15 Best Ukuleles Under $100 Review

Playing an instrument is one of the many great hobby you can do for the rest of your life. Having said that, you’re probably a beginner right now looking for your first instrument and a ukulele is what you have particularly in mind. If I’ve guess it correctly, let me tell you right away that you made an excellent choice. This small four stringed instrument in my opinion is right there on top with the guitar when it comes to a handy instrument that can accompany you while singing, or just simply enjoy playing as many of your favorite songs instrumentally in your relaxing time.

How much to spend for a ukulele? This definitely depends, a fifty dollar budget can already get you a decent ukulele model, not a toy and your one hundred dollar budget for a ukulele can take you far on the selection and can give the best value for the money in terms of materials used on making the instrument, overall built quality to last and of course, the quality of sound you’ll get out of the instrument. So to help you out get started and go straightaway from a spectator to playing, here’s our recommendations for a beginner ukulele under the one hundred dollar budget range.


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Lanikai LU-11 Soprano Ukulele Bundle

Lanikai LU-11 Soprano Ukulele Bundle
  • Soprano ukulele pack
  • Nato top
  • Nato back and sides
  • Comfortable C-profile neck
  • 12 frets nato fingerboard marked by white inlay dots
  • Set of open-geared tuners
  • Nato bridge with plastic saddle and plastic nut
  • Comes with a gig bag, clip-on tuner, polishing cloth and instructional DVD

For bugetarians out there looking for a sub one hundred dollar ukulele that they can learn well with and have them playing a number of songs in no time, the Lanikai brand is happy to offer their popular entry level LU-11 model which is a soprano size uke with a very affordable price, and comes in a package with a gig bag, instructional DVD, clip-on tuner, and polishing cloth making it a perfect first ukulele for a budding player.

This Lanikai LU-11 soprano ukulele has a nice sounding nato wood body and a comfortable solid wood neck with a 12 frets nato fingerboard marked by white inlay dots for playability. Other important parts worth mentioning to take care of tuning and affects the overall sound as well are the open-geared tuners, nato bridge with plastic saddles and plastic nut.


Kala KA-15S-S Soprano Ukulele Bundle

Kala KA-15S-S Soprano Ukulele Bundle
  • Soprano ukulele bundle
  • Spruce top in a satin finish
  • Mahogany back and sides
  • C-profile mahogany neck
  • 12 frets walnut fingerboard
  • Set of open-geared tuners
  • Walnut bridge with Graphtec NuBone saddle and Graphtec NuBone nut
  • Comes ready with a gig bag, digital clip-on ukulele tuner, instructional DVD and polishing cloth

Another brand well-known for their ukuleles is Kala and their offering on this budget range is the Kala KA-S soprano ukulele. This uke features a bright sounding spruce soundboard in satin finish with protective cream side bindings and has an comfortable tapered mahogany neck that is top of by a 12 frets walnut fingerboard to play strumming and finger picking style.

The traditional design of this soprano uke is partnered with a set of open-geared tuners, walnut bridge with Graphtec NuBone saddle, Graphtec NuBone nut and original Aquila Super Nylgut strings from Italy to give the best possible sound. This ukulele also comes in a pack complete with a gig bag for travel, digital clip-on ukulele tuner to tune the instrument, instructional DVD for a proper start and polishing cloth for an after play care.


Fender Seaside Soprano Ukulele

Fender Seaside Soprano Ukulele
  • Soprano ukulele
  • Mahogany soundboard in satin finish
  • Mahogany back and sides
  • C-profile neck is made of nato
  • 16 frets hardwood fingerboard for extra notes
  • Set of open-back geared chrome machineheads
  • No tie-bridge with bone saddle and bone nut

When it’s time to kick back and relax at home or by the ocean, the Fender Seaside soprano ukulele is guaranteed to amaze for the sound it brings to the table, quality of the build and for the selling price that anyone who want one can afford. This soprano size ukulele has a body constructed using laminated mahogany for its front, back, and sides in satin finish, and been placed with side bindings as garnish and for protection.

The C-shape neck of this ukulele is made of nato wood with a 16 frets hardwood fingerboard for extra notes and to achieve utmost playability unlike no other. Continuing with the parts, the Seaside soprano ukulele by Fender is equipped with a set of open-back geared chrome machineheads for tuning stability, no tie-bridge that makes string changing much easier compared to traditional ukulele bridges which require special knotting, and has bone saddle and bone nut.


