If you’re looking to buy a budget monitor for video editing, photo editing, and gaming, you’re in the right place. I’ve done the research for you and put together this buyer’s guide to help you find the perfect monitor without blowing your budget.

Every monitor on this list is $500 or less. Many of them are a lot less. I focused heavily on color accuracy, which is critical for video and photo editing, while also prioritizing high refresh rate screens so you can game at high frame rates.

To save you time, I’ve linked all of these monitors where I found them at the cheapest prices. Also, just to be clear, this is not a paid or sponsored post. None of these companies paid to be here. I do have full reviews of many of these monitors on my YouTube channel though, so consider subscribing if you want deeper dives.

We’re starting with the cheapest option and working our way up to the most expensive.

The Cheapest Option That Still Gets the Job Done

If you’re on a very tight budget but still want something color accurate with a high refresh rate, take a look at the Dell S2425H.

This monitor is about as budget as it gets. At the time of recording, it was around $109. For that price, you’re getting a 24-inch 1080p display that covers 99% of the sRGB and Rec.709 color spaces. That means it’s surprisingly color accurate.

Even better, Dell somehow squeezed a 100Hz panel into this monitor. If you want to game at up to 100fps, it handles that just fine. Yes, it’s only 1080p, but for the price, it’s an incredible value.

A Small Price Jump for a Big Refresh Rate Upgrade

For about $30 more, Dell offers another option, the Dell S2425HSM. Same size, same 1080p resolution, and the same 99% sRGB and Rec.709 coverage.

The upgrade here is simple but meaningful. You get a 144Hz panel. That’s it. But if you care about gaming performance, that extra smoothness is absolutely worth it.

If you want a cheap, color accurate monitor with a higher refresh rate, this is a solid step up.

Bigger Screen and Faster Performance

Next up is the BenQ EX271, and honestly, this is where things start getting interesting.

The screen size jumps from 24 inches to 27 inches, which makes a noticeable difference for editing. It’s still 1080p, but it now covers 100% sRGB and Rec.709, plus 95% DCI-P3. That wider color gamut makes it much better for color grading and working with HDR or RAW footage.

For gaming, it gets even better. This monitor has a 180Hz refresh rate, which is insanely fast for the price.

If your budget is tight, stick with one of the Dell options. But if you can spend a bit more, the larger screen alone makes this BenQ worth it.

The Budget Unicorn Monitor

Now we need to talk about one of the most impressive monitors on this entire list. The AOC Q27G40XMN.

This is a 27-inch monitor with a big jump in resolution, moving from 1080p up to 1440p. Everything looks sharper. Editing feels better. Gaming looks crisper.

The real magic here is the panel. It keeps the fast 180Hz refresh rate but adds a mini LED backlight. That means much better contrast, brighter highlights, and deeper shadows. Mini LED is still relatively new tech, so seeing it at this price is honestly shocking.

Color performance is excellent. You get 100% DCI-P3, 100% sRGB and Rec.709, and 95% AdobeRGB. That makes this monitor especially strong for photo editing.

There are two downsides you should know about. First, it uses a VA panel. VA panels do not have viewing angles as good as IPS, so you’ll want to sit directly in front of it while editing. Second, it’s mostly color accurate out of the box, but I highly recommend using a color calibrator to dial it in perfectly.

Also worth noting, in the US this monitor is only available at Best Buy. Internationally, it’s available on Amazon.

At around $230, this monitor feels like a unicorn.

If You Want IPS Instead of VA

If you’re telling me you don’t want a VA panel and you’re willing to spend about $10 more, take a look at the BenQ EX271Q.

This monitor is very similar to the earlier BenQ, but now you get a 1440p resolution. It still has a 180Hz refresh rate, 95% DCI-P3, and 100% sRGB and Rec.709.

It’s not as exciting as the AOC mini LED option, but if IPS is important to you, this is a solid alternative.

The Cheapest OLED Monitor You Can Buy

Now we’re jumping up in price, but stay with me, because this is special.

If you have around $419 to spend, the AOC Q27G4ZD is hands down the monitor I would buy.

This is a 27-inch, 1440p OLED monitor. OLED means unlimited contrast, perfect blacks, and incredible color. For gaming, it has a 240Hz refresh rate, which is the fastest on this list.

For editing, it’s on another level. You get 99% DCI-P3, 142% sRGB and Rec.709, and 99% AdobeRGB. This is world-class color accuracy.

Yes, there is a newer version of this monitor, but it uses the exact same OLED panel. You’re not gaining image quality by spending more, so my recommendation is to save the money and buy this one.

At this price, it’s absurdly good.

Budget 4K Monitors Under $500

If you need 4K resolution for editing or gaming, there are some trade-offs under $500. There’s no OLED. No mini LED. But there are still good options.

The ASUS ProArt PA279CRV is a strong editing-focused monitor. It offers 100% sRGB and Rec.709, 99% DCI-P3, and 99% AdobeRGB. Color accuracy is excellent.

The downside is gaming performance. You’re limited to a 60Hz panel. It does support VRR, but that’s about it.

If you edit far more than you game, this is still a great choice.

Another option is a BenQ PD2706U 4K monitor that regularly sells for $499 but often drops to around $399. It’s very similar to the ASUS in terms of color accuracy, but also limited to 60Hz with no VRR. It’s only on this list because of the sale price.

The One 4K Monitor That Does It All

If you want 4K, good color accuracy, and high refresh rate gaming, there is one option.

The BenQ EX271U is a 27-inch 4K monitor with 95% DCI-P3 coverage and a 165Hz refresh rate. It’s normally $600, but if you can find it on sale around $440, it becomes an easy recommendation.

If you see it discounted, grab it.

My Final Recommendations

Let’s simplify everything.

If you are on a tight budget, buy the AOC Q27G40XMN. At around $230, it delivers incredible color accuracy, mini LED contrast, and a 180Hz refresh rate. Pair it with a color calibrator and you will love it.

If you want the absolute best monitor under $500, get the AOC Q27G4ZD OLED. Perfect blacks, insane color accuracy, and a 240Hz refresh rate. It punches so far above its price it’s ridiculous.

Just buy it. Stop thinking about it.

If you want to see a higher-end version of this buyer’s guide with a $1,000 budget or more, let me know in the video comments. Like the video, subscribe, and check out my free “Edit Videos Like a Pro” guide linked below. It’s quick to read and will instantly improve your editing.

Thanks for reading, and have a great day.