Need to avoid wasting in your subsequent electrical toothbrush? Listed below are one of the best buys
Even though it’s always convenient to pick up a manual brush when you’re at your local pharmacy, especially as it doesn’t require all that much in the way of research, you won’t be able to get as thorough a clean as you would with an electric toothbrush.
For anyone who wants to take their dental hygiene seriously (and avoid any nasty shocks at the dentist), an electric toothbrush is the way to go. While they did cost a small fortune once upon a time, and a handful still carry premium price tags, there’s a lot more choice now to appeal to the budget-conscious.
In fact, with quite a few companies now vying for your attention in this sector, there’s arguably too much choice and it can feel overwhelming if you’re looking to buy your first-ever electric toothbrush. Thankfully, this is exactly why we’ve gone ahead and tested all of the major affordable electric toothbrushes so that you can find out right away whether or not a particular toothbrush is right for your needs.
If you decide that you’re willing to save up a bit more for a fully-featured brush then you’ll find a wider range of options in our overall guide to the best electric toothbrushes. Alternatively, anyone who swears by the quality that Oral-B brings to the table should read our breakdown of the best Oral-B electric toothbrushes, as well as our detailed explainer which runs through the differences between each type of Oral-B toothbrush.
Best cheap electric toothbrushes 2025
1. Oral-B Pro 3 – Best value electric toothbrush in the UK
Pros
Two week battery life
Pressure sensor
Brushing timer
Good cleaning performance
Cons
Shaver socket plug only
One button operation
Noisy
Price When Reviewed:
$79.99
Best Prices Today:
$79.89
In the US, the equivalent brush is the Smart 1500, so that’s what you’ll see in the links. It’s the same brush with the same features. But, it’s important to note that it’s better value in the UK, where it has a slightly lower price point, than in the US. If you’re in the US, opting for the Oral-B iO3 is probably a better bet.
What’s most important in this brush is its excellent cleaning performance. But it also has all the features we consider to be important. Its timer will tell you to move on to a new section of your mouth every 30 seconds and let you know when your two-minute brushing time is up.
It also has a bright red pressure sensor that lights when you press too hard.
The only design issue is that its shiny on/off button is inset and can get a bit slippery when wet. Since it has a single-button operation, you’ll have to press it hard so that you don’t wind up scrolling through its other brushing modes to switch it off.
There’s no USB charging plug but its two-week battery life means that you should be able to get through a holiday without having to recharge it. But the battery warning light won’t give you much time before you need to plug it in.
Who should buy the Oral-B Pro 3?
Anyone who wants to get the maximum amount of value for their money.
Oral-B Pro 3: Further considerations
It can’t be plugged directly into a standard three-pin socket.
Read our full
Oral-B Smart 1500 review
2. Oral-B iO Series 3 – Best budget Oral-B iO
Pros
Great cleaning performance
Pressure sensor
Brushing timer
Cons
16-hour charging time
2-week battery life
No USB charging
Price When Reviewed:
$79.99
Best Prices Today:
$69.99
$109.99
Now that the iO2 has launched, there is a cheaper iO around, but we think that the iO3 is still the one to get for the most iO features at the most reasonable price. What you’ll get for your money is top-tier brushing performance, a highly visible red/green pressure sensor and a two-minute brushing timer with alerts every thirty seconds. It has three brushing modes: daily clean, whitening and sensitive.
It also features the fun light ring which cycles through a rainbow of colours when you finish brushing.
But there are compromises to be made. Battery life is 10-14 days (if you tend to brush a little longer than the standard two minutes) and it takes a whopping 16 hours to fully charge. This won’t be a problem if you keep it in the charger.
This is the brush to go for if brushing performance is your priority, but if you travel a lot and battery life is key – or if you need USB charging – this may not be the brush for you.
Who should buy the Oral-B iO Series 3?
Oral-B fans who want to upgrade to an iO brush without spending too much.
Oral-B iO Series 3: Further considerations
It can take a very long time to charge up.
