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If you’re on a tighter budget and wondering what the best affordable air purifier under 100 has to offer, you’ll want to check out our detailed review below. We’ve included the top-rated air purifiers under 100 that are fantastic for pet dander, smoke, allergies, asthma, dust mites, and mold.
You can use our buyer’s guide section at the end to gain more information and feel more confident about the type of budget air purifier that’s best for you.
Hamilton Beach TrueAir 04384 Review
AirHonest Award: Best for Pet Dander
Highlights:
- True HEPA filter is permanent
- Easy to slot in different rooms
- Works in rooms up to 140 square feet
- Carbon filters reduce pet odors
The Hamilton Beach TrueAir 04384 air purifier comes with a 3-stage filtration system that includes a true HEPA filter. This filter is effective at removing 99.97% of microscopic pet dander particles that are 0.3 microns small.
They’ve also implemented two carbon zeolite filters which are fantastic for capturing pet odors. In addition to this, the pre-filter works to collect the larger pet hairs in your home.
We liked how the HEPA filter inside this air purifier has a permanent design which lets you vacuum it clean and it over and over again. This is great for saving you money on purchasing replacement HEPA filters. However, the two carbon filters are replaceable.
You can set up the air purifier vertically or horizontally which provides you with more options for installing it in different areas. It’s also fantastic at cleaning pet hairs from rooms that are up to 140 square feet.
Pros 👍
✔ Permanent true HEPA filter
✔ Pre-filter for removing large pet hairs
✔ Can be installed horizontally or vertically
✔ Carbon filters for expelling odors
Cons 👎
✘ Produces more cool air than some were expecting
✘ Some notice the motor makes a humming sound
✘ Filters get dirty quickly
Read Our Hamilton Beach 04384 Review or Buy on Amazon
Levoit Core 300 Review
AirHonest Award: Best for Smoke
Highlights:
- QuietKEAP technology
- Activated carbon filter
- 141 CADR for smoke
- Durable motor
We liked how the Levoit Core 300 can be used to effectively remove pollutant particles in rooms that are up to 215 square feet while cleaning the air up to 5 times every hour. We were also impressed with the filtration system as it’s able to remove 99.97% of smoke particles that are as small as 0.3 microns, as well as dust, allergens, pet dander, and more.
The air purifier’s CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) for smoke is 141. Furthermore, an activated carbon filter has been integrated which is fantastic for helping to remove the smell of smoke from your home.
QuietKEAP technology is available which users have been liking as it lets them set up the air purifier in the bedroom while sleeping. On the sleep mode, the air purifier makes just 24 decibels of noise which means you can sleep and clean smoke particles from your air.
Pros 👍
✔ Activated carbon filter removes smoke odors
✔ The filtration system removes tiny airborne smoke particles
✔ Display light can be switched off
✔ QuietKEAP technology
Cons 👎
✘ Some notice the air purifier has a strong plastic smell at first
✘ Fan rattles when on the highest setting
✘ Difficult to move to different areas
Read Our Levoit Core 300 Review or Check Price on Amazon
Bissell 2780A MyAir
AirHonest Award: Best for Allergies & Asthma
Highlights:
- Compact size
- 3 fan settings
- High-efficiency filter removes allergens & pollen
- Activated carbon filter for getting rid of odors
If you were interested in the best value air purifier for removing allergens and particles that make asthma worse, the Bissell 2780A MyAir is worth considering due to its 3-stage filtration system.
It comes with a pre-filter that is effective at removing the larger particles so that the highly-efficient filter can deal with the smaller pollutant particles. This filter gets rid of 99.7% of small particles that are 0.3 microns.
Furthermore, an activated carbon filter has been fitted which is excellent for removing odor-causing particles from your air.
The compact size of this air purifier means that you can have a super easy time setting it up in different rooms. Due to its smaller size, it’s able to clean pollen and allergens in the air in rooms that are up to 100 square feet.
To help people with asthma sleep more comfortably at night, the air purifier can be set up in the bedroom where you can use the lowest fan setting. You’re also provided with medium and high fan settings to remove more pollutants quicker.
Pros 👍
✔ Quiet fan mode for using in bedrooms while sleeping
✔ The night light can be turned on/off
✔ 3-stage filtration process
✔ Compact size
Cons 👎
✘ The high setting makes whining noises
✘ Replaceable filters can be a hassle to find
✘ Exterior casing is weak
Check Bissel 2780A Air Purifier on Amazon
AeraMax 100 Air Purifier
AirHonest Award: Best for Dust Mites
Review Highlights:
- PlasmaTRUE technology
- Sensors for monitoring air quality
- Filter change reminder
- True HEPA filter
A true HEPA filter has been implemented to the AeraMax 100 which makes it effective at removing 99.97% of small airborne particles that are as little as 0.3 microns, which includes dust and dust mites.
In addition to this, they’ve implemented an AeraSafe antimicrobial system that works with the true HEPA filter to prevent it from building up with bacteria. We also liked how an activated carbon filter has been included to remove strong smells.
AeraSmart Sensor technology has also been integrated into this model which is fantastic for detecting the quality of the air in your home. The air purifier can then automatically adjust its fan speed accordingly.
A filter change indicator is included which is super handy for letting you know when it’s time for any of the filters to be replaced. As a result, you can always be sure that the air purifier can function effectively.
