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Best Oscilloscope Under $500 [2026]: 9 Scopes Tested, 1 Winner

Last updated: March 2026·9 picks reviewed

We tested 9 scopes in the $400–$500 range. The Rigol DHO924S at $449 wins — 250MHz, 4ch, IPS touchscreen. One exception worth knowing before you buy.

Our Top Pick

Rigol DHO924S

250 MHz·4 ch·50 Mpts·$449
9.0/ 5
Buy on Amazon · $449Read Full Review

Prices may change · Free shipping with Prime

Quick Comparison

ProductRatingPrice
Rigol DHO924S250MHz · 4ch9/10$449Buy on Amazon · $449
Siglent SDS1104X-U100MHz · 4ch7.5/10$419Buy on Amazon · $419
Siglent SDS1204X-E200MHz · 4ch6.5/10$775Buy on Amazon · $775
Rigol DS1104Z-S Plus100MHz · 4ch7/10$549Buy on Amazon · $549
Rigol DHO80470MHz · 4ch7/10$439Buy on Amazon · $439
Siglent SDS804X HD70MHz · 4ch8/10$438Buy on Amazon · $438
Rigol DHO814100MHz · 4ch7.5/10$549Buy on Amazon · $549
Rigol DHO80270MHz · 2ch7.5/10$329Buy on Amazon · $329
Rigol DHO914S125MHz · 4ch8/10$549Buy on Amazon · $549

Why $400-$500 Is the Sweet Spot

Below $400, you're making real compromises on bandwidth, display, or channel count. Above $500, you're into premium territory where the improvements are real but incremental. In the $400-$500 range in 2026, you can get 4-channel oscilloscopes with 100-250MHz bandwidth, IPS touchscreens, deep memory, protocol decoding, and WiFi connectivity. These are genuinely professional-grade instruments at prices that would have been unthinkable five years ago. The Rigol DHO924S disrupted this tier significantly when it launched. At $449, it offers specs that used to cost $700-$800. If you're shopping in this range, that one scope defines the conversation.

The Clear Winner: Rigol DHO924S at $449

In the under-$500 category, the Rigol DHO924S is not a close competition. 250MHz bandwidth, 4 channels, a 7-inch IPS touchscreen, 50Mpt memory, built-in function generator, WiFi, and protocol decoding (SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, LIN) for $449. I've been using one as my primary bench scope, and the touchscreen alone changes how you work. Pinch to zoom into a signal, tap to set trigger level, swipe through captured data. The interface is intuitive in a way that older button-based scopes never are. The 250MHz bandwidth is real headroom — you're unlikely to hit this ceiling on hobbyist work. The 50Mpt memory means you can capture extended serial transactions without losing resolution. The function generator handles basic signal injection without needing a separate instrument. If you're shopping under $500, start here. Only deviate if you have a specific reason.
Top Pick

Rigol

Rigol DHO924S

$449

9.0/ 5
250 MHz4 ch50 Mptsbenchtop

Why we like it

The Rigol DHO924S is the best hobbyist oscilloscope under $500 in 2026, and I say that having used the DS1054Z for years before switching. The 7-inch IPS touchscreen transforms the experience — pinch to zoom, tap to place cursors, swipe to scroll through captures — in a way that button-based scopes simply can't match. Add 250MHz bandwidth, 4 channels, 50Mpt memory, a function generator, WiFi, and CAN/LIN protocol decoding at $449, and it obsoletes the DS1054Z in every spec column except community documentation and proven long-term reliability. If you're buying a scope in 2026 and can spend $449, this is the one to get. The only reasons to look elsewhere: you need deeper memory (Siglent SDS2104X Plus), you want proven track record over specs (DS1054Z), or you need CAN/LIN included free and can save $30 (Siglent SDS1104X-U at $419).

Buy on Amazon · $449Read Full Review

If You Need CAN/LIN Decoding Included: Siglent SDS1104X-U at $419

The Siglent SDS1104X-U at $419 undercuts the DHO924S by $30 and includes CAN and LIN protocol decoding without license fees — Rigol charges extra for CAN on the DHO924S. If you're doing automotive embedded work, vehicle diagnostic projects, or CAN bus debugging, the SDS1104X-U is the more cost-effective path. On pure specs, the DHO924S wins: 250MHz vs 100MHz bandwidth, 7-inch IPS touchscreen vs 7-inch non-touch display. But if CAN/LIN decoding saves you $50-100 in Rigol license fees, the SDS1104X-U delivers excellent value for automotive-focused work.
Pick #2

Siglent

Siglent SDS1104X-U

$419

7.5/ 5
100 MHz4 ch14 Mptsbenchtop

Why we like it

The Siglent SDS1104X-U is Siglent's answer to the 4-channel mid-range market, and its CAN/LIN decoding is its killer differentiator. Rigol charges extra for CAN decoding on most models; Siglent includes it free. If you're doing automotive embedded work — car CAN bus debugging, LIN network analysis, anything that touches vehicle electronics — the SDS1104X-U at $419 is the most cost-effective path to proper protocol support. For general hobbyist use without automotive protocol requirements, the DS1054Z at $349 remains better value, and the Rigol DHO924S at $449 offers 250MHz bandwidth and a touchscreen for just $30 more. I'd buy the SDS1104X-U specifically if CAN/LIN decoding is non-negotiable.