Read our full
Oral-B iO Series 3 review
3. Ordo Sonic Edge – Best ultra low budget electric toothbrush
Pros
2-minute brushing timer and quadrant alerts
6-week battery life
USB charging
Cons
Sonic effectiveness not disclosed
Replacement toothbrush heads are not equally inexpensive
Price When Reviewed:
Not yet available in the US
Best Prices Today:
If you’re looking to upgrade from a manual brush but don’t want to make a big financial investment, this is a great option.
The Ordo Sonic Edge is, undoubtedly, the cheapest electric toothbrush that we’d recommend. The features and performance packed in for its price point are genuinely impressive. The caveat is that it won’t do as good as job as a high-end model – but it’s a much better option than a manual brush.
It only has a single brushing mode, but it’s just enough to feel as though it’s giving your teeth a proper clean. It’s quiet in use and has a two-minute brushing timer with quadrant alerts to let you know when to move on to the next section of your mouth. There’s no pressure sensor, however, so it’s not an ideal option for people who brush too hard.
It has a phenomenal six-week battery life and when you need to charge, you do so via the USB port under a cap at the base of the handle. This does mean it’s IPX7-rated, so it’s water-resistant and easy to keep clean.
It comes in a range of fun colourways. As it’s light, has a long battery life and a travel cap, it would be an ideal travelling companion too.
One thing to note is that replacement brush heads are just as pricey as those for a high-end model.
Who should buy the Ordo Sonic Edge?
Budget buyers who want to spend as little as possible.
Ordo Sonic Edge: Further considerations
The brush heads aren’t as affordable as the main device.
Read our full
Ordo Sonic Edge electric toothbrush review
4. Moon electric toothbrush – Best value electric toothbrush in the US
Pros
6-week battery life
5 brushing modes
Timer
USB charger
Cons
No pressure sensor
Replacement brush heads are expensive
Price When Reviewed:
$59.99
Best Prices Today:
$55.99
If you’re in the UK, this brush isn’t as well priced, so you might want to skip this entry. But US readers take note: this stylish brush packs in a lot of features for its price point, with five brushing modes and a two-minute timer. That’s pretty unusual, but its six-week battery life has to be its outstanding feature.
If you wanted to bring a charger along when you travel, just to be on the safe side, the petite stand and USB plug make it a portable option.
But it’s not flawless. It lacks a pressure sensor, so you should avoid this product if you tend to press too hard when you brush.
The other thing to bear in mind is that, like many smaller brands, replacement brush heads can be expensive. You can save if you opt for a subscription, with a pair of brush heads for $11.99, otherwise a two-pack costs $14.99.
Who should buy the Moon electric toothbrush?
US-based buyers who appreciate having a long-lasting battery life.
Moon electric toothbrush: Further considerations
The brush is very difficult to track down in the UK.
Read our full
Moon electric toothbrush review
5. Be Lucent Prism – Best battery life
Pros
Gentle but effective brushing
2-month battery life
USB charging
Well priced
Cons
Pressure sensor could be more responsive
Garish charging dock
No connected features
Price When Reviewed:
$99
Best Prices Today:
The Prism is more expensive than many of the other brushes in this round-up but it’s one of the best available for under $/£100, so we wanted to include it. It’s a gentle sonic brush made by independent Swedish brand Be Lucent.
It’s strikingly designed, in white to green ombré, with a subtly integrated white LED display that shows a brushing timer, battery life and brushing mode. It charges via USB and comes with two brush heads.
It has three brushing modes (daily, whitening and sensitive), a two-minute brushing timer with vibration alerts every thirty seconds, and a visible pressure sensor. The sensor isn’t quite as responsive as we’d like, however.
One of the brush’s big selling points is its two-month battery life, which makes it one of the longest-lasting available. When it’s time to charge it’ll take a non-inconsiderable eight hours, though.
Who should buy the Be Lucent Prism?
Frequent travellers who need a long-lasting battery life to keep up with their schedule.
Be Lucent Prism: Further considerations
Doesn’t have the best pressure sensor that we’ve tested.
Read our full
Prism review
6. Oral-B Vitality – Best price
Pros
Well priced
Three brushing modes
Fairly quiet in operation
Good brushing performance
Cons
Long charging time
No battery warning or charging light
No pressure sensor
Short battery life
Price When Reviewed:
$28
Best Prices Today:
If your budget is tight but you want to upgrade from a manual brush, this is probably the best cheap brush you can buy. However, you’ll have to make a couple of compromises.
