The best monitors under $100 are often considered cheap monitors, but the amount of value they offer is insane, and that is why here are our most recommended $100 monitors. These are not as good as our recommended $200 monitors and $300 monitors, but if you are on a tight budget and looking to get the job done without spending much, these are the perfect monitors.
If you are considering $100 monitors, we highly recommend you check out the $150 monitors because they provide more features for a little extra price. Plus, you get a lot of options to choose from because it is a sweet spot for budget monitors, and it is a highly crowded segment.
Nevertheless, here are our $100 monitor recommendations for those on a strict budget.
Our Top Picks For $100 Monitors
⚠️ The prices of these monitors may vary and go above $100 at times.
| 1. Prechen 19 | 2. Sceptre 20 | 3. ASUS VP229HE | 4. Acer K202HQL | 5. Sceptre E248W-19203R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |
| 19″ | 20″ | 21.5″ | 19.5″ | 23.8″ |
| TN | TN | IPS | TN | VA |
| 1366×768 | 1600×900 | 1920×1080 | 1600×900 | 1920×1080 |
| 82 PPI | 91 PPI | 102 PPI | 94 PPI | 92 PPI |
| 250-nits | 250-nits | 250-nits | 200-nits | 250-nits |
| 1000:1 | 3000:1 | 1000:1 | 600:1 | 3000:1 |
| ❌ | ❌ | VRR | ❌ | ❌ |
| Speakers | Speakers | ❌ | ❌ | Speakers |
| VESA Mount | VESA Mount | VESA Mount | VESA Mount | VESA Mount |
| Price | Price | Price | Price | Price |
#1 Best Pick
Prechen 19″ Monitor
Why we like it?
Because it is the cheapest monitor you can get to display content.
#2 Best Pick
Sceptre 20″ Monitor
Why we like it?
Because it is a great basic monitor under $100 for office productivity, and it also has built-in speakers.
#3 Best Pick
ASUS VP229HE
Why we like it?
Because it is an IPS monitor with 1080p resolution, so excellent clarity, and also has AMD FreeSync for casual gaming.
First Look: Best Monitors Under $100
1. Prechen 19 – #1 Best Pick
Productivity
Gaming
Entertainment
Media Creation
This monitor from Prechen is a 19″ display for home and office use. It is a cheap monitor, so you should not expect excellence here because it is meant to display content on the screen to get the job done.
It is ideal for basic home-office tasks, CCTV monitoring, POS systems and casual gaming. It has built-in speakers, good peak brightness levels, and VESA mount compatibility.
2. Sceptre 20 – #2 Best Pick
Productivity
Gaming
Entertainment
Media Creation
The Sceptre 20 is one of the best cheap monitors in the industry right now. It houses many features and does not seem like a $100 monitor. The monitor has good color coverage, ample connectivity, built-in speakers, and VESA mount compatibility.
However, the small screen might not impress professionals, but if you are on a strict $100 budget, this is one of the best monitors you can get.
3. ASUS VP229HE – #3 Best Pick
Productivity
Gaming
Entertainment
Media Creation
The ASUS VP229HE is one of the most value for money monitors. It is an IPS monitor with 1080p resolution, so the visuals look sharp and uniform from the sides. It supports max 75Hz refresh rate, so the display is smoother than 60Hz monitors.
Apart from that, this $100 monitor houses plenty of features such as Adaptive Sync, Low Blue Light Mode, and dual video signal ports for connectivity.
4. Acer K202HQL
Productivity
Gaming
Entertainment
Media Creation
The Acer K202HQL belongs to Acer’s family of productivity monitors. It looks elegant with that black design, so it suits office spaces. It is a TN monitor, so the panel seems color-rich, but the viewing angles are terrible.
It boasts a couple of eye-saver features, so your eyes do not strain, but the stand is only tilt-adjustable, as you would expect from a cheap monitor.
5. Sceptre 24
Productivity
Gaming
Entertainment
Media Creation
The Sceptre 24 is an excellent 24-inch monitor for productivity. However, the price of this monitor varies quite often, so it may go above $100. It is a 1080p monitor, so you get more screen space and clarity. Plus, you also get dual HDMI ports and built-in speakers.
It is a bezel-free monitor, so the screen looks excellent, and you get VESA mount compatibility for mounting this monitor on a custom monitor arm.
How We Shortlist These Monitors?
We are Monitor Savvies, and we are experienced in displays. Our team consistently tests and reviews monitors from the industry so that our readers can make an informed decision.
It might not be possible for us to check out all the monitors in person, but we have a great understanding of monitors, and our team can figure out whether it is a good choice for the said purpose by looking at the specifications.
Besides this, we consistently also check online customer reviews and gather resources from various sources before featuring a monitor here.
