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Written by
Larry Stark, Founder / Main Editor
Professional fisherman, who loves to review new fishing gadgets.
Many of us do not want a cheap fish finder. Before you misunderstand, read it again! We all want fish finders that offer all the necessary features and you do not have to compromise on the quality, sturdiness or even the type of hardware that it offers.
While cheap fish finders will most probably need you to sacrifice some of the features, a budget-friendly or economical fish finder would offer everything at a lower price. If you are looking for a trustworthy and accurate device, here are some of the best fish finder under $500 for you!
Most Reliable Fish Finder Under $500
- Sensitive GPS
- Sturdy hardware
- ClearVu scanning sonar
- In-built Quickdraw Contours
High Resolution Fish Finder
- Garmin Striker works to connect with phone for notifications
- The color palettes make it easy to identify fish
- High sensitivity GPS helps mark waypoints and follow routes
Best For Smart Phone Users
- A temperature sensor helps anglers understand where the fish might be
- The sonar is fast and begins showing images within seconds
- Clear picture and familiar functionality on phone
5 Best Fish Finders Under $500
- Garmin Striker Vivid 5CV – Best Overall Fish Finder Under $500
- Garmin Striker Vivid 7CV – Best Fish Finder Under 500$
- Deeper Sonar PRO+ 2 – Portable Option Under $500
- Deeper Chirp 2 – Under $500
- Lowrance Hook Reveal 5 – Under $500
Quick Overview – Best Fish Finder Under $500
Here are our top picks for the best fish finders under $500. We carefully selected the models to ensure that anglers can get all the desired features within the affordable range. Moreover, our reviewing teams checked all kinds of factors, and even tested them in various locations to see what will suit you.
#1
Best Overall Fish Finder Under $500
Garmin Striker Vivid 5CV
- GPS: Yes
- Mapping and Chartplotting: No
- Quickdraw Contour: Yes
- Different sizes: Yes
- Built-in Receiver: Yes
Pros
- Sensitive GPS
- Sturdy hardware
- ClearVu scanning sonar
- In-built Quickdraw Contours
Cons
- No chart plotting or mapping feature
- There are no detailed maps in the fish finder and you will have to save them
BUYING ADVICE: Every anglers will like this device and we chose this to be the first among the best fish finders under $500 because it has all the features that recreational and professional anglers need. The chart plotting and the mapping feature may not really be a big problem for some of you. We think that this is the best budget fish finder available today.
FEATURES: Garmin has proved its efficiency and longstanding reputation by introducing some models that will change the way you catch fish. The Garmin Striker VIVD 5CV is one of the most reliable fish finders out there! The GT 20 TM transducer is a good feature that can locate fish in deep waters. The sonar signals are strong and even tech dummies will be able to use this. You will be able to see the fish in full color, and that is not all!
#2
Best Fish Finder Under 500$
Garmin Striker Vivid 7CV
- Display Type: WVGA Type
- Built-in Receiver: Yes
- GPS: Yes
- Quickdraw Contours: Yes
- Display Sonar: yes
- Water Temperature Log: Yes
Pros
- Garmin Striker works to connect with phone for notifications
- The color palettes make it easy to identify fish
- High sensitivity GPS helps mark waypoints and follow routes.
Cons
- Does not have a vast directory of chartplotting and mapping
- Too many things like boat speed, and phone notifications begin appearing on the screen
BUYING ADVICE: The Garmin Striker series is an excellent choice for all anglers, and the Striker VIVID 7CV has so many exciting features which make it a great fish finder for all anglers at a fair $500 price.
#3
Portable Fish Finder Under $500
Deeper Sonar PRO+ 2
WHY WE LIKE IT: There are so many interesting things about this fish finder that make it one of the best fish finders under $500. First of all, the range is good which means you can cast it far and it will cover a radius of 100 meters. That is an awesome range for anyone going out to the shore, or even to one of the big lakes in the US. Another advantage is that this fish finder app has maps of the lakes in North America, and the fast sonar technology helps get images of each of them within seconds. You can tell where all the fish are!
- Built-in GPS: Yes
- Casting Range: 330 feet
- Wi-Fi: Yes
- Three beam frequencies: Yes
- Sonar scan rate: High
Pros
- A temperature sensor helps anglers understand where the fish might be
- The sonar is fast and begins showing images within seconds
- Clear picture and familiar functionality on phone
Cons
- The Wi-Fi signals are not strong in all areas
- Not suitable for narrow creeks and streams.
BUYING ADVICE: We suggest this three beam sonar fish finder to all those who want to get a clear picture of the area on their phone. Many anglers are familiar with their phones and do not want to deal with many high-tech gadgets on their trip. The fish finder will be a good addition to your next fishing trip and you will be landing in all the best fishing spots with its help.
#4
Portable Fish Finder Under $500
Deeper Chirp 2
- Three beam frequencies: Yes
- Night fishing cover: Yes
- Wi-Fi connection: Yes
- GPS: No
- Castable: Yes
Pros
- Good for kayak fishing
- Can reach hard to access areas
- You can log your catches and even save photos on the app
Cons
- Fish find is supposed to work in depth of 330 feet, but it does not work in some locations
- The Wi-Fi connection breaks off some times
FEATURES: Deeper Chirp 2 has some of the most precise and accurate sonar technology that results in crisp and clear imaging on your phone screen. This fish finder makes it among the best fish finders under $500 because of the bathymetric maps, and this fish finder’s flexibility to be used with a kayak as well. This device is not like a typical fish finder with a screen, and it is thrown on water like a floater.
#5
Lowrance Fish Finder Under $500
Lowrance Hook Reveal 5
WHY WE LIKE IT: Lowrance Hook Reveal 5 made our fishing style easier because it delivers the performance that every angler needs. This fish finder made it to our list of the best fish finders under $500 because of the chirp sonar and Downscan Imagine, which allowed us to see a clear picture of what is under their boat.
- SD Card Storage for Maps: Yes
- Wide temperature Range: Yes
- Mountable: Yes
- Sonar Compatibility: Yes
- GPS: Yes
Pros
- Excellent fish finding capability due to sonar features and Fish Reveal
- High resolution of C-MAP Contour
- Inland maps of the United States are preloaded
- One-foot contours on maps of lakes in United States and Canada means you do not need your own maps
Cons
- The Lowrance Hook Reveal 5 manual does not offer all information on how to use
- The GPS does not work fast, which may result in wastage of time
- Garmin Striker Vivid 5CV – Best Overall Fish Finder Under $500
- Garmin Striker Vivid 7CV – Best Fish Finder Under 500$
- Deeper Sonar PRO+ 2 – Portable Option Under $500
- Deeper Chirp 2 – Under $500
- Lowrance Hook Reveal 5 – Under $500
Things to Consider while Buying a Fish Finder under $500
- Sonar Types
- GPS
- Mapping
- Display
- Screen
- Transducer
- Frequency