On the plus side, it has quadrant alerts and a two-minute brushing timer, as well as three brushing settings: Sensitive Plus, Sensitive, and Daily. It gives teeth a good clean as well, although it’s not quite as effective as iO models, which vibrate as well as oscillate for improved plaque removal.
In terms of the brush itself, it has a thick, grippy handle and you can buy generic replacement heads very cheaply. But it’s lacking a pressure sensor. It’s fairly quiet in use, although its motor noise is rattly, with a high-pitched buzz on the highest setting.
On the minus side, it doesn’t feature any kind of battery lights. This means that it’ll just stop working when the battery runs out, without any warning. Then, when it’s on the charger, there’s no indicator to show that it’s charging properly, or when it’s fully charged.
But it’s the battery life that’s the real compromise. The Vitality Pro has a maximum battery life of 8 days – and that’s if you brush twice daily for two minutes and stop precisely at that point. If you run over a few times, you’ll get around a week of use. If two people are sharing, that gives you only 4 days before you need to recharge. It also needs 22 hours to charge from flat to full.
If you’re happy to keep it on its stand so it can continuously charge, then it won’t be a problem and we’d recommend it as a budget-friendly step-up from a manual brush.
Who should buy the Oral-B Vitality?
Buyers who want the Oral-B branding but without spending too much.
Oral-B Vitality: Further considerations
You’ll miss out on having a pressure sensor and any type of battery indicator.
Read our full
Oral-B Vitality Pro review
7. Quip – Gentle + repairable
Pros
Attractive design
3-month battery life
Brushing timer
Cons
Vibrations extremely gentle
No pressure sensor
No battery light
Price When Reviewed:
$39.99
Best Prices Today:
$10.19
$29.99
$33.97
$39.99
Quip isn’t a plug-in-and-charge electric toothbrush. It’s battery operated (although it’s not disposable – the battery can be changed when it runs out) and as such, its vibrations are so gentle that it’s more of a manual-plus brush.
It would be a good option for people who find electric toothbrushes too intense but who want to take better care of their teeth.
It has a brushing timer that will help to ensure that you’re brushing for long enough, although it doesn’t have a pressure sensor.
But it’s travel-friendly and comes with a toothbrush holder you can stick to a mirror or tile, remove and re-use. It’s beautifully designed and you can separately buy matching dental care accessories – including gum, mouthwash and floss – that may encourage you to improve your dental care regime.
Who should buy the Quip?
Those who value style and repairability above all.
Quip: Further considerations
The lack of a pressure sensor puts it behind most competitors.
Read our full
Quip electric toothbrush review
8. AquaSonic Duo Pro – Best value bundle
Pros
Great value
Month-long battery life
UV sanitising charging station
Travel cases & 10 brush heads included
Cons
No pressure sensor on brush
Bulky charging stand
Price When Reviewed:
$79.95
Best Prices Today:
$79.95
If you’re looking to get a lot for your money, you can’t do much better than the AquaSonic Duo Pro set, which would be ideal for a couple. For the price, you’ll get two sonic electric toothbrushes, five brush heads for each brush and two travel cases. You’ll also get the dual charging stand, which also features a UV sanitising chamber for used brush heads.
The brushes have four modes: clean, soft, whiten and massage (for gums). They also have a two-minute brushing timer, with alerts to start on a new section of your mouth every thirty seconds. The only key omission is a pressure sensor, so these brushes won’t work for you if you need a reminder not to brush too hard.
AquaSonic does not advise keeping the brushes charging in the stand when they’re not in use, so you’ll need to remember to drop them in to charge every couple of weeks to keep them topped up. But as they have an impressive, month long battery life, you won’t need to remember too often.
However, the design of the charging stand could prove divisive – it’ll only work well in modern, minimalist surroundings – and it’s bulky as well.
Who should buy the AquaSonic Duo Pro?
Couples looking to upgrade to a new toothbrush at the same time.
AquaSonic Duo Pro: Further considerations
The charging stand can take up a lot of space in your bathroom.
