You might be wary of purchasing a telescope on a tight budget. These products can seem like high-tech pieces that only seasoned stargazers could hope to understand. However, you can get the best budget telescope on the market today without risking your money on toy store models.

Our guide to the best budget telescopes will take you through a variety of brands. We’ll show you products based on their affordability, durability, ease-of-use, and user’s opinions. You’ll see some of the main attributes of each telescope, why we like it so much, and what aspects the companies might be able to improve.

5. Levenhuk Strike 90 PLUS Refractor Telescope 

This model from Levenhuk has a price point that is just about at the ceiling of what we would consider a “best budget telescope” for most people. While we may feature some budget telescopes that have higher prices, we would only do so if those models were packed with lots of useful features. This refractor telescope comes in a kit that you can put together, but it should not require a lot of tinkering before you can use it. It is made with amateur astronomers in mind, but many users say it is useful even if you are an intermediate user that has some advanced stargazing requirements.

Some of the things we like most about this budget model are the extras you’ll get with it. In addition to the telescope, you’ll receive an astronomer’s handbook, stargazing software, colorful posters, a compass, and much more. You get all these extras for the same price as many other budget telescopes that might not include them.

This is another of the best budget telescopes that should work well for beginners. We used various metrics to determine the appropriate skill level for each telescope. One important issue is how easy or difficult it might be to put the telescope together and use it. While some assembly is required for the Zhumell, it should take you just a couple of minutes, at most, to get it ready for stargazing. It also includes a detailed instruction manual to take you through the basics of the hobby, if this is your first time.

The telescope itself offers enough magnification that you should be able to see larger celestial bodies and planets with ease with some practice. One of the things we like most about this model is that it isn’t afraid to offer you all the accessories you need at a budget price. You’ve probably seen some other telescopes that cut costs by leaving out some features. Zhumell includes everything you need to get started and a few extras.

3. Orion 8944 SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope

This model from Orion is another one that goes to the upper limit on price for the best budget telescope out there. However, you won’t find too many cheaper telescopes that feature such a large viewing aperture as the SkyQuest. We also like its robust construction and quality design. We think the company should include at least one more eyepiece, however.

The Dobsonian mount helps to maximize how much aperture you get at this price. It turns the telescope into a simple yet effective point-and-shoot array. We also like Dobsonian mounts for their simplicity over other types. You should have no trouble setting up this telescope in a matter of minutes. Many users appreciate the lightweight base that makes this the best budget telescope if you need one that is easy to transport. Best of all, while some budget scopes have trouble seeing deep space objects, this one seems to excel at that.

2. Meade Instruments Infinity 90mm AZ Refractor Telescope

This model from Meade provides you with a decent aperture for this price point. Note that there are various aperture sizes from which you can choose, but these sizes affect the overall price point of that model. We’ve chosen the model that we feel represents the best price-to-quality ratio in Meade’s Infinity line. The altazimuth mount is easy to use for most people, but some users say it is rather prone to vibrations. This isn’t a huge drawback at this price, especially once you learn a few simple tricks to control vibrations.

Many users appreciate that this model is lightweight, simple to both put together and operate, and provides decent magnification thanks to the several eyepieces. While it makes a great starter model for most amateur astronomers, it is also highly customizable. You can spend years using this model for your primary stargazing needs by adding a few upgrades along the way.

1. Celestron 31042 AstroMaster 114 EQ Reflector Telescope

This is a basic budget telescope that requires just a few minutes of your time before it is ready to introduce you to the wonders of stargazing. One thing we and many users like about it is how light it is, making it easy to take with you wherever you’re going. The 70mm aperture may be small, but it is big enough to show you views of various planets. You may have some trouble viewing faint objects or those in the deeper regions of space, but that is something to be expected even with the best budget telescope.

The only big complaint we had during our testing was the stand. Although it could just be a drawback of the model we had, we found it to be a bit too loose for our taste. It wobbled too easily, but there are some effective ways to stabilize it without too much effort. This is a decent model for beginners or intermediates.

Conclusion

Stargazing is a wonderful hobby that can offer you a whole night of entertainment. Your only real investment will be the telescope itself. Even if you are on a tight budget, these telescopes provide you with an inexpensive way to get into the hobby or check it out without spending too much. Each model here is affordable without skimping on quality features. Please share your thoughts on the best budget telescope you’ve found in the section below.