Comparison: Cheap And Best Microwave (Updated | May 13th)

If you are hunting for a cheap and best microwave that won’t wake the whole house during a midnight snack run, this 0.7 Cu. Ft. Chefman is a serious contender. What really makes it stand out in a crowded market of budget appliances is the dedicated Mute Button. Most small microwaves force you to endure high-pitched beeps every time a cycle ends, but this one lets you silence the noise entirely with one touch. It also features a Memory Function, which is surprisingly handy if you find yourself reheating the exact same bowl of oatmeal every morning.

I’d recommend this specifically for college students in cramped dorms or anyone with a tiny studio apartment kitchen where counter space is at a premium. It’s a 700-watt unit, so it’s built for light duty like popcorn, leftovers, or melting butter rather than cooking a five-course meal. The Child Safety Lock and Eco Mode are nice “grown-up” features for such a small machine. The trade-off here is definitely the power; 700 watts is on the lower end, so you’ll need to add a minute or two to the instructions on most frozen dinner boxes to ensure they actually get hot all the way through.

The TOSHIBA ML-EM09PA(BS) strikes a really nice balance between being compact and actually having enough “oomph” to cook food quickly. While many small units bottom out at 700 watts, this one gives you 900 watts of output, which makes a noticeable difference in how evenly your pizza or leftovers heat up. The Black Stainless Steel finish gives it a much more premium, modern look than the basic plastic-heavy models you usually see at this price point. It feels like a piece of kitchen gear rather than just a cheap utility box.

This is the ideal pick for an apartment dweller who wants a small microwave that doesn’t feel like a toy. It has a generous 10.6-inch turntable, meaning it can actually fit a standard dinner plate, which is often a struggle with the 0.7 cubic foot models. It also includes a Mute Mode—though you have to long-press the “8” key to activate it. The main downside is the Two-Step Child Lock; while it’s great for safety, some users might find the specific sequence required to open or operate the machine a bit finicky or annoying when they’re in a rush to grab their coffee.

There is something to be said for a brand that sticks to the basics and does them well. This Farberware 0.7 Cu. Ft. microwave is the quintessential “no-frills” workhorse. It doesn’t try to be a smart oven; it just focuses on one-touch express cooking and reliability. The interface is incredibly intuitive, featuring six clear presets for things like potatoes and popcorn. If you just want to hit a button and see your food spinning under a bright interior light, this is the one. It’s tiny, lightweight, and gets the job done without a steep learning curve.

I see this as the perfect fit for a small office breakroom or a senior living space where simplicity is the highest priority. It’s also a great cheap and best option for those who primarily use a microwave for defrosting, as it handles weight and time defrost quite accurately for its size. However, the trade-off is the 700-watt power limit. Don’t expect it to boil a large bowl of water in thirty seconds. It’s a “slow and steady” machine, and the compact interior means you’ll have to leave your oversized square dinner plates in the cupboard.

If you have a bit more room on your counter, the TOSHIBA EM131A5C-BS is a massive step up in terms of technology. The standout feature here is the Smart Humidity Sensor. Instead of you guessing how long to heat up a plate of pasta, the microwave constantly monitors the steam coming off the food and adjusts the time and power automatically. This translates to fewer “hot on the edges, frozen in the middle” disasters. With 1000 watts of power and a large 1.2 Cu. Ft. interior, it’s a much more capable primary cooking appliance than the smaller 700-watt alternatives.

This is the best choice for families or people who actually “cook” in their microwave rather than just reheating coffee. It can handle larger casseroles and bigger plates with ease. It also features an Easy Clean Interior, which is a lifesaver when things inevitably splatter. The honest downside is the footprint. This is not a “tuck it in the corner” type of machine; it’s over 20 inches wide, so if you’re working with a tiny galley kitchen, it might take up more real estate than you’re willing to give.

The BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7 is a classic compact microwave that opts for a push-button door instead of a traditional handle. For some, this is a major plus because it keeps the front profile sleek and prevents the whole unit from sliding forward when you try to pull it open—a common annoyance with lightweight microwaves. It’s a 700-watt unit that covers all the essential bases: 30-second express cooking, a clear LED display, and a 10-inch turntable. It feels sturdy for its size, which is exactly what you want from a brand like BLACK+DECKER.

This is a solid “first microwave” for a college student or a great secondary unit for a wet bar or basement. It’s small enough to fit on a shelf but powerful enough to handle a bag of popcorn or a frozen burrito. The Child Safety Lock is easy to engage, making it safe for households with curious toddlers. The main trade-off is that 700 watts can feel a bit sluggish if you’re used to full-sized ovens. Also, because it’s a stainless steel finish on the front, it tends to show fingerprints more easily than the matte black models, so keep a cloth handy.

