Wirecutter
Skip To Content
Wirecutter

The Answer

Advice, staff picks, mythbusting, and more. Let us help you.

A set of miniature clay sculptures, including a tiny toaster and some toast in the process of being buttered, next to a clay piggy bank.
Clay sculpture: Dana Davis and Ezra Lee / Photo: Connie Park

Ask Wirecutter: Are There Cheap Products That Are Better Than Their Pricey Counterparts?

Ask Wirecutter is an advice column that explores the best approaches to buying, using, and maintaining stuff.

Dear Wirecutter,

My husband is an “order the most expensive thing on the menu” kind of guy, but because of how I was raised, I have trouble splashing out even when we can afford it. Settle a debate for us: What are some products where the cheaper version is just as good as, or maybe even better than, the pricey one?

V.M.

Dear V.M.,

I don’t think we can so neatly categorize people as either spenders or savers. In my experience, I’ve found that everyone with disposable income has some things that they like to spend on and others where they become a total skinflint. Wirecutter’s philosophy is all about being an informed shopper and making the decision that’s best for you.

There are some product categories that you should not cheap out on because the inexpensive versions simply don’t work very well. But on the flip side, just because an item has a large marketing budget doesn’t automatically make it good. Sometimes you can find a more humble model that is solidly designed and constructed. And sometimes it’s never worth spending extra money because nothing in the category is built to last.

Product categories where cheaper is usually better

Unlike, say, more complex spirits such as whiskey or tequila, there’s never a reason to pay a premium for so-called premium vodka. The picks in our guide to best vodka include Kirkland Signature and Pinnacle, which you’re less likely to find on the top shelf of a bar.

Our smart-home team is thrilled to see prices come down and quality go up as that category matures. “It used to be that the best smart-home gear was the most expensive, and that’s not always the case anymore,” says senior staff writer Rachel Cericola, who wrote about great, inexpensive smart-home gear. The less-expensive picks our team recommends include everything from light bulbs to speakers to security cameras.

And our cyclists on staff caution that almost everybody is likely to do just as well with a midrange bike as with something lightweight and top-of-the-line that boasts expensive components such as carbon-fiber wheels since higher-end bikes are designed for speed rather than durability. “Modern components like gear shifters, brakes, derailleurs, and hubs are all solid, and the high-end stuff is not functionally much better than midrange,” says senior staff writer and cyclist Tim Heffernan. You’ll still have to keep buying the parts that degrade over time, and high-end bikes are magnets for thieves.

“And as a general word on buying bikes right now, the pandemic boom is over, and many suppliers overshot on inventory, so deals can be found, both new old stock in bike stores and on the used market,” Tim adds. “Stores need to dump stock, and lots of people who bought a new bike during the pandemic have given up the hobby.”

Likewise, here are some specific more-affordable products to consider over their fancier brethren.

Air purifiers

Perfect for bedrooms, playrooms, and living rooms, the AP-1512HH is one of the best-performing, most durable, and most economical purifiers we’ve tested.

Tim is also our air purifier guru, and he says that you definitely don’t need a fancy air purifier to clean your air. “Boutique, high-end air purifiers generally aren’t worth the money. A HEPA filter is a HEPA filter is a HEPA filter,” he says. “If you’re really worried about air quality, buy several less expensive purifiers and spread them around your home, instead of one fancy one that keeps only a limited area clean.” In case you’re wondering, we still have the Molekule in our office, but we use it as an umbrella stand.

Cast-iron pans and nonstick cookware

This affordable pan is lighter than a traditional cast-iron skillet and a little shallower. It’s an ideal shape for searing, roasting, and sautéing.

You don’t need to spend a ton of money on super-durable cast-iron cookware. The Lodge skillet will last you a lifetime (or longer), has better seasoning out of the box, and performs just as well as any of the high-end skillets we’ve tested, according to senior editor Marguerite Preston.

This pan heats evenly, has a slick nonstick coating and a comfortable handle, and is oven safe up to 400 °F.

Buying Options

$28 from Amazon

On the other hand, nonstick pans need replacing every five years or so, as the coating begins to wear. This is inevitable no matter how much you spend, which is why the low-priced Tramontina Professional 10-Inch Restaurant Fry Pan is our top pick. And in case you’re wondering, we checked out the spendy Insta-famous Always Pan and its ilk, and we do not recommend them. If you're concerned about using nonstick pans for whatever reason and need something relatively nonstick, well-seasoned cast iron can be a good option.

Toasters

This inexpensive, ordinary-looking toaster browned bread more evenly than almost any other model we tested. Toasters aren’t known for their longevity, so we like that Cuisinart covers this model with a three-year warranty.

“It seems that modern toasters are the kitchen equivalent of printers—everything in the category is pretty crappy,” writes Michael Sullivan in “Why Your Toaster Will Eventually Fail You.” So, as with nonstick pans, you shouldn’t pay more for something that isn’t built to last.

Coffee brewers (and beans)

As gorgeous as it is usable, the Chemex makes several cups at once, and it produced a delicious, bright brew that our testers loved.

Buying Options

$47 from Amazon

When you plunk down $100 or more for a plug-in drip coffee maker, you’re paying for the convenience that the machine offers—while sacrificing superior taste. If you can handle just a few extra minutes of hands-on coffee prep, you can spend less on a brewer and also get away with purchasing second-tier beans while still producing a more nuanced cup of joe.

“Certain methods of coffee making (Chemex, cold brew, French press) elevate the taste of cheaper coffee beans,” says senior staff writer Rose Maura Lorre, who wrote “The Best Single-Serve Coffee Maker (Isn’t a Keurig).” She adds: “You can forgo expensive beans but still get an expensive-bean experience using one of those. Plus, they cost less than a lot of drip machines.” (Even our three cheap coffee maker picks cost more than the Chemex and the French presses we recommend.) If you’re protesting that you need hot coffee, we have tips for keeping your Chemex brew hot.

Novaform mattress

This Costco favorite is a great value, with foam as dense as that of many mattresses costing twice as much. Testers loved its cuddly yet supportive feel, but some found it too firm.

Buying Options

$580 $480 from Costco

Costco membership required (queen)

This Costco-exclusive bed-in-a-box “is better in terms of materials and appeal than many of the $800 to $1200 mattresses we’ve tested,” says senior editor Courtney Schley. Testers praised it for its comfort and lack of “sink” and it consistently ranks as a favorite in our guide to the best foam mattresses you can buy online.

IKEA Antilop high chair

This functional, compact, lightweight chair is easier to keep clean than models costing 10 times as much.

Buying Options

$20 from IKEA

The lightweight IKEA Antilop chair has been the top pick in our guide to best high chairs for years due to its functionality, durability, comfort, and low price. “This is a case where simpler is better,” says senior editor Kalee Thompson. “We’ve tested tons of higher-end chairs over the years but what we’ve heard from parents—and know from our own experience—is that a high chair that’s hard to clean and move around is a pain.” The Antilop is far easier to wipe down and keep clean than much pricier competitors precisely because its design is so simple.

This article was edited by Jason Chen.

Mentioned above

Further reading

Edit
Dismiss