Ibanez UEWS5 Soprano Ukulele

Ibanez UEWS5 Soprano Ukulele
  • Soprano ukulele with cutaway
  • Sapale top in open pore finish
  • Sapale back and sides
  • C-shape okoume neck
  • 19 frets purpleheart fretboard marked by maple dot inlays
  • Chrome open-geared tuners
  • No-tie purpleheart bridge with compensated saddle and plastic nut

The Ibanez UEWS5 ukulele is a soprano ukulele with an modern designed cutaway body and able to deliver the sweet classic tones of a well loved soprano size ukulele. This sound machine of a uke has a sapale top, back and sides tonewood in open pore finish with abalone rosette on the sound hole and florence cutaway to easily access the higher frets.

The fast long neck up to the headstock that made Ibanez guitars and basses famous over the years is pass on to their ukuleles for giving this model a long slender okoume wood neck with a beautiful 19 frets purpleheart fretboard marked by maple dot inlays. Other premium appointments players will surely notice on this instrument are the chrome open-geared tuners, no-tie purpleheart bridge with compensated saddle, and Nylback strings manufactured by Aquila Strings.


Gretsch G9100 Soprano Ukulele

Gretsch G9100 Soprano Ukulele
  • Soprano ukulele
  • Mahogany top
  • Mahogany back and sides
  • Medium-U profile mahogany neck
  • 16 frets ovangkol fingerboard with dot inlays
  • Set of open-back geared tuners
  • Ovangkol bridge with bone saddle and bone nut

Part of Gretsch guitars Root Collection, the G9100 soprano model is a must have ukulele for beginners and to be part of anyone’s growing ukulele collection. It features an open-pore semi-gloss finish mahogany top, back and sides body, comfortable to play medium-U profile mahogany neck and has an ovangkol fingerboard with 16 frets.

This budget friendly soprano size uke by Gretsch is also equipped with an ovangkol bridge with bone saddle, bone nut, set of open-back geared tuners to take care of tuning, Aquila Nylgut strings for an awesome sound and comes in fitted with a gig bag.


Oscar Schmidt OU2 Concert Ukulele Bundle

Oscar Schmidt OU2 Concert Ukulele Bundle
  • Concert ukulele package
  • Mahogany top in satin finish
  • Mahogany back and sides
  • C-profile mahogany neck
  • 18 frets rosewood fingerboard with cream side bindings and marked by inlay dots
  • Set of chrome open-geared tuners
  • Rosewood bridge with Graphite saddle and Graphite nut
  • The package is complete with a gig bag, instructional DVD, clip-on tuner, and polishing cloth

Finely hand crafted by artisans using only the best wood materials on making a ukulele, the Oscar Schmidt OU2 concert is one of the best if not the very best sounding uke you’ll find in the market today without emptying your pocket. The body of this ukulele is made completely from mahogany in satin finish with matching abalone sound hole rosettes as garnish.

The tapered neck of the Oscar Schmidt OU2 is made also using mahogany wood with cream side bindings for smoother edges and has an 18 frets rosewood fingerboard marked by inlay dots. Holding the nylon strings of this concert ukulele and keeping it in tune are a set of chrome open-geared tuners, rosewood bridge with Graphite saddle and Graphite nut. This ukulele is offered on a package complete with a gig bag, instructional DVD, clip-on tuner, and polishing cloth to go straight away to playing.


San Dona Acoustic Electric Concert Ukulele Pack

San Dona Acoustic Electric Concert Ukulele Pack
  • San Dona acoustic electric concert ukulele package
  • Spruce soundboard
  • Zebrano back and sides for an appealing contrast
  • Comfortable C-profile neck
  • 18 nickel frets walnut fingerboard
  • Set of guitar style tuning machineheads
  • Equipped with an under saddle pick-up
  • Walnut bridge with ox bone saddle and ox bone nut
  • Comes with a carry on soft case, digital ukulele tuner, strap, extra replacement strings and a user manual

Right of of the box and with just a minimal set-up, the San Dona acoustic electric concert ukulele is ready to produce a nice acoustic sound especially when played thru an amplifier. This concert size ukulele is crafted with a spruce wood for its top, and has a zebrano back and sides for an appealing contrast.

For the other notable features that makes this uke a best buy are the set of guitar style tuning machineheads, walnut bridge with ox bone saddle, ox bone nut, Aquila Nylgut strings, under saddle pick-up and a solid neck with 18 nickel frets walnut fingerboard. The San Dona acoustic electric ukulele is sold as a beginner pack, meaning it comes with a carry on soft case to keep the instrument safe during travels, digital ukulele tuner to tune the instrument, strap, extra replacement strings and a user manual.


