Best budget telescopes under $500 2024: Great telescopes that won't break the bank

The best telescopes under $500 open the wonderful world of astronomy up to those who are shopping on a tighter budget. Astronomy can be an expensive hobby but our reviewers have scoured the market to bring you a list of the very best affordable telescopes that will suit beginners, kids or those looking to save money. Any of these budget telescopes will give you a great chance to try out stargazing for yourself without the huge initial outlay. 

All the telescopes in our guide can be bought for under $500, with some coming in at under $100, so you're sure to find something in your price range. We've assessed all the telescopes on this list on the basis of their optics, build quality, technology and overall value for money, so you can be sure you're investing in a quality product at an affordable price point. 

If you're new to astronomy and looking for models that are straightforward and easy to use, check out our guide to the best beginner telescopes, and if you're looking to get your kids involved, we also have guides to the best telescopes for kids and best binoculars for kids. 

Best budget telescopes Frequenty Asked Questions answered by:

Best budget telescopes Frequenty Asked Questions answered by:

Josh Dury

Josh Dury is a recognized landscape astrophotographer, presenter, writer and educator based near the Mendip Hills AONB in Somerset, United Kingdom. His work has been recognized by several photographic bodies, including The Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year Competition, UNESCO, to major UK and international publishing and media outlets, including the BBC and ITV to name but two and photography suppliers Sigma and Benro. Josh has been recognized by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) as an active campaigner for Dark Skies. He also graduated with first-class honors from his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Photography at the University of the West of England (UWE).

Best budget telescopes under $500 we recommend in 2024

The quick list

This is a quick overview of what's in the best budget telescopes under $500 in the guide below. The links allow you to check out the detailed review quickly.

The best budget telescopes we recommend in 2024

The best overall telescope under 500 dollars

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The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ easily tops our list of the best budget telescopes thanks to its generous aperture and beginner-friendly design that will make anyone's entry into stargazing a breeze. You can even use it to try your hand at a bit of basic astrophotography with your phone while you're at it. 

Aperture: This telescope offers a 5.1-inch (130mm) aperture, which absorbs an excellent amount of light for the money. It's a fast telescope with a focal ratio of f/5 and a focal length of 650mm, enabling you to view planets, galaxies, nebulas and star clusters. 

Optics: It has a Newtonian reflector design with mirrors that will need to be collimated before use (which you can do using the clear and simple instructions). In our Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ review, we were very impressed with the bright optics on this scope. With the help of a Barlow lens, we were able to get very sharp views of Mars, and could even pick out its polar ice caps. 

Technology: The StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ comes with an alt-azimuth mount with dual-axis slow-motion controls for precise maneuvering. We loved the convenient StarSense app that comes with the telescope; it can be downloaded on iOS and Android and easily guides you to your desired targets. Simply plug your phone into the docking station on the telescope and the app will tell you where to move, making it really easy for beginners to get to grips with. 

Accessories: You get a full package with this scope, including a red dot finder, star diagonal, tripod, accessory tray and two eyepieces: one 25mm offering 26x magnification and one 10mm offering 65x magnification. The only thing we'd recommend adding is a good quality Barlow lens to really let you eke out the details you can achieve with this aperture. 

Quality of build: We found the tube and mount to be sturdy and well-built. The whole kit takes around 15 minutes to assemble and is lightweight and portable, making it a good choice for taking out in the field with you. 

• Read our full Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ review

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The best budget telescope under 500 dollars

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If you're a relative beginner who's looking for an intuitive telescope to navigate the night sky, then the Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ may be the right choice for you. It works seamlessly alongside the StarSense app to help you choose and locate different objects of interest, and it's also fairly light to transport out in the field.

Aperture: The clue is in the name: the Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ has a 102 mm aperture. It's not the largest aperture on the market, but it's wide enough to achieve bright images of the Moon and planets within our solar system.

Optics: The Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ includes a doublet lens made from two different types of glass with a focal ratio of f/6.5. This means it provides a wide field of view and bright images while remaining fairly compact. While that aids transportation, we should note ot can lead to a little bit of color fringing at high magnifications.

Technology: The StarSense app makes is very easy to locate any objects you wish to view. Once you've selected your object of choice, a set of arrows on the screen tells you which way to move your telescope to get to your target object, making it one of the fastest finding systems we've come across.

