A good amplifier is a piece of equipment that will make or break your sound. If you don’t have a good amp, you’ll never be able to get the tone and volume that you want, no matter how hard you try.
While the budget of $100 is quite limited, there are a lot of great cheap guitar amps in that range. Most are small-sized and more suitable for practicing, but could also be used for recording if you have a great mic and an audio interface.
With this in mind, we compiled a list of the best guitar amps under 100. This will help anyone looking for an amp on a budget so they can finally get the quality sounds they deserve. If you’re trying to save money but still want to play with big sounds, take a look at these amps and see which one is right for your needs.
Tip: Also check our Best Guitar Amp for more options
We Tested 8 Products and Found the to be The Best Guitar Amp Under 100
The DONNER DEA-1 was our Runner-Up
8 Best Guitar Amp Under 100 – Reviewed in Detail
Table of Contents
- Donner Mini Electric Guitar Amp DEA-1
- Donner Mini Electric Guitar Amp M-3
- FLAMMA FA05
- Blackstar FLY3 BLUE
- LyxPro 40
- Hotone Heart Attack Mini Amp Head
- JOYO MA-10E
- SONICAKE Bi-Reactor
1. Donner Mini Electric Guitar Amp DEA-1
The DEA-1, from Donner, is a mini electric guitar amp with a great looking design. This cheap amp can be charged using the USB cable and have several great features including a clean and and distortion channel. The DEA-1 can also be used to listen to music when you connect your smartphone to it.
Product Specifications
- 2 Channels: Clean and Distortion
- ¼ Instrument Input
- ⅛ Aux Input
- ⅛ Headphone Output
- 3 Watts
- Rechargeable Battery
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- One of our favorite features about this little amp is the design. It looks great and certainly will be a nice addition to your home.
- There are two channels for you to choose from: clean and distortion. And, unlike most amps, there is a great amount of control over the distortion since you can dial in the volume, tone knob and gain.
- This amp can also be used as a speaker to listen to music if you connect your smartphone.
- You can also connect your smartphone to play with backing tracks.
- The battery is rechargeable. This is an amazing feature since most portable amps use lots of batteries while this one comes with a USB cable for recharging.
Cons
- The sound is not very loud.
Conclusion
If you’re after a portable amp that is affordable and has a great design, this is the way to go. It is surprising that such a small amp has so many features, but our favorite was, by far, the rechargeable battery: while most portable amps use 6 batteries or more, this one can be recharged via the USB cable so it is a lot more convenient.
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2. Donner Mini Electric Guitar Amp M-3
Another option from Donner, the M-3 has a design that resemble famous classic amps but in a small casing. Furthermore, it packs in 3 watts of potency, which is more than enough for practicing but may also work for guitarists looking to experiment with new recording techniques. Let’s see what it has to offer.
Product Specifications
- 3-Band EQ
- 2 Channels: Clean and Distortion
- ¼ Instrument Input
- ⅛ Headphone Output
- 3 Watts
- Powered Via AC Adapter or Batteries
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- This Donner practice amp has an excellent design. We like the fact that it resembles the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, but at the same time has it own small details.
- There is a built-in 3-band EQ, something unsual for a portable guitar amp.
- The distortion channel actually sounds pretty decent.
- This practice amp can not only be powered by the AC adapter but also via batteries that are included in the package.
- Great build quality. The materials used in this little amp are quite impressive considering the low price.
Cons
- The sound is not very loud.
Conclusion
A versatile amp that is portable and can be powered by batteries, this Donner product is an excellent choice. While not very loud, it sounds ok for practice and has some unique features such as the 3-band EQ, unusual when we talk about mini amps. It is very similar to the DEA-1, with the drawback that it doesn’t have a rechargeable battery.
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3. FLAMMA FA05
The FLAMMA FA05 is the one of the best guitar amps under $100 for beginners. It can be used both at home and on stage, and it has a powerful 5W power output and 7 preamp types based on popular amps. It also has built-in effects including modulation and 40 types of drum machine, as well as a built-in tuner.
Product Specifications
- 7 Preamp Types
- ¼ Instrument Input
- ⅛ Aux Input
- ⅛ Headphone Output
- Built-In Effects
- 40 Types of Drum Machines
- Built-In Tuner
- Bluetooth Connectivity
- 5 Watts
- Powered Via AC Adapter or Batteries
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- There are 7 preamp types for you to choose from. These preamp emulations are based on famous amps and range from clean tones to distorted sounds.
- There is a wide range of built-in effects such as reverb, delay and chorus with independent tap controls. These can be easily dialed in with the knobs.
- There are 40 types of drum machines and loops which you can use to play along.
- Built-in tuner for added convenience.
- You can connect your smartphone to this amp via Bluetooth.
- Can be powered both by AC adapter or batteries.
Cons
- None.
Conclusion
Considering all of the features inside this little amp, the FLAMMA FA05 is one of the best choices on the list. Priced at $88.90 by the time this article was written, it is incredibly affordable. We couldn’t find an amp that is as complete as this one, featuring built-in effects, 40 types of drum machines, built-in tuner and Bluetooth connectivity.
