Are you looking for a microscope that won’t clean out your budget?

In that case, your choice must be a cheap & affordable microscope. 

In this article, I will introduce you to the five best affordable microscopes that can be useful to anyone, kids, beginners, and even serious microscope enthusiasts. Read more about the main features of these five models and finally make a decision that will be the best for your budget. 

How Expensive Is A Microscope?

The microscope doesn’t have to be expensive to be good (our five models below show that). If you are looking for something basic, with simple and effective features, you can truly get a good value for your money.

Who is The Affordable Microscope Intended To?

When buying a microscope, you have to ask yourself, what do you, or the person you are buying it too, needs in a microscope? Some microscopes are best for larger objects, some are specifically made for kids and some have more serious features.

Inexpensive Microscopes Are Mostly For Home Use

Keep in mind that most of the cheap microscopes are meant for home use and nature exploration. Some of them do have really nice features, even lab-quality features, but most are just great for home research.

Save Money And Further Investment

If you’re just getting started or you’re buying a microscope for your kid or someone else, you don’t know will this investment grow into a real hobby or even a job. It’s best to get started with the cheap models and upgrade to more expensive ones. 

Best 5 Cheap & Affordable Microscopes

Best Cheap Stereo Microscope

AmScope SE306R-P20 Microscope

Binocular head adjusts to everybody

This stereo microscope has an elegant looking binocular head with a pair of 20x widefield eyepieces that are great for observing larger objects like rocks. With adjustable interpupillary distance and 45-degree inclination, even the youngest ones can easily view the object.

Low magnification, but nice illumination

Two 2x and 4x objectives AmScope SE306R-P20 doesn’t provide very high magnification, but since it’s made mostly for large objects it has a longer focal length and top and bottom illumination system with a 10W halogen bulb.

Two kinds of stage

An interesting addition to the AmScope stereo microscope is two kinds of stages. The frosted light will allow the light to get through better, and the reversible black and white stage will be of great help for observing some light and dark objects.

Some useful accessories

This model comes with some additional accessories that make it easier to use; eye guards will make your observation more comfortable, stage clips will keep the object in place, and the halogen bulb will light the object. You also get dust cover, power cord, and instructions. 

Best Cheap Coin Microscope

Plugable USB Digital Microscope

Compact and portable

The most important feature of the Plugable USB Digital Microscope is its portability and compact design. This little microscope with a flexible hand can be used on the included stand, any smooth surface, or you can hold it.

Good image and magnification

Like said, you can use this microscope multiple ways, and you can get magnification levels from 40x to 250x depending on the monitor. To make sure you always get a nice, blur-free image use the capacitive touch button to avoid stirring the microscope.

Measuring made easy

This model comes with an observation pad that has graduated marks which makes measuring of those little coins easy. In addition to that, the four LED lights can adjust the brightness at any time.

Compatible software

A software that Plugable digital microscope uses is user-friendly and compatible with most of the OS, including the Android and Chrome devices. Just in case, make sure you check is it compatible with your particular OS.

Best Cheap USB Microscope

Koolertron USB Microscope

High digital magnification

With a 2MP image sensor, this Koolertron USB microscope can make pictures that can be magnified from 40x to 800x. You can capture images and videos of a resolution as high as 1600×1200.

Small bright LED lights

Instead of one regular bulb, this model uses 8 small LED lights. You can easily adjust their brightness levels with the side control wheel, where you can also adjust the focus for the image.

Hands-free observation

Koolertron USB microscope comes with a strong, metal stand. Because you can adjust the height of the microscope freely, this stand is convenient for all those moments when you want still and hands-free observation.

Versatile use

Once you’ve installed your software (that is only compatible with Windows) you can use this microscope for practically anything. For larger items such as stones, coins, textile, jewelry to tiny microbiological observations. 

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Best Cheap Digital Microscope

Digital Microscope LCD Microscope

LCD display screen

Digital Microscope LCD microscope is one of those microscopes that you can use without worrying about the additional screen you have to plug it in. It comes with a 4.3-inch display that is battery powered so you don’t have to be around the computer to see your objects.

Save all your images

You can take clear 720 resolution images with the 3.6MP image sensor. To store them, you simply have to have an SD card in the device, or you can store it to your computer when in need of extra memory. 

Bright, magnified image

The most important thing for a good image is nice magnification and illumination. This LCD microscope has up to 1000x magnification level, and 8 adjustable LED light that can last for six hours straight.

Use it on other screens

Although is convenient to already have a screen, if you wish for something bigger you can always plug the Digital Microscope into the TV or PC. To use it this way, you will have to install the software (only for Windows OS).

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Best Pocket Cheap Microscope

Carson MicroBrite Pocket Microscope

Fits in your palm

If you are looking for something so small that you transport in your pocket, look into the Carson MicroBrite Pocket Microscopes. The dimensions of this microscope are 1.2  x 2.25 x 3.5 inches.

Aspherical lens system

For such a small microscope, this model serious uses a serious lens system. An aspherical lens works in a way that concentrates the light at one point which makes the image more clear and sharp.

Wildlife magnified

Since Carson MicroBrite is so easily portable, the best way to use it is in nature. Magnify the leaf, bug, grass, and more 60x-120x! With the bright LED light you can explore even the darker parts.

A lifetime warranty

This is something you don’t see often. This microscope has a lifetime limited guarantee covered by the manufacturer. If you had your doubts, be sure that you will get your money’s worth. 

Conclusion: Which Cheap Microscopes Are The Best Value For Money?

When it comes to cheap microscopes the most important question is are they of good value. Koolertron USB Microscope and Digital Microscope LCD Microscope have definitely shown that you can find a microscope with quality features for a great, budget-friendly price. Koolertron has an extremely high magnification level for this kind of price, and Digital Microscope has a useful LCD screen and it’s battery operated. 

For some more general information about microscopes, read my article about the best microscope for sale. If you want to further explore more about the world of digital and stereo microscopes, read my other two articles about the digital camera and about the stereo microscope.