We spent countless hours on this buying guide, and we keep updating our best monitors under $100 with the newer ones, so we recommend that you keep your eyes on this page for fresh contenders.
What Do $100 Monitors Offer?
The $100 monitors are the cheapest in the industry, so if you plan to buy one, remember the shortcomings because there are a lot.
If you are on a strict budget looking to buy a monitor for reading and displaying content without caring about the picture quality, these $100 monitors are a great value. Office-workers and those who need a monitor for reading do not need to spend much as these monitors get the job done.
Apart from that, these $100 monitors highly suit low-powered CPUs because these cheap monitors usually have low-resolution panels, which puts less stress on the CPU, resulting in efficient working.
These cheap monitors are not ideal if you seek quality because some purposes such as photography, editing, and content creation need high-end displays, but these $100 monitors have inferior display performance, build quality, and features.
In-Depth Review: Best Monitors Under $100
1. Prechen 19 – #1 Best Pick
Best Features
- 1366×768 Resolution
- 250-nits Brightness
- HDMI & VGA
- Supports VESA Mount
- Built-in Speakers
About the Monitor
This monitor from Prechen has a 19″ display, and it is excellent for basic purposes. It comes at a low price, making it one of the most popular cheap monitors of all time. The Prechen 19 monitor is also an excellent choice if you want to extend your laptop’s display without spending much.
Display & Performance
The Prechen 19 boasts a 19-inch panel on the front with a 1366×768 resolution. It is a small monitor, so many would feel the absence of screen space. Also, the resolution is relatively low, making the texts look a little bit fuzzy.
It is ideal for text-reading, entertainment, and casual gaming, but the monitor does not offer enough space for multi-tasking. The 250-nits peak brightness is excellent, making this monitor sufficiently bright for well-lit environments.
Features
The Prechen 19 comes with a low blue light mode for reading. It causes less strain to your eyes, giving you a comfortable viewing experience.
Design & Ergonomics
The Prechen 19 has a black finish all over the monitor, and the bezels are fat, so it does not give a modern monitor look. The stand has a V-style, and it does not take much space on the desk because it is a small monitor.
It offers a tilt function, and it also has VESA mount support, so mounting this monitor on a custom monitor arm for flexibility is possible.
Connectivity
The Prechen 19 houses a single HDMI port, a VGA port, and a headphone jack. There are two video ports, so you can simultaneously use this monitor for multi-purposes, which is very convenient.
The Good
- Good brightness
- Dual video ports
- Has built-in speakers
The Bad
- Low resolution
- Fat bezels
Specifications
| Screen Size | 19-inch |
| Resolution | 1366 x 768p |
| PPI | N/A |
| Technology | TN |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Response Time | 5 ms |
| Variable Refresh Rate | N/A |
| Adjustments | Tilt-Only Stand |
| Connectivity Ports | 1x HDMI, 1x VGA, 1x Headphone Jack |
| VESA Mount Compatible | Yes (100 x 100mm) |
Should You Buy This?
The Prechen 19 is an excellent low-budget monitor that gets the job done. It does feel cheap, but if you are looking for a monitor under $100 for multiple purposes, this is a great choice.
2. Sceptre 20 – #2 Best Pick
Best Features
- 1600×900 Resolution
- Dual HDMI Ports
- High Contrast Ratio
- Built-in Speakers
- VESA Mount Compatible
About the Monitor
The Sceptre 20 is one of the best cheap monitors for productivity. Its 20-inch display might be small for some, but it offers decent text clarity for the price. It is feature-rich because it has built-in speakers, Adaptive Sync, dual HDMI ports, and a near-bezel-free frame.
Display & Performance
This Sceptre monitor houses a 20-inch panel on the front. It has a 1600×900 resolution. Despite being a low-resolution panel, the texts appear clear and sharp due to the tight arrangement of pixels.
The viewing angles are 170-degrees wide on this Sceptre monitor, so the image does not shift from the sides. It has 99% sRGB coverage, so the colors look vibrant on this monitor.
Apart from that, this monitor has a 3000:1 contrast ratio which is higher than most IPS monitors in the industry. The darkroom performance is excellent because of the high contrast ratio, and the blacks do not appear gray in the dark.
The panel has a max 75Hz refresh rate, so you get a little extra smoothness than 60Hz monitors. Causal gaming is enjoyable on this monitor and the fast response time further enhances the gaming experience.
Features
The Sceptre 20 has Anti-Flicker technology that provides a consistent and flicker-free viewing experience at all brightness levels.
It has Adaptive Sync for gaming so that it bridges the gap between graphic card’s and the monitor’s refresh rate and provides a stutter-free gaming experience.
Design & Ergonomics
Design-wise, the Sceptre 20 is a small and lightweight monitor that does not take much space on the desk. The frame has thin bezels, but they do not seem as thin as other monitors in the industry. The bottom bezel has the Sceptre logo in the middle, and the buttons for OSD are on the back.
