Having a good monitor is necessary to unleash the best aspects of playing on a powerful gaming PC, as it allows you to enjoy better resolutions or frames per second thanks to their display capabilities. Unfortunately, most of thetop-tier displayscarry premium pricing. The good news is there are budget-friendly monitors available now that don’t force compromises.
These monitors deliver impressively fluid, vivid gameplay without breaking the bank. Whether your focus is lightning-fast refresh rates for competitive genres or expansive screens for engrossing single-player adventures, the monitors on our list represent tremendous value. Check out our selections below!
Updated Jul 24, 2025 by Kenny Kimberly:Finding high-quality products can be overwhelming, especially in the budget space. How can you parse out the good, low-cost monitors from the cheap, low-quality monitors? We’ve come back to this piece to chop out some monitors that were no longer available and replace them with some great choices. Enjoy!
BenQ GW2480T
Less strain, more performance.
The BenQ GW2480T monitor merges eye comfort with gaming excellence. It features advanced eye-care technology for reduced strain, a crisp Full HD IPS display, and adaptive brightness for prolonged gaming sessions, offering a blend of visual clarity and eye protection.
If you’re someone who gets easily worn out after working on a screen for long hours, the BenQ GW2480T should be on your radar. At the heart of this monitor’s eye-care features is BenQ’s exclusive Low Blue Light Technology, which significantly reduces harmful blue light emission, known to cause eye fatigue and discomfort. Complementing this is the Flicker-Free technology, which eliminates screen flickering at all brightness levels, further reducing eye strain.
The monitor’s automatic brightness adjustment, known as the Brightness Intelligence Technology, is another standout feature. This thing actively adjusts the screen’s brightness and color temperature according to ambient light conditions, ensuring a comfortable viewing experience in any setup.
Okay, what else…this thing has 178-degree viewing angles thanks to the IPS panel. That means you can see a clear, undistorted image from basically any position. Very handy, especially if you’ve got one of those slick multi-monitor deals going on. With the barely there bezels, your view will be nearly seamless from one display to the next.
It’s not 100% perfect though. The 60Hz refresh rate is fine for work and play, but hardcore competitive gamers might want something faster-paced. And with no USB-C or built-in speakers, you lose a bit of convenience for connecting devices or getting sound. Also, adjusting height or swivel angle is kinda limited. But really, small potatoes compared to everything you gain with this beauty!
InnoView 18.5" 1080p Portable Monitor
Great for a budget on the move
If you’re looking for a more portable budget option, the InnoView 18.5" 1080p Portable Monitor is a great choice. While we don’t recommend this as a permanent display, it’s a great secondary display for work or on the go.
When you look for budget options, you may overlook the portable monitor industry.Portable monitorsare mostly used for tablets and as secondary displays for laptops. Indeed, this is the use we would suggest this monitor for, as there are certainly better options in the same price range if you’re looking for a more “permanent” display for your desktop.
But if you’re on a budget and need something that you can move around, the InnoView 18.5" monitor is a phenomenal choice. This piece is more affordable than many of the portable monitors that bear its qualities and serves as a great display for streaming, gaming, and browsing. If it’s still a bit out of your budget, InnoView offers the same monitor in different sizes, so you can customize it until it meets your needs.
KOORUI 27-Inch 4K IPS Gaming Monitor
Unbelievably good bang for only a few of your bucks
With a 27" display, a 4K resolution, and tons of features, it’s hard to believe this piece is a budget monitor. But given that it’s well under the $200 mark, we consider this to be a steal for the phenomenal monitor you’re getting at the cost.
A 27" display is a sweet spot for plenty of gamers. Larger monitors can feel like they dominate the desk, while smaller monitors can feel like they aren’t providing enough visual space. If you’re looking for a great option in the 27" range, we highly recommend this option from KOORUI.
At 4K resolution, this monitor is ideal forstreaming and viewing content. Its 60hz refresh rate is solid by most standards, but if you’re playing some more intense, high-octane competitive games, you’ll likely want to find a monitor that has a better refresh rate than that. Still, you’re able to’t beat this price for the amazing features on offer, the phenomenal resolution, and the perfect size of the display.
LG 32GN650-B Ultragear Gaming Monitor
Speedy Visuals
Lightning-fast 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time meet vibrant QHD visuals in LG’s 32-inch UltraGear gaming monitor.
The LG 32GN650-B is an excellent 32-inch QHD gaming monitor for gamers on a budget. With its 2560 x 1440 resolution, 165Hz refresh rate, and 1ms response time, this monitor provides silky smooth visuals and lag-free gameplay whether you’re playing fast-paced competitive shooters or immersive RPGs.
The implementation of AMD FreeSync technology syncs the monitor’s 165Hz refresh rate with the frame rate output of your GPU, eliminating screen tearing and stuttering that can ruin your gaming experience. The VA panel delivers superb 3000:1 contrast ratio and vibrant colors, covering 95% of the sRGB color gamut. This results in crisp, detailed visuals with excellent color accuracy.