Accessories: The telescope also comes with a StarPointer red-dot finderscope, a star diagonal, and a tripod. Two eyepieces, 25mm and 10mm, offer 26x and 66x magnifications. 

Quality of build: In our StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ review, we found the overall build quality of this telescope to be very good for the price. It's well built, and features a number of useful details like the plastic covers for the eyepieces. There's a bit of stiffness when controlling the telescope, however, especially in the clutch that holds the telescope in altitude. 

• Read our full Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ review

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The best budget telescope under 300 dollars

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While there aren't many great telescopes under the $500 price point, there are some options out there that don't compromise on quality. The Orion Starmax 90 is one of those: A quality tabletop telescope which is portable while offering decent optics, it's a great choice for newcomers to astronomy.

Aperture: The Orion Starmax 90 is so-called because it has a 90mm aperture. It's fairly narrow compared to other telescopes on this list, and as a result it's not a great choice for viewing deep sky objects. But if you're primarily interested in viewing objects in our own solar system and the Moon, it's perfectly adequate, especially given its price point.

Optics: This 1250mm focal tube features an internal focuser, which moves the primary lens backward and forward.

Technology: The Orion Starmax 90 is not a high-tech telescope: It doesn't come with GoTo technology or an accompanying app. It's more of a traditional model, but that's not a bad thing; beginners might find it a great way to learn more about setting up telescopes.

Accessories: Orion has really gone to town on accessories, which seem to be compensating for the lack of technology on the telescope. It comes with multiple eyepieces, a moon map and a reflex sight included in the box. That's everything you need to get started, so you won't need to buy anything else to start looking at the stars.

Quality of build: We're generally impressed with the Orion Starmax 90's build quality. It's sturdy, and the optics combined with the aperture give good (and surprisingly wide) views considering its price point.

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The best budget telescope under 200 dollars

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The Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ is a budget-friendly choice for beginners who are looking for a telescope with an equatorial mount and large aperture, though we'd recommend upgrading the eyepieces for the best optical experience.  

Aperture: This telescope offers a 5-inch (127mm) aperture, which is decent for this price point. That said, it does somewhat limit the use of the included 4mm eyepiece, which requires a bit more light-gathering ability for best results. 

Optics: Although it works fairly well for beginners, we found ourselves a little disappointed with the optics on this telescope in our Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ review. It features a Bird-Jones Newtonian design, which means that it uses a spherical primary mirror with additional elements to correct the resulting distortion. The plus side of this is that it means it can fit 1000mm of focal length into a 400mm tube. But that also means it sacrifices some of the optical quality, especially when combined with an erecting eyepiece.  

Technology: Those looking to upgrade their stargazing experience will enjoy the German equatorial mount on this scope, which needs to be aligned to the celestial pole prior to use. It also comes with a basic edition of Starry Night software, though this is only compatible with PC and Mac rather than with smartphones. 

Accessories: Along with this telescope, you get a 20mm erecting eyepiece offering 50x magnification, a 4mm high-power eyepiece with 250x magnification and a 3x Barlow lens, as well as a lightweight aluminum tripod. In reality, the aperture and optics on this scope can't cater to the 4mm eyepiece combined with the 3x Barlow lens, so we'd recommend investing in 15mm and 9mm Plossl eyepieces and a more realistic 2x Barlow lens to get the best out of this telescope. 

Quality of build: The German equatorial mount is well-engineered and we found the movements to be nice and smooth even with the slow-motion controls. The tripod also felt reassuringly stable, but some of the more minor elements like the accessory tray felt a little flimsy for our liking. 

• Read our full Celestron PowerSeeker 127EQ review

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The best budget telescope under 100 dollars

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As its name suggests, the Celestron FirstScope 76 is designed for younger astronomers, but we'd also venture to recommend it for adult beginners with a tight budget. 

It's a great telescope for hobbyists who aren't looking to spend a lot of time or money on stargazing. Of course, given it costs under $100, it does not compete with leading models in terms of power, technology, quality and optics, but it does have plenty of merit and decent specs.

Aperture: This telescope has a 76mm aperture. While that doesn't let in enough light to view distant, deep-sky objects, it's good enough for getting great views of the moon and nearby stars.

