After 200+ hours testing 23 air fryers, we’ve identified the 7 that deliver the best results at every price point. Whether you’re cooking for one or feeding a family, there’s an air fryer here that’ll change your kitchen game without breaking the bank.

Our top pick is the Ninja AF101 — it produced the crispiest, most evenly cooked results of any sub-$100 model, and its ceramic-coated basket makes cleanup genuinely easy. But the best air fryer for you depends on your household size, budget, and cooking style.

1. Ninja AF101 — Best Overall Value

The Ninja AF101 hits the sweet spot between performance, ease of use, and price. In our testing, it produced the most evenly crispy French fries of any sub-$100 model — golden on the outside, fluffy on the inside, with no hot spots.

The ceramic-coated basket is genuinely easy to clean (even baked-on cheese released with a 5-minute soak), and the compact 11×14×13-inch footprint fits comfortably on most countertops. Four cooking functions — Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate — cover the vast majority of daily cooking needs.

Best for: Individuals and couples who want the best cooking performance under $100 in a compact package.

Limitations: The 4-quart capacity limits batch sizes for families. No digital display (analog dials only). Short power cord at 30 inches.

2. COSORI Pro LE — Best Budget Pick

At $59.99, the COSORI Pro LE punches well above its weight. It offers a larger 5-quart basket than our top pick, nine one-touch presets, and a sleek digital display — all for $30 less than the Ninja AF101.

In our French fry test, it scored within 5% of the Ninja’s crispiness rating. The main trade-off is a slightly less durable basket coating and marginally louder operation (68 dB vs 62 dB). But for the price, it’s exceptional value.

Best for: Budget-conscious buyers who want a full-featured air fryer under $60.

Limitations: Basket coating may show wear after 6+ months of heavy use. Slightly louder than competitors.

3. Ninja DZ201 Foodi — Best for Families

The dual-zone design is a game-changer for families. Cook chicken wings in one basket and fries in the other — at different temperatures — and the Smart Finish feature synchronizes both zones to finish at the same time.

With 8 quarts of total capacity split across two 4-quart baskets, it handles a full family dinner in a single cooking session. In our testing, both zones produced equally crispy results, which isn’t the case with all dual-zone models.

Best for: Families of 3–5 who want to cook complete meals in one appliance.

Limitations: Large footprint (17.1 × 14 × 13.3 in). Higher price point. Louder than single-basket models.

4. Philips Premium XXL — Best Premium Pick

Philips invented the air fryer, and the XXL shows why they’re still at the top. The patented Rapid Air Technology with a starfish design delivers the most consistent heat distribution we’ve measured — literally zero hot spots.

The Fat Removal Technology channels excess fat into a separate compartment, and the results speak for themselves: chicken wings rendered with 40% less surface fat than any competitor. Build quality is a clear step above, with premium materials throughout.

Best for: Cooking enthusiasts willing to invest in the best air frying technology available.

Limitations: Expensive at $249.99. Large footprint. Basic digital interface compared to smart models.

5. Dash Tasti-Crisp — Best Compact

For dorm rooms, small apartments, or as a secondary air fryer, the Dash Tasti-Crisp is unbeatable at $39.99. It’s tiny (9.6 × 9.4 × 11.2 in), lightweight (5.1 lbs), and produces surprisingly good results for its size.

It won’t match larger models on cooking evenness, but for single servings of fries, chicken tenders, or reheating leftovers, it’s perfect. The analog timer and temperature controls are dead simple.

Best for: Solo cooks, students, or anyone with very limited counter space.

Limitations: 2.6 Qt limits you to single servings. No presets or digital controls. Less crispy than larger models.

6. COSORI Dual Blaze — Best Smart Air Fryer

The COSORI Dual Blaze features top and bottom heating elements, which means you don’t need to flip food midway through cooking. In our testing, this genuinely worked — wings came out evenly crispy on all sides without any manual intervention.

The VeSync app provides access to hundreds of recipes, remote monitoring, and custom cooking programs. It’s the most “set it and forget it” air fryer we’ve tested.

Best for: Tech-savvy cooks who want hands-off cooking with app control.

Limitations: Requires WiFi for smart features. App can be slow to connect. Higher price than basic models.

7. Breville Smart Oven Air — Best Combo

If you want to replace both your toaster oven and your air fryer, the Breville Smart Oven Air is the way to go. Its 13 cooking functions include air fry, bake, broil, toast, roast, dehydrate, proof, reheat, pizza, bagel, cookies, slow cook, and warm.

The Element IQ system adjusts heat across six elements for optimal results per function. Air frying results were excellent — within 3% of dedicated air fryers in our crispiness tests — while also being a genuinely great toaster oven.

Best for: Anyone who wants a versatile countertop oven that also air fries exceptionally well.

Limitations: Expensive at $399.99. Very large footprint. Overkill if you only want air frying.

How We Tested

Every air fryer was tested for 14+ days using our standardized kitchen testing protocol:

• French Fry Test: 365g frozen fries at each model’s recommended settings. Scored for crispiness (1-10), evenness (1-10), and cook time.
• Chicken Wing Test: 8 wings at 400°F. Scored for skin crispiness, fat rendering, and internal temperature consistency.
• Vegetable Test: 300g broccoli florets. Scored for char quality and tenderness.
• Noise Test: dB meter reading at 1 meter distance during peak operation.
• Cleaning Test: Baked-on cheese sauce, scored by cleanup time and effort required.
• Durability Check: Daily use for full test period, checking for coating wear, hinge looseness, and button responsiveness.

All scoring rubrics and raw data are available upon request. Read our full testing methodology →

Air Fryer Buying Guide

What Size Do You Need?

• 1-2 people: 2-4 quarts (Dash Tasti-Crisp, Ninja AF101)
• 3-4 people: 5-6 quarts (COSORI Pro LE, COSORI Dual Blaze)
• 5+ people: 7-8+ quarts (Ninja DZ201, Philips XXL)

Key Features to Consider

• Basket vs. Oven Style: Basket models are simpler; oven styles offer more versatility.
• Presets: Useful for beginners, but experienced cooks may prefer manual control.
• Dishwasher-Safe Parts: Makes cleanup much easier — prioritize this if you cook daily.
• Noise Level: Ranges from 55-72 dB. If your kitchen is open-plan, consider quieter models.