6 Best Air Fryers Under $50 of 2026

For those seeking rapid, energy-efficient cooking without breaking the bank, the Belaco BEL-AF-02 presents a compelling option. This compact 2.1Qt air fryer boasts a clear digital display, offering precise control over its 80-200℃ temperature range and a timer up to 60 minutes. It’s designed to slash cooking times by up to 70% compared to conventional ovens, promising crispy results like fish in under 14 minutes, all while looking sleek with its stylish black high glossy finish.

Performance is centered around quick heat-up and efficient air circulation, making it ideal for single servings or small batches of fries, wings, or vegetables. Its 180° cooking capability ensures consistent results for common air frying tasks. The space-saving design is a major plus for cramped countertops, dorm rooms, or RVs, and its energy-saving claims (up to 60% less energy than an oven) add to its appeal for budget-conscious users tackling smaller meals.

Positioned as a straightforward digital air fryer, the Belaco BEL-AF-02 offers digital precision unlike the analog DASH or GreenLife models, yet lacks the extensive preset menus found on the COMFEE’ or TOPZEE. While its 60-minute timer is adequate for most quick tasks, it’s shorter than some competitors. It’s a solid entry-level digital unit, offering digital control and speed at a lower cost than the COSORI, making it a value pick for basic air frying needs.

Stepping up the feature set for compact units, the COMFEE’ 2.1 Quart air fryer emerges as a versatile contender designed for healthy, oil-reduced cooking. Utilizing 360-degree rapid air circulation, it promises up to 90% less oil compared to traditional frying, delivering crispy outcomes across an impressive 12 built-in menu options. From frozen foods and snacks to main dishes and even desserts, this unit aims to simplify healthy meal preparation with minimal effort.

This COMFEE’ model handles a wide range of cooking tasks thanks to its varied presets, which cover temperatures from 180-400°F. Its compact, space-saving design fits easily into small kitchens or dorms, while safety features like auto shut-off and overheat protection provide peace of mind. The nonstick basket and tray are designed for easy cleanup, being removable and top-rack dishwasher safe, addressing a common pain point for air fryer users.

Compared to the more basic Belaco BEL-AF-02, the COMFEE’ offers significantly more cooking versatility with its 12 presets versus manual time/temp. While sharing the same 2.1 Qt capacity as Belaco and TOPZEE, it stands out with its extensive menu options, though it lacks the specific ‘shake reminder’ feature of the TOPZEE. For its price, the COMFEE’ strikes a strong balance between digital control, feature richness, and ease of use, positioning it well against other compact digital models.

Targeting users who value both convenience and health on a budget, this 2.1Qt compact air fryer offers a feature-rich digital experience at an attractive price point. Powered by 1000W, it employs advanced air frying technology to achieve crispy, moist results with up to 98% less oil. Its standout features include 7 preset menus, a wide adjustable temperature range (120°F-400°F), and incredibly useful shake reminders for even cooking.

Designed for quick, effortless meal prep, this unit is perfect for single servings or meals for one to two people, making it ideal for small living spaces like apartments, dorms, or RVs. The auto shut-off adds safety, and the premium nonstick basket ensures food slides out easily. Cleanup is simplified with a BPA-free, dishwasher-safe basket, allowing users to spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying their food.

Positioned as a budget-friendly champion, this model offers a competitive set of digital features, including presets and the unique shake reminder, surpassing the basic digital control of the Belaco BEL-AF-02. While the COMFEE’ offers more presets (12 vs 7), this unit provides a wider temperature range and the valuable shake reminder. It delivers excellent digital functionality and ease of use for its value, making it a top contender for those seeking features without a high price tag.

Breaking from the trend of compact, digital units in this category, the GreenLife 4.5QT air fryer caters specifically to those needing larger capacity and preferring simple, mechanical controls. Its key differentiator is the generous 4.5-quart size, making it suitable for cooking larger portions or meals for small families, a significant upgrade from the 2.1-2.6 Qt models. It also features a signature healthy ceramic nonstick that is PFAS-free, appealing to health-conscious users.

Operation is refreshingly straightforward with its easy-to-use time and temperature dials, eliminating complex digital menus. The stay-cool handle ensures safe handling, and LED indicator lights clearly signal cooking status. The focus here is on functional performance and ease of cleaning, with the large drawer and tray featuring the healthy ceramic nonstick and being conveniently dishwasher safe, simplifying post-meal cleanup significantly.

Unlike the digital, compact models like COMFEE’ or TOPZEE, the GreenLife prioritizes size and simplicity over presets and digital precision. Its 4.5QT capacity is more than double that of most other units in this price range, making it the go-to for family-sized portions. While it lacks the versatility of presets or the precise control of a digital display, its larger size and healthy nonstick coating offer a different value proposition, making it the clear choice for larger households prioritizing capacity and ease of cleaning over advanced features.

The COSORI 2.1 QT air fryer carves out a niche for itself by focusing on ultimate portability and multi-functionality within a very compact form factor. Specifically designed for dorm rooms, small spaces, or RVs, this unit isn’t just an air fryer; it offers 4-in-1 capabilities including Air Fry, Reheat, Roast, and Bake. Its commitment to healthier cooking is evident, promising up to 97% less oil compared to traditional deep frying.

Performance is geared towards quick, personal-sized meals and snacks, heating faster due to its small basket size. The dedicated “Reheat” function is particularly useful for bringing leftovers back to life with crispy texture, a common user desire. Weighing in at a remarkably light 4.87 lbs and featuring extremely compact dimensions (10.1×8.3×10.5 inches), it’s exceptionally easy to move and store. Access to 30 in-app recipes via the VeSync app adds a modern, guided cooking element.

While sharing the 2.1 Qt capacity with models like Belaco and COMFEE’, the COSORI distinguishes itself with its specific multi-function modes (especially Reheat) and app integration for recipes, features not found on competitors in this size class. It is lighter and perhaps more portable than even other “compact” models. Although it has a slightly lower wattage (900W) than some 1000W+ units and is at the higher end of the under-$50 price range, its unique blend of functions, portability, and smart features offers distinct value for students or those with extremely limited space.

Emphasizing simplicity and health in a user-friendly design, the DASH Tasti-Crisp air fryer is a compact 2.6 Qt model perfect for individuals or couples. Utilizing AirCrisp Technology, it significantly reduces added fat (70-80%) compared to traditional frying methods. Its defining characteristic is the intuitive, analog dial control, making it incredibly easy to operate – a major plus for users who prefer simplicity over digital complexity, such as seniors.

This DASH unit provides quick and easy cooking for common air frying tasks like vegetables, frozen foods, and snacks. The 2.6 Qt PTFE nonstick basket offers a slightly larger capacity than the standard 2.1 Qt models, providing a bit more surface area for crisping. Safety features like the auto shut-off function and cool touch handle enhance user confidence. Its compact size ensures it won’t dominate counter space, and the nonstick basket facilitates easy cleanup.

Positioned as a straightforward, analog alternative, the DASH Tasti-Crisp stands apart from the digital interfaces found on the Belaco, COMFEE’, TOPZEE, and COSORI. While it lacks the precise temperature/timer setting or presets of digital units, its simplicity is its strength, particularly for users intimidated by multiple buttons or menus. Offering a touch more capacity than 2.1 Qt models like the COMFEE’ or COSORI, the DASH Tasti-Crisp provides a hassle-free, easy-to-clean option focused purely on essential air frying functions.