Buying Guide
The Best Cheap 144Hz Gaming Monitors
Six 1080p gaming monitors from 144Hz to 260Hz around $90 to $120 at the time of writing, compared on refresh, panel and colour.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read6 products evaluated
144Hz used to be the premium upgrade; now it is the floor. Around $100 you can find 1080p monitors running 200Hz or more on IPS panels.
We compared six low-cost monitors on refresh rate, panel, colour and adaptive sync, based on listings from each maker.
Quick Picks
Our 6 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.

Best Cheap High-Refresh
GIGABYTE G25F2A
240Hz with FreeSync Premium under $100.
Best for: Competitive games on a budget.
Our take Check price for GIGABYTE G25F2A (opens in a new tab)

Best Value
Acer Nitro KG241Y X1
200Hz IPS with FreeSync Premium under $100.
Best for: First gaming monitors.
Our take Check price for Acer Nitro KG241Y X1 (opens in a new tab)

Worth Considering
AOC 24G42HE
The 24G42HE matches that 200Hz rate with a wider 116% sRGB colour coverage and G-SYNC Compatible support.
Best for: Buyers who want 200hz for smoother motion than a 60hz office screen.

Fastest Refresh
AOC 25G51Z
The highest refresh rate here (260Hz).
Best for: Esports players with a GPU that can feed high frame rates.

Best Colour
LG UltraGear 24G414B-B
99% sRGB coverage at 144Hz.
Best for: Gaming plus photo browsing and video.
Our take Check price for LG UltraGear 24G414B-B (opens in a new tab)

Cheapest 144Hz
Dell SE2426H
A 144Hz IPS panel at the lowest price here.
Best for: Tight budgets.
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 240Hz with FreeSync Premium under $100. | Competitive games on a budget. | Check price for GIGABYTE G25F2A (opens in a new tab) |
![]() | 200Hz IPS with FreeSync Premium under $100. | First gaming monitors. | Check price for Acer Nitro KG241Y X1 (opens in a new tab) |
![]() | The 24G42HE matches that 200Hz rate with a wider 116% sRGB colour coverage and G-SYNC Compatible support. | Buyers who want 200hz for smoother motion than a 60hz office screen. | Check price for AOC 24G42HE (opens in a new tab) |
![]() | The highest refresh rate here (260Hz). | Esports players with a GPU that can feed high frame rates. | Check price for AOC 25G51Z (opens in a new tab) |
![]() | 99% sRGB coverage at 144Hz. | Gaming plus photo browsing and video. | Check price for LG UltraGear 24G414B-B (opens in a new tab) |
![]() | A 144Hz IPS panel at the lowest price here. | Tight budgets. | Check price for Dell SE2426H (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Best Cheap High-Refresh1 of 6
GIGABYTE G25F2A on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The G25F2A runs a 24.5-inch IPS panel at 240Hz with FreeSync Premium at a price that used to buy 144Hz.
Best for
- Competitive games on a budget.
Skip if
- Pass on it if hDR10 support without a DisplayHDR certificatio rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It is the pick for fast games. On refresh rate it sits mid-pack at 240Hz: the 25G51Z offers 260Hz, and the SE2426H comes in at 144Hz. Its 24.5 inches screen size ranks second of 6 here, behind the 25G51Z (25 inches) and ahead of the SE2426H (23.8 inches).
You get a SuperSpeed IPS panel here, which sets it apart from the 24G42HE and its an IPS panel. You get a 120% sRGB color gamut here, which sets it apart from the 24G414B and its a 99% sRGB color gamut. Like the KG241Y X1, it has a FreeSync Premium, while the 25G51Z uses a G-SYNC Compatible.
