Searching for the best air fryer under $50 is not easy since most of the cheap models are poorly made and may lack some important features.
If you are not careful, you can easily end up with a low-quality model and that’s why it is not advisable to just pick any cheap air fryer. However, you can still find reliable air fryers that will give you the best value for your money.
To make your work easier, we have compiled a list of the 12 best air fryers under $50. We came up with the list after comparing different models where we checked the design, capacity, power, general performance, and customer reviews. This means that the 12 products we have reviewed have better features than other air fryers under $50.
01. Dash 2.6-quart Air Fryer
If you have a busy schedule or you need just a small air fryer for preparing small amounts of food, the Dash 2.6 Quart Air Fryer will be an excellent choice. Despite its limited capacity of 2.6 quarts, this unit has a very powerful 1000 watts motor which enables it to cook fast.
It can fit with 1 lb French fries, 1 dozen chicken wings, appetizers, and desserts. Again, it is very lightweight and compact which makes it ideal for people who live in small apartments, college dorms, campers/ travelers, or those with a small kitchen.
Apart from the sleek and compact design, this air fryer is available in different colors. It also comes with safety features like the auto-shut-of function which prevents overcooking.
The housing plus the handle are cool to touch which makes it safe to use even for kids. For easier cleanup, it comes with a dishwasher-safe basket. It is very easy to use because you only need to set the time and temperature then leave it to cook.
02. Copper Chef 2-quart Turbo Cyclonic Air Fryer
In case you don’t need a very big air fryer, the Copper Chef 2-quart air fryer will be a great choice. You can use it to prepare enough food for 1-2 people through the 2-quart non-stick basket. All the accessories are dishwasher safe for easier cleaning.
In terms of performance, it provides 1000 watts of cyclonic power which enables it to move super-hot air around the food.
Whether you want to prepare chicken, French fries, pies, waffle fries, fish tacos/sticks, pudding, or donuts, this appliance will be a great choice. You can find it in 2 different colors which allow you to choose a suitable design that matches your kitchen.
Additionally, it has cool-to-touch parts which mean that it is very convenient to use. It uses Rapid Air Technology to cook which enables it to provide crispy foods with a great texture.
With this digital air fryer, you do not need a deep fryer, toaster oven, baking pan, or grill pan since it is a multipurpose appliance.
03. Chefman 2-quart Personal Air Fryer
The CHEFMAN Small Compact Air Fryer is among the best personal-size air fryers under $50. It has a small and space-saving design which makes it ideal for rooms with a limited space such as dorms, RVs, etc.
Despite its small size, this air fryer is highly reliable since it performs just like the bigger models. When using this appliance, you can cook using different temperatures from 200⁰-400⁰F which means that you can use it to prepare almost all types of foods.
It has an integrated 1-hour timer, which allows you to air fry different types of foods such as chicken, frozen veggies, or reheat desserts. The exterior is cool to touch while the detachable basket is BPA free meaning that it provides very healthy foods.
Still, on safety, the unit comes with an auto-shut-off function which protects it from damages that may occur due to overheating.
Moreover, it is ETL approved for durability and advanced technology. The basket plus the top rack are dishwasher safe for easier cleaning.
Recommended: Best Affordable Air Fryers Under $100
04. Ultrean 4.2-quart Budget Friendly Air Fryer
It is not easy to find a cheap air fryer with advanced features like this one. To start with, this unit has a higher capacity of 4.2 quarts which makes it ideal for small to medium families.
It is very powerful since it provides up to 1500 watts of power. Due to this, it cooks faster than other models within its price range.
In terms of design, this appliance is very stylish and you can find it in 3 different colors. These colors are Blue, Red, and Black.
The unit provides a wide temperature range of 180 to 400⁰F which makes it ideal for cooking different meals. It also comes with a 0-30 minutes auto-switch-off timer which prevents overcooking.
Additionally, it is very easy to use since the LCD control panel is very easy to understand. A free recipe book is included to guide you on how to prepare different meals using the appliance.
It is equipped with a non-stick pan, removable dishwasher safe basket plus a heat-resistant handle. Without any doubt, this model is the best budget air fryer under $50 than its competitors.
Recommended: Best Air Fryers for Healthy Food Under $200
05. Elite Gourmet Personal 2.1-quart Air Fryer
With a 2.1 quart capacity, this unit is able to accommodate about 1.5lbs of food which is enough for a small group.
It cooks faster and safely since it doesn’t use oils. This also helps to eliminate splatter burns and it also reduces electricity consumption.
It has an adjustable time and temperature to enhance versatility when preparing various dishes. As a result, you can use it to grill, bake, air fry, and roast instead of using different appliances.
