6 Best Cheap Computer Monitor | Smooth Sailing on a Shoestring

Check Price on Amazon

A 240Hz refresh rate with IPS color at a price that usually gets you half the speed.

This Dell delivers noticeably smoother motion than the other picks here — buyers report a “sharp, vibrant 240Hz display with excellent brightness and viewing angles” and “smooth, responsive gaming with no lag or tearing.” The 240Hz refresh rate is faster than the 120Hz options on this list, meaning fast action in games or even just rapid mouse movements across the screen appear far more fluid. The 0.5ms response time (the time a pixel takes to change color, measured in milliseconds) keeps fast-moving objects from ghosting.

The 99% sRGB color coverage (a measure of how much of the standard color spectrum the screen can show) delivers vivid colors, and the AMD FreeSync Premium technology (which syncs the monitor’s refresh rate to your graphics card’s frame output) eliminates screen tearing without introducing stutter. The TÜV Rheinland 3-star certified display (a German eye-comfort certification) reduces blue light while preserving color quality — so you can game or work late without as much eye strain.

There is no built-in speaker, so you will need separate desktop speakers or a headset. The OSD joystick (the on-screen menu control on the back of the monitor) takes a bit of getting used to, but once you set it up, you rarely need to touch it again.

Check Price on Amazon

A 120Hz IPS panel with vibrant colors that doubles as a capable gaming display for under.

The 120Hz refresh rate makes everyday scrolling and casual gaming feel noticeably smoother than a standard 60Hz monitor. The 99% sRGB color gamut coverage and 1500:1 contrast ratio (the difference between the brightest white and the darkest black the screen can show) combine to deliver richer, more vivid colors than the Samsung model below, which has a contrast ratio of 1000:1 — a difference that makes dark scenes look deeper on this LG. One buyer called it “a great inexpensive 1080p monitor” and noted the “great colors with 3-color and 6-color hue/saturation adjustments.”

The 1ms Motion Blur Reduction (MBR, a feature that reduces blur by briefly flashing the backlight between frames) keeps fast-moving objects sharp, and Dynamic Action Sync (a mode that reduces input lag, the delay between pressing a key and seeing the action on screen) helps in competitive games. The 3-side virtually borderless design (ultra-thin bezels on the top and sides) makes this monitor feel modern and works well in a dual-monitor setup. The tilt range is -5° to 20°, giving you a decent range to find a comfortable viewing angle.

The main drawback: there are no built-in speakers, so you will need external audio. Some buyers received units missing mounting screws, and the stand feels flimsy compared to the metal stand on the ViewSonic. The HDR10 support (a High Dynamic Range format that improves brightness and color range) is basic — it works, but don’t expect the punch of a true HDR screen.

Check Price on Amazon

A workhorse monitor from a brand that has earned its reputation for reliability over two decades.

This ViewSonic delivers a 120Hz refresh rate on an IPS panel that produces accurate and vivid colors. The 1500:1 contrast ratio matches the LG above, so dark scenes look similarly deep, and the 0.8 color gamut (a measurement of color volume) provides solid coverage for most office tasks, though it falls short of the 99% sRGB found on the LG and Dell monitors here. The VA2456A-MHD supports HDMI, DisplayPort, and VGA inputs — the most flexible connectivity of any monitor on this list, making it ideal if you need to connect older hardware alongside modern devices.

ViewSonic includes five tune view settings — “Game,” “Movie,” “Web,” “Text,” and “Mono” presets — so you can switch between tasks without diving into menus. Flicker-Free technology (which eliminates the rapid on-off cycling of the backlight that causes eye strain) and a Blue Light Filter (a mode that reduces blue wavelength light, which can disrupt sleep) help reduce eye fatigue during long work sessions. One experienced user noted they have “had several ViewSonic monitors over the years, all of which are still in working order” — some over 10 years old.

The menu navigation uses a rocker switch on the back instead of buttons, which takes some getting used to, and the 0.8 color gamut means this is not the best pick if color-critical creative work matters to you. But for office productivity, spreadsheets, and light gaming, this is a rock-solid choice.

Check Price on Amazon

A feather-thin bezel and a 120Hz panel in a package that prioritizes simplicity.

The IPS panel on this Samsung delivers bright, clear colors across the entire screen — the 250 cd/m2 brightness (a measure of light output; higher numbers mean a brighter screen) means it handles well-lit rooms without washing out. The 120Hz refresh rate reduces motion blur during fast-paced content, and the monitor supports both FreeSync (AMD’s adaptive sync technology for reducing screen tearing) and G-Sync Compatible (NVIDIA’s equivalent), so it works with graphics cards from both major brands without stutter.

The super-slim design with ultra-thin border bezels makes this monitor look modern and compact on any desk. One buyer confirmed it is a “perfect for a home office or onsite office setting” and noted “easy set-up, including if you are using a double or triple monitor stand.” That slim-bezel design is a real advantage if you plan to run multiple monitors side by side — the borders between screens are minimal.

The contrast ratio is 1000:1, which is standard for this price tier but falls short of the 1500:1 found on the LG and ViewSonic above — so blacks look more grayish in dimly lit rooms. The only connectivity option is a single HDMI port, which limits your ability to connect multiple sources without a separate switcher. If all you need is one clean, simple connection for a laptop or PC, this works perfectly.

Check Price on Amazon

A 27-inch screen in a budget monitor is rare — this one does it without major compromises.

The extra 3 inches over the 24-inch models on this list give you noticeably more screen real estate for multitasking, spreadsheets, and reading detailed documents. The 100Hz refresh rate is lower than the 120Hz of the LG and ViewSonic, but it is still a solid improvement over a standard 60Hz monitor — scrolling and window dragging feel smooth, just not as fluid as the higher-refresh competitors. The 72% color gamut (a measure of color volume) is the lowest on this list, so colors look less vibrant compared to the 99% sRGB screens above.

Where this Dell shines is eye comfort. The TÜV Rheinland 3-star certification and Dell’s own ComfortView Plus technology minimize harmful blue light exposure without sacrificing color accuracy — the blue light filter is always on by default, unlike on many monitors that force you to toggle it. One buyer with aging eyes reported this monitor “has really helped with quality, affordability and simple install” when working with tiny text on engineering plans. The built-in cable holder and small footprint keep your desk tidy.

The 1080p resolution on a 27-inch screen means the pixel density is lower than on a 24-inch 1080p screen — individual pixels are slightly more visible if you sit close. There is no DisplayPort input (only HDMI and VGA), and there are no built-in speakers. The basic stand offers tilt only, no height adjustment, and the port selection is lean — no USB hub or USB-C.