10 Top Cheap NFTs to Buy in 2025

Non-fungible tokens—NFTs—aren’t just for millionaires chasing pixelated apes or digital art that sells for the price of a mansion. The NFT market’s wild ride has cooled since its 2021 peak, but that’s exactly why now’s the time to hunt for bargains. Affordable NFTs, priced under $500, can still pack serious potential—whether it’s a collectible that moons, a game asset that pays off, or a ticket to a thriving community. I’ve been knee-deep in blockchain’s chaos for years, dodging scams and chasing wins. This guide cuts through the hype to spotlight 10 cheap NFTs worth your attention in 2025. It’s not about gambling—it’s about strategy. Let’s dive in and find the gems that won’t break your wallet.

Why Cheap NFTs Are Worth Your Time

The NFT market’s not what it used to be. Back in 2021, Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs sold for $200 and later hit millions. Today, total NFT sales are down 40% from their $25 billion high, but trading volume’s holding steady at $6 billion a year. That dip means undervalued assets are everywhere—especially for small-time buyers. Cheap NFTs offer a low-risk entry into digital ownership, from art to gaming to virtual land. The catch? Most are speculative. You’re not buying a guaranteed jackpot—you’re betting on projects with strong fundamentals, active communities, and real utility. Done right, a $100 NFT could flip for thousands or unlock perks like exclusive events or staking rewards. Done wrong, it’s a lesson in FOMO. That’s why I’ve picked projects with traction and potential, all accessible for under $500.

What Makes a Cheap NFT a Good Buy?

Not every low-priced NFT is a diamond in the rough. To separate the signal from the noise, I focused on a few key traits:

• Utility: Does the NFT do something—like grant game access, staking rewards, or community perks?
• Community: Is there a buzzing Discord or X following driving hype and adoption?
• Team: Are the creators legit, with a track record or clear roadmap?
• Market Fit: Does the project tap into hot trends like gaming, AI, or the metaverse?
• Price: Can you snag it for $500 or less on marketplaces like OpenSea or Magic Eden?

I’ve scoured marketplaces, checked on-chain data, and vetted teams to find NFTs that tick these boxes. No blue-chip CryptoPunks here—just affordable plays with upside for savvy collectors.

Top 10 Cheap NFTs to Buy in 2025

Here’s the lineup of budget-friendly NFTs poised to shine in 2025. Each one’s got a unique edge, whether it’s a tight-knit community, killer utility, or a sector that’s heating up. Prices are based on current floor prices or expected mint costs, but always double-check before buying—NFT markets move fast.

1. Pudgy Penguins

Pudgy Penguins waddled onto the scene in 2021 with 8,888 chubby penguin avatars on Ethereum. Floor price? Around $450 on OpenSea. They’ve built a cult following with real-world merch like toys and books, plus a push into Web3 gaming. Their community’s rock-solid, with 50,000+ Discord members and collabs with brands like Walmart.

Why Buy It: Pudgy’s blending physical products with digital collectibles—a rare move for NFTs. Their game, Pudgy Penguins World, is slated for 2025, potentially boosting demand. At under $500, it’s a steal compared to BAYC’s $80,000 floor.

How to Get It: Grab one on OpenSea or Blur. Use MetaMask with ETH. Watch for secondary sales to snag a deal below floor.

2. Solana Monkey Business (SMB)

Solana Monkey Business is a 5,000-piece collection of pixelated monkeys on Solana, with a floor price hovering at $300 (21 SOL). Known for high trading volume—$10 million monthly on Magic Eden—it’s a Solana staple with a tight community and perks like DAO voting.

Why Buy It: Solana’s low fees make trading SMBs cheap, and their Gen3 collection hints at new utility like staking or games. Monkeys with rare traits (gold fur, crowns) often flip for 2x-3x floor price.

How to Get It: Buy on Magic Eden with SOL in a Phantom wallet. Check rarity on MoonRank to avoid overpaying.

3. Invisible Friends

Invisible Friends, a 5,000-NFT collection by Markus Magnusson, features “invisible” characters with visible clothes and accessories. On Ethereum, the floor’s $400. Its quirky vibe and 3D animations have drawn 30,000+ X followers, with ties to the Random Character Collective.

Why Buy It: The project’s storytelling—each NFT has a unique backstory—fuels collector hype. Holders get access to exclusive merch and events, a growing trend in 2025’s NFT space.

How to Get It: Shop OpenSea with ETH. Look for NFTs with rare outfits (suits, goggles) for better resale potential.