Read our full
AquaSonic Duo Pro review
9. Oral-B iO Series 2 – Best iO battery life
Pros
Excellent battery life
Three brushing modes
Pressure sensor
Cons
Very gentle brushing
Pressure sensor not easy to see while using
24-hour charging from flat to full
Price When Reviewed:
$59.94
The iO2 is now the least expensive model in the iO line – but it’s more like an iO-lite as there are some key differences between it and other iO models. For a start, it doesn’t have the big, highly visible red/green pressure sensor. Instead, there’s a tiny pressure indicator light, which is much harder to see when you’re brushing. Second, it has a less powerful motor, which means the brushing performance is noticeably more gentle than other iO models.
But it does have some points in its favour, the most obvious one being the battery life. Oral-B reckons you can get a month of use between charges. Most other iO brushes will only give you two weeks of use. But when the battery is flat, it’ll take a whole 24 hours to charge to full, so you might want to keep it on the stand.
The iO2 has quadrant alerts and a two-minute brushing timer. It has three brushing modes to choose from: super-sensitive, gentle and everyday cleaning. To be honest, all are very gentle – but if you find the vibrations from more powerful brushes too intense, it could be a good option for you.
Who should buy the Oral-B iO Series 2?
Anyone who wants a ton of battery life for not much money.
Oral-B iO Series 2: Further considerations
It takes a full 24-hours to charge from a dead battery.
Read our full
Oral-B iO Series 2 review
10. Oclean X Pro Elite – Best high-end features on a budget
Pros
Excellent battery life
Magnetic wall mount & USB charger
Slim, well designed brush head
Cons
No pressure sensor
App sometimes unpairs
Mouth quadrant visual a bit off
Price When Reviewed:
$99.99
Best Prices Today:
It’s a little pricier than some of the other brushes in this round-up, but it’s absolutely feature-packed and represents one of the best value ways to get incredible battery life, a colour screen and smart functionality in one slim package.
For your money, you’ll get a quiet sonic brush with 32 possible brushing settings. If that seems a bit daunting, an in-app quiz will help you to choose the right settings for you, depending on whether you’re a coffee or wine drinker, smoker or wear braces.
Its battery life will last for over a month and when it’s time to charge, it fast charges via wireless USB in just 3.5 hours.
It also has a full colour screen on its handle, with a brushing countdown timer and brushing feedback delivered both via the screen and the app.
We didn’t find the app feedback to be as reliable or accurate as Oral-B iO models, but we thought it was a pretty good add-on feature for this price point.
However, there’s no pressure sensor, which is the only reservation we have in recommending it.
Who should buy the Oclean X Pro Elite?
Budget-conscious buyers who are able to spend just a little bit more to get better features in return.
Oclean X Pro Elite: Further considerations
At this price, it really should have a pressure sensor.
Read our full
Oclean X Pro Elite review
11. Ordo Sonic+ – Subscription option available
Pros
Good battery life
USB charger
Subscription option
Cons
No pressure sensor
No battery light
Pricey replacement brush heads
Price When Reviewed:
$65
Best Prices Today:
$69.99
$69.99
The Ordo Sonic+ is good value, although replacement brush heads can be expensive. However, if you get the subscription service, it may be worth it to get a delivery of toothpaste, floss, interdental brushes and mouthwash.
It brushes well and has a brilliantly designed head that gives great coverage. And you can choose from four brushing modes. Battery life is good as well, with comfortably over the promised three weeks if you brush twice a day for two minutes.
However, there’s no pressure sensor and no battery warning light, which are features we missed while using it.
Who should buy the Ordo Sonic+?
Anyone who appreciates the convenience of a subscription model.
Ordo Sonic+: Further considerations
It can get pricey over time due to the cost of replacement brush heads.
Read our full
Ordo Sonic+ toothbrush review
Other cheap electric toothbrushes tested
While the devices featured above offer the best value throughout most of the year, it’s worth mentioning that price drops for more expensive toothbrushes can be quite common.
With that in mind, the Oclean X Pro Digital, priced at £99, is one such example. We’ve seen it drop quite a few times to a more reasonable asking price. Oclean is a subsidiary of Xiaomi, so you’ll get quite a lot of smart tech for your hard-earned cash, including a battery that can run for up to a month between charges.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
It’s a similar case for the Supermouth Ultim8, which is quite a good option for anyone with a larger mouth cavity who requires a bigger brush, or needs a brush that can also give your gums a good clean at the same time. The Ultim8 can also last for a long time on a single charge, and it can be topped up via a USB cable.
