Finding the best cheap ukulele under $100 that still plays great can be difficult. Ukes in the $100 price range and below are not always made out of the best materials, so you have to know what you are looking for.
That’s where we come into play. We’ve reviewed all of the most popular budget ukuleles on the market, so you can figure out which one is right for your playing style and your wallet. 🙂
The first thing to think about is what size uke you want to get. There are tons of different affordable ukuleles that come in every size from soprano to concert. We researched each size and picked a few of each to add to this buyer’s guide. We review the build quality, materials, specs, pros, and cons of each model, so you can find the best uke for you.
Let’s check out the top-rated low cost ukuleles that would make a great addition to any collection or studio.
Compare the Top 5 Inexpensive Ukuleles Below $100
Contents
- 1 Compare the Top 5 Inexpensive Ukuleles Below $100
- 1.1 Luna Tattoo Concert Mahogany Ukulele with Gig Bag
- 1.2 Kala Mahogany KAA-15S Soprano Ukulele
- 1.3 EleUke Ukulele 22SPEMH
- 1.4 Alvarez RU26T Regent Series Ukulele
- 1.5 Vorson FSUK-1 S-Style Electric Ukulele with Gig Bag
- 1.6 Fender Grace VanderWaal “Moonlight” Soprano Uke
- 1.7 Cordoba 15CM Concert Ukulele
- 1.8 Protege by Cordoba U100CM Concert Ukulele
- 1.9 Lohanu Ukulele Bundle Pack
- 1.10 Cordoba 15TM Tenor Ukulele
- 2 What We Recommend and Why
Here’s a list of the best cheap ukes under $100 that are made of quality woods and won’t break your ukulele budget.
- Luna Tattoo Concert Ukulele
- Kala Mahogany KAA-15S Soprano Ukulele
- EleUke Ukulele 22SPEMH
- Alvarez RU26T Regent Series Ukulele
- Vorson FSUK-1 S-Style Electric Ukulele
Luna Tattoo Concert Mahogany Ukulele with Gig Bag
Specs, features and benefits
This 1.3 pounds concert ukulele is an instrument you want when you strive for an authentic Hawaiian look and a solid sound. The design draws its inspiration from the Hawaiian body tattoos with geometrical motives and motives from nature. The look isn’t the only thing that is good about this ukulele.
The entire body and neck are both made of mahogany which gives a warm sound. The fretboard is rosewood with a satin finish which is very easy on the fingers. It comes with open gear tuners. The gig bag also comes with it.
Pros and Highlights
- Exceptional design- the Hawaiian tattoo design makes this ukulele an eye-catching addition to your instruments. It is unique and detail-oriented: the fret marks are actually shark teeth.
- Great sound- the mahogany body gives it a warm, clear sound that is expected from a ukulele.
- Price- you get a high-quality instrument for a low price, you actually get more than you paid for.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Laminated wood- usually, laminated woods do not give out the best sound and are not as sturdy so it can be easily cracked if not handled carefully.
Bottom Line
All in all, this ukulele gives you a great bargain for the price you are paying. You get an attractive looking, sturdy ukulele, with great sound. It is a wonderful beginner ukulele that can serve you for years.
Kala Mahogany KAA-15S Soprano Ukulele
Specs, features and benefits
For a fairly small amount of money, you get a decent starter instrument to get you excited about Ukuleles and Hawaiian culture. The design is truly high-end with a satin finish. The mahogany body and neck give it an elegant look and the walnut fingerboard is wonderful. The design includes a discrete black rosette that fits well with the mahogany body.
This soprano ukulele is light, it weighs just 1.15 pounds. It comes with geared tuners as well as with GraphTech NuBone nut and saddle, which is refreshing as most budget instruments have those in plastic. Everyone who has played it or heard it is amazed at how good and authentic the sound is especially compared to the price.
Pros and Highlights
- Aquila strings- this ukulele comes with the best strings there are, so there is no need to spend money on the strings separately.