Optics: In our Celestron FirstScope 76 review, we remarked it was a little difficult to collimate (i.e. aligning the mirrors within the tube) which is unfortunate, especially on a telescope aimed at beginners. But once you get past that, you'll find a fast focal ratio and a 300mm focal length, allowing for excellent views of the night sky, particularly the moon's surface.

Technology: You won't find advanced technology here, but that's not a bad thing. As this scope is aimed at beginners, there's nothing complex to learn: it's simply a case of looking through the eyepiece and finding your target. We should add that it has a pleasingly fast focal ratio.

Accessories: The Celestron FirstScope 76 is pre-assembled and ready to go out of the box, so there aren't many additional accessories included. You do get two eyepieces (4mm and 20mm), but there's no finderscope. You'll need one to make the most of using the telescope, and thankfully, they're inexpensive to buy separately.

Quality of build: Considering its price point, this is a surprisingly sturdy telescope. We expected it to be quite flimsy but it feels nicely solid, giving the impression it's more expensive than it actually is. Since it's an ideal telescope for younger stargazers, it also means it can withstand the odd bump and knock.

• Read our full Celestron Firstscope 76 review

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Best for deep space observing

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The Orion StarBlast II 4.5 is a versatile telescope that even allows for deep space observations. We wouldn't recommend it for complete beginners, or at least not for those who want to avoid a steep learning curve, but we found it really easy to set up.

Aperture: The aperture of the Orion StarBlast II 4.5 is, unsurprisingly, 4.5 inch. It's a plenty big enough aperture with lots of light-gathering power, so you'll be able to view most celestial objects with ease. It's a good choice for viewing objects in our solar system or gazing further afield.

Optics: This is a reflector telescope, with a 450mm focal length. We've been impressed with the optics quality in general in the Orion StarBlast II 4.5, giving bright and clear views of the night sky. That's largely down to the high-quality glass used in the primary mirror, and the fact the secondary mirror is aluminum-coated and features a special, reflective film.

Technology: There's not much technology involved since this isn't a GoTo telescope; there's no app support or motorized mount, for example. However, it does feature a fast focal ratio, meaning it can collected a lot of light in a shorter amount of time — an ideal function for deep-sky viewing.

Accessories: You'll find everything you need to begin in the box: The telescope comes with 25mm and 10mm Plossl eyepieces (giving 18x and 45x magnification). There's also a smartphone adapter, a red dot finder, a 2x Barlow lens and and adjustable height tripod. Last but not least, it comes with some really useful educational tools: A DeepMap 600 star chart and MoonMap 260.

Quality of build: Considering the price point, we're pleasantly surprised with the Orion StarBlast II 4.5's build quality. It's solid, will last for several years, and we're pretty sure it can withstand the odd knock.

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Best for backyard moon and planet gazing

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In our review of the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ we called it a decent option for beginners who want to observe the planets. If you're wanting to gaze into the deep sky, however, it's definitely not the best option for you.

Aperture: The aperture on the Explorer LT 114AZ is 114mm/4.5 inches. Coupled with its focal ratio of f/9, it favors the magnification of bright objects, which means you might not get much light and/or detail when viewing deep sky objects.

Optics: There's a Newtonian reflector within the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ. It's easy enough to use, and viewing the likes of Jupiter and its moons was a cinch, but it doesn't have the best color rendition. There's also a noticeable amount of chromatic aberration, but for the most part views of the moon and nearby planets are sharp enough. We wouldn't recommend this telescope for deep sky viewing, however: We tried to view the Andromeda galaxy (M31) but could only see a small, faint blob.

Technology: Coming from Celestron's StarSense range, the Explore LT 114AZ is a 'push to' telescope that makes use of the technology in the StarSense app. While the telescope won't automatically navigate to targets laid out in the app, it will guide you there with ease, and we've found it to be a fantastic tool for helping budding astronomers learn their way around the night sky. Plenty of seasoned stargazers love it as it's fast, accurate and easy to use.

Accessories: This telescope comes with 25mm and 10mm Kellner eyepieces and a 2x Barlow lens. There's also a StarPointer, a red dot finderscope and an aluminum tripod.

Quality of build: Although the aluminum tripod is a pleasing touch, we found the quality of this telescope to be a little disappointing. The bearings were a little too stiff, and positioning the scope was a challenge at times. Better hand controls would have gone a long way.

