Top 10 Best Paintball Guns for the Money (MUST READ before you buy) in 2023

Paintball is growing in popularity, buoyed by several benefits of the game such as full body workout, improved muscle strength, focus and endurance, stress relief, and team building.

But as the sport spreads, so is the number of paintball gun and accessory manufactures rushing to cash in on the growing market.

Some of the paintball markers are of questionable quality and will break down after the first combat.

The most interesting thing is that it doesn’t matter whether it is cheap or expensive: either of them can be trashy.

As a beginner or mid-level player, you may not afford a top of the line paintball gun, and it may not make sense having it either. When it comes selecting the best budget paintball gun, the issues to consider include your play interests, experience level and the type of propulsion.

We researched and tested tens of paintball markers until we came up with the 10 best paintball guns under 200 that you can buy today.

Without further ado, here’s is our review of the best paintball guns for the money in 2022.

Top 10 best paintball guns under 200

1. Tippmann TMC MAGFED Paintball Marker

Tippmann TMC MAGFED Paintball Marker, most powerful paintball gun, best paintball marker under 200

Tippmann is a new paintball gun with an option for Magazine feed besides the traditional loader, thus providing you better convenience in one package.

Features

What Reviewers Like

  • Customers praise its accuracy and the fact that it can hardly break a ball
  • Easy to customize
  • Easy to pull trigger
  • Durable material
What they Don’t Like

  • Not first strike compatible

2. Tippmann 3Skull Cronus Paintball Marker Gun-best beginner paintball gun

Tippmann 3Skull Cronus Paintball Marker Gun, most reliable paintball guns, best beginner paintball gun, best paintball gun for beginners

The Tippmann Cronus is an intermediate level Paintball Gun that combines excellent performance with unbelievable durability in a milsim body.

Features

What Reviewers Like

  • Several customers praise its high accuracy
  • Price friendly
  • Highly durable marker
What they Don’t Like

  • Included accessories are not as high quality as standalone ones

3. Azodin Blitz 3 Paintball Gun

Azodin Blitz 3 best starter handguns

If you are looking for the lightest but a rugged paintball marker that will withstand anything thrown at it, then look no further than the new Azodin Blitz 3 Paintball Gun.

Features

What Reviewers Like

  • Incredibly lightweight
  • Easy to disassemble and clean
  • Fast trigger
What they Don’t Like

  • Some users have found it to be louder on average

 
If you are into long range paintball, click to see our other post on the best long range paintball guns in 2022.

4. Tippmann 98 Custom Paintball Gun Marker

Tippmann 98 Custom Platinum, best intermediate paintball guns, best mechanical paintball gun

With a dozen accessories to upgrade and modify, Tippmann 98 Custom is the perfect gift to any of your friends, from a beginner to a journeyman.

Features

What Reviewers Like

  • Fair price
  • Ease of use for beginners
  • Easy to upgrade as you gain skills
  • 2-year warranty
What they Don’t Like

  • Some customers haven’t liked the quality of some accessories
  • Not fast enough for pros

5. Tippmann US Army Alpha Elite Paintball Marker Gun

Tippmann US Army Alpha Elite Paintball Marker Gun 3Skull Package Set, most powerful paintball guns

Tippmann US Army Alpha Elite is one of the most classic guns you will ever find and it is a favorite of many users for woodsball, speedball and indoor recreational games.

Features

What Reviewers Like

  • High army like performance
  • Customizable and upgradable
  • Semi-automatic
What they Don’t Like

  • Accessories not as good as some aftermarket ones
  • Relatively higher weight

6. Spyder MR100 PRO Semi-Auto Paintball Marker

Spyder MR100 PRO Semi-Auto Paintball Marker, best budget paintball gun

Spyder is a high quality semi-auto paintball gun that leads the pack in pro-military style markers.

Features

What Reviewers Like

  • Most efficient air valve system
  • Longer and more accurate barrel
  • Multiple side Picatinny rail mounting system enhances customization
  • Lightweight
What they Don’t Like

  • It is mechanical thus may be slow for fastball
  • Some customers have complained about the o-ring in the CO2 tank failing easily thus it needs frequent oiling

7. GOG eNMEy Paintball Gun

GOG eNMEy Paintball Gun, best budget paintball marker

GOG has exhausted its creative genius to bring fast and smooth pneumatic trigger and spool valve technology within the affordability of a first time user, thus giving you value for your money.

Features

What Reviewers Like

  • High effective pneumatic trigger and spool valve design
  • CO2 compatible
  • Easy to maintain
  • Best paintball gun under 150
What they Don’t Like

  • The feedneck is weak

8. Spyder Fenix Electronic Paintball Marker-best cheap paintball gun

Spyder Fenix Electronic Paintball Marker, best paintball barrels for accuracy, best cheap paintball gun

If you prefer the easier to use and fast but accurate electronic paintball guns and you want the best of them at the friendliest budget, then Spyder Fenix fits these criteria.

