The 8 Best Induction Cooktops Under $500, From Countertop Doubles to Built-In Ranges, Ranked & Reviewed

Our verdict: Two burners with a wide 50 to 575 degree F range, on a plug-in countertop unit.

The Double Pro is a portable dual-burner induction cooktop with a temperature range of 50 to 575 degrees F. It sits on a counter and plugs into a standard outlet, so there is no wiring.

It takes first place because it combines two burners with fine temperature control, and that is the useful combination in a home kitchen. A low end of 50 degrees F lets you hold sauces warm or melt chocolate without scorching, and 575 degrees F is hot enough for searing. Two burners let you run a pan and a pot together. The catch with any plug-in double is that both burners share one circuit, so running both at full power will draw down output on each.

Buy it if you want flexible cooking without installation. Skip it if you regularly cook for large groups at once.

Burners

2

Temperature

50 to 575 degrees F

Type

Portable countertop

Installation

None, plug-in

Our verdict: A 30-inch built-in with five burners, nine power levels, sensor touch and a child lock.

The VEVOR 30-inch is a 240V built-in cooktop with 5 burners, 9 power levels, sensor touch controls and a child safety lock. It is designed to be dropped into a counter cutout, not to sit on top.

It ranks second because five burners in a standard 30-inch footprint is the most cooking surface per dollar in this ranking. The child lock is a real feature in a family kitchen, since touch controls can be triggered by a stray hand or a cat. The requirements are the cost: a 240V circuit, a hardwire connection by someone qualified and a countertop cutout that matches.

Buy it if you are replacing a cooktop and have the right circuit. Skip it if you rent or cannot wire a 240V line.

Burners

5

Power levels

9

Controls

Sensor touch, child lock

Supply

240V built-in

Our verdict: A straightforward 1800W two-burner countertop cooktop with an LCD display.

The Duxtop 9620LS is a portable two-burner induction cooktop with 1800W of total power and an LCD display. It is a countertop unit, simple to set up and use.

The 1800W figure is the number to understand: it is shared across both burners, so a single pan can use close to the full amount, while two pans split it. That makes it ideal for one big job and one small one, but slow if you try to boil two large pots. It sits behind the Nuwave because the listing offers no temperature range, so you work from power levels instead of degrees.

Buy it if you want a no-fuss double that is easy to store. Skip it if you need exact temperature numbers.

Burners

2

Power

1800W total

Display

LCD

Type

Portable countertop

Our verdict: A hardwired 30-inch cooktop with a 10,600W rating and nine power levels.

The AMZCHEF 30-inch is a 240V built-in cooktop with nine power levels and a 10,600W total rating. It has no plug and must be hardwired.

A 10,600W rating is the highest in this ranking, though it is a combined figure across all burners that cannot be reached by one pan alone. It sits fourth because the listing gives little about burner count or controls, and hardwiring is a job for a licensed electrician. If you are already replacing a gas or radiant cooktop with a 240V line in place, it is competitive.

Buy it if you have a 240V circuit ready and want a high-output unit. Skip it if you want to see burner details first.

Size

30 inch built-in

Power levels

9

Rating

10,600W

Supply

240V, hardwired

Our verdict: A wok-shaped induction burner with 600, 900 and 1500W settings and 5 degree control steps.

The Nuwave Induction Wok is built for round-bottomed woks, with three wattage settings of 600, 900 and 1500W, and a range from 100 to 575 degrees F in 5 degree steps.

A flat induction burner heats only where the pan touches, which is why woks work poorly on them. A curved surface keeps the wok in contact on the sides, so tossing and searing behave more like a flame. It ranks fifth because it is a one-job device: great for stir-fry, awkward for a flat pan or a stockpot.

Buy it if you cook a lot of wok dishes. Skip it if you want one general-purpose burner.

Wattage

600, 900, 1500W

Temperature

100 to 575 degrees F

Steps

5 degree increments

Design

Wok-specific

Our verdict: A near-twin of the 9620LS with 1800W total, two burners and an LCD display.

The Duxtop 9720LCBI is another portable double burner with 1800W total, an LCD display and two cooking zones. It reads like the 9620LS on paper, and the listing gives no distinguishing detail.

That sameness is why it ranks sixth: with no extra feature to point to, the choice between the two Duxtops is a coin toss. It still offers the same strengths of a plug-in design and a clear display.

Buy it if it is the better price on the day. Skip it if you want a temperature-based unit like the Nuwave.

Burners

2

Power

1800W total

Display

LCD

Type

Portable countertop

Our verdict: A 36-inch, five-burner built-in with 9,200W, nine heating levels and a child lock.

The 36-inch VEVOR offers 5 burners, 9,200W, 9 heating levels, an LED touch screen and a child lock. It is a built-in unit for a 36-inch cutout.

It ranks seventh because a 36-inch cutout is far less common than a 30-inch one, so most buyers would have to modify the counter. In return you get extra room between burners. The listing calls it an electric cooktop, so confirm that the surface is induction before buying and that the cookware you own is magnetic.

Buy it if you already have a 36-inch opening. Skip it if you have a 30-inch cutout.

Size

36 inch built-in

Burners

5

Power

9,200W

Safety

Child lock, LED touch screen

Our verdict: A dual-burner Nuwave with IMD touch controls, in a portable countertop design.

The PIC Double Pro is a dual-burner countertop cooktop with IMD touch controls. The listing gives no wattage or temperature range.

It ranks last because it is a close relative of the Double Pro with less documentation, so there is no reason to prefer it. IMD touch controls are smooth, easy to wipe clean and give no crevices for grease.

Buy it if you find it priced below the first-place Double Pro. Skip it if you want published temperature figures.

Burners

2

Controls

IMD touch

Type

Portable countertop

Brand

Nuwave