The unit comes with cool-to-touch handles to protect you from accidental burns. It is ETL certified and it provides up to 1000 watts of power.
Moreover, the removable parts are dishwasher safe and they also have PTFE/PFOA non-stick coating.
It comes with a high convection fan which circulates very hot air around the food. You can use different temperatures from 180⁰F-395⁰F. This unit is available in different colors and sizes.
06. Instant Vortex 4-in-1 Air Fryer
Here comes another high-quality model for those who need the best air fryer for the budget. It is a 4-in-1 appliance which means that you can use it to roast, air fry, broil and dehydrate/reheat.
It has a 2-quart capacity and you can find it in different colors. These colors are Black, Aqua, Red, and White.
Most air fryers require pre-heating but this one doesn’t require this. It has a wide temperature range of 95 to 400⁰F and this makes it ideal for preparing different types of foods.
For those with a limited countertop space, this appliance will be a good choice due to its compact and lightweight design.
In addition, it is equipped with excellent safety features such as an auto-shut-off feature and overheat protection. The cooking basket is non-stick for easier cleaning.
Again, it has one-touch cooking programs which allow you to cook your favorite meals in a convenient manner. It uses EvenCrisp Technology to provide crispy foods with a tender interior just like deep fryers.
Read Next: Best Family Size Air Fryer for 4 People
07. Secura 3.4-quart Electric Air Fryer
As compared to many air fryers under $50, the Secura Air Fryer 3.4-quart has better features which means that it is among the best air fryers for the budget. It has a capacity of 3.4 quarts which means that it can cook enough food for a family of 3 people.
Apart from that, it has a high wattage of 1500 watts which means that it is more powerful than most of its competitors. It comes with a top grill which allows you to prepare tasty foods in a convenient manner.
In terms of performance, you can use it to prepare different types of foods since it has a wide temperature range of 180⁰ to 400⁰F. It has a 60-minutes timer meaning that it goes off automatically after the cooking cycle is complete.
It is designed to provide healthy food since it uses hot air instead of oil to cook. Even if you have never used an air fryer before, this appliance will be a good choice due to its user-friendly design.
A detailed recipe book is also included in the package. Don’t forget that it comes with a 2 years warranty.
08. Maxi-Matic Elite 1-quart Air Fryer
Maxi-Matic Elite Gourmet Air Fryer is among the smallest air fryers you can ever find. It has a capacity of 1 quart meaning that it is only suitable for personal use.
It can only accommodate ¾ lb of food. However, it is available in different sizes and colors to suit your preferences.
Just like the larger air fryers, this one too doesn’t require oil when cooking. As a result, it provides tasty foods with a crispy finish.
Since the temperature is adjustable, you can use the unit to bake, air fry, grill, bake, or roast. It also features a high-power convection fan, which cooks the food at different temperatures from 180-390 degrees.
There is a 30-minutes timer, which shuts the unit off automatically when the cooking cycle is complete. If you love fish filets, veggies chips, French fries, or chicken tenders, this appliance will give you very tasty foods.
The handle is cool to touch making it safe even for kids. It provides up to 700 watts of power and it is also ETL approved. It comes with PFOA/PTFE-free nonstick pan plus a removable frying rack.
09. Gourmia GAF328 3.5-quart Digital Air Fryer
Unlike most air fryers under $50, this model has a high wattage of 1300 watts which means that it is very powerful. It also has a large capacity of 3.5 quarts making it ideal for up to 3 people.
It uses Express Heat System which enables it to cook 30% faster than ovens. It has up to 6 cooking presets which allow you to prepare different dishes in a convenient manner since you only need to tap the LED display.
You can adjust the cooking time by 30 minutes to suit the type of foods you are preparing. Unlike others, this air fryer uses an advanced RadiVection 360⁰ Technology which makes it ideal for frying, grilling, broiling, baking, and roasting.
Besides that, it is ETL certified which means that it is safe, durable, and reliable. It has a perfect crisp system plus a removable non-stick tray, which provides foods with a crispy outside and moist or tender interior.
10. Simple Chef 3.5-Liter Dishwasher Safe Air Fryer
This air fryer enables you to cook foods faster and in a healthier manner because it uses hot air to cook instead of oils. It is very easy to use since the controls are easy to understand.
In case you are searching for a powerful air fryer, this one is among the best air fryers under $50 because it has a high wattage of 1400W.
All the parts are made of BPA-free materials and the cooking basket is non-stick for easier cleaning. It has a wide temperature range from 180⁰ to 400⁰ which means that you can use it to prepare different dishes.
If you have a family of up to 3 members, this appliance will be a great choice because it has a capacity of 3.5 liters.
This means that the cooking basket can accommodate a variety of recipes such as hamburgers, steak, pork chops, French fries, chicken, onion rings, spring rolls, potato chips among others.
