Best Guitar Amp Under $400 (2026): 5 Picks Compared
Updated Oct 24, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Ranked from listed specifications · How we rank
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The Orange Crush 20RT leads this list for best guitar amp under 400: it earns Best Overall with 20W through an 8-inch speaker, clean and dirty channels, and built-in reverb plus a chromatic tuner. If watts decide it for you, the BOSS Katana-50 Gen 3 is the pick, since it holds the Most Power label with 50 watts.
The picks at a glance
Which one should you buy?
- Beginners who want clean and dirty channels with reverb: Orange Crush 20RT 20W 8" 2-Channel Guitar See pick 1More picks: Best Guitar Amp for Beginners
- Beginners who want a 3-band EQ with overdrive control: Orange Crush 12-12W 6" Guitar Amplifier See pick 2More picks: Best Beginner Guitar Amp
- Players who want 12 amp characters to explore: BOSS Katana-50 Gen 3 Guitar Amplifier 50-Watt See pick 3
- Beginners who want a portable amp with Bluetooth: Coolmusic Acoustic/Electric Guitar Amplifier See pick 4More picks: Best Portable Guitar Amp with Bluetooth
- Beginners who want clean and overdrive channels: Marshall MG15GR Combo Electric Guitar Amplifier See pick 5
Want the full range? Best Guitar Amp ranks the top guitar amps for every buyer, or browse all 76 guides.
The 5 picks, ranked
1Best Overall
Orange Crush 20RT 20W 8" 2-Channel Guitar
- Power: 20 W
- Speaker size: 8 in
- Built-in effects / amp models
- Headphone output not stated in the listing
- 1-year warranty stated
It earns Best Overall with 20W through an 8-inch speaker, clean and dirty channels, and built-in reverb and tuner.
Who it suits
- Beginners who want clean and dirty channels with reverb
- Players who want a built-in chromatic tuner
Skip it if
- You want more than 20 watts
- You want a speaker larger than 8 inches
The Crush 20RT gives 20 watts through an 8-inch speaker with clean and dirty channels. It has built-in reverb and a built-in chromatic tuner. It runs on corded electric power. Orange gives a 1-year warranty.
2Runner-Up
Orange Crush 12-12W 6" Guitar Amplifier
- Power: 12 W
- Speaker size: 6 in
- Built-in effects / amp models not stated in the listing
- Headphone output
- 1-year warranty stated
It takes Runner-Up with 12W through a 6-inch speaker, a 3-band EQ and a headphone output for silent practice.
Who it suits
- Beginners who want a 3-band EQ with overdrive control
- Players who want a headphone output for silent practice
Skip it if
- You want more than 12 watts
- You want a speaker larger than 6 inches
The Crush 12 gives 12 watts through a 6-inch speaker with bass, middle and treble controls and an overdrive control. It has a headphone output for silent practice. It runs on corded electric power and weighs 10.4 lb. Orange gives a 1-year warranty.
3Most Power
BOSS Katana-50 Gen 3 Guitar Amplifier 50-Watt
- Power: 50 W, the most here
- Speaker size: 12 in, the largest here
- Built-in effects / amp models
- Headphone output not stated in the listing
- 2-year warranty stated
It holds Most Power with 50 watts through a 12-inch speaker, 12 amp characters and 5 effects sections.
Who it suits
- Players who want 12 amp characters to explore
- Players who want 5 effects sections with BOSS Tone Studio
Skip it if
- You want a speaker smaller than 12 inches
- You want a rechargeable battery
The Katana-50 Gen 3 gives 50 watts through a custom 12-inch speaker. It has 12 amp characters with a variation for each, and 5 effects sections covering booster, mod, FX, delay and reverb. The BOSS Tone Studio app edits the amp and effects. BOSS gives a 2-year manufacturer warranty.
4Also Great
Coolmusic Acoustic/Electric Guitar Amplifier
- Power: 15 W
- Speaker size: 4.5 in
- Built-in effects / amp models not stated in the listing
- Headphone output
- Bluetooth
- 24-month warranty stated
It holds Also Great with 15W through a 4.5-inch speaker, Bluetooth and a rechargeable battery for 4-8 hours of play.
Who it suits
- Beginners who want a portable amp with Bluetooth
- Players who want two channels for guitar and microphone
Skip it if
- You want more than 15 watts
- You want a speaker larger than 4.5 inches
This 15W amp has a 4.5-inch speaker with two channels: one for electric or acoustic guitar and one for acoustic guitar or microphone. It has Bluetooth for backing tracks, reverb and a DI-OUT jack. The rechargeable battery gives 4-8 hours of play, and a carry strap is included. Coolmusic gives a 24-month product guarantee.
