Best Deals Under $25

Justin Huynh, a CR product manager, completely reseals his chips rather than clips them closed. “I personally like using these melting sealers because I often don’t come back to snacks for a long time after opening them, so I feel that this gives them a better shelf life,” he says. “I’ve used multiple sealers before, and they’ve never performed consistently, but this one is the closest. I can get a good seal within 2 tries on this one, and it includes a blade on the inside that can cut the excess bag before sealing. This is also by far the smallest one I’ve gotten, which makes it easy to throw into the pantry for easy access.”

This is a basic, no-frills portable coffee press. It didn’t wow our testers, but it did the job without letting coffee grounds seep through the filter. Plus, the plastic is insulated, helping keep the coffee warm for longer. It has no discernible flaws, so if you’re looking for a low-cost, small coffee press, this could be the answer.

After testing six pairs of kitchen shears, all three of CR’s evaluators said the iBayam shears felt nice in their hands, were easy to use, and didn’t require them to grip too hard. Plus, you get two pairs of shears for this price, and our testers suggested designating one for cutting meat and one for other kitchen tasks. The one downside is that the shears don’t come apart for cleaning, but the price and the comfort level make them CR’s top choice.

The ThermoPro TP19H instant-read meat thermometer offers handheld temperature readings with a single stowable probe. There’s a built-in LED and rotation lock for the display, and a magnetic backing allows you to store it on your refrigerator between meals. Perfect for checking meats, this simple thermometer delivers reliably accurate readings within seconds.

The Zulay Kitchen Premium Apple Corer is a breeze to use. You press the corer down on the center of the apple, and the serrated blades allow you to core the fruit in seconds. The handle is designed to give you an easy grip, making the process quick and effective. For less than $10, this is a handy gadget to have in your kitchen.

This aesthetically pleasing pill organizer has a larger capacity than most other options we tested. It is a little bulky, making it less ideal for travel, and the caps are relatively easy to open, even with one hand. Each container has two compartments for morning and night, and these caps are numbered with 1 and 2, but testers reported the numbers are a bit hard to see.

We found the Onlyone Water Flosser quite easy to use and charge. Despite its smaller countertop footprint, it holds quite a lot of water, which means longer flossing sessions without needing a refill. The removable tank has a large opening, which facilitates easy filling. It’s a few dollars cheaper than its previous sale price.

We’ve never seen the price for this neck fan dip below $10 before. The Arctic Air neck fan has the best airflow angle of every model our evaluator tried (and it’s not even adjustable). It’s also on the louder side, so it may only be a good choice if you don’t mind a little extra noise near your ears.

The Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo is a nearly perfect product among the dry shampoos we evaluated. It absorbs grease well and blends easily with different hair colors. It’s also pretty comfortable on your scalp. Any dryness the evaluators felt was slight and didn’t cause any noticeable discomfort. The scent of the product is light and not too overpowering, according to most evaluators.

Detangling brushes save not only time but also effort when tackling knots or an unruly mane. And for me, the FHI Heat Unbrush is the one to beat. It earned the distinction of being the best for curly hair in our evaluations of the best detangling brushes, and our testers liked its lightweight feel. I personally switched to it because my old brush had those beads at the end of the bristles, and they were snagging in my hair and ripping out my extensions. The Unbrush has smooth bristles, so it glides through my hair so smoothly and detangles without catching my extensions. It’s available in a variety of colors at different prices, but this is the lowest price you’ll find.

​​If you are strict about using non-acetone formulas, this one from Mineral Fusion was at the top of our list. Although it didn’t place first, second, or third in fastest removal speed among the three nail polishes we used, it removed polish in respectable time frames. More importantly, it provided a dry finish to nails and cuticles without being too drying, and it didn’t leave an oily film, unlike many non-acetone polish removers, making it a great choice for those who aren’t fans of essential oils.

This Alba Botanica Hawaiian Lotion provides excellent UVA protection and has decent ratings for its ability to shield you from sunburn-producing rays. And its SPF level is close to that claimed on the label. It has a plastic ("beach ball") and clay aroma reminiscent of fragrance-free products. It left a greasy, draggy residue on testers’ skin.

This Eucerin Advanced Hydration SPF 50 spray is a solid performer with broad-spectrum protection. Its tested SPF comes close to its labeled SPF 50. Like the sunscreen above, it also has that plastic fragrance-free aroma, and it left a slight draggy film on testers’ skin.

