The Best Good Cheap Snowboards 2024-2025

BEST CHEAP FREESTYLE SNOWBOARD

Board: Arbor Relapse

Price: $399

SnowboardingProfiles.com Freestyle Rating Score : 85.9/100

>>See Full Review

Why This Board Was Chosen

 I was surprised about this board being cheaper for the 2024 model than it was for the 2023 model. But now my jaw is really dropping - because the 2025 model has gone down in price yet again. 2 years in a row actually going down, not up. 

That made the Relapse an easy choice to retain the title it first grabbed last year. The 2025 model is now just $399, when it was $425 for the 2024 model and $449 for the 2023 model. Long may the trend continue! 

The Relapse is a good $88 less than the average price of all the current freestyle snowboards that we've rated - and well above the average score. In fact, it's #10 in this year's Top 10 Freestyle Snowboards (which doesn't take price into account). 

Some other notable numbers: 

• The top 16 of the 33 freestyle boards had an average price was $529.
• The Relapse was 10th - and was $130 cheaper than the average in the top 16. 
• Of the top 16, the Relapse was the lowest priced.
• There were only 2 boards in the entire list of 33 that were cheaper than the Relapse and those two boards had an average score of 77.4/100 (vs the Relapse's 85.9/100

Alternatives

• YES Basic (83.7 points | $429)
• Bataleon Disaster (89.7 points | $469);
• Good Company (85.9 points | $439);
• Slash Spectrum (83.2 points | $375);
• Rome Gangplank (87.5 points | $479);

BEST CHEAP ALL-MOUNTAIN-FREESTYLE SNOWBOARD

Board: Jones Tweaker

Price: $499

SnowboardingProfiles.com All-Mtn-Freestyle Rating Score : 87.6/100

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Why This Board Was Chosen

The Tweaker is a playful all-mountain freestyle board that offers great value for money. 

It was our 5th overall pick for all-mountain-freestyle snowboards (which doesn't take price into account) this year and it’s $62 cheaper than the average snowboard in this category, while being well above the average score. 

Some other notable numbers: 

• The average price for this category went up by $9 compared to last year.
• The average price for this category is $74 higher than the freestyle category (see above)
• The average price for the top half (top 15) was $582, making the Tweaker $83 cheaper than those that scored in the top half of this list.
• The Tweaker was the equal second lowest priced board in the Top 15
• Of those costing $499 or less (8 of them), not including the Tweaker, the average score was 79.4, putting the Tweaker way above the average for its price. 

Alternatives

• Slash Happy Place (84.3 points | $479);
• YES Airmaster (86 points | $499);
• Nidecker Gamma (84.8 points | $499)

BEST CHEAP ALL-MOUNTAIN SNOWBOARD

Board: Rome Warden

Price: $429

SnowboardingProfiles.com All-Mountain Rating Score : 87.3/100

>>See Full Review (review coming soon)

Why This Board Was Chosen

The Warden was an obvious choice, being almost $100 cheaper than the average for this category and scoring well above the average score. There are some honorable mentions, but nothing really came close to the Warden as the choice for best value-for-money all-mountain board. 

The Warden was rated as our #7 pick for this year's Top 10 All-Mountain Snowboards list.

Some other notable numbers: 

• The average price for this category went down by $17 compared to last year
• The average price for this category is $36 lower than the all-mountain-freestyle category (see above) but $38 higher than the freestyle category (see above).
• The average price for the top half (top 15) was $570, making the Warden $141 cheaper than those that scored in the top half of this category!
• The Warden was the lowest priced board in the Top 15.
• Of the 4 boards costing $429 or less (not including the Warden), the average score was 75.5.

Alternatives

Honorable mentions to:

• Nidecker Escape ($479, 84.3 points);
• YES Typo ($499 | 87.3 points);
  
• Jones Fontier ($499 | 84.9 points)

BEST CHEAP AGGRESSIVE ALL-MTN-FREESTYLE SNOWBOARD

Board: Nidecker Sensor Team

Price: $499

SnowboardingProfiles.com Aggressive All-Mtn-Free Rating Score : 86.4/100

>>See Full Review (review coming soon)

Why This Board Was Chosen

In a category with an average price like this one does, it's rare to find a good option that costs less than $500. The Sensor Team fills that role to a tee. 

It's the lowest priced board in the whole category, yet it still scores above the average score for the category. 

Some other notable numbers: 

• The average price for this category was coincidentally the same, despite some price changes for some of the boards and 4 boards removed from the list and 3 boards that were new to the list. 
• The average price for this category is $103 higher than the all-mountain category (see above). It is the 3rd highest priced category only lower than Freeride and Aggressive All-Mountain (see below). 
• The Sensor Team ranked 7th of the 14 boards, despite being $129 cheaper than the average price.

Alternatives

• Nidecker Gamma APX ($579 | 89.2 points
• Nidecker Sensor Pro ($579 | 88.1 points)
• YES Basic Uninc RDM ($579 | 86.4 points)

BEST CHEAP AGGRESSIVE ALL-MOUNTAIN SNOWBOARD

Board: Rome Stale Crewzer

Price: $549

SnowboardingProfiles.com Aggressive All-Mtn Rating Score : 85.9/100

Why This Board Was Chosen

The Stale Crewzer costs a good $88 less than the average board in this category but still manages a score just higher than the average. It's only $20 more than the lowest priced board in this category, but still manages to be ranked 7th out of 18. 