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4. Blackstar FLY3 BLUE
Blackstar is a renowned brand in the music industry that many guitarists swear by. The FLY3 BLUE is a compact amp with Bluetooth connectivity, meaning you can connect your smartphone to it for playing with a backing track and listening to music. It also features a built-in overdrive channel and built-in delay.
Product Specifications
- 1 Channel
- 1-Band EQ
- Built-In Overdrive
- Built-In Delay
- Aux Input
- Headphone Output
- Available in 3 Colors
- Bluetooth Connectivity
- 3 Watts
- Powered Via AC Adapter or Batteries
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- The build quality of the FLY3 BLUE is excellent since Blackstar is renowned in the world of guitar amps.
- The built-in overdrive channel sounds surprisingly great.
- Features a built-in delay, something unsual in this price range.
- The headphone jack has an emulated line out feature for better tone.
- You can connect your smartphone to this mini amp via Bluetooth. This is much more convenient than using a cable.
- Even though this amp has a low wattage, it has enough power to sound quite loud.
- This amp can be powered both by the AC adapter or batteries.
Cons
- None
Conclusion // Verdict
One of the best small amps regarding tone and build quality, the Blackstar FLY 3 BLUE is excellent for beginners and for those looking for a practice unit. The best feature, in our opinion, is the ability to connect your smartphone to the amp via Bluetooth, which is much more convenient than using a cable like in most other amps.
Related: Best Jazz Guitar Amp
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5. LyxPro 40
The LyxPro 40 differs a bit from the other options on the list due to its size. It is larger than the average under $100 amp and you can connect any instrument to it: guitars, electronic drums, cello, keyboard, etc. This is definitely an interesting choice for bands playing in small to medium-sized gigs.
Product Specifications
- Mic Channel
- Passive and Active Channels
- 3-Band EQ
- Built-In Overdrive
- Built-In Delay
- Available in 8 Colors
- Line-In/Aux Input
- Headphones Output
- 40 Watts
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- There is a channel dedicated for microphones, as well as a passive and an active one.
- The 3-band EQ is something that is rare in this price range.
- There is a built-in overdrive and a delay with time and repeat controls.
- This amp is available in 8 colors.
- This amp has the highest wattage on the list, with 40 watts of power. It can be used in small to medium sized gigs with ease, but also at home as a practice amp if you keep the volume low.
Cons
- Heavier and less compact than other options on the list.
Conclusion
The LyxPro 40 is a great, cheap amp that can get quite loud. While it is not as compact and lightweight as other options on the list, its 40 watts of power are able to deliver a powerful sound. This amp is also very versatile since you can connect an entire band to it, as well as use it at home as a practice unit on a low volume.
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6. Hotone Heart Attack Mini Amp Head
The Hotone Heart Attack Mini Head Amp is perfect for those who are on a tight budget. It has a small size, which makes it easy to transport and store, and it has enough juice to drive your guitar signal through your effects pedals. However, this is an amp head, meaning you will need to connect it to a cabinet, to an audio interface line input or use it with a pair of headphones.
Product Specifications
- Amp Head
- Based on the Mesa Boogie Rectifier
- 3-Band EQ
- 1 Channel
- FX Loop Send and Return
- Headphone Output
- 4-16 Ohms Output
- Power: 5 Watts
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- The design of this mini amp head looks quite nice.
- This head s based on the Mesa Boogie Rectifier, a famous metal amp favored by guitarists that enjoy a distorted tone.
- There’s an FX loop send and return, something unusual in this price.
- You can use it with a pair of headphones for convenient practicing, as well as connect it directly to your audio interface for use with a cab emulator plugin.
- This head can automatically fit cabinets of different impedances from 4-16 Ohms.
Cons
- There is no built-in cabinet.
Conclusion
A compact and affordable mini amp head, the Hotone Heart Attack is a really interesting choice. To start with, it has a great design and a low price. The head can be used in multiple ways: with a cabinet of any impedance, connected to an audio interface line input or with a pair of headphones.
With that in mind, you can use this head both for live performances and practice. If you’re a beginner, for example, you can invest in a cabinet in the future for gigs.
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7. JOYO MA-10E
The JOYO MA-10E is a portable amp with a minimalist and simple design. The all-black casing is very discrete and will match most setups. Despite its small size, this unit has 10 watts of power which is higher than the average on our list, meaning it could pottentialy be used for practicing with a band.
Product Specifications
- Two Channels: Clean and Overdrive
- 1-Band EQ
- ¼ Instrument Input
- ⅛ Aux Input
- ⅛ Headphone Output
- Built-In Shoulder-Strap Buckles
- Power: 10 Watts
- Powered via AC Adapter or Batteries
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- The overdrive switch sounds pretty impressive for the price of the amp.
- You can also use it to listen to music since it has a full-frequency speaker inside.
- There are built-in shoulder strap buckles for transport.
- The 10 watts of power is higher than most other amps on the list, meaning you can achieve a louder sound.
- Can be powered both by an AC adapter or 6 AA batteries.
Cons
- No Bluetooth.
