Key takeaways
- Cheapest pick worth buying: Amazon Kindle (16 GB, 2024 release) ($89 – $109).
- The basic models read just as well as premium ones; extras are page-turn buttons and auto brightness.
- A 300 ppi screen makes text look sharp, like a printed page.
In this article
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You do not need to spend a lot to get good e-readers. These are the cheapest e-readers we would still buy in the US, sorted by typical price.
Prices are typical ranges, not live prices. The button on each pick opens the current price.
Budget picks at a glance
| Product | Verdict | Score | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Kindle (16 GB, 2024 release) | Buy | 8.2/10 | $89 – $109 |
| Kobo Clara BW | Buy | 8.3/10 | $129 – $139 |
| Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB, 2024 release) | Buy | 9.1/10 | $134 – $169 |
| Amazon Kindle Paperwhite | Buy | 9.0/10 | $150 – $190 |
Budget picks in detail
Amazon Kindle (16 GB, 2024 release)
Budget and compact · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.2/10 · Typical price: $89 – $109
Why we like it: Pocketable 6-inch 300 ppi screen.
Pros: Small and light · 300 ppi screen · Low price · USB-C charging
Cons: Not waterproof · No warm light
Buy it if you want the cheapest good Kindle and like a small reader that fits in a jacket pocket.
Skip it if you read in the bath or by the pool; this one isn't waterproof.
Kobo Clara BW
Library borrowers and EPUB readers · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.3/10 · Typical price: $129 – $139
Why we like it: OverDrive built in and native EPUB support.
Pros: Borrow library books right on the device · Reads EPUB natively · IPX8 waterproof · Warm light
Cons: 6-inch screen is smaller than Paperwhite · Kobo store is smaller than Amazon
Buy it if you borrow lots of library e-books, own EPUB files or want an alternative to Amazon's store.
Skip it if you already own a big Kindle library; those books won't open on a Kobo.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (16 GB, 2024 release)
Most readers · Verdict: Buy · Score: 9.1/10 · Typical price: $134 – $169
Why we like it: Bigger, faster 7-inch waterproof screen.
Pros: 7-inch 300 ppi glare-free screen · Adjustable warm light · IPX8 waterproof · Libby library borrowing via Kindle in the US
Cons: Lock-screen ads unless you pay to remove them · No page-turn buttons
Buy it if you read often and want a fast, waterproof e-reader with warm light and weeks of battery life.
Skip it if you mostly read EPUB files from other stores; Kobo handles those natively.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
Verdict: Buy · Score: 9.0/10 · Typical price: $150 – $190
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is one of the e-readers we would buy in the US. It scores 9.0/10 in our ratings and usually sells for $150 – $190.
How to save money
The basic models read just as well as premium ones; extras are page-turn buttons and auto brightness.
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.
Where not to cut corners
A 300 ppi screen makes text look sharp, like a printed page.
Common mistake: Buying a color e-reader for novels; black-and-white screens are sharper and last longer per charge.
Compare more options
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best cheap e-readers in the US?
The cheapest model we would still buy is Amazon Kindle (16 GB, 2024 release), typically $89 – $109.
Are cheap e-readers worth it?
The basic models read just as well as premium ones; extras are page-turn buttons and auto brightness. Do not compromise on the basics, though. A 300 ppi screen makes text look sharp, like a printed page.
When are e-readers cheapest in the US?
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.