- Great sound- compared to the price, and to the other ukuleles in the same price range, this ukulele produces that joyful, clear ukulele sound that we want but usually do not get form cheaper instruments.
- Great for beginners- since it is really cheap and still plays very well it is great for beginners and even as a gift.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- No equipment- unfortunately, this ukulele does not come with any additional equipment so you would have to buy it separately.
- Limited edition- it is not available throughout the year.
- Tuning- in the beginning, before the strings are broken in, the ukulele tends to be out of tune and requires daily tuning.
Bottom Line
Despite some tuning difficulties, Kala Soprano ukulele is a great beginner instrument. It performs quite well, has that authentic ukulele sound and gives you the desired worth for the small amount of money. As a plus, it looks really cool in mahogany brown.
EleUke Ukulele 22SPEMH
Specs, features and benefits
It comes with a 10m range wireless Bluetooth connection, though this goes only for smartphones and not the speakers. The peanut body shape makes this ukulele great for playing standing up since it is easy to hold. However, it can be inconvenient if you are sitting down. The body is mahogany and the bridge and fingerboard are rosewood. Nut and Saddle are made of sturdy graphite.
It is a 1.3 pounds soprano electric ukulele. It can be connected to the speakers and headphones for silent playing. The sound is good due to the Aquila strings. It comes with a rechargeable battery so there is no need to plug it in while you are playing or change the batteries.
Pros and Highlights
- Gig bag- it comes with a gig bag included for easy carrying.
- Silent- since it can be connected to the headphones it gives you the opportunity to practice late at night without disturbing the neighborhood. Even connected to low-quality headphones, the sound quality is good.
- Bluetooth connection- this feature enables you to listen to a tune on your Smartphone and play along with it which is a great learning practice for beginners.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Shape- it can be difficult to play if you just want to sit down and chill.
- Recharge time- it takes more than 2 hours to recharge the battery.
Bottom Line
EleUke is a great and affordable electric ukulele. It is great for beginners who want to practice and for players living in apartments where you have to be silent. The Bluetooth function gives you a feeling of playing along with the best players.
Alvarez RU26T Regent Series Ukulele
Specs, features and benefits
Due to its tenor size, the Alvarez RU26T ukulele is great if you have larger hands. Its size makes it easier for you to play. The mahogany neck has 18 frets, the fingerboard, however, is rosewood which enables easy glides. The body’s back and sides are also mahogany, while the top is spruce. The neck length enables deeper sounds, while the mahogany built gives this ukulele a little warmer sound. The fan bracing gives a great response.
The fact that it comes with real bone nut and saddle is pretty outstanding for a ukulele in this price range. The combination of different woods, along with the chrome tuners, all with a high gloss finish give a high-end look to your beginner ukulele. The strings are top quality Aquila strings. It weighs 1.65 pounds.
Pros and Highlights
- High-end look- RU26T has been described as “grown-up ukulele” due to its elegant and classic look.
- Quality- The materials included in building this ukulele are of high quality and seen in pricier ukuleles, especially the real bone nut and saddle.
- Sturdy- due to the fan bracing in combination with its size this ukulele is sturdy enough for beginners as well as advanced players.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Gig bag- unfortunately, RU26T does not come with a case.
- Spruce top- some say that the spruce top is not as sturdy as other, full wood tops.
Bottom Line
In this price range, the RU26T is a great choice for a tenor size ukulele. It looks elegant; it has a rich and warm sound that will surely give you a great experience while you play it.
Vorson FSUK-1 S-Style Electric Ukulele with Gig Bag
Specs, features and benefits
This is a tenor size, electric ukulele. More and more ukulele players are going electric since they want to perform for a larger audience. This is a great starter ukulele, especially if you do not have experience with electric instruments. It cannot double as an acoustic ukulele, unfortunately.