5Also Great
Marshall MG15GR Combo Electric Guitar Amplifier
- Power: 15 W
- Speaker size: 8 in
- Built-in effects / amp models not stated in the listing
- Headphone output
- 1 year warranty stated
It holds Also Great with 15W through an 8-inch speaker, clean and overdrive channels and built-in digital spring reverb.
Who it suits
- Beginners who want clean and overdrive channels
- Players who want a 3-band EQ with digital reverb
Skip it if
- You want more than 15 watts
- You want a speaker larger than 8 inches
The MG15GR gives 15 watts through an 8-inch speaker with clean and overdrive channels. It has a 3-band EQ and built-in digital spring reverb. It has a headphone output and a 3.5mm input to jam along with songs. It weighs 18.1 lb and carries a 1 year warranty.
Side by side
| Product | Power | Speaker size | Built-in effects / amp models | Headphone output | Bluetooth | Weight | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange Crush 20RT 20W 8" 2-Channel Guitar | 20 W | 8 in | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | 15.7 lb | 1-year |
| Orange Crush 12-12W 6" Guitar Amplifier | 12 W | 6 in | Not stated | Yes | Not stated | 10.4 lb | 1-year |
| BOSS Katana-50 Gen 3 Guitar Amplifier 50-Watt | 50 W | 12 in | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 2-year |
| Coolmusic Acoustic/Electric Guitar Amplifier | 15 W | 4.5 in | Not stated | Yes | Yes | Not stated | 24-month |
| Marshall MG15GR Combo Electric Guitar Amplifier | 15 W | 8 in | Not stated | Yes | Not stated | 18.1 lb | 1 year |
How we ranked these guitar amps
Every pick has at least 100 customer ratings on Amazon and a listing with real specifications. The order mixes two things: how each model compares on the specs below (higher share of the best value in this group scores more), and how widely it is bought. The spec score runs from 9.0 to 9.8 and only compares these picks with each other. A spec the listing does not state is left out and the other specs are re-weighted; a listing with fewer than 2 stated specs is scored at half. We do not test gear in person. Full method.
- Power weight 3
- Speaker size weight 2
- Built-in effects / amp models weight 2
- Headphone output weight 1
- Bluetooth weight 1
Buying advice: guitar amp under 400
Match watts and speaker to your use
Watts and speaker size set how much amp you carry. The BOSS gives 50 watts through a 12-inch speaker, the Orange 20RT gives 20 watts through an 8-inch speaker, the Marshall gives 15 watts through an 8-inch speaker, the Coolmusic gives 15 watts through a 4.5-inch speaker, and the Orange Crush 12 gives 12 watts through a 6-inch speaker. If you carry the amp daily, the lighter end of this list is easier to move.
Decide how you will power it
The Coolmusic runs on a rechargeable battery for 4-8 hours of play, so it works away from an outlet. The Orange 20RT, Orange Crush 12, BOSS and Marshall run on corded electric power. If you always play near an outlet, a corded amp is the simple choice.
Compare channels and built-in effects
Channels and effects decide how much the amp does on its own. The Orange 20RT has clean and dirty channels with built-in reverb and a chromatic tuner. The BOSS has 12 amp characters and 5 effects sections. The Coolmusic has two channels with distortion and reverb, and the Marshall has clean and overdrive channels with digital spring reverb.
Frequently asked questions
How many watts do I need for practice?
For home practice, 12 to 20 watts covers most of these picks. The Orange Crush 12 gives 12 watts, the Coolmusic and Marshall give 15 watts each, the Orange 20RT gives 20 watts, and the BOSS gives 50 watts.
What is the difference between clean and drive channels?
The clean channel plays without added distortion, and the drive channel adds overdrive. The Orange 20RT has clean and dirty channels, the Marshall has clean and overdrive channels, and the BOSS has 12 amp characters.
Can I practice silently with these amps?
The Orange Crush 12 has a headphone output for silent practice, the Marshall has a headphone output, and the Coolmusic has a 3.5mm phones port that mutes the speaker.
How long are the warranties on these amps?
The Coolmusic carries a 24-month product guarantee and the BOSS a 2-year manufacturer warranty. The Orange 20RT, Orange Crush 12 and Marshall each carry a 1-year warranty.
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Specifications and availability come from each Amazon listing on Oct 24, 2026 and can change. Check the listing before you buy.