The bristles of the Bestool Detangling brush are flexible yet firm and well-spaced to give maximum effectiveness. The arms move with the hair as it detangles. , and the brushing section is wide so evaluators were able to detangle more hair at once. “To say I was surprised with this brush’s performance is an understatement. Totally floored is more like it,” says evaluator and CR writer Jodhaira Rodriguez. The arms move with the hair as it detangles. The brushing section is wide so evaluators were able to detangle more hair at once.

The Gillette Venus was a clear winner in our evaluations of the best razors. The silver handle is pleasantly weighted, and it has a grippy spot for your thumb that makes it easier to hold in the shower, and the razor head has a large lubricating strip. Since the head is so bulky, you may need to angle it carefully while shaving difficult areas, such as the hollow of an underarm or an ankle. 

A divided lazy Susan like this one from YouCopia can be a great way to keep smaller items like snacks or spices organized and easily accessible. This is the lowest price you’ll see for this handy product.

If you’re looking for a small fan to keep things cool at your desk or on a bedside table, this little Vornado model could fit the bill. It’s quiet and fairly versatile, with a 180-degree tilt and two speed settings.

This waterproof lighter is perfect to use when you’re on a camping trip or while hiking. It features a USB charger and can withstand wind as well as rain. It comes with a thick paracord lanyard so that carrying it is convenient. 

This is a practical lighter that is both windproof and flameless. It boasts a built-in rechargeable battery and a safety lock for peace of mind. Choose among sleek shades like champagne gold, rose gold, and mint green.

Choosing a soap bar like Nellie’s Dish Butter, which was our top choice for dish soap bars, helps you cut down on plastic waste and still get your dishes, pots, and pans squeaky clean. This one created a nice amount of suds and boasted an herbal scent that we found pleasant and not overpowering.

Although hard to close, these are very sturdy bags, and make a great option for parents with toddlers who have a penchant for throwing their snacks.

Pair this lickable food mat with a delectable treat to keep your kitty content and happily occupied. Mary Beth Quirk, one of CR’s shopping editors, spreads Churu purée treats on the mat with the spatula provided and attaches them to her cat Frannie’s food tray with the suction cups on the bottom. “She’ll spend minutes on end cleaning out every nook and cranny, leaving me to work in peace,” she says. 

“I have a deep fear that my cat doesn’t drink enough water and will end up with kidney issues,” says Stephanie Davis, a senior marketing manager at CR. If you’re a cat parent who shares that concern, a water fountain may be the answer. “She won’t drink still water from a bowl and wasn’t keen on one other fountain before this—the filters are also easy to change for this one—but she loves this one for some reason.”

This is the best price we’ve ever seen for this water fountain.

For the kitty who can’t get enough of watching the world outdoors (or the one who simply loves a good sun bath), this window perch is not to be missed. CR writer, Jodhaira Rodriguez’s cat, Frank, not only loves napping on this perch but also adores playing with its strings in an effort to get her attention.

CR’s digital product manager, Merideth Mergel says her cat loves Kong’s ZoomGroom brush, which can also be used for dogs. “She wakes me up in the morning not for food, but to brush her,” she says. “And if I’m not moving the brush the way that she likes, she will brush herself against it. I’ve bought this for a few friends with cats, and they all love it.”

This is a great, budget-friendly option if you’re not sure your pets will adapt from a bowl to a fountain. You can try it out without investing too much (and you can always invest more in an upgrade later on if you want). The Veken water fountain, consisting of five parts, was intuitive for our tester to assemble, and the carbon and foam filter replacements are low-cost as well, at $10 for a four-pack or $24 for 16. It was the noisiest option, but that didn’t deter the tester’s pets. And the flower can be removed for a low-profile bubbler effect rather than a raised fountain.

The Nishel Travel Toiletry Bag is a hanging organizer, meaning you can hang it on the bathroom door with every compartment laid out in full view. This bag is an antidote to disorganization. It has several compartments, two of which have different-sized mesh pockets. Our evaluator also noted that it has a large capacity but still zips up easily even when full. The low price is reflected in the quality of the material, however, so if you don’t mind the fabric looking a little on the cheaper side (the reviewer noted theirs attracted a lot of dust) this could be a great choice.

The Bagail 8Set Packing Cubes won over CR’s evaluator with the sheer number and variety of cubes it offers. In addition to three packing cubes (medium, large, and extra large) that have mesh on the top panels to help you identify the contents inside quickly, it also comes with two zipper bags, a cosmetics bag, a shoe bag, and a drawstring bag that you can use to separate your dirty laundry. The extra organizational features were ultimately what gained Bagail the edge over the other packing cubes CR tried.

There are 14 different color options, but not every variation is on sale for as low as the price highlighted.