Its body and neck are made of solid candlenut wood. The fretboard is rosewood. It weighs 4.4 pounds which is a lot more than acoustic tenor ukuleles. The dual single coils and the 3-way tone control allows you to adjust the tone as you like- as authentic as possible. The design, however, is not authentic for ukuleles but rather similar to Strat electric guitars.
Pros and Highlights
- Adjustable truss rod and bridge- this makes this electric ukulele very easy and comfortable to use.
- Equipment- It comes with a padded gig bag and an amp cable to connect to the amplifiers.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Strings- they are starter strings, and if you want to play this ukulele seriously, you might want to consider getting better ones.
Bottom Line
If you would like a solid beginner electric ukulele, this one is for you. The design gives it a bit of a hard rock look, all with the authentic ukulele sound.
Fender Grace VanderWaal “Moonlight” Soprano Uke
Specs, features and benefits
Here comes one great soprano sized Uke! With its gold handle and gold sparkle rosette, the Fender Grace VanderWaal “Moonlight” Soprano Uke won’t leave anyone cold-hearted.
The album art from Just the Beginning inspired this custom floral soundhole label. This Uke is chosen personally by Grace because of its unique aesthetics. Changing strings on this baby is as easy as pie since it comes with the convenience of having the pull-through bridge.
Pros and Highlights
- Soprano body-sized ukuleles are the smallest ones out there, so they are very easy to use for beginners or people with smaller hands
- Unique aesthetics help it stand out and highlight how enduring and youthful it looks with her distinctive heart signature at the back of the headstock
- Very comfortable body
- Stylish navy blue in combination with a gold handle and sparkle rosette
- The mat finish helps this Uke look neat and clean and not shiny
Cons and Potential Flaws
- The sound is not the brightest and loudest on this Uke
- It has a hard time staying in tune sometimes
Bottom Line
When we take everything into consideration, Fender Grace VanderWaal “Moonlight” Soprano Uke is a good all-around choice for newcomers or people who want a small-sized uke. It’s also an excellent choice for people who care about the design of their uke since it does have Grace’s heart signature and comes in the unique navy-blue color. If you’re just starting to get in the world of ukes, get this one and you won’t go wrong!
Cordoba 15CM Concert Ukulele
Specs, features and benefits
Here’s one concert-sized ukulele with a mahogany top, back and sides! This elegant instrument has ivoroid binding for the body and the fingerboard. The Cordoba 15CM Concert Ukulele is entirely handmade and has an authentic satin finish and abalone rosette. It also features the Aquila Nylgut 7U strings.
No wonder this is Cordoba’s number 1 selling Uke! It looks good, plays good and is suitable for everyone! For this instrument, the pros surely outweigh the cons. Let’s take a closer look:
Pros and Highlights
- The mahogany top, back and sides add to the style of this concert uke
- It has a satin finish which looks amazing!
- Perfect Uke for complete beginners who are about to pick up how to play this instrument
- Small body but very rich sound
- Premium Aquila strings contribute to this rich sound it creates
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Setup consistency is a bit off, so your model might be a little worse than someone else’s
Bottom Line
If we talk about instruments that have a clear and rich sound, size doesn’t matter and this Uke proves it! You will definitely be pleased with the quality of it and your listeners will surely ask for more. The body and the fingerboard are bound by ivoroid binding to help set it apart from similar models in this price range. All in all, the Cordoba 15CM Concert Ukulele is an excellent choice for both beginners and more experienced players!
Protege by Cordoba U100CM Concert Ukulele
Specs, features and benefits
Cordoba created Protege as a line of high-quality instruments for ambitious new musicians who want a comfortable instrument which they can use to advance their skills. The U100CM is a perfect example which provides just that for players.
This concert-sized ukulele has a satin finish and the mother-of-pearl rosette. It is yet another Uke with the mahogany top, back and sides, which help give it that old-style look. The Protege by Cordoba U100CM Concert Ukulele is a perfect choice for beginners who are just starting.
