Best Budget Gaming Monitors for FPS Players in 2025

Looking to level up your FPS gaming setup without burning a hole in your wallet? Whether you’re in North America, Europe, or Asia, 2025’s best budget gaming monitors deliver the same elite refresh rates, fast response times, and adaptive sync tech — proving that global gamers can now compete on equal footing. You’re in the right place! A fast, responsive monitor can completely transform your gameplay, especially in high-stakes FPS (First-Person Shooter) games like Call of Duty or Apex Legends. But here’s the tricky part: finding a monitor that’s both budget-friendly and offers high-quality performance. The good news? You don’t need to compromise! In 2025, the best budget gaming monitors offer ultra-smooth gameplay, quick response times, and high refresh rates—all without breaking the bank. Let’s dive into some of the top picks and features you should look for when shopping for your perfect budget gaming monitor.

With ongoing 2025 major global sales events like Amazon Prime Day and mid-year tech deals, 1080p/144Hz monitors are now available at record-low prices—some affordable price points under $200 globally—making them a smart pick for competitive FPS players. A recent PC Gamer budget gaming monitor deals roundup highlights major discounts and value picks, proving top-tier performance is finally affordable.

I remember playing Valorant on an old 60Hz monitor and feeling like my reactions were always a step behind. Upgrading to a 144Hz budget monitor was a game-changer; suddenly, I could track enemies more smoothly and my flick shots became much more consistent. It truly felt like I unlocked a new level of my own skill.

Decoding the Specs: What Truly Matters for a Budget FPS Monitor?

When you’re on a budget, you can’t afford to pay for features you don’t need. For FPS games like Valorant, Apex Legends, or Call of Duty, your monitor’s performance comes down to three key specifications. Getting these right is the secret to gaining a competitive advantage without breaking the bank.

1. Refresh Rate (Hz): The #1 Priority for FPS Gaming

Global esports standards now recognize 144Hz as the entry point for competitive play.

• What it is: The refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz), is the number of times your screen updates with a new image every second. A 60Hz monitor shows 60 images per second, while a 144Hz monitor shows 144.
• Why it’s critical for FPS: That extra information is a game-changer. A high refresh rate makes motion on screen significantly smoother and less blurry. This allows you to track fast-moving opponents more easily and react quicker, giving you a tangible edge in a firefight.
• Your Budget Goal: Do not buy a monitor under 144Hz. This is the modern standard for any serious FPS gaming, and thankfully, it is now widely available in budget-friendly models.

2. Response Time (ms): Eliminating Ghosting and Blur

Most new 2025 models feature 1 ms GtG or faster — vital for accuracy in shooters like Call of Duty and Valorant.

• What it is: Response time, measured in milliseconds (ms), is how quickly a single pixel can change from one color to another.
• Why it’s critical for FPS: A slow response time creates “ghosting” or motion blur, where a faint trail is visible behind moving objects. In a fast-paced shooter, this can make it difficult to track targets precisely. A fast response time ensures the image remains crisp and clear, even during rapid 180-degree turns.
• Your Budget Goal: Look for a monitor with a 1ms response time. This is the gold standard for competitive gaming and ensures your actions feel instant.

3. Resolution & Size: The 1080p Sweet Spot

While 1440p and 4K monitors offer stunning visuals, they are incredibly demanding on your graphics card. To take advantage of a 144Hz refresh rate, your PC needs to be able to consistently produce 144 frames per second (FPS).

For budget-conscious gamers, a 24-inch, 1080p resolution monitor is the ultimate sweet spot. This size is preferred by many professional gamers because it allows you to see the entire screen without moving your eyes. More importantly, the 1080p resolution makes it far easier for a mid-range gaming PC to push the high frame rates necessary for competitive play, ensuring you get the full benefit of your high-refresh-rate panel.

Around the world, pro players continue to favor 1080p for its optimal balance between clarity and frame-rate performance.

Essential Features to Consider Before Buying a Budget Gaming Monitor (2025)

Before you start browsing for your new monitor, let’s cover some essential features that can make a significant difference in your gaming performance.

Refresh Rate

The refresh rate of a monitor is how many times per second the screen refreshes its image. For FPS games, a higher refresh rate (at least 144Hz) is ideal. It allows you to experience smoother gameplay with minimal screen tearing. Most budget monitors today offer 144Hz refresh rates, which is more than enough to enjoy even the fastest-paced games.

When I switched to 144Hz from 60Hz, the difference was immediately noticeable in Call of Duty: Warzone. The enemies’ movements were so much crisper, and I could spot them peeking corners fractions of a second faster, giving me a crucial edge in gunfights that I never had before.

Response Time

Response time refers to how quickly a pixel can change from one color to another. A lower response time means less motion blur and ghosting, crucial for FPS games where every movement counts. Aim for monitors with 1ms to 3ms response time, especially for competitive gaming.

In Apex Legends, quick turns and target switching are essential, and a monitor with a low response time significantly reduced the visual smear, allowing me to maintain clearer sight on fast-moving opponents and improve my tracking aim.

Panel Type

Globally, IPS panels dominate due to better colors and viewing angles, while TN panels remain popular for pure speed in esports arenas.The panel type (TN, IPS, or VA) plays a huge role in the monitor’s color accuracy, viewing angles, and contrast ratios:

• TN Panels are typically the fastest but have poorer color accuracy and viewing angles.
• IPS Panels offer vibrant colors and great viewing angles but are usually a bit slower.
• VA Panels offer deep blacks and great contrast but can suffer from slower response times.

For budget gaming monitors, TN panels are often a good choice due to their affordability and speed, but IPS panels are catching up and becoming more affordable.

Initially, I leaned towards TN panels for their speed, sacrificing some color. However, when a budget IPS panel with 1ms response time came on sale, I grabbed it. The vibrant colors in Cyberpunk 2077 were a welcome bonus, and I honestly couldn’t tell the difference in competitive CS:GO performance.

Screen Size & Resolution

Screen size and resolution affect how immersive your games feel. A 24” to 27” screen with Full HD (1080p) resolution is the sweet spot for most FPS gamers. If you’re planning to run your games at higher resolutions like 1440p or 4K, a larger screen (32” and up) might be necessary, but these tend to be more expensive.

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Studies find that FPS players perform best on 24–27″ screens, balancing aim control and visibility. One lab experiment showed statistically significant improvements in precision on 27″ monitors compared to smaller sizes.

Adaptive Sync Technologies

Monitors equipped with FreeSync or G-Sync help eliminate screen tearing and stuttering, making your gameplay experience smoother. FreeSync works with AMD graphics cards, while G-Sync is compatible with NVIDIA cards.

After experiencing screen tearing in Doom Eternal with my old setup, getting a FreeSync compatible monitor was a revelation. The fluid, tear-free visuals made the fast-paced action feel incredibly smooth, and I could focus entirely on the gameplay rather than distracting visual artifacts.

Many affordable monitors in 2025 include both FreeSync Premium and G-Sync Compatible certification, ensuring smooth visuals across GPU brands worldwide.

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