Which One Is The Best Essential Oil Diffuser For Under $40?

If you’ve been shopping around for an essential oil diffuser, I know the options can be a little bit overwhelming. I remember when I was looking for my first oil diffuser, I didn’t know where to start or what really to look for. And if you’re just getting started with essential oils, you might not like to spend $80 or $100 for your first diffuser.

So, I have compiled a list of really good essential oil diffusers for under $40. Whether this will be your first diffuser, or whether you’re looking to add a 2nd or 3rd diffuser to your home so you don’t always have to carry it back-and-forth between the rooms you wish to use them in, have a browse through this list of some of the most popular and best essential oil diffusers that are available for under $40 with links to their full reviews and arranged by overall rating.

Further, the comparisons are broken down by diffuser water tank size. What if you’re looking for just a small diffuser for a bedroom or bathroom? What if you don’t have a ton of counter space to work with? What if you do? What if your living room is open concept and you need to cover larger areas for the oils to be effective?

Typical essential oil diffusers are in the 100 mL- 150 mL water tank range. This will generally get you around 4-6 hours of run time and coverage for an average-sized small bedroom or office. There are mid-range diffusers, from about 150 mL – under 300 mL in water tank size. I would use this in a small spa front desk area, larger bedroom or kitchen. Third, there are the large capacity essential oil diffusers, with water reservoirs of 300 mL and upwards. Use this kind of diffuser if you need coverage for a larger yoga studio for example, or a classroom, or otherwise a bigger space. These units will typicall run 8-10+ hours without needing a refill. You can of course still use these large capacity diffusers in smaller spaces, if you like or require just the longer run-time and less frequent refilling feature.

I hope you enjoy this overview and if you’d like me to have a look at, and possibly add your favourite diffuser to this comparison, please drop me a line here.

Average Small Essential Oil Diffusers

These units are around 80 mL – 150 mL in water tank size, and have a run time of around 4-6 hours.

	Model	Price / Size	Best Feature	Rating
	Pilgrim Collection Anton Diffuser	$29.99* / 140 mL	Made of high quality soft rubber plastic & featuring a powerful misting motor.	(5 / 5) See Full Review
	PureSpa Essential Oil Diffuser	$29.99* / 100 mL	Ultra-simple operation with just ONE 3-touch power button. No beeping noises for the auto shut-off! 60-day Money Back Guarantee!	(5 / 5) See Full Review
	Elegiant Essential Oil Diffuser	$17.99* / 100 mL	The lid locks in place. Nice size, solid operation. Vibrant lights!	(4.6 / 5) See Full Review
	Smiley Daisy Essential Oil Diffuser	$25.97* / 100 mL	Whisper-quiet advanced ultrasonic technology, doesn’t interfere with work or sleep.	(4.5 / 5) See Full Review
	InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser	$19.95* / 100 mL	7-color mood lighting like a personal rainbow.	(4.5 / 5) See Full Review
	BriteLeafs 2-in-1 Ultrasonic Aroma Oil Diffuser	$24.99* / 100 mL	It’s a 2-in-1 ultrasonic aroma diffuser & humidifier, creating instant relaxing aromatherapy AND distributing moisture throughout the air.	(4.4 / 5) See Full Review
	Greenair Spa Vapor+ Ultrasonic Oil Diffuser	$23.99* / 150 mL	It’s affordable, reliable, and designed to work for years on end.	(4.3 / 5) See Full Review

* Prices as on Amazon.com at the time of writing and subject to change without notice. Please check Amazon.com for most current pricing information.

Mid-Sized Essential Oil Diffusers

These units are around 150 mL – under 300 mL in water tank size, and have a run time of around 6-8 hours on average.

	Model	Price	Best Feature	Rating
	Pilgrim Collection Alpha Diffuser	$39.99* / 160 mL	No lights, no sounds, no bells or whistles. Just a simple, clean, high quality diffuser. Nice!!	(5 / 5) See Full Review
	Mofado Essential Oil Diffuser	$39.95* / 200 mL	Cool mid-sized range diffuser (200 mL tank) with nice lighting options.	(4.5 / 5) See Full Review
	PureSpa 200mL Natural	$39.99* / 200 mL	Natural look from a trusted brand.	(4.2 / 5) Shop Here
	Earth Vibes Aromatherapy Diffuser	$16.99* / 200 mL	Small & compact, great for bathroom or office.	(3.9 / 5) Shop Here

* Prices as on Amazon.com at the time of writing and subject to change without notice. Please check Amazon.com for most current pricing information.

