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Air fryers live and die on one thing: do they actually make food crispy? We looked at real, currently-listed air fryers on Amazon under $100 — from compact single-serving models to full-size family baskets — and compared their prices, verified star ratings, and actual owner reviews to find the ones that deliver on that basic promise.
Below you’ll find one clear Featured Pick, four other strong options depending on your kitchen setup and household size, and one we’d steer you away from — along with the specific, documented reasons why.
At a Glance
| Air Fryer | Price | Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosori TurboBlaze, 9-in-1, 6 Qt | $89.99 | 4.8★ (21,500+) | Our Featured Pick — best all-around |
| CHEFMAN 2 Qt Mini Air Fryer | $42.45 | 4.5★ (29,800+) | Cheapest reliable pick, 1-2 people |
| Chefman 4 Qt Compact Air Fryer | $57.93 | 4.6★ (3,700+) | Touchscreen controls, small households |
| Nutrichef 5.8 Quart Air Fryer | $76.49 | 4.5★ (3,100+) | Bigger capacity, see-through bowl |
| BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Air Fry Toaster Oven | $65.99 | 4.1★ (6,800+) | Toaster oven + air fryer in one |
| 2-in-1 Air Fryer Grill Combo (Generic/ORA US) | $59.99 | 3.9★ (32) | ⚠ One to skip |
Our Featured Pick
Cosori TurboBlaze Air Fryer, 9-in-1, 6 Qt — $89.99
4.8★ out of 5 (21,500+ ratings) — the highest rating and largest review base of any air fryer in this roundup, with 20,000+ bought in the past month and an Amazon’s Choice badge.
This is the air fryer we’d buy ourselves. TurboBlaze technology spins the fan at 3,600 rpm and hits 450°F for genuinely crispy results, the PFAS-free ceramic basket is a healthier and more durable step up from standard nonstick coatings, and at under 53dB it’s noticeably quieter than most air fryers this size. The 6-quart square basket is roomy enough for family meals without eating your whole counter.
Pros:
- Highest rating and largest review base (21,500+) of any pick in this guide
- PFAS-free ceramic coating — more durable and healthier than standard nonstick
- 9 cooking functions and 5 fan speeds cover nearly everything a kitchen needs
- Quieter operation (under 53dB) than most air fryers in this class
Cons:
- A handful of owners report a faint plastic smell if the unit is left on “Ready” instead of being turned off after cooking
- Larger footprint than the compact and mini picks below
- Ceramic coating, while durable, should still be hand-washed with care to maximize lifespan
More Picks Worth Considering
CHEFMAN 2 Qt Mini Air Fryer — $42.45
4.5★ out of 5 (29,800+ ratings) — the second-largest review base of any air fryer in this roundup.
If you’re cooking for one or two and don’t want a bulky countertop appliance, this is the pick. It’s digital, space-saving, and priced well under $50, with a review count that shows it’s a proven seller rather than a gamble.
Pros:
- Lowest price of any pick in this guide that still rates 4.5 stars
- Small footprint fits on even the tightest counter
- Nearly 30,000 ratings — a huge track record for a budget mini model
Cons:
- 2-quart basket is too small for family-size batches
- Fewer presets and functions than the larger models in this guide
- Not ideal if you regularly cook for more than 1-2 people
Chefman Air Fryer, 4 Qt Compact — $57.93
4.6★ out of 5 (3,700+ ratings) — a strong rating on a mid-size, feature-rich model.
This one splits the difference between the tiny mini fryers and the full-size family baskets. Touchscreen controls with 4 presets and Hi-Fry Technology for extra crisp make it easy to use daily, and the nonstick, dishwasher-safe basket keeps cleanup simple.
Pros:
- 4-quart capacity is a good middle ground for 2-3 people
- Touchscreen controls with presets — no dials or guesswork
- Dishwasher-safe basket
Cons:
- Smaller review sample than the Featured Pick or CHEFMAN Mini, though still solidly rated
- Not large enough for a whole chicken or big family batches
- Touchscreen controls can be less durable long-term than physical dials on some units
Nutrichef 5.8 Quart Air Fryer — $76.49
4.5★ out of 5 (3,100+ ratings) — a solid rating on a larger-capacity model.
