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The best budget air fryers under £100, tried and tested by experts
Here’s how to jump on the air fryer bandwagon without breaking the bank
Tested by Blossom BoothroydHomes Testing Manager
It feels like almost everyone has one of the best air fryers taking pride of place on their kitchen counter at this point. But if you haven’t yet invested, the price can be off-putting; some of the top models can cost hundreds, which is a lot to spend, especially if you’re not sure how much you'll use it.
But, we're here to help. After testing almost 70 models at the Good Housekeeping Institute, our team of experts have found you can pick up some of the top-performing models for under £100. So, you can join the craze even if you’re on a budget.
While a bigger spend can mean more power, more functions and larger capacities (see the best dual air fryers), it’s not always the case. Our experts have found plenty of affordable options that don’t compromise on performance, speed or efficiency. We've even found one of the best Ninja air fryers has a price tag within budget.
Here are their best budget air fryers at a glance but keep scrolling for our full reviews and what you should consider before you buy.
Best budget air fryer UK
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If you’re replacing an existing air fryer, there are plenty of places for you to safely recycle your old one. Find your nearest electrical recycling point, or read our guide on how to donate or dispose of your appliances and tech for extra guidance.
How we test air fryers
To make sure each air fryer serves food that’s up to our golden, crispy standards, we put them through various cooking challenges at the Good Housekeeping Institute. First, our experts cook chicken – for large air fryers they roast a whole chicken, while in smaller ones they prepare chicken Kyivs. They note how long it takes for the dishes to cook and how the final product looks and tastes.
Next up, we make chips, with the best air fryers producing golden fries with crunchy exteriors and fluffy interiors. Finally, the team bakes fairy cakes to judge how well air circulates inside the air fryer – the fluffier and more evenly golden our bakes, the better.
Each model is then rated on its overall performance, ease of use, design and instructions.
Pros
- Removable accessories are easy to clean by hand or in the dishwasher
- Compact and easy to store
Cons
- No cooking window to check on the progress of your food
Score: 94/100
It may look small, but this 3.5 litre air fryer is one handy sous chef. On test, it managed to roast a 1.3kg chicken and the results were impressive – the skin browned evenly while there was plenty of moisture and flavour in the meat. Our chips were delicious too, scoring full marks after emerging light, fluffy, and crisp.
Some fairy cakes baked slightly unevenly, but otherwise this machine was hard to fault. It was easy to use and its LED interface is responsive. You won't be able to cook a whole meal at once or lots of portions, but for small households, you can’t go wrong.
Key specifications
| Style | Basket |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 3.5L |
| Cooking modes | 4 |
| Size | H31.3 x W26.5 x D32.6 cm |
| Dishwasher-safe parts | Yes – frying basket and crisping plate |
Ninja Air Fryer 3.8L
Pros
- Lots of recipes and food charts included
- Lightweight, so easy to store in a cupboard
Cons
- No presets for cooking foods like chicken or chips
Score: 91/100
At just under £100, this is our most affordable pick of the best Ninja air fryer models. The design is compact, but it still has four cooking modes, including air fry, roast, reheat and dehydrate.
Our chicken Kyivs were moist on the inside and crisp and golden on the outside, while our chips were pretty good, too. The colouring wasn’t even though, so our experts recommend cooking in smaller batches for the best results. Removing the crisper plate was a little tricky, and you need to use an oven mitt when holding the handle. But it’s a great buy if you’re feeding one or two.
Key specifications
| Style | Basket |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 3.8L |
| Cooking modes | 4 |
| Size | H34.5 x W27.9 x D33.8 cm |
| Dishwasher-safe parts | Yes |
Russell Hobbs XL Family Rapid Air Fryer
Pros
- Simple to set up
- Responsive buttons
Cons
- The basket is fiddly to remove
Score: 91/100
There’s no compromising on cooking functions with this multicooker. As well as air frying, it sears, grills, roasts, bakes and slow cooks, creating endless mealtime possibilities. We used the default settings to roast our chicken (simply press the chicken icon) and it was juicy, golden and well-cooked within half an hour.
Baking fairy cakes was more difficult – they didn’t rise as expected, and there were some inconsistencies in colouring. Also, our experts would have liked a viewing window and more information on cooking times in the manual – but for such a multitasker, we’re happy to set these niggles aside.
Key specifications
| Style | Multi-cooker |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 5.5L |
| Cooking modes | 7 |
| Size | H28.2 x W37.8 x D32 cm |
| Dishwasher-safe parts | Yes |
Pros
- Comes with an extensive recipe book
- Clear and intuitive buttons and functions
Cons
- The drawer catches slightly, stopping it from sliding easily into place
Score: 88/100
This smart fryer has an accompanying app that lets you control the fryer remotely and notifies you when your food is ready – perfect for busy family mealtimes.
There’s a whopping 13 cooking modes, including steak, seafood and frozen food and chips, which came out beautifully golden. Roasting chicken took a while, but the 45-minute wait was worth it when testers tucked into golden, juicy meat.
Key specifications
| Style | Single basket |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 5.5L |
| Cooking modes | 13 |
| Size | H30 x W30 x D32cm |
| Dishwasher-safe parts | Yes |
Pros
- Exterior remained cool during cooking
- Delivered crisp chicken Kyivs
Cons
- Fairly basic design with no preset functions
Score: 87/100
With a three-litre basket and excellent air circulation, this air fryer is a fantastic gadget for crisping up chips.
Our cupcakes were well-risen and fluffy too, and testers found it easy to use thanks to the detailed instructions and recipes included. All that was missing was a clear indication that it had preheated to the correct temperature. Coming with a two-year guarantee, this is a great value buy.