Aklot Acoustic Electric Concert Ukulele Starter Kit

Aklot Acoustic Electric Concert Ukulele Starter Kit
  • Acoustic electric concert ukulele starter kit
  • Solid mahogany soundboard
  • Mahogany back and sides
  • Comfortable C-shape neck
  • 18 frets walnut fingerboard complete with dot inlays
  • Set of 18:1 ratio pure copper open-gear tuners
  • Walnut bridge with synthetic saddle and synthetic nut
  • Preamp system with a built-in chromatic tuner to plug on an amplifier
  • Includes a gig bag, ukulele strap, picks, extra nylon strings, instructional booklet guide and a prepared online lesson on their official website

Designed for every uke player and a wonderful gift to someone who shows a keen interest of learning and playing this fun instrument, the Aklot ukulele is a great concert size ukulele to have not because you’re on a tight budget, but because this is what you really wanted and your preferred choice among the many models of ukulele available in different prices on the market.

This ukulele has a solid mahogany for soundboard with a mahogany back and sides to produce the sought after warm and vibrant tones on a ukulele. Neck is comfortable C-shape top of by a smooth edge 18 frets walnut fingerboard marked by perloid dots. Tuning, intonation and string action is taken care of by a set of 18:1 ratio pure copper open-gear tuners, walnut bridge with synthetic saddle and synthetic nut. This concert uke also includes a gig bag, ukulele strap, picks, extra nylon strings, instructional booklet guide and a prepared online lesson on their official website to get you started.


Kmise UK-24B Concert Ukulele

Kmise UK-24B Concert Ukulele
  • Acoustic electric concert ukulele
  • Solid spruce top
  • Sapele back and sides
  • Neck is C-profile crafted from okoume
  • 18 cupronickel frets walnut fingerboard marked by dot inlays
  • Set of chrome sealed-tuners
  • Walnut bridge with bone saddle and real bone nut
  • Preamp system controlled by volume and 3-band EQ bass-mid-treble to blend tones

If you’re looking for a very affordable concert size ukulele with electronics on-board to plug on an amplifier of choice, the Kmise UK-24B concert acoustic electric ukulele is well recommended without breaking the bank. This concert ukulele is a hot seller not only because of the price, but for having a high quality solid spruce top, sapele back and sides and a preamp system controlled by volume and 3-band EQ bass-mid-treble that you don’t often see and will get on an entry level ukulele.

The neck and the tilted headstock of the ukulele is made from okoume wood with 18 cupronickel frets walnut fingerboard marked by dot inlays. Then for tuning, string action and intonation, the Kmise UK-24B concert scale ukulele has a set of chrome sealed-tuners, Aquila Nylgut strings, walnut bridge with bone saddle and real bone nut.


Luna Uke Tattoo Concert Ukulele

Luna Uke Tattoo Concert Ukulele
  • Concert ukulele
  • Spruce soundboard with waves geometric pattern engravings
  • Mahogany back and sides in satin finish
  • Comfortable C-profile mahogany neck
  • 18 frets walnut fingerboard with shark tooth inlays
  • Set of open-geared machineheads
  • Walnut bridge with graphite saddle and graphite nut

At first glance if you like how this ukulele looks, you’ll definitely also will like the way it sounds, presenting to you the Luna Uke Tattoo concert ukulele. The Uke Tattoo concert by Luna Guitars has a spruce top soundboard, mahogany back and sides in natural satin finish with laser engravings of shark teeth arranged in waves so players can see and feel the design.

The set C-shape neck, headstock and 18 frets fingerboard is made from a combination of mahogany and walnut tonewoods to compliment the body traditional tones and playability. To hold a stable tuning, and proper intonation as you move up the fretboard, the Luna Uke Tattoo concert has a set of open-geared machineheads, walnut bridge with Graphite saddle and Graphite nut.


Cordoba 15CM Concert Ukulele

Cordoba 15CM Concert Ukulele
  • Concert ukulele
  • Mahogany top in satin finish
  • Mahogany back and sides
  • C-shape mahogany neck
  • 18 frets composite fingerboard with bindings
  • Chrome open-geared tuners with pearl buttons
  • Composite bridge with composite saddle and composite nut

The Cordoba 15 Series 15CM concert ukulele and 15CM-E which is the acoustic electric model of the series are both ideal beginner ukulele when basing it on price, tone quality and built of the instruments. The all mahogany body construction provides a rich warm sound that every player will love and appointments like abalone sound hole rosette and cream side ABS bindings increases the value to the purchase and character to the instrument.

The C-shape mahogany neck is comfortable to play and has an 18 frets composite fingerboard with bindings that set it apart from other ukulele models in its price range. Additional premium features on this ukulele is the sleek satin finish, chrome open-geared tuners with pearl buttons, Aquila Nylgut strings, composite bridge with composite saddle and composite nut.


