming accessible to everyone.
Here's a breakdown of the top five budget gaming monitors, ranked from fifth to first, based on their value and performance. If you want to check prices, you'll find links to each product on Amazon throughout this post.
The Top 5 Best Budget Gaming Monitors
5. ViewEdge CS24FK
The ViewEdge CS24FK comes in at number five on our list. It's an excellent choice if you're on a very strict budget. This monitor provides exceptional value, balancing affordability with features usually found in more expensive models.
Key Features and Performance It has a 24-inch IPS panel with a 1080p resolution and a 165Hz refresh rate. The 1 millisecond response time ensures sharp visuals and smooth motion, which is crucial for fast-paced games. HDR10 support enhances color depth and contrast, making your games look more vibrant. With 99% sRGB coverage and 8-bit color depth, it produces accurate, lifelike colors, suitable for both gaming and basic content creation.
Gamers will appreciate the minimal ghosting and FreeSync compatibility, which eliminates screen tearing for a fluid experience. Plus, it includes blue light reduction to help reduce eye strain during long gaming sessions.
Design and Connectivity The ViewEdge CS24FK features a three-sided frameless design, saving desk space. It also has VESA mount support, allowing for flexible positioning. While it doesn't have built-in speakers, its HDMI and DisplayPort connectivity work well with modern setups. The IPS panel's 178-degree viewing angles ensure consistent colors from various perspectives.
Pros and Cons
- Pros:
- Very affordable with advanced features, including a high refresh rate and fast response time.
- Accurate color reproduction, good for gaming and casual content creation.
- FreeSync compatibility provides smooth, tear-free gaming.
- Cons:
- Lacks built-in speakers.
- Lower resolution (1080p) compared to higher-ranked picks.
Who is this for? This monitor is for gamers on a tight budget who still want high refresh rates, good color accuracy, and smooth performance in their games.
Check the price on Amazon: ViewEdge CS24FK
4. MSI G272QPF
Coming in at number four, the MSI G272QPF is a budget monitor that offers impressive gaming performance.
Key Features and Performance This monitor features a 27-inch IPS panel with a 1440p resolution, providing sharp visuals and wide viewing angles. It boasts a 170Hz refresh rate and a rapid 1 millisecond response time, ensuring fluid motion in fast-paced games. It also has a higher-than-average contrast ratio for an IPS panel, which enhances depth without sacrificing color accuracy.
Adaptive Sync compatibility works with both AMD and Nvidia GPUs, eliminating screen tearing. Customizable overdrive settings help maintain clarity during intense action scenes. The monitor's out-of-the-box color calibration is solid, covering over 90% of the DCI-P3 gamut for vibrant visuals, even in HDR content. However, its HDR brightness is somewhat limited compared to premium displays.
Gaming-Centric Features The MSI G272QPF includes practical features like height adjustment and portrait rotation, making it versatile. The intuitive joystick-controlled OSD (On-Screen Display) makes navigating settings easy. For competitive players, specific tools like dynamic crosshairs and black level optimization give an extra edge.
Pros and Cons
- Pros:
- Great balance of performance and color accuracy, with a high refresh rate and 1440p resolution.
- User-friendly controls and an ergonomic stand for comfortable use.
- Adaptive Sync compatibility for both AMD and Nvidia graphics cards.
- Cons:
- HDR highlights lack the punch of more expensive monitors.
- While ergonomic, some might prefer even more robust adjustment options.
Who is this for? This monitor is for budget-conscious gamers who want 1440p sharpness and competitive gaming tools, along with good color accuracy and ergonomic flexibility.
Check the price on Amazon: MSI G272QPF
3. LG 27GN800-B
Our third pick, the LG 27GN800-B, delivers solid gaming performance for its price point.
Key Features and Performance This 27-inch IPS monitor features a 2560x1440 resolution, offering sharp detail for immersive gaming. It provides a 144Hz refresh rate and a 1 millisecond gray-to-gray response time, ensuring smooth motion clarity during fast-paced play.
The monitor supports both AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility, eliminating screen tearing across a wide variable refresh rate range (48 to 144 Hz). While its HDR10 capability enhances color depth, brightness limitations mean highlights won't truly pop in dark scenes. Gamers will appreciate the low input lag and customizable overdrive settings, which reduce ghosting effectively without introducing inverse artifacts.
Design and Usability The stand offers tilt adjustment, but it lacks height adjustment. However, VESA mount compatibility allows you to use an aftermarket arm for flexible positioning. Like many budget IPS panels, it does have some IPS glow and a modest contrast ratio, which can affect dark room performance.
Pros and Cons
- Pros:
- Strong adaptive sync support for a tear-free and smooth visual experience.
- Vibrant colors and wide viewing angles typical of an IPS panel.
- Low input lag and good pixel transitions for competitive gaming.
- Cons:
- The stand lacks height adjustment, which can impact ergonomics.
- IPS glow and lower contrast ratio are noticeable in dark environments.
Who is this for? This monitor is ideal for competitive gamers who prioritize rapid pixel transitions and adaptive sync technologies, without sacrificing visual fidelity, all while staying within a budget.
Check the price on Amazon: LG 27GN800-A
2. Dell G2724D
The Dell G2724D is our runner-up, standing out for its exceptional motion clarity at an affordable price. It’s a fantastic budget gaming monitor.