Pros and Highlights
- Features the mahogany top, back and sides giving this Uke a warm tone
- This Uke is very lightweight
- Satin (matte) finish
- It has a rosewood fingerboard and bridge which help highlight the wood’s natural beauty
- Features the mother-of-pearl ring rosette
Cons and Potential Flaws
- The first fret buzzes can happen occasionally which completely throw you off track when you are playing
Bottom Line
Like all other instruments from this manufacturer, The Protege by Cordoba U100CM Concert Ukulele combines earlier craftsmanship with newer developments. It is very lightweight and beginner-friendly, so if you are just starting with playing ukuleles you will appreciate it. It looks very prestigious with its satin finish and mahogany top, back and sides. Let’s not forget to mention how its wood has a warm tone! When we look at every factor, this instrument should definitely be on your wish list this season! If you pick it up you will see what all the fuss is about!
Lohanu Ukulele Bundle Pack
Specs, features and benefits
Here’s a very high-quality beautiful sounding and looking ukulele with all the accessories you are ever going to need! If you want to pick up a concert-sized uke that is reasonably priced and will sound great, look no further than the Ukulele Concert Size Bundle From Lohanu!
It’s made from high-quality materials including mahogany, handmade deluxe bindings and sapele. Its arched back helps it create clear and warm sounds. It comes with a lot of accessories including an accurate tuner, a bag, a strap, plastic picks, a hanger, Aquila Super Nylgut strings and others.
Pros and Highlights
- Features the arched back that provides a fuller sound and longer sustain
- This Uke sounds great
- Beautiful mahogany top, back, sides and neck
- Technical wood fingerboard
- No buzzing noises and no tuning problems even when you play the fret
Cons and Potential Flaws
- It’s not one of the longest-lasting Ukes out there
Bottom Line
When we think of a bundle that can offer you everything you need to play the uke well, our first thought is of the Ukulele Concert Size Bundle From Lohanu. It sounds great since it has an arched back and looks great because of the materials it’s made of: mahogany and Sapele. If you care about the accessories and added equipment for your ukulele than this bundle will be your best friend. You’ve read everything you need to read, now go and buy this guy! Rest assured, you will be satisfied.
Cordoba 15TM Tenor Ukulele
Specs, features and benefits
Here comes one tenor sized ukulele! This is a nice size up for musicians who want to change their concert type Ukes. The Cordoba 15TM Tenor Ukulele is based on their best-selling model – the Cordoba 15CM. It’s entirely handmade with a classic mahogany top, sides and back. It also has a satin finish along with silver tuners with pearl buttons.
This Uke sounds good. The tones are rich and it has premium Aquila strings. So, newcomers, as well as more experienced players will come to see how great this Uke looks and how well it plays. What sets this model apart from similar ones is its abalone-style rosette and body and fingerboard bound by ivoroid binding.
Pros and Highlights
- Features the beautiful mahogany top, back and sides
- Looks great with that satin finish and silver tuners with pearl buttons
- Ivoroid binding for body and fingerboard
- Great option for both beginner and more experienced players
- Comes with premium Aquila strings
- It’s a handmade Uke
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Setup consistency is a bit off
Bottom Line
All in all, the Cordoba 15TM Tenor Uke is an excellent instrument of high value! It has great tonality and very attractive construction and design. The sounds come out crisp when you strum or fingerpick, with the intonation being spot on, so what else could you ask for? Most people who buy this guy are thrilled by the instrument, will you be added to that list? If so, you will definitely see why the other users are so thrilled!
What We Recommend and Why
Comparing all the aspects of what makes a good ukulele and a great value for the lowest price possible; we came to the conclusion that Luna Tattoo Ukulele is the best choice.
We picked this one because it gives you everything you need for an enjoyable experience of playing the ukulele: a great design needed accompanying equipment, and, most importantly, wonderful authentic sound. This combination of price, quality, and appearance makes this ukulele our top choice.