PlasmaTRUE technology is another feature that users can use to send out negative ions to capture more dust particles and bring them lower to the ground to be vacuumed. It’s a feature that you can turn on or off.
Pros 👍
✔ AeraSmart Sensor technology
✔ Optional ionizing feature
✔ Filter change indicator
✔ True HEPA filter
Cons 👎
✘ Some notice a strong smell when first using the air purifier
✘ Lots of beeping noises when changing settings
✘ Lights are brighter than some would prefer
Read Our AeraMax100 Review or Check Price on Amazon
GermGuardian AC4825 Air Purifier
AirHonest Award: Best for Mold
Review Highlights:
- Optional UV-C light for getting rid of mold
- Pre-filter removes larger particles
- True HEPA filter
- 3 fan settings
The GermGuardian AC4825 is a superb air purifier for removing mold particles due to the UV-C light technology that’s available. You can turn the UV-C light on or off and it works along with the Titanium Dioxide system to minimize bacteria that include mold spores, as well as viruses and germs.
Furthermore, the machine has a true HEPA filter that’s great for removing 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 microns small. This includes mold, pet dander, pollen, and allergens.
A pre-filter has been included that takes care of capturing the larger particles and things like pet hair. This is a good feature for ensuring that the true HEPA filter has more longevity and doesn’t get clogged up with larger particles.
3 fan speed settings are available so that you can select the one that suits your needs best. Using the lowest fan speed can be handy for people interested in using the air purifier while they sleep as it’s able to function more quietly.
The air purifier is also recommended for use in rooms that are up to 167 square feet. In rooms of this size, the machine can clean the air up to 4 times per hour.
Pros 👍
✔ UV-C light for removing mold spores
✔ Pre-filter for capturing larger particles
✔ 3 fan speed settings
✔ True HEPA filter
Cons 👎
✘ Power light is too bright
✘ Requires frequency cleaning
✘ Some notice a plastic smell comes from the unit
✘ High fan setting is noisier than some would prefer
Check GermGuardian Price & Reviews on Amazon
AirHonest Review Verdict
Our review includes some of the best cheap air purifiers that are fantastic for different purposes. You can find an air purifier that’s right for you and your specific needs, regardless of whether they be for removing dust, allergens, smoke, pet dander, mold, and dust.
- Best for Pet Dander: Hamilton Beach TrueAir 04384 <- Check on Amazon
- Best for Smoke: Levoit Core 300 <- Check on Amazon
- Best for Allergies & Asthma: Bissell 2780A MyAir <- Check on Amazon
- Best for Dust Mites: AeraMax 100 <- Check on Amazon
- Best for Mold: GermGuardian AC4825 Air Purifier <- Check on Amazon
Air Purifier Under 100 Buyer’s Guide
Purifier Coverage
Cheap air purifiers for the home that are under $100 usually aren’t able to cover as much space as the more expensive options. Therefore, you’ll want to consider this to avoid disappointment.
When it comes to finding air purifier deals for spaces that are larger than 300 square feet, you’ll want to consider increasing your budget to more than $100.
Filter Type
Our review includes some of the best HEPA air purifier under 100 which are effective at removing 99.97% of pollutant particles that are as small as 0.3 microns. The air purifiers that can remove this many particles from being airborne are known as true HEPA filters.
Air purifiers that come with just HEPA or HEPA-type filters can still be good for removing pollutant particles, but they aren’t as effective as true HEPA filters.
You’ll also want to consider whether your air purifier comes with a pre-filter. This is because pre-filters are useful for collecting larger particles and debris to ensure that the true HEPA filter can remain intact.
In addition to this, those of you interested in removing odors from your home would want to consider using an air purifier with an activated carbon filter. These filters can remove strong smells caused by cooking, chemicals, smoke, and pets.
Ionizers and UV-C lights may also be features to consider when using the best inexpensive air purifiers. The ionizing function sends out negative ions to connect with pollutant particles and cause them to drop to the ground where they can either be vacuumed up or collected on a plate. UV-C lights can be effective at removing bacteria such as viruses and mold spores.
Using UV-C and ionizing functions can save you money in the long run as there aren’t any filters that need to be replaced. However, there are some potential health risks to using ionizing technology as it can cause the symptoms of asthmatics to become worse.
Size
Many of the more affordable air purifiers under 100 have been made with more compact designs. As a result, you can have an easy time when setting them up in different places around your home.
Their smaller size is one of the biggest reasons as to why they’re only able to cover smaller areas effectively. Although, this could be a benefit for people in smaller spaces who are struggling for room to install an air purifier. Compact ones can be set up and kept out of the way.
Tips On Using the Best Cheap Air Purifier
- It’s a good idea to consider the terms of the warranty for a cheaper air purifier so that you can save on parts that may need replacing later on.
- We recommend that you factor in the running cost of maintaining an air purifier that comes with replaceable filters. This is because they can become costly over time.
- Washable filters can save you money but they require more regular maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Air purifiers of all price ranges and sizes will make some kind of noise due to how a fan and air is being moved around. However, the top inexpensive air purifiers are often small and can make less noise compared to the larger options.
Using an air purifier that’s meant for smaller rooms will lead to it being less effective at cleaning the air in larger rooms.
Before purchasing an air purifier, be sure to measure the size of the room that you’re planning to use it in. You can then find an air purifier with the right capacity to clean the air in your home effectively.