Key Features and Performance This monitor features a 27-inch 1440p IPS panel with a 165Hz refresh rate. It offers full support for adaptive sync technologies like FreeSync and G-Sync, ensuring tear-free gameplay across both PCs and consoles. Fast response times minimize blur during high-speed action, while low input lag makes interactions feel instantaneous.
The monitor handles reflections well and gets bright enough for well-lit rooms. Its contrast ratio is typical for IPS panels, meaning blacks may appear slightly grayish. An accurate sRGB mode provides reliable color reproduction, which is useful for casual content creation.
Additional Features and Compatibility The highly adjustable stand allows for comfortable positioning. While it doesn't include extras like USB ports or advanced HDR, its focus on core gaming performance provides tremendous value. It even has customizable crosshairs and console-friendly 1440p scaling, making it smoothly compatible with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X via HDMI.
Pros and Cons
- Pros:
- Excellent motion clarity and comprehensive adaptive sync support for smooth gaming.
- Highly adjustable ergonomic stand for personalized comfort.
- Strong compatibility with both PCs and modern gaming consoles.
- Cons:
- Lacks advanced HDR features and USB ports.
- Contrast ratio is standard for IPS, so black levels aren't as deep as VA panels.
Who is this for? This monitor is for gamers who want a versatile display for both PC and console gaming, prioritizing motion clarity, adaptive sync, and ergonomic comfort without needing the absolute deepest blacks or advanced HDR.
Check the price on Amazon: Dell G2724D
1. AOC Q27G3XMN
Taking the top spot as the best budget gaming monitor you can get is the AOC Q27G3XMN. It offers stunning HDR performance for its price, providing excellent value for money.
Key Features and Performance This 27-inch VA panel monitor boasts a 2560x1440 resolution and a fast 180Hz refresh rate, striking a great balance between sharp detail and smooth gameplay. What truly sets it apart is its HDR performance, thanks to a 336-zone mini LED backlight that achieves over 1,000 nits peak brightness for vibrant highlights and deep blacks. Adaptive sync compatibility ensures tear-free visuals for both AMD and Nvidia GPUs.
The VA panel's high contrast ratio enhances darker game scenes, and wide color coverage provides accurate, saturated tones in both SDR and HDR content. Motion clarity is strong at maximum refresh rates, though you might notice slight ghosting in fast transitions, which is a common characteristic of VA technology.
Design and Usability The ergonomic stand offers extensive adjustments, helping you find your perfect viewing position. DisplayPort connectivity unlocks the monitor's full refresh rate potential. While local dimming can introduce minor blooming around bright objects, it's a small trade-off for the exceptional HDR experience.
Pros and Cons
- Pros:
- Best-in-class HDR performance for a budget monitor, thanks to mini LED technology.
- High contrast ratio and excellent color coverage make games look stunning.
- High refresh rate and sharp resolution for a smooth and detailed gaming experience.
- Cons:
- Some slight ghosting can occur in very fast transitions due to VA panel technology.
- Minor blooming around bright objects from local dimming.
Who is this for? This monitor is for gamers seeking premium display features like mini LED HDR in an affordable package. If you want the deepest blacks and most vibrant HDR experience without a huge investment, this is your go-to.
Check the price on Amazon: AOC Q27G3XMN
How to Choose the Best Budget Gaming Monitor for You
Choosing the right budget gaming monitor boils down to matching its specifications to your specific gaming preferences and setup.
Match Monitor Specs to Gaming Preferences
- Competitive, fast-paced gaming: Prioritize monitors with high refresh rates (144Hz or more) and low input lag for the most responsive gameplay.
- Immersive, story-driven games or content creation: Focus on resolution (1440p) and color accuracy. IPS panels often excel here.
- Console gaming: Look for HDMI 2.1 support and VRR compatibility, especially important for PS5 and Xbox Series X to get the most out of your console.
Ergonomics and Setup Considerations Don't overlook the importance of an adjustable stand. Being able to change height, tilt, swivel, and pivot makes a big difference in comfort during long gaming sessions. VESA mount compatibility is also a plus if you plan to use a monitor arm for more flexibility.
Budget vs. Feature Trade-offs You'll often need to make some trade-offs when buying on a budget. For instance, you might choose a VA panel for deeper blacks and better contrast in dark scenes, but it might have slightly more ghosting than an IPS panel. Similarly, if you want high refresh rates, you might compromise on advanced HDR brightness. Decide which features are most important to your gaming style and prioritize those.
All the monitors we've covered offer excellent value for their price point. You can find their current prices on Amazon through the links provided above.
Useful Tips for Maintaining Your Budget Gaming Monitor
Once you've picked your monitor, a few simple tips can help you get the best performance and extend its life.
Adjusting Settings for Best Performance After setting up, take some time to fine-tune your monitor's settings. You can often calibrate colors using built-in tools or even external calibration software for more precision. Always remember to enable adaptive sync (FreeSync or G-Sync compatibility) in your monitor's settings and graphics card control panel to reduce screen tearing for smoother gameplay.
Physical Care Tips Regularly clean your screen using a microfiber cloth and a screen-safe cleaning solution to avoid scratches and streaks. Never spray cleaning solution directly onto the screen. To reduce eye strain during extended sessions, consider enabling any blue light reduction features your monitor has, or adjust the brightness to a comfortable level for your environment.
Optimizing Your Gaming Setup Proper positioning of your monitor can also improve your experience. Place it to minimize glare from lights or windows. Ensuring your desk setup is ergonomic can also prevent discomfort during long gaming sessions.