Large Capacity Essential Oil Diffusers

These units are over 300 mL in water tank size, and have a run time of around 8-10+ hours on average.

	Model	Price	Best Feature	Rating
	Archeer Essential Oil Diffuser	$22.50* / 300 mL	BPA-free, conveniently priced around the $25 mark.	(4.4 / 5) See Full Review
	URPOWER 500mL Essential Oil Diffuser	$19.99* / 500 mL	Up to 14 hours of run time due to its large capacity water tank.	(4.3 / 5) See Full Review
	URPOWER 300 mL	$28.99* / 300 mL	Superb starter model with a modest price tag.	(4.2 / 5) See Full Review
	Easehold Large Capacity 400 mL Diffuser	$35.99* / 400 mL	Comes in 2 color choices (dark wood / light pine). Up to 20 hours of run time on intermittent (30 secs intervals) mist mode.	(4 / 5) See Full Review

* Prices as on Amazon.com at the time of writing and subject to change without notice. Please check Amazon.com for most current pricing information.

Portable Essential Oil Diffusers

These units are UNDER 100 mL in water tank size, but they are portable via USB and/or car charger plug-in. These are handy for traveling, or you can also use them in a small bathroom or other space where you’d like most of the counter to yourself, but still enjoy aromatherapy benefits.​

	Model	Price	Best Feature	Rating
	GreenAir Scent Pod	$13.99* / N/A mL	Uses scent pads, no water.	(4.8 / 5) See Full Review
	Aiho Car Diffuser	$17.99* / 50 mL	The lid snaps into place, which is handy in preventing spills.	(4.2 / 5) See Full Review
	InnoGear USB Car Diffuser	$19.99* / 50 mL	Handy USB Plug-in; no-spill design for car use.	(4.2 / 5) Shop Here
	ZAQ Mini Travel	$29.99* / 20 mL	Looks nice and stylish and because of the round shape, it’s really easy to clean.	(4 / 5) See Full Review
	ECVISION Cordless Essential Oil Diffuser	$19.99* / 100 mL	This unit almost counts as a fully functional diffuser with a 100 mL tank, yet it’s still portable.	(3.8 / 5) See Full Review

* Prices as on Amazon.com at the time of writing and subject to change without notice. Please check Amazon.com for most current pricing information.

What’s the best essential oil diffuser?

Personally, my winner is the PureSpa Essential Oil Diffuser just because it’s so simple and straight forward to use! You can read the full review of it here.

How do I clean my essential oil diffuser?

If you’re wondering how to best clean your essential oil diffuser, have a look at this blog post here with some quick-n-dirty tips on how to best maintain your unit so it can last you a long time! Please not that of course, each diffuser will be slightly different and the best thing to start with is to consult the instruction pamphlet that came with your diffuser. For defects or other customer service requests, get in touch with the person, company or manufacturer that you purchased your unit from.

How do I use essential oils?

Diffusing essential oils into the air with an oil diffuser is only one way to apply the well-being that essential oils can bring to your daily life. For other ways on how to get the most out of your essential oils, read how to use essential oils, the top 10 lavender essential oil benefits (& how to use them), or my very popular blog post on using essential oils for headaches (something I do quite often as I’m plagued by migraines).

5 Benefits of Using an Essential Oil Diffuser

1. 

   Purification and disinfection of the air in your home.

2. Sets the mood and impact for aromatherapy.
3. Focuses energies and sets a positive health aura.
4. Tangible reduction of stress and anxiety.
5. Spreads sweet fragrances around you and your home.

Why Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is an increasingly well-known term in the area of alternative medicines. Aromatherapy, as its name suggests, takes help of unprocessed aromas and fragrances to guarantee overall well-being of the body. It is as much about the components of the remedy as it is the scent. Although it has been defined in various ways, basically it is the process of diffusing scents into the air to make people feel better. It has been proven to provide physical and psychological benefits with proper implementation of the oils and scents.

Electric aromatherapy diffusers don’t need a flame, whereas oil burners need a heating source such as a candle. Today’s essential oil diffusers do not utilize heat or water to operate, keeping the oils in their normal state as they turn into a healthfully scented mist.

You should always use aromatherapy along with consulting your regular health care practitioner. It is not a replacement for prescribed drugs or medical assessments.

Questions?

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me directly or leave your comments via the form below. I’d love to hear from you!