Comparing The Best Fish Finders For The Money

There are a number of portable fish finders that can be used for your next trip to the river or lake. Numerous brands offer a wide range of products, in a wide range of prices. Most portable fish finders function in the same basic manner, but there are higher-end models that boast some extra bells and whistles. Not sure what you need? Check out our guide here.

Shopping for the Top Fish Finders in 2018

To help you begin your research for the best portable fish finder in your budget, we’ve compiled a list of the best models from top brands. Fish finders usually come as either handheld or mountable devises, and have a variety of features.

Humminbird HELIX 7 Sonar GPS Fish Finder 

A great entry from Humminbird, the HELIX 7 is basically an upgraded version of the HELIX 5 model, complete with an upgraded price tag. Although they have made improvements, the increased price means it’s probably not the best option for those on a tight budget.

What I like: There is a nice screen size and the information is easy to read on the display. It seems to work well in greater depths compared to the previous model.

What I don’t like: It takes a while to learn for new Humminbird users, and the GPS is slower than expected.

Bottom line: This model offers some improvements over the HELIX 5, but it may not be worth the extra cost if you’re not a serious fisherman. However, it does perform better at higher depths than the HELIX 5 model.

 

Raymarine Dragonfly Pro

The Dragonfly Pro is one of Raymarine’s most well-recieved fish finders. Apart from the accuracy and quality of the sonar, it also comes equipped with U.S. and Canada navigation charts to help you plot your next excursion.

What I like: The dual channel’s are simply amazing in their quality. Many other happy customers have complimented the CHIRP DownVision which will get you above average images compared to the rest of the finders on this list.

What I don’t like: The actual readout is much smaller than the total length and width of the entire screen. You may have to squint when the sun is really bright.

Bottom line: In my opinion, its one of the best despite its high price. Sure the screen size could use some work but for the overall performance its worth it.

 

Humminbird HELIX 5 DI GPS Fish Finder Review

A good option with GPS in the lower price range is the Humminbird HELIX 5 DI GPS Fish Finder. It’s made by one of the top brands, works well, and is affordable.

What I like: The screen is a decent size, and the image is very clear. Humminbird is a typically trustworthy brand.

What I don’t like: The colored screen can be difficult to read on bright, sunny days. The locator only works up to 200 ft in depth, and the GPS feature isn’t incredibly accurate.

Bottom line: Though there are better models out there, this one preforms well for the price. If GPS is of central importance for your fishing expeditions, it will likely be best to skip this product and move on to one of the Garmin units for better results.

 

Lowrance Elite-3X Fish Finder with 83/200 Transducer Review

Lowrance is known for making great fishing gear, and this Lowrance Elite-3X is no exception. Currently this model seems to be the best cheap fish finder for kayaks. The Lowrance Elite-3X can be submerged in up to three inches of water, which makes it a good option for kayak fishing, or other situations where there are less stable mounting positions than on a boat.

What I like: The high capacity brightness settings make the screen easy to see in sunny conditions. It is affordable and made by a brand I trust, easy to use, easy to mount on a kayak, and waterproof for up to three inches.

What I don’t like: The screen feels a bit smaller than other options. There is no GPS feature.

Bottom line: This is a great option for kayak fishing in particular, but may also work for anyone who wants a good, cheap fish finder that works well for the money.

 

Garmin Echo Striker 7SV with Transducer Review

The Garmin Echo 7SV is a good and safe option in the mid-level price range. As it is made by one of the top brands in the industry, it doesn’t seem to have any major flaws and performs as expected.

What I like: It is a straightforward tool: easy to install and works as expected. Garmin is a quality and trustworthy brand. The larger size means a larger screen.

What I don’t like: Since it has a color screen, detailed images can be difficult to see in the sun. This, of course, is easy to work around by covering the screen with some shade, but it can be a real pain on those sunny summer days.

Bottom line: Though the price is higher than some of the models reviewed here, it is a quality product that is likely to last for many years of use.

 

Deeper Smart Portable Fish Finder Review

Another option, instead of buying a whole new device, is to purchase a fish finder that connects to your smartphone. The Deeper Smart Portable Fish Finder unit is the best we’ve seen so far in this category.

What I like: It works with both iOS and Android tablets and smart phones and has a very affordable low price. It has quality navigation and can take you where other fish finders can’t go. It is very user friendly.

What I don’t like: Since this product will be paired with your smartphone, it can experience problems when the operating system is updated — like with the most recent Apple update. However, the company is pretty quick to deploy an update to the app. That being said, it can be a bit frustrating to have to manage both your phone and the device.

Bottom line: This is a really great alternative to the standard models, but it is not for everyone. This product seems to be a better fit for those shore fishing or fishing from kayaks or canoes.

 

Lowrance Elite-4 CHIRP Fish Finder/Chartplotter Review

Though this model is not the newest product on the market, the Elite-4 CHIRP can compete with the best sellers. There is no reason to upgrade to newer models if the standard offers everything you need.

What I like: The Elite-4 CHIRP is made by a brand that I trust, and is made to be durable. In addition to its affordable price, it offers a split screen option and does a good job of handling lake depth data.