Key specifications
| Style | Single basket |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 3L |
| Cooking modes | Manual |
| Size | H32 x W35 x D28cm |
| Dishwasher-safe parts | No |
Pros
- Delivered great results in all our cooking tests
- Lightweight and easy to store
Cons
- Recipes are only available online
Score: 86/100
Unlike most single basket air fryers, this one has a handy ‘Group-Fry’ function that lets you cook a main and side together perfectly. It took some trial and error for our experts to work out the right size for our vegetables to ensure they finished cooking at the same time as our steak, but it was ultimately a great time-saver.
For normal use, it was fantastic too. Our experts liked the intuitive display and the responsive touchscreen buttons. It’s a nifty alternative to a dual-basket air fryer.
Key specifications
| Style | Basket |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 4.5L |
| Cooking modes | 7 |
| Size | H32 x W27.4 x D32.7 cm |
| Dishwasher-safe parts | No |
Pros
- Foldable touchscreen display makes it even more compact
- Minimal dirt traps
Cons
- No dishwasher-safe accessories
- No recipe inspiration included
Score: 84/100
You can still get a dual drawer model if you’re shopping on a budget. This 11-litre air fryer boasts the space-saving double-stacked design that’s becoming increasingly popular as it won’t dominate your counter space but still allows you to cook for a group.
Using the air fryer was a breeze thanks to the clear touchscreen display and 10 pre-set meal options. A whole chicken cooked in an hour and 15 minutes, and our cupcakes came out with a lovely golden colour. Chips were on the dry side, but we can turn a blind eye here given this model’s affordability.
Key specifications
| Style | Dual drawer/double stacked |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 11L (2 x 5.5L drawers) |
| Cooking modes | 10 |
| Size | 35.2 x 44.5 x 27.9cm |
| Dishwasher-safe parts | No |
Pros
- Intuitive controls and easy-to-use timer
- Food charts with cooking times and recipe inspiration in the instructions
Cons
- Steam is directed into your face when opening the door (like with an oven)
- Difficult to store either on the counter or in a cupboard due to its size and weight
Score: 76/100
Larger households should consider an air fryer oven, which is essentially just a mini oven. This one has an 18-litre capacity, which meant we could easily cook a whole roast chicken. It took a rapid 55 minutes on the pre-set function, but it could have even less time, as we found our chicken slightly overcooked with meat that was a touch too dry and skin on the crispier side. However, with a clear viewing window and internal light, you can easily keep an eye on the cooking progress and take it out as soon as it’s done.
We found that grease still fell to the bottom of the air fryer despite having the drip tray in place, and its size and nine-kilogram weight make it tricky to clean.
Key specifications
| Style | Single compartment |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 18L |
| Cooking modes | 14 presets |
| Size | H41 x W37.2 x D36.8cm |
| Dishwasher-safe parts | No |
What should I look for in a cheap air fryer?
Air fryers are essentially mini super ovens. They circulate hot air to cook your food quickly, using little to no oil. This means they can serve up favourites such as chicken and chips more healthily, but they can do far more than that – helping you whip up everything from a roast to a cake!
As the popularity of the air fryer has grown, we’ve seen brands launch larger models that are increasingly versatile. But extra functions aren’t always necessary – here, we break down the features you should be considering when buying an air fryer on a budget.
Capacity
Unsurprisingly, larger air fryers typically cost more, which can be frustrating when you're cooking for a big household. There is one dual basket model on our list that crept under the £100 mark, and it's space-saving design is very similar to the popular Ninja Double Stack Air Fryer.
But, if you’re feeding larger groups, it may be worth spending a little bit more on a larger capacity. Because if you run your air fryer multiple times to make your meal, you risk using as much electricity (if not more) as you would when cooking everything in the oven at once.
That said, if you’re only cooking for one or two, a small model will be more than adequate and fit neatly into your kitchen.
Programmes, functions and settings
As with any product, the more features it has, the more expensive it's likely to be. Air fryers are certainly no different. Models with synced drawers, settings for steaming, roasting or dehydrating, a digital LED interface or an accompanying app will generally cost more than an appliance with a basic design.
If you think you'll want more varied functionality, but don't want to buy multiple appliances, then it’s probably worth spending a bit more on one of the best multi-cookers. But if all you really want is to air fry, look for a model that will do just that, and do it well.
Design
Like capacity, the best design for you depends on use and how many people you’re feeding. Some air fryers double as rotisserie ovens or health grills, but most come in two designs: single basket fryers or dual air fryers.
Generally, single compartment air fryers are more compact (making them cheaper) but mean you can only cook one thing at a time. If you need something that’s more flexible, we’d recommend waiting until a sales period to shop, as we always find plenty of great deals on our top-performers.
Our verdict on air fryers
Small but mighty, Russell Hobbs’ Compact Digital Air Fryer is a smart choice if you want to try your hand at air frying without spending a fortune. It has a 3.5 litre capacity and roasted a 1.3kg chicken with impressive results.
If you have your heart set on a Ninja air fryer though, you’ll want to go for the Ninja 3.8L Air Fryer, which delivered results that were just as delicious as its more premium counterparts.
Why you should trust the Good Housekeeping Institute
We love a good cooking appliance here at the Good Housekeeping Institute, so we’re always following the latest air fryer trends closely. In fact, we’ve tested over 50 models, so it’s fair to say the team (led by homes testing manager, Blossom Boothroyd) are experts at reviewing these mini-cookers against their claims.
Plus, our senior homes and lifestyle writer Megan Geall always has one eye on which models have the best deals and prices, so you can jump on the air fryer craze, no matter your budget.
Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s homes writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market. When she’s not writing about the newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her cooking, running and exploring London’s foodie hotspots – or trying to make friends with every dog she passes. Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. You can find Megan on Instagram @meganlouisegeall and on X @megan_geall
Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.
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