>>See Full Review

Some other notable numbers: 

• The average price for this category went up by $15 compared to last year
• The average price for this category is $113 higher than the all-mountain category and $9 higher than the aggressive all-mountain freestyle category (see above) and is the 2nd highest priced category behind only freeride (see below). 
• The average price for the top half (top 9) was $673, making the Stale Crewzer a  huge $124 cheaper than those that scored in the top half of this list. 
• The Crewzer was the lowest priced board in the Top 9 and was the 2nd equal lowest priced in the whole list.

Alternatives

In a category that has a very high average price, there aren't too many cheap options, but the following were notable alternatives: 

• Nidecker Escape Plus ($529 | 84.2 points);
• Nitro Team Camber ($579 | 85.3 points);
• Slash Straight ($549 | 84.7 points)
• Nidecker Thruster ($579 | 84.2 points); 

BEST CHEAP FREERIDE SNOWBOARD

Board: YES Pick Your Line (PYL)

Price: $499

SnowboardingProfiles.com Freeride Rating Score : 90.2/100

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Why This Board Was Chosen

There was no question that the PYL would again be the choice for best value-for-money freeride board this year. And, surprisingly (pleasantly) it's actually gone down in price by $50 for the 2025 model! Cementing its place even more firmly here. 

It's a three-peat for the PYL as it took the top spot here in the last 2 years as well. 

This one is probably the easiest choice of any of the categories. It was #3 in our top 10 freeride snowboard list this year and it is now $164 cheaper than the average price! Yes, you read that correctly. 

It's not only the lowest priced option in the freeride top 10, it was the cheapest equal option for the whole top half of the list (top 20).

If I was to google value-for-money definition, I wouldn't be surprised to just see a picture of the PYL! 

Some other notable numbers: 

• The average price of this category went up by $19 compared to last year. 
• The average price for this category is the highest of all the categories - $26 higher than the next highest category (aggressive all-mountain).
• The average price for the top half (top 18) was $670, making the PYL a massive $171 cheaper than those that scored in the top half of this list. 

Alternatives

• Nidecker Alpha APX ($579 | 85.3 points);
• Rome Ravine Pro ($599 | 87.5 points);
• Jones Hovercraft 2.0 ($599 | 86.4 points); 
• YES PYL Uninc ($599 | 85.9 points); 
• Rome Stale Fish ($549 | 84.2 points)

BEST CHEAP MELLOW FREERIDE SNOWBOARD

Board: Salomon Dancehaul

Price: $499

SnowboardingProfiles.com Freeride Rating Score : 87.1/100

>>See Full Review

Why This Board Was Chosen

The Dancehaul comes in at $88 cheaper than the average price for this category but a good amount above the average rating. Good enough for it to make #10= in our Top 10 Mellow Freeride Snowboards list. 

The average price of the other boards that made the top 10 was $667 - which the Dancehaul betters price-wise, by $168. 

Some other notable numbers: 

• The average price for this category went up by $18 compared to last year.
• The average price for this category is $76 lower than the freeride category (see above), which isn't surprising, given that stiffer boards are typically more costly and this category features directional boards that are 6.5/10 flex or less. 
• The average price for the top half (top 15) was $635, making the Dancehaul $136 cheaper than those that scored in the top half of this list. 
• Of the 6 boards not named the Dancehaul and that were $499 or under the average score was 80.1. The Dancehaul scored 87.1. 

Alternatives

• K2 Passport ($549 | 86.5 points); 
• Jones Mind Expander ($569 | 87.1 points);
• Bataleon Thunderstorm ($529 | 85.4 points);
• Arbor Single ($559 | 86.5 points);
• Bataleon Cruiser ($499 | 84.3 points);
• Rome Ravine ($559 | 84.3 points).

BEST CHEAP BEGINNER SNOWBOARD

Board: Nitro Prime

Price: $349

SnowboardingProfiles.com Beginner Rating Score : 92/100

Why This Board Was Chosen

Nothing has been able to knock the Prime off its perch here for a while now - but one board did come very close and really is a first equal, which was the Rossignol Ampage Mind Expander - which came in equal on points and at the same price. 

The Prime is the cheapest equal I looked at for this category (and that's saying something in a beginner category) and ranks 2nd overall in my top 10 beginner snowboards list.

It's a good $106 cheaper than the average price. A steal for that first board to progress on.

Price is taken into account for the scores for beginner boards – so this is somewhat skewed for this category.  

Some other notable numbers: 

• The average price for this category went down by $2 compared to last year
• The average price for this category is the lowest of all the categories, naturally being a beginner list - and with those that are suited to this category being softer flexing snowboards. 
• Price is taken into account for the scores for beginner boards – so this is somewhat skewed for this category. 
• The average price for the top half (top 20) was $412, making the Prime $63 cheaper than those that scored in the top half of this list. The bottom half of the list had a higher average price than the top half though - because price in this case influenced the scores. 

Alternatives 

>>Check out more great Beginner Snowboard Options