Features

What Reviewers Like

  • Lightweight
  • Powerful EKO valve system
  • Great for first time experience with electronic markers
  • Easy to maintain and reliable backup
What they Don’t Like

  • Lacks on/off ASA
  • Battery life is not so good

9. Empire Paintball BT-4 Combat Marker, Black

Empire Paintball BT-4 Combat Marker, best paintball guns for under 200

Empire BT-4 Combat paintball gun has the bullish design of Tippmann 98 Custom but it stands out due to its great quality.

Features

What Reviewers Like

  • Lightweight and stable
  • High quality and durable
  • Easy to upgrade
What they Don’t Like

  • No major issue to report

10. Spyder Victor Paintball Marker Gun 3Skull Mega Set

Spyder Victor Paintball Marker 3Skull Mega Set, most reliable paintball guns, best paintball barrel for accuracy

Just like the Spyder technologies, Spyder Victor Marker Gun (0.68 calibers) has been greatly improved for stress-free use and maintenance.

Features

What Reviewers Like

  • Tool-free design
  • Shorter and lighter than previous models
  • Cheap speedball gun
What they Don’t Like

  • Heavier than other paintball markers
  • Some users complain that it chops off paint

A buyer’s guide for the best paintball guns for the money

There are many paintball markers out there with varying styles and functionality and we can’t claim to know them all. Thus to help you make better choices, we’ll share our frame of mind that we used when selecting the best paintball guns for the money.

i. Your style of play

It wouldn’t make sense to have top of the line paintball guns yet you are a onetime casual player or a cheap paintball gun yet you want to go to pro circuit. Your paintball gun purchase decisions must largely depend on your interests in paintball. The major types of paintball games are woodsball, speedball, milsim and recreational balls.

Woodsball

Woods paintball involves natural outdoor combat, out in the woods. With that being the case, you would want a paintball marker with a long barrel for long range shooting. It should also allow customization with accessories such as an extendable stock and a red dot/ telescopic sight for enhanced long range accuracy.

Paintballs that fit these criteria include Tippmann US Army Alpha Elite, Tippmann 98 Custom and Empire BT-4.

Paintball marker for woodsball
A man playing woodsball

Speedball paintball guns

In speedball, the playing field is smaller than woodsball and success mainly comes from the speed of firing against the opponent as opposed to accuracy. You also need to be a hard target to the enemy, which means you need a short barrel paintball marker and the ability to fire at different angles.

Small, fast paintball guns with adjustable firing modes include GOG eNMEy and Spider Fenix that is electronic with robust EKO valve system.

A man playing speedball, cheap speedball gun

Recreational paintball

Recball may combine some of the elements of the other play types, but it tends to be less tactical. However, when there are structures and bunkers involved, you may want a paintball gun with an option to attach a stock for additional stability around corners.

All in all, recball is a fun game mostly meant to introduce beginners to paintball. The best paintball markers include Tippmann 98 custom, Tippmann Cronus and Azodin Blitz 3.

Milsim

Milsim simulates military combat where there are more tactical requirements and more rules. You thus need a hardcore paintball gun that will stand the impact and make you agile. The best match is US Army Alpha Elite.

ii. Experience level

It wouldn’t make sense to have the best long-range paintball gun yet you are green about paintball or a cheap beginner paintball gun yet you are aiming for pro circuit.

As a beginner, it is better to learn the game with the best paintball gun for beginners. Some of the best speedball gun for beginners include Tippmann 98 custom and Tippmann Cronus. Of note is the fact that they are also upgradeable as you grow your skills. 

iii. The type of paintball

There are three types of paintballs; pump, mechanical and electronic, each with desirable and undesirable features

Pump paintball guns

These were the first type of paintball guns and are manually operated. The time taken to operate a pump shotgun makes them slow but they are accurate and very reliable.

Mechanical markers

Mechanical paintball guns are also some of the oldest designs. They use either CO2 or compressed air for firing the paintball out of the gun. Pulling the trigger releases a spring-loaded hammer which hits the valve open sending the paintball flying out.

As easy as that, mechanical paintball markers tend to be unsophisticated and easier to use and maintain. All the moving parts are metallic, making them easy to disassemble and clean. They are no batteries to worry about recharging either.

Electronic paintball markers

Electronic paintball guns are the latest. They are high-tech and have been expensive but the price has been coming down to the common user affordability. They fire using a circuit board controlled solenoid valve that is powered mostly by a 9V battery.

They are also fast and automatic and the less moving parts mean that minimal maintenance is required.

iv. Price

In many products rogue, manufacturers are now hiding in the high price segments, paintballs included and thus a high priced product may not always mean quality and efficiency.

A number of manufactures especially those of electronic paintballs have been trying to optimize performance while pushing the price down. Thus, you may still enjoy the features of a top of the line paintball markers at a low segment price as long as you know how to find them out.

Conclusion

A good paintball marker doesn’t have to break your bank. You can find an affordable paintball gun that you can customize with a range of accessories, to support your different game needs as well as your level experience, from beginner to pro. Our list of best budget paintball gun is fully tested by our team of experts in order to cut to the chase for you.

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