The Best Strollers Under $100 of 2023

The Summer Infant 3Dlite is one of the most popular strollers on the market, and it's easy to see why: It costs around $50-60 on sale, it weighs just 12 pounds, it feels a bit nicer than most other strollers in its price range, and it has a good amount of storage.

In our testing, we found that it was highly maneuverable for an umbrella model, though its plastic wheels still struggled on rough or loose terrain. It does have a small wheel base, though, making it easy to get in and around tight corners or cramped stores where larger strollers wouldn't fit.

It did come in slightly behind the Kolcraft in our testing for a few reasons. It doesn't come with a child's tray, and it's a little trickier to fold. The canopy isn't quite as nice, and the under-seat storage isn't as easy to access. It does fold into that traditional umbrella shape with a carry strap. Unfortunately, it's very long and actually can be tougher to store sometimes as a result.

That said, it's lightweight, affordable, and of the hundreds of user reviews we've read, most are very positive. It's also especially good for taller parents (think 6'1" and up) who may have to bend over to reach smaller models.

The Graco Travelite is a new contender in the lightweight/umbrella space, and it's a very good alternative to the Summer Infant 3Dlite. Design-wise, it's very similar, with a full-size canopy, large seat that works for children up to 50 lbs, and a small under-seat storage bin.

Folding the Travelite is quick and easy once you get the hang of it, but it does require a two-handed fold and some practice. Once you release the horizontal bar that keeps the stroller frame rigid, the stroller snaps shut in a hurry. When folded it's a long, skinny shape that's about the same size as the 3Dlite.

In testing, we liked the fit and finish of the Travelite. Though not on par with a high-end stroller, the seat, canopy, and buckles all felt sturdy. The wheels are small and plastic, but no worse than others in the category. We also liked that it included a padded belly bar, though a full child's tray would've been better. It also includes a cup holder for parents but it's very shallow.

Ultimately, it's a good stroller. But if you're going to spend upwards of $70 we think the Kolcraft Cloud Plus is a better pick. If you want an umbrella shape, the 3Dlite is just about as good. The 3Dlite also appears to be on sale more consistently (often around $50). if this stroller were to drop into that price range, we'd be just as keen on it.

The Baby Trend Rocket Stroller comes very highly recommendedonline, with very positive customer reviews overall—especially given the stroller is usually just $50 or less on sale. That said, in our tests it just didn't live up to expectations. The main issue is the canopy, which was wobbly, difficult to attach, and wouldn't stay in place.

If you can get past that, the Rocket isn't a bad lightweight model. It's a bit trickier to assemble than others we tested, but it wasn't bad overall. It has an easily accessible storage basket, a tight turning radius, but—stop me if you've heard this before—its small wheels struggled to get over obstacles.

The main issue here is the canopy. You're going to want it on sunny days, and we just have zero confidence this one is going to hold up. We don't have those concerns about the others we tested.

Editor’s note: We tested the original model, the LiteRider, which is functionally identical to the LiteRider LX. Updates to the newer model include a 50 lb. weight limit, a two inch higher seat back, and a more compact fold.

The Graco LiteRider is very popular online, but this stroller is much better on paper than in the real world. The appeal is obvious: this sub-$100 stroller features a full-size canopy, large wheels, a reclining seat, a child's tray, and cup holders for the parents. It even accepts Graco ClickConnect infant car seats. You don't find that in strollers this affordable.

I was very excited to see what the LiteRider could do, but it simply didn't live up to expectations. It had an unnecessarily obnoxious assembly process. The canopy never quite sat right. The stroller was tough to fold correctly, and even when you get it right it isn't that compact.

That said, the stroller is fairly maneuverable and its storage basket is easy to access. The padded seat is nicer than most of the other lightweight models we tested in this price range, and you do get both the child/parent trays in the price. The user reviews are good, though, so we don't expect many long-term issues despite our poor first impression.

The fit and finish wasn't what I hoped for, but you can't argue with the value. We've even seen it available as a travel system—which includes an infant car seat and the stroller—for around $100. It has some annoying issues, but if you're on a tight budget it's worth putting up with.

Sometimes you just want a cheap stroller. Retailing for between $20-25 at most stores, theThe Cosco Umbrella Stroller is by far the most affordable option we looked at, and it shows. It has the smallest wheels, the thinnest frame, and it doesn't have any extra storage, cup holders, or a child's tray.

But for under $30, it has the basics: a seat, wheels, and the ability to fold up when not in use—all weighing in at just 8.4 lbs. I wouldn't recommend this as anyone's everyday stroller due to the lack of storage. However, our research shows that most people buying an umbrella model often just want a low-cost backup. You could easily take this on a quick trip and have a backpack or something similar to carry your essentials.

One thing to note: pricing on this model is all over the place. At most big box retailers you can find this for between $15 and $25, depending on the print. Models with a canopy usually cost about $5 more, but our review unit had one and was just $20 at Target. Anything under $30 is good in our book, but beware of online resellers that will jack the price above that. This is one of the best cheap strollers, but it’s not worth it if you don’t actually find it for cheap.

The J is for Jeep North Star wasn't our favorite lightweight stroller, but sits comfortably in the middle of the pack. This stroller features simple assembly, an inoffensive design, and a sturdy frame for a lightweight model. It folds down neatly into a true umbrella shape, and it weighs just 10 lbs, making it one of the lightest that we tested.

It's also one of the most affordable, frequently dropping below $40 online. Despite this, it comes with a couple of extras, like an included cup holder (which is deep, if a bit wobbly) and a carrying bag that can hang off the back for extra storage. You'll need it, because the under-seat basket may hold a blanket and a few toys—but that's it.

In our testing, we found the stroller does fold down to be quite compact. However, it's a bit tricky to fold. While the small wheels make the stroller more portable, they had trouble with obstacles. The harness doesn't go over the shoulders and the seat doesn't recline, so younger children may not be as comfortable as with our top picks. It also only comes with a 90-day warranty, which is skimpier than the competition.

Still, if you're looking at the Cosco and want something that offers just a bit more without stepping up to the more expensive models, this reliably splits the difference.