What I don’t like: The GPS location is a bit slow compared to other models. The small screen is sometimes difficult to read in the sun.

Bottom line: This is a great, durable option in the mid-price range. It performs well and will likely last several years of fishing.

 

Garmin Echo 101 US and Canada with Transducer Review

This Garmin Echo 101 is another affordable option, but provides a bit more value for the money. Of course, Garmin is best known for their GPS units, but this fish finder also works surprisingly well for the price.

What I like: The price is very budget-friendly, and it exceeded our expectations during use. Its small size makes it easy to slip into a cargo pocket when going to or from the boat.

What I don’t like: The mount stand is a very tight fit for the unit, which makes me wary of breakage in the future. It also seems to mistake weeds for fish every now and then, which I expected for this price, but is still a bit of an inconvenience.

 

Humminbird 398ci Fish Finder Review

While we are big fans of the Garmin model above, the Humminbird 398ci Side Imaging Combo Chartplotter/Fishfinder gives it a run for its money.

What I like: The GPS chartplotting is what gives this device its edge over the Garmin above. This GPS fish finder is an incredible deal for the money.

What I don’t like: The screen is a bit smaller than the Garmin above.

Check out some of the other top features for this fishing gadget:

• Dimensions: 16 x 10.2 x 10.2 inches
• Weight: 4 pounds
• 3.5-Inch 256 color TFT display screen
• Tilt and Swivel Quick Disconnect Mounting System
• Transducer included
• Side Imaging and Down Imaging sonar
• GPS-Sonar combo with temperature and speed display
• Allows For Drop-in Replacement Capability For Competitive In-dash Models
• Precision Internal GPS Chartplotting With Built-in Unimap(tm) Cartography With A Card Slot For Optional Maps and Saving Waypoints

Bottom line: Humminbird is one of the top brands when it comes to fish finders, so it’s safe to say this will be a great addition to your fishing gear.

 

Garmin Striker 4

The Striker 4 is a newer and updated version of the Echo 101 you saw above. While the Echo 101 is still in stock and a very well received device, the Striker 4 has some noticeable upgrades. First and foremost is the sonar. Clearvü sonar gives you high-quality images beneath the water wears the Echo 101 was in greyscale.

What I like: The Striker 4 is cheap just like its previous version. In my opinion, you get better quality sonar and images for little difference in price.

What I don’t like: Splitting the screen between sonar and navigation can make it difficult to focus on one or the other with such a narrow screen to begin with.

Here are some other features that come with the Striker 4:

• CHIRP Sonar
• Built-in Flasher (for classic formats)
• Navigation Mode/Maps
• Waterproof rating of IPX7

Bottom line: If you’re new to fish finders in general, I strongly recommend the Striker 4 to start off. Its got all the perks to help you find your fish and help you navigate the surrounding area all for an affordable price.

 

NorCross HawkEye F33P Fish Finder Review

The NorCross HawkEye F33P Fish Finder is one of the best options for handheld styles at a cheap price.

What I like: It is small enough to easily slip into a jacket or cargo pant pocket when not in use, but large enough that it won’t be easily lost while out in the kayak or on the shore. It is very lightweight and incredibly easy to use; even children can easily navigate the NorCross HawkEye F33P.

What I don’t like: The LCD screen is a bit small and hard to read if you’re wearing your sunglasses. It is not water resistant at all, so you will need to take additional care to not get it wet. It also doesn’t do well in hot direct sunlight or temperatures below freezing. The manufacturer states that it should work down to zero degrees Fahrenheit, but that doesn’t seem to be the experience of most users.

All things considered, this is still a decent enough portable fish finder for a cheap price. Take a look at its top features below:

• Fits in the palm of your hand
• Has an ultra wide, 25-degree sonar beam angle
• Gives accurate depth, fish, and bottom structure readings from 1.5 to 99.9 feet
• Has a trollable, mountable, and floatable sonar sensor with 35 feet of cable and cable tie-strap
• Weighs just 1.5 pounds
• Measures 6 x 3 x 2 inches
• Battery life of 30 hours, takes four “AAA” batteries
• Special LCD protector eliminates condensation in the display
• The backlit display prevents eye strain

 

Humminbird 899ci Fish Finder Review

It should come as no surprise that another one of our favorite fish finders at an affordable cost is from Humminbird. The HUMMINBIRD 899ci HD SI Combo Fish Finder System is a high-end fish finder to complete your fishing equipment.

What I like: As shown in the photo, it has a much larger display screen and the output on the screen is crystal clear.

What I don’t like: It is hard to find too many complaints about this product. The price is slightly higher than other options, but it will be worth the money if it isn’t too much of a strain on your budget.

Here are some of its top features:

• 360 Imaging Compatibility
• 7-inch screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio
• 1,500-ft. depth range
• 150 ft. Side Imaging range
• Stores up to 2,750 waypoints and 45 routes
• High speed processor and internal GPS
• Dimensions: 16.8 x 13.8 x 5 inches
• GPS Chart plotting with built-in ContourXD map
• Battery life average: 2 hrs
• Screen is easy to read in sunlight