Conclusion
The JOYO MA-10E is a simple amp priced at around $50 (by the time this article was written). Considering its affordability and its exceptional sound, especially with overdriven tones, it is quite a deal for beginner guitarists. We also like the fact that the wattage is higher than most other amps on the list, at 10 watts.
One major con for us, however, is that it doesn’t pack as many features like Bluetooth and built-in effects as some competitors, such as the FLAMMA FA05, which is about $20 more expensive. It is still a solid choice.
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8. SONICAKE Bi-Reactor
The SONICAKE Bi-Reactor is different from most other amps on the list because it is strictly a headphone amp. If you don’t have much space in your house or travel a lot, it is an excelent companion. The Bi-Reactor emulates a US-Style High Gain Amp with built-in distortion and is charged via USB.
Product Specifications
- Compact Design
- Based on the Classic US Double Rectifier Amp
- Aux Input
- Headphone Output
- Headphone Splitter and Aux Cable Included
- Built-In Delay
- USB rechargeable.
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- The SONICAKE Bi-Reactor is based on the Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier so you can expect the tone to have lots of character.
- There’s a built-in delay.
- You can connect your smartphone to it for playing with backing tracks.
- The package includes a headphone splitter and an aux cable.
- The SONICAKE Bi-Reactor is USB rechargeable.
Cons
- None
Conclusion
While the SONICAKE Bi-Reactor has a different design compared to the other amps on the list, it is extremely affordable and can be a great solution for guitarists looking for a basic unit just for practice or for bringing with you on the road. Considering its simple style, it has a surprisingly great tone.
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Best Guitar Amps Under 100 – Buying Guide
Here are a few things you should pay attention to when shopping for cheap guitar amps.
Number of Channels
It is important to consider the number of channels on an amp. Most cheap amps at that price range feature 2 channels: one for clean tones and another with distortion/overdrive. The higher the number of channels, the more versatile a guitar amp is and the more tones you are going to be able to dial in.
Build Quality
Build quality is an important factor when shopping for this type of product. Practice amps built out of high quality components will ensure you a noiseless experience. Just as important is the external material, which will determine if the product will or not last for years to come.
Tone
Not every amp has the same tone. There are a lot of factors that will determine the tone flavor of your amp including the materials, the components, the speaker type and the circuit. The easiest way to make sure that an amp sounds good to you and fit your style is to search for YouTube reviews.
Wattage
Simply put, the wattage will determine an amp output power and how loud it can get. Most guitar amps under 100 are small and portable, so they have a low wattage. Low-wattage amps are ok for practicing and playing at home, but can also be used for recording.
Size and Portability
The size of the amp is something to consider as well. A small amp will be easy to carry around and is the perfect option for those who favor portability. A large amplifier will be heavier and more difficult to transport, but will most of the times provide a louder sound.
Most of the practice amps in the price range of the article ($100) falls under the mini/compact category. These low-wattage amps are great for practice, but if you plan on playing gigs with your amp, you will probably need to spend a little more for something larger.
Price
Price is always a factor when shopping for cheap guitar amps, but it’s not the most important one. However, you will want to consider what your budget is and if you can afford that price out of your pocket. If you’re on a budget, then you should look for an amp with as many channels as possible without sacrificing quality.
Related: Best Guitar Amp Under 150
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Connect Other Instruments to a Guitar Amp?
What is the Difference Between Solid-State and Tube Amps?
Solid-state amplifiers are more practical when it comes to their portability since they are smaller in size. Tube amps can also be more expensive than their solid-state counterparts because of their complex construction; However, this doesn’t mean that they don’t have many other advantages such as better sound quality and durability.
Can I Connect Guitar Amps Directly to my Audio Interface Line In for Recording?
Does Higher Wattage Equal to More Volume?
Conclusion
When we talk about guitar amps under 100, there are a lot of options on the market. Unlike what most people think, some cheap guitar amplifiers can give you quite a great tone and are very convenient regarding features (compactness, built-in effects, etc): that’s the case with all of the reviewed products.
With that being said, one of the amps on the list caught our attention: the FLAMMA F05. We decided to give it the first place on our round-up because of all of the features that this little unit packs in. The Donner DEA-1 was our runner-up.
FLAMMA F05 – Best Guitar Amp Under 100
The FLAMMA F05 features surprising functionalities for an amp that is so affordable. It has 7 preamp types, built-in effects, 40 drum machine loops and Bluetooth connectivity for connecting your iOS or Android device. For all these reasons, it is definitely the best guitar amp under 100 on our list.
Donner DEA-1 Runner-Up
The Donner DEA-1 is small and portable and has a great design. At only $40, it is extremely affordable and has some features that we didn’t found in other models, such as the rechargeable battery. If you’re a beginner looking for a solid unit to practice with and pottentialy record, you can’t go wrong with this one.
How to Buy
If you’re interested in any of the products, the link to their respective pages are at their titles on the list. Make sure to search for audio examples of the amps so you can hear the tone with your own ears: you can find it easily on YouTube. Thank you for reading this article and happy playing!
Ian Sniesko is an experienced music producer and musician who loves to share his knowledge about the best audio equipment for making and enjoying great music. For the past 6 years, Ian has written extensively about the audio equipment industry and has contributed to many of the top music magazines.