Best
TUNING PEDAL
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Overall: Ultra-Compact Polyphonic Tuner
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Best Feature: Transparent Tone Preservation Enabled by Built-In Buffer
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TedScore™: 9/10
Best
CHEAP PEDAL
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Overall: 7-Mode Delay Effects In The Whole Aluminium-Alloy Little Stompbox
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Best Feature: Whole Aluminium-Alloy Classic, Stable and Strong
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TedScore™: 8.5/10
Best
BEGINNER PEDAL
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Overall: Affordable But Highly Effective Pedal
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Best Feature: Control Three Function Knobs And Choose The Model You Want—NATURAL,TIGHT And CLASSIC.
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TedScore™: 8/10
Here’s a selection of the top budget-friendly guitar pedals available. These pedals certainly offer cost-saving choices for today’s buyers, but do they truly deliver good value for every penny spent?
Do they provide quality?
In this article, I’ll answer these questions by giving you some tips from my own experience as a buyer and a professional musician.
So let’s start with a fundamental question.
What types of guitar pedals are there?
Types of guitar pedal
Distortion - fuzz - overdrive pedals
Where would guitar players the world over be without a good distortion pedal?
These are a staple of styles like rock, metal, pop, blues and every country.
A world of guitar players will swear by owning one, and I’m not one to disagree. As the name suggests, the distortion pedal will distort the signal that comes from your guitar, making it sound aggressive and often very rich too.
A boost pedal will give you signal a little extra power which it might need to poke out for a solo or feature riff.
So, how is the boost pedal different from just turning up the volume?
A boost pedal set’s it’s “on” volume at a specific level, and you can activate that level by turning the boost pedal on or off.
Adjusting the volume either on the guitar, with a volume pedal or on the amp is nowhere near as precise as the boost pedal, especially if you make that adjustment in the middle of a song!
A boost pedal buys you flexibility and functionality. Another reason so many guitarists swear by them.
Delay - modulation - reverb pedals
As the name suggests, delay pedals will replicate the notes you play, after you have played them.
You’ve likely heard this effect in action if you’ve ever listened to “The Edge”, guitarist for the world-famous band U2.
Most delay pedals will have a delay setting which allows you to adjust how late the delay starts and how long the delay “tail” is.
The tail is a term used to describe the amount of time it takes for the delayed repetitions to die out completely.
A reverb pedal might be something you wouldn’t think of right away, but it’s so useful.
Without reverb, a guitar can sound a little lifeless or “dry”, to use the technical term.
A reverb will emulate the sound of your guitar playing in a nice sounding room or hall.
Not only will this keep your tone sounding great, but the reverb will also make sure you have a consistent clean tone from one gig to the next.
Last on this list is the humble chorus pedal.
A chorus pedal will add just a little extra shimmer and texture to your sound. They are ideal for the clean section of a verse or those times when you need a slightly more quirky sound.
Compressors, channel changer pedals and more useful pedals
A tuning pedal will allow you to tune accurately and silently.
You can tune strings individually too.
Whether you’re using it before your next guitar lesson or in between songs on a gig remember that no one wants (or pays) to listen to you tune your guitar, so it’s best to do it silently, quickly and accurately.
A tuning pedal will do just this!
A volume pedal (sometimes known as an expression pedal) is effectively a level knob but one that is operated with your feet rather than through a dial on your guitar.
It’s very simple but oh so useful.
There will be times when you need to adjust your volume, but your hands will be busy playing. A volume pedal is the perfect solution to this problem.
Need some extra volume for your solo after the next chorus? Use the pedal.
Need to back off a little for the verse? Use the pedal
Forget to tune your guitar and don’t want to get another shifty look from the rest of the band? Yes, a volume pedal will help here too!
Here’s a very sturdy volume pedal made by Jim Dunlop.
Now that we covered the basics, let’s take a deep dive and look at some more options that aren’t essential but are extremely common for guitar players to own.
What to look for when buying a guitar pedal
Sound and tone
Sound and tone control are big issues here. If you don’t like the sounds you get from a pedal, or you can’t see yourself using them on a gig, in a song you’re writing or even learning music that uses those sounds, you should ask yourself, is this pedal really worth it?
Trust your ears and intuition and choose the best cheap guitar pedals that you really like the sound of.
Reliability
No one wants their guitar pedals (or any part of their gear) to be unreliable. For this reason, doing your research before you buy is so crucial.
Especially when you order online, you should be reading customer reviews and speaking to other guitar players or perhaps others who already own the pedal you’re looking at.
Ask them how well the pedal is made. Has it been ok for them? Has it broken?
All these things really do matter.
Needless to say that you’ll have to spend more for better build sound quality, but ultimately what you spend on the quality, you’ll save on replacements.
Cheap v Expensive guitar pedals
Uses For Cheap Guitar Pedals
Whether a pedal is expensive or cheap, your use is the same. You use it in a band or when playing and practising at home.
The actual sound quality of the pedal won’t really affect its intended use or how most guitar players use a pedal. So does this mean you should always just bite the bullet and spend more money on better pedals?