It also comes with a 240Hz refresh rate under $100 at the time of writing. At 1080p, 240Hz is within reach of mid-range graphics cards in esports titles; use DisplayPort if your card's HDMI port is older. It was priced above the 24G42HE and below the 24G414B at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refresh rate: 240Hz
- Resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p)
- Size: 24.5 inches
- Panel: SuperSpeed IPS
- Response: 1ms
- HDR: HDR10
- Color gamut: 120% sRGB
- Adaptive sync: FreeSync Premium
Pros
- a 240Hz refresh rate for fast motion
- a SuperSpeed IPS panel with wide viewing angles
- 120% sRGB colour coverage
- FreeSync Premium to reduce screen tearing
Cons
- HDR10 support without a DisplayHDR certification
- Costs more than the SE2426H at the time of writing
Best Value2 of 6
Acer Nitro KG241Y X1 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Nitro KG241Y X1 gives 200Hz on IPS for well under $100.
Best for
- First gaming monitors.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the SE2426H, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It is a solid first gaming monitor. It matches the 24G42HE on refresh rate (200Hz). On screen size it ties with the SE2426H at 23.8 inches.
It shares a FreeSync Premium with the G25F2A; the SE2426H goes with a FreeSync. You also get a 200Hz refresh rate under $100 at the time of writing. At 1080p, 200Hz is within reach of mid-range graphics cards in esports titles; use DisplayPort if your card's HDMI port is older.
Worth noting too: an IPS panel with wide viewing angles. Its price falls between the SE2426H and the 24G42HE, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refresh rate: 200Hz
- Resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p)
- Size: 23.8 inches
- Panel: IPS
- Response: 0.5ms
- Adaptive sync: FreeSync Premium
Pros
- 200Hz for smoother motion than a 60Hz office screen
- an IPS panel with wide viewing angles
- FreeSync Premium to reduce screen tearing
- 200Hz refresh rate under $100 at the time of writing
Cons
- Costs more than the SE2426H at the time of writing
Worth Considering3 of 6
AOC 24G42HE on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The 24G42HE matches that 200Hz rate with a wider 116% sRGB colour coverage and G-SYNC Compatible support.
Best for
- Buyers who want 200hz for smoother motion than a 60hz office screen.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the SE2426H cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It matches the KG241Y X1 on refresh rate (200Hz). On screen size it ties with the 24G414B at 24 inches. It is the only pick here with a 116% sRGB color gamut; the G25F2A has a 120% sRGB color gamut instead.
It shares a G-SYNC Compatible with the 25G51Z; the SE2426H goes with a FreeSync. At 1080p, 200Hz is within reach of mid-range graphics cards in esports titles; use DisplayPort if your card's HDMI port is older. G-SYNC Compatible works on NVIDIA cards over DisplayPort, and FreeSync covers AMD cards. Its price falls between the KG241Y X1 and the G25F2A, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refresh rate: 200Hz
- Resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p)
- Size: 24 inches
- Panel: IPS
- Response: 0.3ms
- Color gamut: 116% sRGB
- Adaptive sync: G-SYNC Compatible
Pros
- 200Hz for smoother motion than a 60Hz office screen
- an IPS panel with wide viewing angles
- 116% sRGB colour coverage
- G-SYNC Compatible to reduce screen tearing
Cons
- Costs more than the SE2426H at the time of writing
Fastest Refresh4 of 6
AOC 25G51Z on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The 25G51Z reaches 260Hz overclocked on a 25-inch IPS panel, the highest refresh here.
Best for
- Esports players with a GPU that can feed high frame rates.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the SE2426H cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
Its 260Hz refresh rate is the highest here; the G25F2A comes next at 240Hz. Nothing else here matches its 25 inches screen size; the G25F2A comes closest at 24.5 inches. Like the 24G42HE, it has a G-SYNC Compatible, while the G25F2A uses a FreeSync Premium.
