The Best Air Fryers Under $100 of 2026

First, a note on prices

"Under $100" is a moving target. Air fryers go on sale constantly, list prices get inflated so a discount looks bigger, and a model that's $89 today can be $69 on Prime Day and $109 the week after. So we don't print prices in this article — the figures you see on each pick are pulled live from Amazon at the moment you load the page. If you're specifically shopping a sale, check our air fryer deals for how to tell a real discount from a fake one.

What you give up under $100 (and what you don't)

The good news: the core job — a heating element and a fan crisping food in a basket — is basically the same at every price. A sub-$100 fryer crisps fries and reheats leftovers just as well as a premium one. What the budget tier trims is the extras:

• Coating.Most budget baskets use standard nonstick. A ceramic coating (like the Ninja AF101's or Cosori Pro LE's) is the main upgrade you can still get under $100 — see non-toxic picks if that matters.
• Windows and lights. A cook window and interior light are usually a step up in price; budget models make you pull the basket to check.
• Presets and screens.You often get a dial or a basic touchpad rather than a dozen labeled programs. For most cooking that's no loss.
• Fit and finish. Cheaper plastics, a slightly louder fan, a shorter warranty. Nothing that stops it cooking.

None of that changes what lands on your plate. It changes the experience around it. Our full scoring method — footprint, capacity, materials, running cost — is on how we review.

The picks

Ninja AF101 — the value benchmark

This is the one we point most budget shoppers to. A 4-quart ceramic-coated (non-PTFE) basket, a 105–400°F range, dial-and-button controls with nothing to learn, and a footprint that fits a normal counter. It's been the reliable default since 2018, and it usually sits comfortably under $100. The ceramic coating alone puts it ahead of most models at the price.

Dash Compact — the cheapest that's worth buying

At 2 quarts and 8.1 inches wide, the Dash is the budget pick for one person or a tiny kitchen. Analog dials, a standard nonstick basket, auto shut-off — no frills, very cheap, and it does the one job. If capacity isn't a concern, it's the lowest-cost sensible entry point; more options like it are in our best small air fryers.

Instant Vortex 4-Qt — budget digital

Want preset buttons without leaving the budget tier? The 4-quart mini Vortex gives you a digital touchscreen and six functions in a compact 10.2-inch-wide body, and it frequently sells under $80. The basket is standard nonstick and there's no window, but for a digital fryer at this price it's a lot of machine.

Cosori Pro LE — the most fryer under $100

When it's on sale, the 5-quart Pro LE is arguably the best value here: seven one-touch presets, a PFAS-free ceramic coating and a 2-year warranty — features usually reserved for pricier models. It hovers right around the $100 line, so it's the one to watch for a discount. It also leads our beginner picks.

Chefman TurboFry — budget dual-basket

The outlier: a 9-quart dual-basketfryer that can still land under $100 on sale, which is remarkable for two-basket cooking. It undercuts the name-brand two-basket options, letting you cook a main and a side at once. The trade-offs are a wide 20-inch footprint, standard nonstick baskets and a less premium build — but for feeding a family cheaply, it's the value route.

Cheap to buy, cheap to run

A budget air fryer isn't just cheaper up front — it's cheap to run. Even a 1,550-watt model uses only about 9 cents of electricity for a 20-minute batch at the US average rate, far less than heating a full-size oven. We show the math on what an air fryer costs to run. For where the real sales happen, jump to air fryer deals.