Does this mean they are better?
Is a cheap fuzz pedal better than the expensive big muff fuzz pedal that electro Harmonix makes, for instance?
Just as we saw before, there’s no clear cut answer here. Cost does have to be balanced against the sound, of course, but so does durability, your personal preferences, and the situations in which you’ll be using those cheap pedals.
For example, if you’re a new professional that’s landed their first big-name world tour, would you rather turn up to your first day of rehearsal with expensive gear that will blow everyone away or a £20 phaser pedal that breaks after half an hour?
However, we must also consider the following?
If you’re a passionate amateur whose on a tight budget, is spending hundreds of pounds (and maybe wracking up credit card debt) worth it just to impress your friends?
No. Probably not.
After all, who has to live with the consequences of spending that money?
You do.
Not them.
So what’s the point here?
Well, we have to acknowledge and accept that “cheap” is a relative term here in more ways than one.
First of all, being cheap to a professional can still mean hundreds of pounds.
I have a guitar player friend who is obsessed with pedals and gear. He once turned up at a gig with a beaming smile and told me about how he’d found a new pedal in great condition for “really cheap” on eBay.
He then told me it cost him £/$400 but should’ve been £/$850.
To him, this was cheap and very much worth spending the money on. After all, he’s a professional. He needs great gear to do his job.
But if you’re not a professional and have no desire to be, then cheap guitar pedals will probably fall somewhere in the £/$25-£/$80 range.
So how can you tell if a cheap pedal is worth it?
You should always try to hear the guitar pedals you want to buy before you make a purchase.
If you’re buying online, this can be tricky, but there are a few things you can do.
A huge bonus about buying expensive or cheap guitar pedals on Amazon is that there are customer reviews for nearly everything!
And the chances are that many of these buyers will be people like you. They are keen guitar players who are after a good pedal and a great deal.
They have no vested interest in giving a company a good review, so they’ll be honest.
If the reviews for the big muff pedals you’ve got your eye on are good, then go for it.
If the cheap delay you’re looking at has hundreds of one-star reviews, you know it’s not worth your time.
Another great place for info on cheap guitar pedals is YouTube.
Many YouTubers will review expensive and cheap guitar pedals on their guitar gear channels.
Many will include an audio demo of the pedal in question so you can hear how it sounds. They’ll also talk about their general experiences with using the pedal, so you’ll get an idea of the build quality, what it’s like to operate and a general impression of how well made it is.
Are these reviewers always being truthful about the pedals they review? It can be hard to say.
Whilst good YouTubers will pride themselves on being transparent, many out there do have private pedals-for-promotion style deals with manufacturers.
Reputable brands like TC Electronic (or any other big brand) tend not to make these kinds of deals because they don’t need to. They are already a big fish in the market.
So if you see a review of a big brand pedal, you can be (more) sure that it’s genuine.
However, be careful with smaller or emerging brands. Many will reach out to YouTubers and offer free gear to get their products out there.
This doesn’t mean the gear is bad. It just means you should do your research, so listen to the audio demos and read the video comments and customer reviews before you buy.
Trust your gut. If the pedal doesn’t feel right to you, then keep your finger off the order button.
But if it’s just what you want at a price you can afford, then add it to the basket and wait by the mailbox!
Now that we’ve got through that, here are some great affordable pedals you should look at buying.
Best Affordable Pedal No. 1 TC Electronic Polytune
The TC Electronic Polytune is easily the best tuning pedal on the market. Its innovative design allows you to strum all the strings on your guitar and tune them all at once.
DESIGNED FOR: Guitar Players
COMES WITH: Strum and tune set up
FEATURES: Setup and tune
TC Electronic Polytune
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Accurate tuner
- Allows for silent tuning
- Can tune all the strings of a guitar in a single strum
- More expensive but worth it
- Requires a power supply
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Best Affordable Pedal No. 2 Donner Multi Digital Delay
This delay pedal from Donner is a great and affordable option.
It has some great tones and a very user-friendly interface and will fit well onto almost any pedalboard.
However, it’s not as customisable as something like the TC electronic flashback delay
DESIGNED FOR: Guitar Players
COMES WITH: Great tones
FEATURES: Easy user interface
Donner Delay Pedal
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Affordable
- Great tones
- Easy user interface
- Small size so could be lost
- Not made by a household brand
- Not as advanced as more expensive models
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Best Affordable Pedal No. 3 Vivlex Distortion
This Vivlex pedal is an affordable option and also comes with a true bypass.
Like the Donner, it’s very easy to use, but it also has a great design. Looks are important, so why not take a look at this fine pedal?
DESIGNED FOR: Guitar Players
COMES WITH: Has true bypass
FEATURES: Easy to use
Vivlex Pedal
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Great sound
- Has true bypass
- Easy to use
- Not made by a household brand
- Not as advanced as other models
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Best Affordable Pedal No. 4 Donner Boost Pedal
Here’s a great affordable boost pedal from Donner.