In addition, it comes with a 30 minutes timer which you can adjust using the time knob. Once the cooking process is complete, the device will shut off automatically. In terms of safety, it has an overheat protection system and cool-to-touch parts.
11. Cosmo COS-23AFAKB 2.3-quart Air Fryer
COSMO Air Fryer 2.3-quart has high-speed air circulation plus an advanced heat technology which enables it to provide delicious foods without adding oils or fats.
It has an inbuilt knob control which has a timer and temperature settings. Through the knob, you can adjust the temperatures from 180⁰F to 400⁰F to suit the type of food you are cooking.
It is also equipped with an auto shut-off function which prevents overcooking and overheating. The frying basket has a capacity of 2.3 quarts which makes the appliance suitable for couples.
It is very versatile since you can use it to prepare different types of foods like roasting, grilling, baking, and air frying.
For easier cleaning, it has non-stick coated parts that are also easy to clean in the dishwasher. In the box, you will find the air fryer, power cord, user manual, grill basket, and a frying basket.
12. NutriChef Oven 2-quart Air Fryer
For those who are in need of an air fryer that can cook multiple recipes, this appliance will be an excellent choice. It is perfect for fried chicken, French fries, ribs, steaks, fish, shrimp, pizza among others.
When using the appliance, you are sure to get brown foods that are crispy outside but moist inside just like the food that comes from deep fryers. The good thing about this one is that it doesn’t require oils to cook.
It has an adjustable temperature and time which you can set using the rotary controls. It is very easy to clean since the frying basket is non-stick.
In addition, it provides up to 1000 watts of power which means that it cooks faster than those with lesser wattage.
How to Choose the Best Air Fryer Under $50?
Below is the most important thing you should check when searching for the best air fryer under $50. These are;
Power Consumption
You do not need an air fryer which consumes a lot of electricity. Those with a lower wattage consume less power than those with a high wattage.
However, they are not very powerful which means that you should pick a model with an excellent balance between power consumption and power. In this regard, you should consider a model with 700-1000 watts.
Temperature Control
It is important you look for an air fryer with adjustable temperatures because different foods require different temperatures.
Models with temperature control enhance versatility in your kitchen since you can prepare different types of foods using the appliance.
They also save you the cost of buying multiple appliances for preparing various types of foods like baking, roasting, grilling, etc.
The best air fryer under $50 should have a temperature range of 200⁰F to 400⁰F. Always go for an air fryer with the highest temperature settings.
Ease of Use
Most people make the mistake of assuming that all air fryers are easy to use. However, this is not the case since some of them have complex controls that are not easy to understand.
Before you settle on any model, make sure that you understand how it works. Don’t forget to check if the parts are easy to remove when cleaning.
Cooking Capacity
The best air fryers under $50 come with different cooking capacities. However, most of them have a limited capacity which means that you need to check the amount of food the unit can cook.
You should always ensure that it can cook enough food for your family. You should also consider the available space since a large appliance may not be the best for those who stay in small rooms or those who live alone.
Cooking Time
Most cheap air fryers may not be very powerful which means that they may not be as fast as the expensive models. However, you can still find powerful models with more than 1000 watts of power.
Such models cook faster than those with lesser wattage. You should also consider a model with a timer because they prevent food from overcooking.
Versatility
A versatile air fryer is a model with many cooking programs. You need to check the number of preset programs or the type of foods that you can prepare using the appliance. Make sure that the unit can prepare different types of food.
Safety Features
You should check the safety features that come with the unit to ensure that it is not risky at all. For example, it should have cool-to-touch housing or a handle to protect you from accidental burns. It should also have an auto-shut-off function, which prevents overcooking.
Cleaning Process
Just like other cooking appliances, air fryers become messy after cooking and at times they may have stains. You should look for a model with non-stick parts or dishwasher-safe parts.
Wrapping Up
The reason why most people shy away from buying air fryers is that they think that they are very expensive. However, this is not the case since you can find a good model irrespective of your budget.
Since choosing the best air fryer for under $50 can be very overwhelming, we decided to do the research for you by identifying the best-selling products.
All the 12 air fryers we have reviewed have the best features as compared to their competitors. They also have amazing customer reviews which means that they are indeed the best air fryers for the budget.
I’m a writer, food lover, and certified culinary expert. I cook for my family and I enjoy it so much. My favorite tools are modern kitchen appliances that make cooking a simple task. I’m a passionate writer and I share only cooking tips, recipes, and what cooking appliances would best for beginners, enthusiasts, and home chefs. I learned a lot from my family and also in my university days. My biggest strength has always been my insatiable appetite to discover new food recipes and try to share them with others.