At 1080p, 260Hz is within reach of mid-range graphics cards in esports titles; use DisplayPort if your card's HDMI port is older. G-SYNC Compatible works on NVIDIA cards over DisplayPort, and FreeSync covers AMD cards. Only the 24G414B came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 6 picks.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refresh rate: 260Hz
- Resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p)
- Size: 25 inches
- Panel: IPS
- Response: 0.5ms
- Adaptive sync: G-SYNC Compatible
Pros
- a 260Hz refresh rate for fast motion
- an IPS panel with wide viewing angles
- G-SYNC Compatible to reduce screen tearing
- Largest screen size of the picks (25 inches)
Cons
- Costs more than the SE2426H at the time of writing
Best Colour5 of 6
LG UltraGear 24G414B-B on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The 24G414B stays at 144Hz but offers 99% sRGB and HDR10 support, a good fit for mixed use.
Best for
- Gaming plus photo browsing and video.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: hDR10 support without a DisplayHDR certification.
Why we like it
On refresh rate it ties with the SE2426H at 144Hz. It matches the 24G42HE on screen size (24 inches). A 99% sRGB color gamut is unique to it among these picks, while the 24G42HE uses a 116% sRGB color gamut.
It also offers 99% sRGB colour coverage. At 1080p, 144Hz is within reach of mid-range graphics cards in esports titles; use DisplayPort if your card's HDMI port is older. G-SYNC Compatible works on NVIDIA cards over DisplayPort, and FreeSync covers AMD cards.
Another plus is an IPS panel with wide viewing angles. When we checked, only the G25F2A and cheaper picks cost less, and the 25G51Z cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refresh rate: 144Hz
- Resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p)
- Size: 24 inches
- Panel: IPS
- Response: 1ms
- HDR: HDR10
- Color gamut: 99% sRGB
- Adaptive sync: G-SYNC Compatible, FreeSync
Pros
- 144Hz for smoother motion than a 60Hz office screen
- an IPS panel with wide viewing angles
- 99% sRGB colour coverage
- G-SYNC Compatible, FreeSync to reduce screen tearing
Cons
- HDR10 support without a DisplayHDR certification
- Costs more than the SE2426H at the time of writing
Cheapest 144Hz6 of 6
Dell SE2426H on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The SE2426H is Dell's 144Hz IPS monitor at the lowest price in this list.
Best for
- Tight budgets.
Skip if
- Skip it if refresh rate matters most to you; the 25G51Z offers 260Hz.
Why we like it
It covers the basics without extras. It runs at 144Hz with a 1ms MPRT response and carries TÜV Rheinland's 3-star eye comfort certification. The 178-degree viewing angles keep colour consistent off-axis.
It matches the 24G414B on refresh rate (144Hz). On screen size it ties with the KG241Y X1 at 23.8 inches. You get a FreeSync here, which sets it apart from the 25G51Z and its a G-SYNC Compatible.
At 1080p, 144Hz is within reach of mid-range graphics cards in esports titles; use DisplayPort if your card's HDMI port is older. It undercut the KG241Y X1 and every other pick on price at the time of writing. The trade-off is refresh rate; for more, the 25G51Z offers 260Hz.
Key dimensions & specs
- Refresh rate: 144Hz
- Resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p)
- Size: 23.8 inches
- Panel: IPS
- Response: 1ms
- Adaptive sync: FreeSync
Pros
- 144Hz for smoother motion than a 60Hz office screen
- an IPS panel with wide viewing angles
- FreeSync to reduce screen tearing
- 144Hz IPS panel at the lowest price in this list at the time of writing
Cons
- Refresh rate trails the 25G51Z (260Hz)
- Screen size trails the 25G51Z (25 inches)
How We Chose These Cheap 144Hz Monitors
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- HDR and colour
- We recorded DisplayHDR certifications and listed colour gamut.
- Panel
- We noted panel type and the trade-offs it brings for motion, contrast and burn-in.
- Resolution and refresh
- We compared listed resolution and refresh rate against the graphics power each needs.
- Connectivity and stand
- We checked ports, USB-C and stand adjustment where the listing states them.