It’s the perfect secret weapon to have on your pedalboard when you need to step forward and take a face-melting solo!
DESIGNED FOR: Guitar Players needing true gain sound booster
COMES WITH: Has true bypass and LED indicator
FEATURES: True Bypass
Donner Boost Pedal
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Great for solos
- Great tone
- Easy to use
- Average build quality
- Not customisable
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Best Affordable Pedal No. 5 Vintaverb Reverb Pedal
Here’s a great affordable option to try.
It has seven great reverb models to choose from, including hall, room, plate and spring. This means you can get a wide range of tones to work with any guitar sound you want to create.
DESIGNED FOR: Guitar Players needing classic reverb effect
COMES WITH: stereo input & output with additional MIDI support
FEATURES: Designed to produce bright and warm tones that are highly immersive
Strymon BigSky Multidimensional Reverb Pedal
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- 12 studio-quality reverb machines
- Easy user interface
- Freeze and Infinite Sustain functions
- Many dials on a small pedal which can be fiddly
- Needs a power supply
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
CoolMusic C-CH02 Chorus
A great chorus pedal to use is this one by Cool Music.
It has a wide range of great tones for a very reasonable price, and it’s also a very unique looking pedal.
DESIGNED FOR: Guitar Players needing chorus effect
COMES WITH: True bypass footswitch for crystal-clear signal thru
FEATURES: With LED light for indicating effects and bypass status
Coolmusic C-CHO2 Chorus
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Wide range of tones
- Affordable
- Easy to operate
- Some may not like the design
- Needs batteries
- Batteries not included
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
The best effects pedals for beginners - Tuning Pedal
To make sure you’ve got your essentials covered, I would recommend that all beginners invest in a tuning pedal.
As a beginner, you won’t yet have developed the skills you need to tune by ear, so a pedal will make the job of tuning easy and also accurate whilst you develop your ears.
The best effects pedals for beginners - Distortion
It’s a common effect for a reason. Distortion is so useful.
It’s great for solos, riffs and rhythm playing.
Whether you play in a school rock band, a wedding band or just want to play to your favourite songs at home, chances are you’ll need a distortion sound.
For that reason, a distortion pedal is a must for beginners.
Cheap Guitar Pedals
Summary
The best budget guitar pedals offer exceptional quality and functionality at an affordable price point.
So what pedals are you going to buy? Ultimately, this is your decision. After all, these will be your pedals, sitting on your pedalboard, affecting the sound of your guitar during your gig!
Remember, the best deals are always online but so too are the best return and refund policies.
So if you do find yourself with a pedal you don’t like, take it as a learning curve.
Yes, you may have bought a pedal that isn’t right for you, but you’ve also learned something new about pedals that will help make the next purchase just right!
Lastly, if you are looking for a great list of guitar accessories, we have a super article here that you’ll enjoy.
Good luck!
The article provides a decent overview of affordable pedal options for beginners and hobbyists. However, it lacks depth in terms of technical specifications, which could help potential buyers make a more informed decision. For instance, discussing the signal-to-noise ratio of compressors or the true bypass feature in tuning pedals would have been beneficial.
Distortion pedals for the win! Can’t play rock without that crunchy, saturated tone. The Vivlex Distortion mentioned sounds like a steal. Might need to add that to the collection and see how it stacks against my current setup.
I appreciate the effort in listing affordable pedals, but it’s important to note that not all cheap pedals are created equal. Some budget pedals can introduce noise or lack durability. Always research and read reviews before making a decision. That being said, the Donner Multi Digital Delay is a surprisingly reliable choice for its price.
Man, fuzz pedals are where it’s at! Cranking that fuzz gives you that gritty, in-your-face sound that’s just epic. Been using a cheap one I found online, and it’s been killer for those garage jam sessions. Who says you need to drop tons of cash for a solid sound?
No mention of analog vs digital delays here? Come on, that’s a crucial part of understanding the echo universe! Digital can emulate tapes, but nothing beats the warmth of a true analog delay pedal, IMO.
While I agree that skill is paramount, never underestimate the educational value of experimenting with gear, especially pedals. They teach signal flow, effects layering, and can inspire creativity in sound design. It’s not about the pedal making the player, but rather expanding the player’s sonic palette.
I find it hilarious how every pedal claims to be ‘the one you absolutely need.’ Honestly, half of the magic comes from how you play, not what you play through. That said, I won’t deny some of these cheaper pedals are decent starters, but let’s not kid ourselves thinking a pedal makes the player.
You’ve got a point, but I also think finding the right pedal can really inspire creativity and help players find their sound. There’s room for gear and skill to coexist!
hey, was wonderin if someone could explain what the difference is between delay and reverb pedals? kinda new to the guitar pedal scene and its a bit confusing with all these options. And is there like a pedal that does both? Thanks!
Loving the list of affordable pedals here, especially the shoutout to the TC Electronic Polytune. It’s insane how such a small piece of gear can make a world of difference in your sound. Got one myself last Christmas, and it’s been a game-changer for tuning on the fly.