10 Best Budget Tripods and Monopods in 2023

Tripods and monopods are vital pieces of equipment for many photographers. But they can be a significant expense when you’re on a budget. Today, we take you through the best budget tripods and monopods for photographers.

Our favorite selection has got to be the VANGUARD VEO 2. This is thanks to its professional features, build, and functions, all available for a low price. For Monopods, we love the Benro Adventure 3 Series. Its exceptional max weight and simplicity earn it a place at the top.

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What Is the Best Budget Tripod?

We divided the best budget tripods into two groups—tripods and monopods. Use the links below to find the most relevant section for you.

1. Best Budget Tripod
2. Best Budget Monopod

Best Budget Tripod

This VANGUARD VEO 2  tripod has everything you need in a tripod. It has excellent build quality. It’s portable, and it provides stability when shooting. It’s perfect for enthusiast-level photographers.

The tripod has detachable legs and a removable center column. That means it can be combined to form a monopod. It can extend up to 149 cm (59 inches). And can shoot as low as 22 cm (8.7 inches) from the ground, giving you a great height range.

The ball head is removable. It gives you a 91-degree tilt in portrait orientation and 360 degrees in independent rotation.

It has a reversible center column and a low-angle adaptor. These features make it a perfect tripod for macro photography and low-angle shots.

If your photography finances are tight, the Manfrotto MT190X Pro4 may push your budget to its limit. But it’s a solid and easy-to-use tripod recommended for serious photographers. This tripod handles almost 7 kg (15.4 lb), enough for a high-level DSLR.

This Manfrotto has a max height of 160 cm (63 inches). For lower-angle shooting, it goes down to 40 cm (15.7 inches). So you have an excellent height range for a variety of shooting.

It uses a unique feature called Quick Power Lock. It allows you to lock and unlock sections separately until it extends completely. This way, you can keep tweaking the legs with only one hand. And it also offers a 90-degree column system to take photos from any perspective.

The MT190X Pro4 includes a bubble level and an easy link connector. It’s a reliable option for enthusiasts and pro photographers.

Manfrotto is a famous brand among professional photographers. But it also has a few great options for beginners! One of their budget best-sellers is the Manfrotto Compact Light tripod.

As the name suggests, the Compact Light is so portable that you can put it inside a small book bag. It also features a pistol grip that gives you excellent control when adjusting the tripod head.

The downside of using Compact Light is that its legs are slightly flimsy, and they don’t go up as high. But if you have a lightweight camera, it shouldn’t cause any problems. After all, this tripod is specifically designed for entry-level DSLRs and mirrorless cameras.

The GEEKOTO tripod is one of the best budget options on the market. It’s an excellent option for travel and any outdoor photography.

One of the best features of this tripod is the rotating ball head. The head has a quick-release flip lock, so it’s easy to attach your camera. But the head is connected to the main body of the tripod with a ball joint, which gives the head 360 degrees of free rotation.

This compact tripod from GEEKOTO is strong but only weighs 1.6 kg (3.4 lb). And despite its light frame, it has a weight capacity of almost 8 kg (17.6 lb). That’s strong enough for a professional-level DSLR camera with accessories.

It has a max extended height of 195 cm (76.8 inches). But it folds down to a reasonable 50 cm (19.7 inches), making it easy to carry. The GEEKOTO tripod also doubles as an excellent monopod.

The K&F Concept tripod is the best option if you love to travel. And despite having an aluminum body, it only weighs 5.8 kg (1.3 lb). It’s strong and lightweight, which is exactly what a travel camera needs.

This compact tripod is attractive to travel photographers because it can fit in small bags. That means you can place it in plane cabins without any issues. Despite the K&F Concept’s compact size, it extends to 157 cm (61.8 inches).

But the best feature of this tripod is its center column. You can configure it so it can support a camera for low-angle shots. You can even remove it and turn it into a monopod for when you’re on the move.

