What is the best budget air fryer in 2026?

Based on R3's testing, the Gourmia 6-Quart Digital Air Fryer GAF686 by Gourmia is the best budget air fryer in 2026, scoring 7.8/10 overall. The best budget air fryer for families who want reliable performance without spending more than fifty dollars.

How does R3 test air fryers for budget?

R3 evaluates every air fryer across six dimensions: safety, efficacy, value, usability, durability, and sustainability. For our budget list, we apply additional filters and a maximum price of $100. Each product is independently researched using manufacturer data, third-party testing, and verified user reviews.

Is Gourmia a good brand for budget air fryers?

Gourmia earned the #1 spot on our budget air fryers list with the Gourmia 6-Quart Digital Air Fryer GAF686, scoring 6.5/10 on safety. Based on our testing, Gourmia delivers strong performance in this category.

What makes a air fryer budget?

Top-rated affordable options that deliver great value. R3 specifically evaluates value score as the primary ranking factor for this list. Products that don't meet our standards are listed in the "What We Didn't Pick" section with specific reasons.

Are budget air fryers worth the extra cost?

Our budget air fryers list includes options under $100, so you don't need to pay a premium. The key is finding models that meet budget standards without sacrificing performance.

Top 3 Budget Air Fryers 2026

Who should buy a air fryer?

You prioritize top-rated affordable options that deliver great value when choosing air fryers

You want data-backed picks based on independent testing, not marketing claims

Your budget is under $100

You might not need this if

Looking for something different? See our [Best Air Fryers overall guide](/guides/best/air-fryers) for the top picks across all criteria.

Not sure which type is right for you? Browse air fryers by criteria to narrow your search.

Why budget matters

You don't need to spend $200+ to get a safe, effective air fryer. Our testing found that several models under $100 deliver excellent cooking performance and strong safety scores. The key is knowing which budget models cut costs on marketing and packaging (fine) versus which ones cut costs on materials and safety testing (not fine). R3's value scoring weighs quality-to-price ratio, so a $50 air fryer with an 8/10 safety score ranks higher than a $50 model with a 5/10.

What to look for

Set Your Safety Floor

Even on a budget, don't compromise on safety. R3 recommends a minimum 7/10 safety score for any air fryer, regardless of price. Several models under $60 meet this threshold.

Capacity vs. Price Trade-off

Budget air fryers typically offer 3-4 quart capacity (good for 1-3 people). If you need 5+ quarts for a larger family, expect to pay $70-100. Don't buy a too-small model just to save $15.

Check Warranty Length

Budget models vary widely on warranty: some offer 1 year, others 2 years. A longer warranty on a budget product is a strong signal the manufacturer trusts their build quality.

#	Product	Score	Safety	Price
1	Gourmia 6-Quart Digital Air Fryer GAF686Gourmia	7.8	6.5	$49
2	Bella 4Qt Slim Air FryerBella	7.5	9.0	$49.99
3	Chefman TurboFry 6-Quart Air FryerChefman	7.4	7.0	$49.99

Product

Score

Safety

Price

Gourmia 6-Quart Digital Air Fryer GAF686Gourmia

7.8

6.5

$49

Bella 4Qt Slim Air FryerBella

7.5

9.0

$49.99

Chefman TurboFry 6-Quart Air FryerChefman

7.4

7.0

$49.99

Every budget air fryer we recommend, reviewed

Each product has been tested, scored, and reviewed by our research team.

Gourmia 6-Quart Digital Air Fryer GAF686

Gourmia

7.8Great

Material Safety

6.5

Cooking Performance

8.0

Ease of Cleaning

8.5

Practical Fit

8.0

Price & Value

9.5

The Gourmia GAF686 is the air fryer I would recommend to families on a budget — FryForce 360 circulation produces consistently crispy results at a great price.