• Read our full Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ review

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Best for smartphone astrophotography

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For beginners and young astronomers, there's some fun to be had with the Celestron Inspire 100AZ. It's great for viewing the moon and planets with, but probably not the best choice if you'd like to gaze deeper into space.

Aperture: The relatively short focal length of 660mm means the Celestron Inspire 100AZ isn't great for viewing more than the moon and planets — though we did manage to get a decently clear view of Andromeda (M31). If you want to go further into deep space, though, you're going to need a wider aperture than the 4 inches/100mm offered here.

Optics: The optics in the Celestron Inspire 100AZ aren't perfect: We've found there to be some chromatic aberration (i.e. purplish halos) in some instances, but it's not as obvious as in other budget telescopes we've tested. If it's not something you're overly sensitive to, you'll still be able to enjoy some bright and clear views of our solar system using the 20mm eyepiece included in the set. Sadly, we found the 10mm eyepiece to be a little more blurry.

Technology: There's a lot of things we like about the Inspire 100AZ. Its alt-azimuth mount is very to use, and its tripod is easy to put up and down, which is a nice touch particularly for younger users. The built-in red light is useful for finding your accessories in the dark, too. Perhaps the best feature, though, is the smartphone mount: You can use the dust cap to align your phone's camera with the eyepiece, allowing you to take some great astrophotography shots.

Accessories: In the box you get 10mm and 20mm Kellner eyepieces, the dust cap smartphone mount, a StarPointer Pro red dot finder, a 90-degree image erect diagonal and a large tripod.

Quality of build: In our Celestron Inspire 100AZ review, we noted this telescope is a cut above most of its rivals of a similar price. Its build quality, particularly its tripod — which includes some neat features, like an accessory tray — is much better than expected. It's let down a little by its alt-azimuth mount, however, which lacks the amount of precision we'd like: It's a little stiff to swivel left and right, and we found it to have some unwanted recoil.

• Read our full Celestron Inspire 100AZ review

• Read our full Celestron Inspire 100AZ review

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Best for children

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The Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ is aimed at beginners who want to get natural-looking views of the Moon, planets and other objects within our solar system. Its affordable price makes it a good choice for kids and newcomers to astronomy, but its scope beyond that is limited.

Aperture: The Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ contains a 2.7-inch/70mm achromatic refractor which will give you bright views of objects within our solar system and allow you to spot the different planets, but it won't reach much beyond that.

Optics: Many other achromatic refractor telescopes aimed at beginners suffer from chromatic aberration — an optical effect that presents you with fuzzy halos of color around the edges of objects. But in our review of the Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ, we found that it overcomes this by using its unusually long length and focal ratio of just below f/13 to show you the planets in their natural colors.

However, while it is highly beneficial when looking at bright and nearby objects, this focal ratio makes deep-sky objects appear quite dim and poorly defined. As such, you should only consider this telescope if your main interests lie within our solar system.

Technology: This is a manual telescope without the bells and whistles of app-powered telescopes and the like. It's a great choice if you want a more traditional stargazing experience, but we must mention its impressive pan handle and clutch which make securing a position and adjusting easy to do. It's an unusual (but very welcome) feature at this price point.

Accessories: We were very impressed with the complete package of accessories included with the AstroMaster 70AZ. In the box you'll find a tripod, a StarPointer finderscope and an image diagonal. There are also two Kellner eyepieces: 20mm (45x magnification) and 10mm (90x).

Quality of build: Although the tripod is very solid, the mechanical build quality means that the AstroMaster 70AZ isn't very easy to aim, and the overreach and recoil make it difficult to keep targets within the eyepiece when you find them. This is not at all uncommon on budget telescopes, but it may frustrate beginners who are trying to get to grips with a new hobby.

• Read our full Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ review

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Best EQ mount for young skywatchers

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We'd describe the Orion Space Probe II as a good introductory telescope for younger skywatchers who want beautiful, natural views of the moon, or for adults who don't want to spend too much on the hobby. 

Aperture: At 76mm, the Orion Space Probe II doesn't have the largest aperture of the telescopes included in this list. That said, it's enough to enjoy some excellent views from within our own solar system, and we were able to enjoy views of Saturn's rings and moons.