Kodak has been a household name for at least a century. So when they come out with a budget tripod, you can expect it to have good quality.

Kodak’s PhotoGear tripod has all the standard features in most budget options. It has a fluid head, a crank to adjust the center column, and a quick-release plate.

But what makes the Kodak tripod different is the simplicity and build quality. It has a beautiful aluminum frame that’s sturdy and strong. And the tripod head may be plastic. But it looks sleek and high-grade compared to its competitors.

The Amazon Basics tripod may be the cheapest option on this list, but it’s packed with many features.

This fantastic tripod has a simple fluid head that lets you pan and tilt your camera. It also has a crank that precisely raises and lowers the center column without losing stability. It also features bubble levels to let you confirm if your tripod is straight or not.

The Amazon Basics tripod is not the most compact option on this list. It would stick out if you attached it to your backpack. But that’s a minor issue regarding this piece of equipment.

Strength is the more important issue. And it can support up to 3 kg (6.6 lb), meaning it can handle bigger cameras. And its wide aluminum legs ensure a stable platform for your camera.

Best Budget Monopod

Finding a budget monopod for heavy gear isn’t easy to do. But the Benro Adventure Series 3 monopod can handle a robust 16 kg (35.2 lb) yet has a reasonable price tag.

The higher weight capacity makes the monopod excellent for handling heavy lenses. The monopod extends to 160 cm (63 inches), and when closed, the monopod is 52 cm (20.5 inches) long.

The monopod only makes a 621 g (1.4 lb) dent in your gear bag, so it’s a great travel tripod, too.

Unlike most budget monopods, this Benro has a rubber foot that helps keep the monopod in place. The foot articulates, so the monopod still allows for different angles. Other perks include flip-style locks for quick height adjustments and a foam grip at the top.

The monopod is also available in carbon fiber if the budget has a bit more wiggle room. But the weight reduction is small, and the price hike is steep. That’s why the aluminum option is our top pick.

Like most monopods, there’s no head included. Picking up a tripod head allows further camera angle adjustments outside of the articulating foot at the base.

Camera supports don’t get much cheaper than the Vista Trailblazer. Its seven-pound weight capacity is on the low side for monopods. But it can provide support for most enthusiast-level cameras.

The Vista Trailblazer extends up to 172 cm (68 inches). But it can also fold down to 53 cm (20.9 inches) for low-angle shooting or packing. Flip-style locks adjust the monopod’s height quickly and easily.

At one pound, the monopod isn’t going to add much heft to your bag. The bottom foot has a spike, which you can retract to use the rubber foot instead.

The Vista Trailblazer isn’t the most full-featured monopod out there. But it’s a good deal for the tightest budgets and photographers who want to try a monopod.

The Amazon Basics monopod checks all the prerequisites as a perfect everyday option.

Despite being about 530 g (1.2 lb), it can carry almost 3 kg (6.6 lb). With a universal quarter-inch mount, you can attach any tripod head to it for extra stability.

Our favorite feature is the four-section shaft that extends up to 170 cm (67 inches). Now that’s a big plus, especially if you’re a tall photographer.

The added details built into the product make the Amazon Basics monopod unique. For instance, apart from having a rubber foot, it also has a retractable spike for extra stability. It also features a cushion grip and strap, which allows you to use it as a hiking pole!

Conclusion: The Best Budget Tripod

The VANGUARD VEO 2 265CB carbon fiber tripod is the best budget tripod in 2023. It is lightweight, durable, and offers excellent stability. Its three-way pan head allows you to easily adjust the angle and position of your camera. And its five-section leg locks provide added stability.

The Benro Adventure 3 Series aluminum monopod is the best budget monopod for us. Its great price and even greater abilities solidify it as the best at a great price. The price may be on the upper side, but it would mean you would never have to buy another monopod again!

This tripod and monopod are excellent choices for any budget-minded photographer. We highly recommend them. They’re for anyone looking for reliable and affordable photography equipment.