The stand has a round footprint, and it is small, so it does not consume much space on the desk. It holds the monitor very well, but there is some wobble. The stand has only tilt function, so if you need more flexibility, you get VESA mount holes for mounting this monitor on the wall or a custom stand.
Connectivity
The Sceptre 20 has dual HDMI ports, a single VGA port, and ports for audio in and out. All three video ports support max 75Hz refresh rate so that you would get the same smoothness over all video ports.
The Good
- Has adaptive sync
- Multiple video ports
- Excellent contrast ratio
The Bad
- Mediocre viewing angles
- Display too small
Specifications
| Screen Size | 20-inch |
| Resolution | 1600 x 900p |
| PPI | N/A |
| Technology | TN |
| Refresh Rate | 75 Hz |
| Response Time | 5 ms |
| Variable Refresh Rate | Adaptive Sync |
| Adjustments | Tilt-Only Stand |
| Connectivity Ports | 2x HDMI 1.3, 1x VGA, 1x 3.5mm Audio In, 1x 3.5mm Audio Out |
| VESA Mount Compatible | Yes (75 x 75 mm) |
Should You Buy This?
If you are looking for the best monitor under $100, the Sceptre 20 is the best choice because it offers so much for the price. Adaptive Sync, built-in speakers, multiple video ports, VESA mount, and much more make it the best cheap monitor for home-office use and casual gaming.
3. ASUS VP229HE – #3 Best Pick
Best Features
- 1080p Panel
- IPS Technology
- Eye-Care Features
- Adaptive Sync
- Supports VESA Mount
About the Monitor
The ASUS VP229HE is a 1080p monitor with 21.5-inch screen size. It is a frameless monitor with many features for productivity and gaming. You get Adaptive Sync, 75Hz refresh rate, and excellent text clarity for the price.
Display & Performance
The ASUS VP229HE boasts an IPS panel with excellent colors and viewing angles, so mounting this monitor at a height would not dull the image. The 1080p resolution helps deliver excellent text clarity due to the tight arrangement of pixels on the small screen.
However, the screen space is mediocre because of its small form factor, which does not deliver the best multitasking experience.
The 250-nits peak brightness is decent, and it should fit in most well-lit rooms if not placed directly in front of a light. It fights the most common glares and reflections with its anti-glare coating on the front.
Features
The ASUS VP229HE is an excellent cheap monitor for productivity, but it boasts mostly gaming features, which also makes it great for gaming purposes.
It has the most demanded support for AMD FreeSync, and it is also compatible with Nvidia G-Sync, so it has full support for VRR. Moreover, you get Trace-Free technology which reduces motion blur and helps deliver a clear gaming experience.
Apart from that, there are eye-care features for reading that include low blue light mode and flicker-free technology.
Design & Ergonomics
The ASUS VP229HE has a bezel-free design, making it suitable for multiple monitor setups. It is finished in black, and the bottom bezel is thick like other monitors because you get the ASUS logo and OSD menu buttons markings.
The stand has a circular footprint that holds the monitor very well on the desk without consuming much space. However, it only offers tilt function, so professionals seeking adjustability can mount this monitor on a custom monitor arm.
Connectivity
It is terrible connectivity-wise because you get a single HDMI port and a D-sub port for video signals. The Sceptre 20 has dual HDMI ports, and our current contender also misses out on audio ports.
The Good
- Excellent text clarity
- Wide viewing angles
- Has full VRR support
The Bad
- Terrible connectivity
- Screen too small
- No built-in speakers
Specifications
| Screen Size | 21.5-inch |
| Resolution | Full HD | 1920 x 1080p |
| PPI | 102 PPI |
| Technology | IPS |
| Refresh Rate | 75 Hz |
| Response Time | 5 ms |
| Variable Refresh Rate | Adaptive Sync |
| Adjustments | Tilt-Only Stand |
| Connectivity Ports | 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x D-Sub |
| VESA Mount Compatible | Yes (100 x 100 mm) |
Should You Buy This?
If you are looking for a sharp monitor for reading, office purposes, and casual gaming, the ASUS VP229HE is the best option under $100 if you are okay with the small screen and poor connectivity.
4. Acer K202HQL
Best Features
- TN Panel
- Quick Response Time
- Tilt Function
- Eye-Care Features
- Dual Video Ports
About the Monitor
The Acer K202HQL is a basic TN monitor for office spaces and productivity. It lacks screen space and clarity, but this monitor will do the job if your primary purpose is to get the job done. It falls under $100, so it is one of the easiest approachable options for building bulk setups for the office.
Display & Performance
It is a 19.5″ monitor with 1600×900 pixels resolution. It is too outdated to use in 2022, where 4K monitors are becoming mainstream. However, as said earlier, if you need to get the job done or screen space and clarity does not matter to you, this is the monitor to buy.