4. Doodles

Doodles is a 10,000-NFT collection of colorful, hand-drawn characters on Ethereum, with a floor price of $350. Backed by Pharrell Williams, it’s evolving into a media brand with animated shorts and music drops. Their Discord’s buzzing with 60,000 members.

Why Buy It: Doodles’ pivot to entertainment—think Netflix for NFTs—could drive value. Their “Doodleverse” roadmap includes games and VR, tapping the metaverse trend.

How to Get It: Buy on Blur or OpenSea with ETH. Prioritize Doodles with vibrant traits (rainbows, spacesuits) for rarity.

5. NodeMonkes

NodeMonkes are 10,000 pixelated monkeys on Bitcoin’s Ordinals protocol, with a floor price of $250 (0.004 BTC). They’ve exploded in popularity, hitting $50 million in sales after a rare piece sold for $1 million. The community’s niche but loyal, with 20,000 X followers.

Why Buy It: Bitcoin Ordinals are 2025’s dark horse, blending BTC’s scarcity with NFT hype. NodeMonkes’ early mover status makes them a bet on the protocol’s growth.

How to Get It: Use Magic Eden’s Bitcoin wallet with BTC. Check rarity rankings—hats and pipes boost value.

6. Silks Genesis Horses

Silks is a blockchain horse-racing game where NFTs represent virtual horses tied to real-world thoroughbreds. Genesis Horses mint for $200-$300 on Solana. The game’s play-to-earn model lets you race and breed, with top horses fetching $5,000+.

Why Buy It: Silks’ real-world data hook—your horse’s value tracks its real counterpart’s wins—adds depth. Gaming NFTs are surging, with $1 billion in 2024 sales.

How to Get It: Mint on Silks’ site or buy on Magic Eden with SOL. Pick horses with strong bloodlines for better odds.

7. Moonbirds Oddities

Moonbirds Oddities, a 10,000-NFT spinoff from Moonbirds, features quirky owls on Ethereum with a $400 floor. Backed by PROOF, they offer staking for $MOON tokens and access to exclusive drops. The community’s 40,000-strong on Discord.

Why Buy It: Staking rewards give Oddities passive income potential, rare in cheap NFTs. PROOF’s track record (Moonbirds hit $50,000 floors) adds cred.

How to Get It: Buy on OpenSea with ETH. Look for owls with rare eyes or crowns to maximize upside.

8. The Sandbox LAND (Small Plots)

The Sandbox is a metaverse platform on Ethereum where LAND NFTs let you build games or host events. Small plots go for $450. With 200,000+ monthly users and partnerships like Adidas, it’s a metaverse heavyweight.

Why Buy It: Virtual land’s a long-term play—Decentraland plots jumped 500% in 2021. Sandbox’s user-generated content fuels endless demand for LAND.

How to Get It: Buy on OpenSea or Sandbox’s marketplace with ETH or SAND. Pick plots near popular hubs for resale value.

9. Azuki Beanz

Azuki Beanz, a 20,000-NFT companion to Azuki, are cute bean characters on Ethereum with a $300 floor. Azuki’s anime aesthetic has 70,000 Discord members hooked, and Beanz unlock perks like manga drops and community events.

Why Buy It: Azuki’s brand is bulletproof—original NFTs hit $20,000 floors. Beanz are the affordable entry, with storytelling that drives collector FOMO.

How to Get It: Shop OpenSea with ETH. Snag Beanz with rare traits (ninja gear, glasses) for better flips.

10. Axie Infinity (Common Axies)

Axie Infinity’s play-to-earn game lets you battle NFT creatures called Axies on Ronin. Common Axies start at $50-$100, with 1 million daily players keeping the economy humming. Top Axies have sold for $300,000.

Why Buy It: Axie’s proven it can survive bear markets—$4 billion in sales since 2018. Cheap Axies let you earn $SLP tokens through gameplay, ideal for grinders.

How to Get It: Buy on Axie’s marketplace with ETH or RON. Start with a three-Axie team to play; check stats for battle-ready picks.