Lohanu LU-T Tenor Ukulele Beginner Bundle

Lohanu LU-T Tenor Ukulele Beginner Bundle
  • Tenor ukulele pack
  • Sapale/mahogany soundboard in satin finish
  • Sapale/mahogany back and sides
  • C-shape neck made from solid mahogany
  • 18 frets rosewood fingerboard marked by white dot inlays
  • Set of closed-geared tuners
  • Rosewood bridge with tusq saddle and tusq nut
  • Includes a clip-on tuner, padded case, picks, leather pick, extra Aquila nylgut strings, strap, cord hanger and beginner video lesson

One of the best selling and highly rated ukulele on Amazon due to its pleasing sound and good standing quality, the Lohanu ukulele can be all yours just shy of one hundred dollar to spend on the budget for a premium ukulele package that includes a gig bag, clip-on ukulele tuner, 2 picks, paracord hanger, extra set of Aquila strings and a strap to lace it up.

This ukulele is available in soprano, concert and the one featured on this list, the Lohanu tenor size ukulele is made from top grade sapale/mahogany wood for its top, sides and arched back to give more volume to the sound. The neck is crafted using mahogany as well with a smooth ABS side bindings like on the body top of by an 18 frets rosewood fingerboard marked by inlay dots. To keep the pre-installed Aquila Nylgut strings in perfect pitch, the Lohanu LU-T tenor ukulele has a set of closed-geared tuners, rosewood bridge with tusq saddle and tusq nut.


Enya EUT-70 Tenor Ukulele Starter Pack

Enya EUT-70 Tenor Ukulele Starter Pack
  • Tenor ukulele pack
  • Koa soundboard in matte finish
  • Koa back and sides
  • C-shape neck is crafted using solid mahogany
  • 18 frets richlite fingerboard complete with dot inlays as markers
  • Equipped with an 18:1 ratio high-end open-geared tuners,
  • No-tie richlite bridge with ox bone saddle and ox bone nut
  • Comes ready with accessories like a premium case, picks, strap, chromatic ukulele tuner, capo, polishing cloth, extra strings and a sand finger shaker

Some of us have extraordinary large hands, which means a soprano and concert scale ukulele will be difficult to play. For that reason here is what we recommend at this budget range, the Enya EUT-70 tenor size ukulele. This ukulele has a top, back and sides made from laminated koa with a nice matte finish and abalone rosette design on the sound hole.

The neck and slotted style headstock in contrast to the body wood, it is crafted using solid mahogany top of by an 18 frets richlite fingerboard complete with dot inlays as markers. This ukulele is also well equipped with an 18:1 ratio high-end open-geared tuners, strap buttons, no-tie richlite bridge with ox bone saddle and ox bone nut. To make this a superb deal for everyone, the ukulele comes ready with accessories like a premium case, picks, strap, chromatic ukulele tuner, capo, polishing cloth, extra strings and a sand finger shaker.


Caramel CT204 Acoustic Electric Tenor Ukulele Package

Best Ukuleles Under $100
  • Acoustic electric tenor ukulele package
  • Solid acacia top
  • Solid acacia back and sides
  • Truss-rod adjustable C-profile neck
  • 18 walnut fingerboard for awesome playability
  • Equipped with a set of closed-geared tuners
  • Walnut bridge with buffalo bone saddle and buffalo bone nut
  • Built-in tuner and a preamp system controlled by a master volume, and 3-band EQ bass-mid-treble
  • Include are additional set nylon strings, padded gig bag, picks, cleaning cloth, ukulele wall hanger, ukulele strap, extra bridge pins, metal nail drawer, cable and instructional booklet

Available in different sizes to choose from namely in concert, tenor, baritone and guitalele, this very affordable and excellently made acoustic electric ukulele featured here to play plug or unplug on an amplifier is called the Caramel ukulele. The all solid acacia wood top, back and sides of this Caramel ukulele when compared to laminate wood ukulele of other brands will only get better and better sounding as the wood ages. Then it is paired with an truss-rod adjustable neck and 18 frets walnut fingerboard to add more to the overall sound.

Now moving on the other specs to look forward into and get excited about, the all solid wood Caramel acoustic electric concert ukulele is equipped with a set of closed-geared tuners, walnut bridge with buffalo bone saddle, and buffalo bone nut to take care of tuning.


Makala MK-B Baritone Ukulele

Makala MK-B Baritone Ukulele
  • Baritone ukulele
  • Mahogany top in satin finish
  • Mahogany back and sides
  • C-profile mahogany neck
  • 18 frets walnut fingerboard marked by dot inlays
  • Set of open-geared machinehead with cream buttons
  • Walnut bridge with tusq saddle and tusq nut

Closing for our list of affordable ukuleles under the one hundred dollar range is the Makala classic line MK-B baritone ukulele. This entry level ukulele gets its sound and playability using an all mahogany body in satin finish and mahogany neck with an 18 frets walnut fingerboard marked by dot inlays.

The sound coming form the body and neck of this baritone size ukulele is then reinforced by stable tuning and intonation across the whole neck provided by the set of open-geared machinehead with cream buttons, walnut bridge with tusq saddle and tusq nut.

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