It is a TN panel with a 60Hz refresh rate, so the smoothness is adequate for productivity, but the viewing angles are terrible, and you do not get rich colors as IPS.
Features
The Acer K202HQL has basic eye-care features, so your eyes do not strain in the dark. It misses out on built-in speakers and variable refresh rate tech.
Design & Ergonomics
The fat bezels give it a sturdy look, and the black frame makes it suitable for office spaces. The stand has a circular footprint which takes minimal space on the desk and offers only tilt function.
There are VESA mount holes on the back, so mounting this monitor on the wall or custom arm for flexibility is possible.
Connectivity
The Acer K202HQL has a single HDMI port and a single VGA port for video connections. The offering of dual video ports is excellent since you can take advantage of both ports simultaneously.
The Good
- Cheap price
- Dual video ports
- Supports VESA mount
The Bad
- Terrible viewing angles
- No built-in speakers
Specifications
| Screen Size | 19.5-inch |
| Resolution | HD+ | 1600 x 900p |
| PPI | N/A |
| Technology | TN |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Response Time | 5 ms |
| Variable Refresh Rate | N/A |
| Adjustments | Tilt-Only Stand |
| Connectivity Ports | 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x VGA |
| VESA Mount Compatible | Yes (100 x 100 mm) |
Should You Buy This?
The Acer K202HQL is one of the best $100 monitors. It highly fits office and basic home productivity requirements and is easy to approach because of its low price.
5. Sceptre E248W-19203R
Best Features
- 24″ FHD Panel
- Slim Bezels
- Multiple Ports
- Built-in Speakers
- Wall Mountable
About the Monitor
The Sceptre E248W-19203R is one of the most selling monitors in the industry right now, but its price fluctuates, so it goes above $100 at times. Still, if you can extend your budget a little, you can get this full-fledged 24″ monitor for business and productivity.
Display & Performance
The Sceptre E248W-19203R features a VA panel beneath that bezel-free frame. You can expect decent viewing angles, not as good as IPS, but it has tremendous dark-room performance due to the high contrast ratio.
The resolution is 1920x1080p, and the full HD panel suits the 24-inch screen size because it offers the right amount of screen space and clarity for most purposes. The text visibility is excellent but not as good as QHD and UHD monitors.
The 250-nits peak brightness gets the job done in a well-lit room, but there is still some glare if placed in front of a window. There is an anti-glare coating on the screen to eliminate most reflections.
Features
The Sceptre E248W-19203R has flicker-free technology for a clear viewing experience. However, it misses out on VRR technology, so the ASUS VP229HE would be a better choice if you need a better gaming experience because it has adaptive sync.
Design & Ergonomics
Design-wise, the Sceptre E248W-19203R suits office space because of its black finish and slim bezels, but the build quality is flimsy, and the parts do not seem to be very well put together.
The bezels are slim, but they are not as thin as other monitors, and there will be black bars visible on a multiple monitor setup. The stand has a round footprint, and it has a basic cable management hole to route the cables.
The stand offers only tilt function, and there is noticeable wobble, so the stand is not that stable. You do get VESA holes at the back to mount this monitor on a custom monitor arm.
Connectivity
The Sceptre E248W-19203R has dual HDMI ports, a single VGA port, and a headphone jack. Multiple video ports are always good, and our current contender has three video ports, so it is excellent for multiple purposes.
The Good
- Good dark room performance
- Decent peak brightness
- Has triple video ports
The Bad
- Not that great viewing angles
- Bezels little bit thick
Specifications
| Screen Size | 23.8-inch |
| Resolution | Full HD | 1920 x 1080p |
| PPI | 92 PPI |
| Technology | VA |
| Refresh Rate | 75 Hz |
| Response Time | 8 ms |
| Variable Refresh Rate | N/A |
| Adjustments | Tilt-Only Stand |
| Connectivity Ports | 2x HDMI, 1x VGA, 1x 3.5mm Audio Out |
| VESA Mount Compatible | Yes (100 x 100 mm) |
Should You Buy This?
The Sceptre E248W-19203R is one of the easiest monitors to buy right now because it serves the basic purposes with its right set of specifications. So, if you are looking for the best monitor under $100, this monitor is a great choice, but its price changes quite often.
Conclusion
The options are galore in the market, especially when it comes to purchasing monitors under $100. However, it is essential to understand your requirements first. Before you buy, ask yourself this question – Why do I need to buy a new monitor? Is it to satisfy your basic requirements or simply for office use? Accordingly, compare the specifications and eventually settle on one.
All the monitors mentioned above are similar to each other in one way or another, but each product has something unique to offer. It’s all about identifying the individual aspect and matching it with your requirements.
