The 8 Best Inexpensive Air Fryers You Can Buy (Tested by Editors)

• Value: 20/20
• Functionality: 17/20
• Ease of Use: 20/20
• Aesthetics: 18/20
• Consistency: 20/20

TOTAL: 95/100

This air fryer is about as straightforward as they come. Even if you've never used one before, it's hard to mess up with this appliance, given how simple its design is and how consistently it crisps foods. One dial controls temperature and the other controls time—that's it. While it looks nice on the kitchen counter, know that it does still take up a decent amount of counter space despite its smaller basket size. (Air fryers require space on all sides to operate safely and promote air flow.)

• Value: 20/20
• Functionality: 17/20
• Ease of Use: 19/20
• Aesthetics: 19/20
• Consistency: 20/20

TOTAL: 95/100

The Dash Deluxe air fryer, which comes in four vivid colorways, offers a retro take on this modern appliance. Rather than relying on digital displays and preset buttons, this model boasts easy-to-use settings. "It's super sleek and cute," says associate editor Chelsea Candelario. "It doesn't take up too much room on the counter. I even converted my grandmother to try it out and cook a few of her meals." The single-knob design—coupled with a rounded shape—makes for an aesthetically pleasing appliance, but because it's fully manual ("I prefer a digital interface rather than the manual knob," shared Candelario), you'll have to pay close attention to your food while it cooks.

• Value: 20/20
• Functionality: 15/20
• Ease of Use: 18/20
• Aesthetics: 16/20
• Consistency: 17/20

TOTAL: 86/100

If you're looking to dish up some Buffalo wings, cauliflower bites or fries for a crowd, the Ninja Max XL is certainly the way to go. “It's such a quick and convenient way to make dinner, breakfast or a snack,” says former editor Stephanie Sengwe. “This one makes crispy fries in 25 minutes and I don't have to stand there the whole time.” It has a large basket that can handle big batches of game day grub for your hungry crowd, and the ceramic interior and removable parts (which are dishwasher safe) make cleanup a breeze. But it's not ideal for small apartment kitchens. “I have to store it away after every use because it doesn't fit on my counter,” Sengwe adds. “I think if you have a lot of kitchen space, then it's no problem.”

• Value: 15/20
• Functionality: 17/20
• Ease of Use: 20/20
• Aesthetics: 17/20
• Consistency: 18/20

TOTAL: 87/100

Editor in chief Jillian Quint thought she wouldn't use an air fryer often. Spoiler: She was wrong. "We use it mostly for frozen fries, chicken nuggets, potatoes and broccoli/veggies," she says. "I love how fast it is. I think the best use is chicken nuggets for the kids, which take 25 minutes in the toaster oven, but only 10 minutes in the air fryer." With an easy-to-use touch display and high-performance heat technology, you can use this cutie to air fry, reheat, dehydrate or roast to your heart's content. Plus, it successfully provides even heat distribution, so each bite will be light and crispy. Her one bone to pick? The basket is a bit small for her family of four, so this one is best for one- and two-person households.

• Value: 20/20
• Functionality: 20/20
• Ease of Use: 20/20
• Aesthetics: 12/20
• Consistency: 17/20

TOTAL: 89/100

Finding an inexpensive air fryer is not a particularly difficult task, but the Bella 2-quart electric option really doesn't skimp on quality. It's easy to use, quiet during operation and pays for itself with just a few uses. "It has a knob to set the temperature and an old-fashioned timer—no fancy buttons or presets like other high-tech air fryers," explains executive editor Dara Katz. "I describe it now as a microwave (for its speed) meets convection oven. My oven might take 25 minutes to fully preheat. This air fryer takes a couple of minutes, and in 10 minutes I have gorgeously roasted potatoes." (She's also partial to cooking salmon in it.) The fryer is also relatively compact, making storage a cinch.

• Value: 15/20
• Functionality: 18/20
• Ease of Use: 20/20
• Aesthetics: 16/20
• Consistency: 20/20

TOTAL: 89/100

It may not be the sleekest model out there, but it'll surely get the job done. Claiming to deliver crispy foods with 80 percent less calories compared to traditional toaster ovens, this mighty air fryer can do just about anything without requiring much from its owner. "There are definitely nicer air fryers on the market, but if you don't need all the bells and whistles and like a non-finicky machine to cook your meals, this one is a great option," says commerce editor Olivia Dubyak. "I've had it for about three years and haven't had any issues with its functionality." We love that it's equipped with an oven light and hinged door so you can take a peek at your food without letting out the heat. "I can see inside the fryer without opening it to check on the state of my food. The racks are also really easy to slide out and clean when I'm done."

The cult-favorite (seriously, it has a 4.5-star average rating out of 60,575 reviews) Instant Pot expanded its lineup with the Instant Vortex Plus, an air fryer that's totally foolproof and large enough to whip up a family-sized portion of fries. It boasts seven useful functions: air fry, broil, bake, roast, dehydrate, reheat and rotisserie. The appliance comes with six cooking settings and an easy to operate temperature dial. Its 10-quart basket is actually a square, so it's able to hold more than some competitors.

• Why We Love It: stackable racks, innovative basket, great for families
• Cons: bulky, some reviewers claim it doesn't distribute heat evenly, some reviewers find the crisper tray difficult to clean

The GoWISE fryer is a Texas-sized appliance for Texas-sized appetites. With its 7-quart capacity and eight cooking functions (air fry, roast, broil, dehydrate, grill, bake, reheat and keep warm), it can accommodate a whole chicken if needed, or about five burgers at once. Whereas most air fryer baskets are either squared or fully circular, this fryer has an elongated basket that makes it easier to spread ingredients into a single layer. And thanks to the stackable racks, you can air fry multiple foods (or two batches of fries) at once.