How to Buy Cheap NFTs Safely

Jumping into NFTs is simple, but scams are real—$100 million was lost to fraud in 2024. Here’s your playbook to stay sharp:

1. Set up a wallet: MetaMask (Ethereum) or Phantom (Solana) are solid. Use a hardware wallet like Ledger for big buys.
2. Fund it: Buy ETH, SOL, or BTC on Coinbase or Binance, then transfer to your wallet. Keep $50-$100 for gas fees.
3. Pick a marketplace: OpenSea’s king for Ethereum, Magic Eden for Solana, Axie’s own for Axies. Verify URLs—phishing sites mimic legit ones.
4. Research: Check project Discords, X accounts, and whitepapers. If the team’s anon or the roadmap’s vague, run.
5. Buy smart: Use rarity.tools or MoonRank to spot undervalued NFTs. Bid below floor on auctions to save cash.
6. Secure it: Enable 2FA, never share your seed phrase, and store NFTs offline if holding long-term.

Check CISA’s crypto security guide for wallet tips.

Maximizing Your NFT Investments

Cheap NFTs aren’t lottery tickets—they’re bets on vision and execution. Here’s how to tilt the odds:

• Focus on utility: NFTs with staking, gaming, or event access (like Doodles or Silks) tend to hold value.
• Track trends: Gaming and metaverse NFTs are surging—$2 billion in 2024 sales. AI-driven art’s next, with projects like ArtBlocks gaining steam.
• Flip or HODL: Sell quick if hype spikes (SMBs doubled in a week last year). Hold if the project’s building—Pudgy’s game could 5x demand.
• Join communities: Discord and X are goldmines for alpha. Pudgy and Azuki drop holder-only perks to active members.
• Diversify: Spread $1,000 across 3-5 NFTs to hedge risk. One moonshot can cover losses.

Don’t chase FOMO. A $200 NFT can outperform a $10,000 one if the project’s legit.

Risks to Watch Out For

NFTs aren’t a sure thing. Here’s what can burn you:

• Rug pulls: Teams vanish after minting, leaving worthless NFTs. Vet founders—LinkedIn’s a start.
• Market crashes: NFT floors tanked 70% in 2022. Only buy what you can afford to lose.
• Scams: Fake OpenSea links stole $50 million last year. Bookmark legit sites and triple-check.
• Gas fees: Ethereum’s fees can hit $100 per transaction. Solana or Ronin are cheaper.
• Liquidity: Some NFTs are hard to sell. Stick to high-volume projects like SMB or Axie.

Stay paranoid. A deal’s only good if it’s real.

Where to Find Cheap NFTs

Marketplaces are your hunting ground. Here’s where to look:

• OpenSea: Biggest for Ethereum NFTs. Filter by “low to high” for deals under $500.
• Magic Eden: Solana and Bitcoin NFTs, with lower fees. Great for SMB and NodeMonkes.
• Blur: Aggregator for pros. Snag Doodles or Beanz at auction discounts.
• Project sites: Mint Silks or Axies direct to avoid secondary markups.

Follow X accounts like @NFTsAnonymous for real-time drops, but verify everything. Scammers lurk in comments.

Taxes and NFTs

In the U.S., NFTs are taxed as collectibles. Buying’s fine, but selling triggers capital gains—15%-28% on profits, depending on your bracket. Hold over a year for lower long-term rates. If you earn NFTs (say, via Axie gameplay), it’s income at market value. A $200 sale might net $150 after taxes. Track every transaction—date, USD value, fees. Apps like Koinly help. The IRS doesn’t mess around, so keep records or hire a tax pro.

FAQs About Cheap NFTs

Are cheap NFTs safe to buy?

Some are, some aren’t. Stick to vetted projects with active communities and transparent teams. Use secure wallets and legit marketplaces to cut risks.

Can I make money with cheap NFTs?

Possibly. A $200 Pudgy could flip for $1,000 if demand spikes, but most NFTs lose value. Focus on utility and community to spot winners.

How do I know if an NFT’s undervalued?

Check floor price vs. rarity, trading volume, and project news. Tools like rarity.tools show if a $300 Beanz is a steal compared to $1,000 peers.

What’s the best wallet for NFTs?

MetaMask for Ethereum, Phantom for Solana, or Ronin for Axie. Hardware wallets like Ledger are safest for long-term storage.

Do I need a lot of money to start?

Nope. $100-$500 gets you in with Axies or Silks. Start small, learn the ropes, and only scale up when you’re confident.

Conclusion

Cheap NFTs are your ticket to the blockchain revolution without betting the farm. From Pudgy Penguins’ merch empire to Axie’s play-to-earn grind, these 10 picks—each under $500—offer real shots at building wealth or joining vibrant communities. But it’s not a free ride. Research hard, dodge scams, and play the long game. The NFT market’s a jungle, but with the right moves, you’re not prey—you’re the hunter. Grab your wallet, pick a project, and start carving your slice of the digital future.