What we love

Exceptional value under fifty dollars
FryForce 360 even crispiness
12 presets plus guided cooking
Lightweight at 8.81 lbs

Worth knowing

Nonstick coating peeling reported
Louder operation
Plastic feels cheap
Coating needs eventual replacement

$49See full review

Bella 4Qt Slim Air Fryer

Bella

7.5Great

Material Safety

9.0

Cooking Performance

7.0

Ease of Cleaning

6.8

Practical Fit

7.0

Price & Value

9.0

The Bella 4Qt Slim Air Fryer is the most affordable PFAS-free air fryer for small households. At under $50, it delivers on the non-toxic promise with EverGood ceramic coating—certified PFAS, PFOA, PTFE, lead, and cadmium-free. The compact 4-quart capacity works for 1-3 people, and the slim design fits even the smallest kitchens. While it won't match the performance of higher-wattage models, the material safety and 2-year warranty make it exceptional value for budget-conscious families who prioritize non-toxic cooking.

R
Renee's take
“The Bella 4Qt Slim is my budget pick for families who want ceramic coating without the premium price. At under $50, it's the most affordable truly PFAS-free air fryer I've found. The 4-quart capacity works for 1-3 people, but larger families will need to cook in batches. The EverGood ceramic coating is genuinely PFAS-free—I verified this. But ceramic scratches easier than PTFE, so never use metal utensils.”

What we love

EverGood ceramic coating is certified PFAS, PFOA, PTFE, lead, and cadmium-free
Under $50 price point—most affordable non-toxic air fryer
2-year warranty (longer than Ninja's 1 year)
Slim, space-saving design fits anywhere

Worth knowing

4-quart capacity is small for families of 4+
1300W is lower wattage, slightly slower cooking
No viewing window—must open to check food
Ceramic coating scratches with metal utensils

$49.99See full review

Chefman TurboFry 6-Quart Air Fryer

Chefman

7.4Great

Material Safety

7.0

Cooking Performance

7.0

Ease of Cleaning

8.0

Practical Fit

7.5

Price & Value

8.5

The Chefman TurboFry is a solid everyday air fryer for frozen foods and quick weeknight meals — 450F max and easy-view window are useful at this price.

What we love

450F max temperature
Easy-view window
Dishwasher-safe basket
cETL certified with auto-shutoff

Worth knowing

Runs 17F below set temp
Large basket holes
Nonstick durability concerns
Trails Gourmia at same price

$49.99See full review

How we selected these

Each product is scored across 10 layers, weighted by importance to families.

Critical 48%

Important 37%

Nice-to-have 15%

We evaluated 11 air fryers currently in our database, scoring each across six dimensions: Safety (materials composition, certifications, regulatory compliance), Efficacy (performance, consistency, real-world results), Value (quality-to-price ratio), Usability (controls, cleaning, noise level), Durability (build quality, warranty, long-term reviews), Sustainability (environmental impact, materials sourcing).

For this budget list, we applied additional filters: - Maximum price of $100

Products that didn't meet these thresholds were moved to our "What We Didn't Pick" section with specific reasons.

3 products passed our budget filters and are ranked below by value score.

Each product was independently researched using manufacturer documentation, third-party lab testing where available, regulatory filings (FDA, EPA, California Prop 65), and verified user feedback from extended real-world use.

Read our full scoring methodology

Top 3 Budget Air Fryers 2026

Gourmia 6-Quart Digital Air Fryer GAF686

Who should buy a air fryer?

Why budget matters

What to look for

Set Your Safety Floor

Capacity vs. Price Trade-off

Check Warranty Length

Top budget air fryers for 2026

Gourmia 6-Quart Digital Air Fryer GAF686

Bella 4Qt Slim Air Fryer

Chefman TurboFry 6-Quart Air Fryer

How do the best air fryers compare?

Every budget air fryer we recommend, reviewed

Gourmia 6-Quart Digital Air Fryer GAF686

Bella 4Qt Slim Air Fryer

Chefman TurboFry 6-Quart Air Fryer

Air Fryers by Price Range

Budget

How we selected these

When to Buy Air Fryers (2026)

What we didn't pick

Frequently Asked Questions

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