Optics: This is where the Orion Space Probe II really shines, as it has much better optics than many other telescopes at a similar price point. The views are fantastic, but the tube features collimation screws on both mirrors, so you may need to align the optics to get the best out of the scope. 

Technology: As a more traditional telescope, you won't find much technology within the Orion Space Probe II. If you're more of a traditionalist and want to manually search across the sky, this is a good choice for you. 

Accessories: Inside the box of the Orion Space Probe II you'll get two Kellner eyepieces (25mm and 10mm), a red dot finder scope and a MoonMap 260. It's a nice set of features, and we found the eyepieces to be particularly great considering the telescope's price.

Quality of build: The Orion Space Probe II is average in terms of its build quality. Its optical tube is great, but the mount in particular feels very flimsy. We wouldn't like to subject it to much traveling around as we don't think it would withstand many knocks and scrapes. Keep it safely in one place, though, and you'll be able to get plenty of use out of it.

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The best budget telescopes under 500 dollars comparison

Best budget telescopes under 500 dollars Frequently Asked Questions

The top most frequently asked questions on the best budget telescopes under $500 as answered by our contributing expert, astronomer Josh Dury.

How to choose the best budget telescope for you

There are a few things to consider when choosing the best budget telescope for your needs. You'll need to think about how much you want to spend, of course, but also what your experience level is and how much you wish to stargaze. Below we go into each factor in more depth so you can feel confident making your choice.

Budget: this is probably the most important consideration for many people, and the reason we pulled together this guide. It's vital you know how much you're willing to spend so you can see what's in your price range. Once you've settled on a budget, you can start looking for a scope to match. It also sets expectations as telescopes can cost thousands and it's unlikely that models costing hundreds (or less) can compete with the power or sophistication of top-end models. Remember, a low budget doesn't mean you have to miss out on a fulfilling stargazing experience. Be discerning when it comes to deals; sometimes there are real bargains to be had, but it's important to be wary of scams.

Value for money: another important factor to consider is whether or not you're getting good value for money. When looking for telescopes on a strict budget, you need to be sure that you aren't sacrificing too much on the quality of the product. For this, we recommend sticking to known manufacturers and reputable retailers. It's important to look at what you're getting for your money. Are you getting quality optics? Are there sufficient accessories? Have you got enough technology to satisfy your wants and needs? Sometimes waiting and saving to spend a little more can be worth it in the long term, so make sure to shop around before purchasing.  

Intended use: now this is crucial because if you're not looking to jump in at the deep end or you just want to see the moon and some stars, then something like the Celestron FirstScope 76 is ideal. But that wouldn't work if you wanted to explore nebulas and galaxies. So you must consider what you want to view and how much time (and money) you want to invest into stargazing. 

Quality: this one might seem a bit obvious, but it's important to know you're getting a quality product when you purchase a telescope. Have a look at the materials the scope is made of, have a look at the reviews and check out the specs of what you're buying. It doesn't matter how cheap a product is, you don't want it if it doesn't work. Research, knowing what you're buying and checking for quality are all important.

Manufacturer/Retailer: this point ties in with some of the others above but when you're looking for a budget telescope, you'll find that there's a seemingly endless number of options. Not all of them are reliable. Therefore, you should stick to known manufacturers you can rely on and have a history of producing good products. You should also stick to known retailers so that you know you're getting what you pay for and there's some accountability, and often a warranty, should something go wrong. 

How we test the best budget telescopes under 500 dollars

Here at space.com, we get knowledgeable writers or expert in-the-field freelancers to review the telescopes that we recommend personally. Most of the telescopes you see in the guide above have been thoroughly tested and reviewed by people who know what to look for. Of course, most doesn't mean all. Where we haven't personally tested and reviewed a telescope, only models that have been carefully researched and approved make the cut. 

We've included links to reviews in the guide above and in those reviews we consider design, performance, key specs and whether or not a telescope is worth purchasing. You will also find key points both for and against a particular model, bullet-pointed, and more often than not, we suggest alternative telescopes if what you're reading isn't for you. 

It's not just budget telescopes under $500 that we review — we test a plethora of products, from high-end telescopes, binoculars and cameras, to headlamps and power banks. Our writers also review each product on its own merit and with complete impartiality so that our readers can rely on and trust in our opinion for credibility. 

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