The virtually borderless design and fully adjustable stand give a streamlined modern aesthetic that will fit well in any gaming setup. Connectivity is solid with 1 DisplayPort and 2 HDMI ports provided. At this price point, it’s difficult to find another 32-inch1440p gaming monitorthat can match this budget beast from LG in terms of performance and visual quality.
Acer SB220Q 21.5" HD Ultra-Thin Zero Frame Monitor
Slim Style
Slim profile meets superb visuals with Acer’s SB220Q monitor. The 21.5" IPS display delivers dynamic Full HD entertainment powered by a rapid 4ms response time and AMD FreeSync for real-smooth action.
The Acer SB220Q proves you don’t need to sacrifice style or performance for an affordable 1080p monitor. This slim 21.5-inch display brings substance and flair to your desktop. Visually, the bordtwerless IPS panel provides punchy colors and wide 178° viewing angles thanks to Acer’s advanced liquid crystal formula.
Fast-paced games are handled smoothly courtesy of the 4ms response time and AMD FreeSync support which eliminates tearing and stuttering. Productivity and entertainment are enhanced by the Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution on the expansive screen real estate.
Integrated 2W speakers allow for audio playback without desk clutter. AcerVisionCare tech helps reduce eye fatigue during long sessions. With a super-slim profile at just 0.24 inches thin and a contemporary concentric circle stand, the SB220Q saves space in style.
KOORUI 27 Inch 144Hz QHD Gaming Monitor
All-In-One
Experience ultra-immersive 2560x1440 QHD gaming powered by vibrant DCI-P3 colors and lag-free 144Hz refresh rates with Koorui’s feature-packed 27-inch monitor.
Koorui hits the sweet spot for gaming with their 27-inch QHD monitor. The 2560x1440 resolution shows off your gaming outputs in a striking level of clarity and detail that fully engages you. Gaming is exceptionally fluid thanks to the zippy 144Hz refresh rate and Adaptive Sync delivering flawlessly smooth frames. Even fast motion like car racing or first-person shooters will flow without distractions like stuttering. Additionally, the 1ms response time keeps action lag-free and crisp.
Shadow Boost brightens dark areas to prevent enemies from hiding. Crosshair editing lets you customize aim points, delivering in-game optimization. You also get a fully adjustable stand that offers ergonomic options from tilt to pivot, height, and swivel adjustments. Apart from that, we see some standard connectivity options like HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB to ensure broad device compatibility.
ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ 27" 2K HDR Gaming Monitor
Victory Perfected
Take your game to the next level with ASUS’s 27-inch TUF monitor! Shadow Boost reveals enemies, HDR modes pump up colors and contrast, this beast is packed with sick features tailored for serious gamers.
Last but not least, we have the ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ, which is a bit more on the premium end of our budget, but has the features to back it up anyway. For starters, you get the Shadow Boost technology illuminates dark areas to reveal hidden enemies without overexposing other imagery. Additionally, you get the ability to switch between multiple HDR modes to optimize expanded contrast and vivid colors.
Coming to the design and accessibility part of it, we see some extensive ergonomic adjustments in this unit, focused on delivering the next level of personalized comfort, with features ranging from 130mm height alteration to tilt, swivel and pivot modifications. The removable stand hood also conceals cables for clean aesthetics. To top it off, the textured matte finishing and robust build quality withstand marathon gaming sessions with great ease.
ELMB Sync enables simultaneously blur reduction and Adaptive Sync, resulting in sharp visuals when cranking out high frame rates. Not only that, GamePlus adds helpful on-screen tools like crosshair overlays, timers, and frame rate trackers to give you a competitive edge, making this monitor an absolute bang for your buck.
Frequently Asked Questions
Curved or flat display, which is better for budget gaming?
A curved display may seem more immersive, but for budget gaming monitors under 32 inches, a flat screen is likely going to be the better choice. Curved displays come at a significant price premium, often 25-50 percent more than an equivalent flat display. Flat displays allow seamlessly lining up multiple monitors side-by-side for expanded desktop space, while curved bezels make this alignment difficult.
For a monitor’s curve to be fully effective, the display needs to be a bit larger. We recommend going for a flat screen if your display is under 31" and considering a curved monitor for anything larger.
What panel type is best for gaming on a budget?
For the optimal balance of cost and performance in a budget gaming monitor, VA (vertical alignment) panels are best. VA panels offer 3000:1 or higher contrast ratios, providing inky blacks and vivid colors for immersive gaming worlds. This contrasts with IPS panels that typically have just 1000:1 contrast. VA panels also deliver fast 1-4ms response times to prevent motion blur in fast-paced games, with only TN panels being faster.
How important is getting a monitor with a fast response time for budget gaming?
Response time is extremely important for fast-paced gaming genres like multiplayer shooters, fighting games, and racing titles. Slower response times can lead to distracting motion blur, ghosting, and input lag during high-action sequences. High refresh rates and good response times also aren’t hard to find on a budget monitor, so if you’re playing games that need a fast response, there’s no reason to skip out.