What to Look for in a Cheap 144Hz Monitor
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Choose a refresh rate you can reach
A higher refresh rate only helps when your PC delivers matching frame rates. 144Hz to 180Hz suits most players; 240Hz and above rewards competitive shooters.
Pick the panel type
IPS offers wide viewing angles and good colour. VA has higher contrast but slower dark transitions. OLED has perfect blacks and very fast response but carries a burn-in risk with static content.
Match resolution to your graphics card
1080p suits entry and mid-range cards and high refresh rates. 1440p is the balance for most gaming PCs. 4K needs a high-end card to hold high frame rates.
Pick the resolution your card can drive before looking at refresh rate.
Read HDR labels carefully
HDR10 means the monitor accepts an HDR signal, not that it displays it well. DisplayHDR 600 or True Black 400 certifications say more about real HDR performance.
Size for your desk distance
24 to 25 inches suits 1080p and competitive play at a typical desk. 27 inches pairs well with 1440p and 4K; 32 inches suits 4K at a deeper desk.
Check ports and cables
High refresh rates at 1440p and 4K need DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.1. Consoles need HDMI 2.1 for 4K at 120Hz.
How to Choose a Cheap 144Hz Monitor
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Competitive games on a budget | G25F2A | 240Hz with FreeSync Premium under $100 |
| First gaming monitors | KG241Y X1 | 200Hz IPS with FreeSync Premium under $100 |
| Esports players with a GPU that can feed high frame rates | 25G51Z | The highest refresh rate here (260Hz) |
| Gaming plus photo browsing and video | 24G414B | 99% sRGB coverage at 144Hz |
| Tight budgets | SE2426H | A 144Hz IPS panel at the lowest price here |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
Figures as each maker states them.
| Monitor | Refresh rate | Resolution | Size | Panel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G25F2A | 240Hz | 1920x1080 (1080p) | 24.5 inches | SuperSpeed IPS |
| KG241Y X1 | 200Hz | 1920x1080 (1080p) | 23.8 inches | IPS |
| 24G42HE | 200Hz | 1920x1080 (1080p) | 24 inches | IPS |
| 25G51Z | 260Hz | 1920x1080 (1080p) | 25 inches | IPS |
| 24G414B | 144Hz | 1920x1080 (1080p) | 24 inches | IPS |
| SE2426H | 144Hz | 1920x1080 (1080p) | 23.8 inches | IPS |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
Prices change often; these tiers reflect Amazon prices when this guide was updated.
| Price tier | Monitors |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | SE2426H, KG241Y X1, 24G42HE, G25F2A |
| About $100 to $150 | 24G414B, 25G51Z |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a GPU that matches the refresh rate?
To benefit fully, yes. A 240Hz monitor still feels smoother at 150fps than a 144Hz one, but the gains shrink when frame rates are far below the refresh rate.
Is 1080p fine on a 27-inch monitor?
It works, but text and detail look softer. 1440p is sharper at 27 inches; 1080p is best at 24 to 25 inches.
Does a 1ms response time rating matter?
Makers measure response time differently, so compare panel type and independent reviews rather than the headline figure.
Should I use HDMI or DisplayPort?
On a PC, DisplayPort usually supports the highest refresh rates. HDMI 2.1 is equivalent and needed for consoles.
Does a FreeSync monitor work with an NVIDIA card?
Most do as G-SYNC Compatible over DisplayPort. Check the product page or NVIDIA's compatibility list for the model.
Is HDR worth it on a budget monitor?
Rarely. Budget HDR10 monitors accept HDR but lack the brightness and contrast to show it well. OLED or DisplayHDR 600 models do it better.
Bottom Line
The GIGABYTE G25F2A is the pick for fast games, the Acer Nitro KG241Y X1 is the value choice, and the AOC 24G42HE adds wider colour.
The AOC 25G51Z has the highest refresh rate, the LG 24G414B-B suits mixed use, and the Dell SE2426H is the cheapest 144Hz option.