Can I get a better cheap electric toothbrush deal?
Even though these electric toothbrushes are already budget-friendly, there are plenty of ways in which you can save a bit more before you get to the checkout. For starters, the deal widgets featured alongside each entry above will give you an instant look at which retailers are currently offering the best prices, so you don’t have to go shopping around in order to track down the cheapest rate. Shopping via this very page at any time of year can help you to avoid paying full price, but if you really want to see your money go even further then it’s best to wait until a major sales event.
During Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday, it’s become fairly commonplace to see even the most expensive electric toothbrushes plummet by about 50-60% of their original asking price, so you’ll have more options to choose from if you aren’t looking to spend too much.
How we test electric toothbrushes
To understand how each toothbrush functions in the real world, one of our tech experts will use a given brush for at least a week to see how it operates and document the cleaning performance as a whole. Additional features like pressure sensors are stress tested to see how well they respond to a person’s movement, which is then compared with our knowledge of how a brand’s main competitors fare within the same area.
Why you should trust Tech Advisor
As one of the very first consumer tech websites within the UK, Tech Advisor has become the go-to destination for unbiased reviews and shopping advice that can help to pair you with the devices that best suit your needs. Our team is passionate about tech, which is why we make sure to treat recommendations to our readership much in the same fashion as how we would recommend devices to close friends and family.
Who curated this article?
This article was put together by Tech Advisor’s Deputy Editor, Emma Rowley. As the editorial lead for TA’s home tech coverage, no one is as well-versed as Emma when it comes to understanding how the latest Dyson vacuum compares to existing models, or breaking down the benefits between various Oral-B electric toothbrushes, which is exactly why she has the final say on which devices are included in this list.
How to choose the best cheap electric toothbrush
Whenever we discuss buying a new toothbrush, the first step is to set a limit on how much you’re willing to spend. However, because this is the list for the best cheap electric toothbrushes, you won’t have to worry about that as we’ve made sure that most include entries don’t go beyond a £50/$50 limit. With that taken care of, you can buy purely based on the features you want.
Because you’re shopping at the budget end of the market, there will be a decent amount of compromise to contend with. For instance, while it’s perfectly possible to get a cheap electric toothbrush whose battery can last well over a month between charges, this can often lead to the absence of other features such as a pressure sensor.
All you have to do is jot down one or two features that you absolutely cannot live without and go from there. To enjoy a less compromised experience, you’ll want to save up a bit more and head on over to the wider round-up of the best electric toothbrushes.
Emma Rowley / Foundry
FAQ
1.
Are cheap electric toothbrushes any good?
We started testing cheaper models to get an answer to this question. The answer is that a number of them are surprisingly good. The only issue is that there tends to be a compromise somewhere along the line. In most cases, we’ve found that what’s missing from most budget-friendly brushes is a pressure sensor. If you can do without this, you’ll find plenty of great options. But if you do tend to press too hard when you brush, don’t economise and choose a brush without one. You’ll always save more money in the long run by taking better care of your teeth.
2.
Which electric toothbrush features are most important?
If you’re buying a budget electric toothbrush, there are certain features to look out for – and some that you’re less likely to find in a budget brush, such as app-compatibility.
The most important features are a timer and a pressure sensor. A timer is very important. You should brush your teeth for two minutes, twice daily, but it’s easy to lose track of time and think you’ve brushed long enough.
A pressure sensor will let you know if you’re pressing too hard on your teeth and gums when you brush. If you find that the bristles on your brush head part in the middle after you’ve been using it for a while, it’s a sign that you brush too hard and need a brush with a sensor to correct your technique.
Then there are different brushing modes, such as gentle or sensitive, whitening, and gums or massage. If you have sensitive teeth or delicate gums, you should look for a brush with different brushing programmes (or at least a way to change the brushing intensity).
If you travel a lot, battery life could be key to whether a brush works well for you or not, so bear this in mind.
You might not find every feature in every budget brush, so it’s a good idea to decide what’s important to you before you buy.