If you want more room than the compact models above but aren’t ready to spend Cosori money, this is a reasonable middle option. The transparent fry bowl lets you check on food without opening the basket and losing heat, and 8 preset cook modes cover most everyday meals.
Pros:
- 5.8-quart capacity handles family-size portions
- Transparent bowl lets you monitor cooking without interrupting it
- 8 preset cook modes for common foods
Cons:
- Smaller review sample than our top two picks
- Bulkier on the counter than the compact or mini options
- Costs more than the Chefman Compact without a clear step up in reviews
BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Air Fry Toaster Oven — $65.99
4.1★ out of 5 (6,800+ ratings) — a well-established seller that does more than just air fry.
If you don’t have counter space for a dedicated air fryer basket and a separate toaster oven, this 5-in-1 combo does both jobs in one appliance. It toasts, bakes, broils, and air fries, which makes it the most versatile pick here even though its air-fry rating alone trails the dedicated baskets above.
Pros:
- Only pick in this guide that doubles as a full toaster oven
- Well-established with 6,800+ ratings
- Saves counter space if you’d otherwise own two separate appliances
Cons:
- Lowest rating of our “worth buying” picks (4.1 stars) — a toaster oven’s air-fry mode is rarely as strong as a dedicated basket
- Larger and heavier than a dedicated air fryer of similar capacity
- More surfaces and a door to clean compared to a simple pull-out basket
⚠ One We’d Skip
2-in-1 Air Fryer Grill Combo, 7.5 QT — $59.99
3.9★ out of 5 (32 ratings) — the lowest rating and by far the smallest review sample of any air fryer in this roundup, with 19% of ratings at one star.
On paper this one looks like a lot of appliance for the money: 7.5-quart capacity, a grill plate mode on top of air frying, and 8 one-touch presets. But it’s sold by a generic, unbranded storefront rather than an established kitchen appliance maker, and with only 32 total ratings there simply isn’t much of a track record to stand on. More importantly, the negative reviews go straight at the one thing an air fryer has to do: a verified buyer who followed the directions exactly reported that fries and chicken wings came out soggy, not crispy, even after extending the cook time, and returned it. Another verified reviewer noted it “doesn’t get hot enough” and required adding extra time just to finish cooking. For an appliance whose entire purpose is crisping food with hot air, that’s a core-function complaint, not a minor quirk.
Pros:
- Large 7.5-quart capacity and a bonus grill-plate mode on paper
- 8 one-touch presets for common foods
- Some buyers report it works fine for basic reheating and light use
Cons:
- Lowest rating of any air fryer in this roundup (3.9 stars) on a very small 32-rating sample, with 19% at one star
- Verified reviewers reported soggy, undercooked food and insufficient heat — the core function an air fryer needs to deliver
- Sold under a generic/unbranded storefront rather than an established air fryer maker
- Far smaller review history than any other pick here, so there’s little track record to rely on
- Priced close to the Chefman Compact and BLACK+DECKER, both of which have thousands of ratings and no core-function complaints
The Bottom Line
For most people, the Cosori TurboBlaze is the easiest recommendation in this guide — genuinely crispy results, a healthier PFAS-free ceramic basket, and quieter operation, backed by over 21,500 verified ratings at 4.8 stars. If you’re cooking for one or two and want to spend as little as possible, the CHEFMAN 2 Qt Mini has a massive track record at under $45. If you want a middle-ground size with touchscreen ease, the Chefman 4 Qt Compact or the Nutrichef 5.8 Quart are both solid, well-reviewed choices. And if counter space is tight and you’d rather own one appliance instead of two, the BLACK+DECKER 4-Slice Air Fry Toaster Oven covers both jobs reasonably well. Whatever you do, we’d skip the 2-in-1 Air Fryer Grill Combo — a tiny review sample and documented complaints about soggy, undercooked food are hard to ignore in an appliance whose entire job is getting food crispy.