The FRIGIDAIRE EMW733BLACKAMZ brings a reputable kitchen name into the budget-friendly, compact space. What I think makes this one stand out is the multi-stage cooking feature. This allows you to program the microwave to do two different things in sequence—like defrosting a slice of meat for a few minutes and then immediately switching to a higher power level to cook it. It’s a level of “set it and forget it” convenience that you don’t always find in 0.7 cubic foot models. The digital control panel is clean and responsive, making it feel slightly more modern than its competitors.

This is a great option for people who value defrosting precision and want a reliable brand name in their kitchen. It’s compact enough for a dorm or an RV, yet the six auto-cook settings cover most daily needs. However, the 700-watt output is a limitation you have to accept. It’s perfectly fine for a bowl of soup, but if you’re trying to heat up a dense frozen lasagna, you’ll be waiting a while. It’s a “patience required” appliance, but it performs consistently within its power bracket.

The COMFEE’ EM720CPL-PMB is perhaps the ultimate cheap and best microwave for those who are environmentally or noise-conscious. It stands out by offering an Energy Saving Eco Mode, which cuts down on standby power consumption by half. In an age where every appliance has a glowing clock, being able to dim that down is a nice touch. Like the more expensive brands, it also includes a Sound On/Off function, so you can eliminate those piercing end-of-cycle beeps entirely. It’s a very thoughtful little machine for such a low price point.

I would recommend this for anyone living in a shared space, like a dorm or a roommate situation, where you don’t want to disturb others with loud noises or bright lights at night. It’s a 700-watt unit with a 10-inch turntable, so it’s strictly for small-to-medium tasks. The honest trade-off here is the build feel; it’s very lightweight. While that makes it easy to move, it can sometimes feel a bit “plasticky” compared to the heavy-duty stainless steel models. But for the price, the feature set—especially the Mute and Eco modes—is hard to beat.

This 0.9 Cu. Ft. Chefman is essentially the “big brother” to their smaller 0.7 model, and that extra space makes a world of difference in real-life usage. Stepping up to 900 watts means you aren’t just reheating; you’re actually cooking. It retains the Mute Button and Memory Function that makes the brand stand out, but the larger interior allows for better air circulation and more even heating. The Black finish is sleek, and the One-Touch Express Cook buttons make it incredibly fast to get things moving when you’re in a hurry.

If you have a small family or a busy household, this is the “sweet spot” size. It’s still a countertop microwave that won’t dominate your kitchen, but it’s powerful enough that you won’t be standing around forever waiting for your leftovers to steam. The Child Safety Lock on the handle is a great physical safety feature. The only real downside is that while it’s 0.9 Cu. Ft., it’s still not quite big enough for very large rectangular baking dishes. You’ll want to stick to standard round plates and medium bowls to ensure the turntable can spin freely.

The BLACK+DECKER EM031MB11 is a beast compared to the smaller units on this list. With 1000 watts of output and a 1.1 Cu. Ft. capacity, it stands out for its sheer efficiency. It features a massive 12.4-inch turntable, which is large enough to handle a full-sized dinner plate with room to spare. The stainless steel accents give it a professional look that fits right in with higher-end kitchen appliances. It also uses a push-button door, which is a signature for the brand and helps keep the exterior looking clean and modern.

This is the clear winner for a busy family kitchen or anyone who treats their microwave as a primary tool for meal prep. It has the power settings and the internal volume to handle defrosting large chunks of meat or cooking frozen family-sized meals. The trade-off is the input power of 1600W; it’s a power-hungry machine, so you’ll want to make sure you aren’t running a toaster and a coffee maker on the same circuit at the same time. It’s also quite heavy and large, so measure your counter space carefully before committing.

The GE Countertop Microwave offers a mid-sized 1.1 Cubic Ft. capacity with 950 watts of power, making it a very capable “all-rounder.” What makes it stand out is the GE reputation for longevity and the very precise Weight & Time Defrost settings. Unlike some cheaper models that tend to “cook” the edges of your frozen ground beef while the center stays an ice cube, this unit manages the power cycles quite well to provide a more even thaw. The Stainless Steel exterior is also high-quality and looks great in a modern apartment or dorm room.

This is the best choice for someone who wants a compact microwave that doesn’t sacrifice too much power. It’s the “Goldilocks” of the group—not too small, not too big, and just right for most kitchen tasks. It even includes a Two-Step Child Lock for extra safety. The downside is the 39-inch power cord; depending on where your outlets are located, it might feel a bit short, limiting where you can actually place it on your counter. It also lacks a dedicated “mute” button, so you’ll have to live with the standard beeps when your food is ready.