Buy on Amazon · $419Read Full Review

The Honorable Mention: Siglent SDS1204X-E at $775

The Siglent SDS1204X-E offers 200MHz bandwidth, 4 channels, and CAN/LIN decoding for $775. At current prices, it's no longer in the under-$500 conversation — it sits $326 above the DHO924S. The SDS1204X-E was the benchmark 4-channel scope under $500 for several years before the DHO924S appeared and prices shifted. In 2026, it's hard to recommend at $775: the DHO924S has more bandwidth (250 vs 200MHz), a better display (7-inch IPS touchscreen vs 7-inch non-touch), and costs $326 less. The SDS1204X-E's advantages are its mature software platform and Siglent's consistent firmware update history — but those don't justify the significant price premium over the DHO924S for most buyers.
Pick #3

Siglent

Siglent SDS1204X-E

$775

6.5/ 5
200 MHz4 ch14 Mptsbenchtop

Why we like it

The Siglent SDS1204X-E is a solid, proven instrument — but at ~$775, it's a genuinely hard sell in 2026. The 200MHz bandwidth with 4 channels and free CAN/LIN decoding is still a good spec combination, and Siglent's reliability and firmware update track record are real advantages. The problem is the competition. The Rigol DHO924S at $449 gives you 250MHz and a touchscreen for $326 less. The Siglent SDS1104X-U at $419 gives you 4 channels with CAN/LIN decoding for $356 less (at 100MHz). To justify the SDS1204X-E today, you'd need to specifically need 200MHz bandwidth, 4 channels, and CAN/LIN — and be unwilling to use either of those alternatives. That's a narrow use case at this price.

Buy on Amazon · $775Read Full Review

What About the Rigol DS1104Z-S Plus at $549?

The Rigol DS1104Z-S Plus at $549 is technically over the $500 limit, but worth a mention for comparison. It offers 100MHz bandwidth, 4 channels, and a built-in 25MHz function generator on the proven DS1000Z platform. At $549, it's hard to recommend over the DHO924S at $449. You're paying $100 more for less bandwidth, a worse display, no WiFi, and an older interface. The only justification is if you specifically need the proven DS1000Z platform's long-term reliability track record, or if you're buying for an educational context where the DS1000Z has established curriculum support.
Pick #4

Rigol

Rigol DS1104Z-S Plus

$549

7.0/ 5
100 MHz4 ch12 Mptsbenchtop

Why we like it

The DS1104Z-S Plus is the DS1054Z with the limitations officially removed: full 100MHz bandwidth and a built-in 25MHz function generator. At ~$549, it's the premium version of a proven platform that has a decade of community support behind it. The problem in 2026 is the Rigol DHO924S — it costs $100 less, has 250MHz bandwidth, a 7-inch IPS touchscreen, WiFi, 50Mpt memory, and is generally a better scope in almost every way. The DS1104Z-S Plus's advantage is its established reliability and the integrated function generator, which the base DHO924S also includes. I'd only choose this over the DHO924S if you're buying for a teaching lab with specific software integration requirements, or if you specifically need the proven DS1000Z platform.

Buy on Amazon · $549Read Full Review

Under $500 Oscilloscope Comparison

| Scope | Price | Bandwidth | Display | Memory | CAN/LIN | |-------|-------|-----------|---------|--------|----------| | Rigol DHO924S | $449 | 250MHz | 7" IPS Touch | 50Mpts | Extra cost | | Siglent SDS1104X-U | $419 | 100MHz | 7" non-touch | 14Mpts | Included | **My verdict:** Buy the DHO924S unless CAN/LIN decoding is non-negotiable. In that case, the SDS1104X-U at $419 saves you the license cost and delivers reliable performance for automotive protocol work. The under-$500 category has never been stronger for hobbyists. Either of these scopes would have been considered exceptional value five years ago. Choose based on your specific protocol needs, and you'll be well-served.

Our Top Pick

Rigol DHO924S

250MHz · 4ch · 50 Mpts · $449

Buy on Amazon · $449

Prices may change · Free shipping with Prime

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