You don’t need to spend a fortune to make your PC feel snappy. For under 100 bucks, you can grab an SSD that boots fast, loads games quickly, and keeps your system running smooth – without cutting corners on quality. Whether you’re upgrading from a hard drive or just need more space, the good news is: modern SSDs in this price range are fast, reliable, and surprisingly capable.
From high-speed Gen 4 drives to large-capacity options perfect for gaming libraries or creative work, we’ve rounded up some of the best SSDs you can buy today without blowing your budget. Let’s take a look at what each one brings to the table.
Best SSDs Under 100: Quick Comparison
| SSD Model | Capacity | Max Read / Write Speed | Price (Amazon) |
| Samsung 990 EVO Plus | 1TB | 7,250 / ~6,900 MB/s | $75 – Buy Now |
| TEAMGROUP MP44Q | 2TB | 7,400 / 6,500 MB/s | $110 – Buy Now |
| Crucial T500 | 1TB | 7,300 / ~6,800 MB/s | $75 – Buy Now |
| Corsair MP600 Elite | 1TB | 7,000 / ~6,500 MB/s | $80 – Buy Now |
| WD_BLACK SN770 | 1TB | 5,150 / ~4,900 MB/s | $75 – Buy Now |
Best SSDs Under 100: Top Picks
Samsung 990 EVO Plus 1TB
Quick Highlights
- PCIe 4.0 x4 + PCIe 5.0 x2 interface
- Up to 7,250 MB/s read speeds
- TurboWrite 2.0 & Host Memory Buffer 3.0
- Ideal for desktops, laptops, and next-gen boards
- Price – $75 – Buy Now
Samsung’s 990 EVO Plus is one of the few SSDs in this price range to embrace both PCIe Gen 4 and limited Gen 5 compatibility. With real-world read speeds pushing past 7,000 MB/s, it rivals flagship drives but still slides under the $100 mark if you catch a good sale. The latest iteration of Samsung’s TurboWrite helps keep sustained performance high, while HMB 3.0 lets it operate without onboard DRAM, reducing cost and heat.
This drive is a smart choice for anyone upgrading a Gen 4-ready system or preparing for a Gen 5 build. Whether you’re working with large creative files, playing loading-heavy games, or just looking for fast boot and app load times, the 990 EVO Plus keeps up with premium-tier hardware at a more wallet-friendly price.
Pros
- Outstanding speed for the money
- Gen 5 (x2) forward compatibility
- Reliable firmware and thermals
Cons
- Slightly pricier than other 1TB Gen 4 SSDs
- No dedicated DRAM (relies on HMB)
TEAMGROUP MP44Q 2TB
Quick Highlights
- PCIe Gen 4 x4 interface
- 7,400 MB/s read, 6,500 MB/s write
- QLC NAND with large dynamic SLC cache
- 2TB capacity under $100
- Price – $110 – Buy Now
If raw capacity is what you need, the TEAMGROUP MP44Q delivers an almost unheard-of value: 2TB of fast Gen 4 storage for under $100. It uses QLC NAND, which isn’t quite as durable as TLC, but thanks to a generous SLC cache, read and write speeds still hit upper-tier levels in most workloads. At 7,400 MB/s read and 6,500 MB/s write, it outpaces many 1TB TLC drives—even in burst-heavy use cases.
It’s a fantastic pick for budget-conscious builders who need room for large libraries of games, content creation files, or virtual machines. While it’s not designed for constant, heavy write cycles, for everyday use and even moderate editing workflows, the MP44Q holds up incredibly well. Although, its above the $100 mark, its absolutely worth spending the extra few bucks for 1TB more storage.
Pros
- Huge capacity for the price
- Excellent Gen 4 speeds despite QLC
- Very affordable upgrade path
Cons
- Lower endurance than TLC-based SSDs
- Less consistent performance during long writes
Crucial T500 1TB
Quick Highlights
- PCIe Gen 4 x4 M.2 interface
- Up to 7,300 MB/s read speed
- Gaming and PS5-optimized firmware
- Includes 1 month of Adobe CC All Apps
- Price – $75 – Buy Now
The Crucial T500 is one of the most balanced options under $100—offering excellent Gen 4 performance, tight game load times, and support for both desktop and PlayStation 5 installs. Its firmware is tuned specifically for gaming workloads, keeping latency low and thermals stable even during long sessions. The drive comes with a slim heat spreader, but it also works well under PS5’s own internal cooling setup.
It’s built on high-end Micron NAND and includes firmware support for features like TRIM and SMART, ensuring long-term health monitoring. Add in the fact that you get a free month of Adobe’s creative suite and you’re getting real value beyond just raw speed numbers.
Pros
- Superb gaming performance
- PS5 compatible
- Runs cool and stable
Cons
- Slightly slower write speeds than premium Gen 4 drives
- Software bonus is time-limited
Corsair MP600 Elite 1TB
Quick Highlights
- PCIe Gen 4 NVMe with 3D TLC NAND
- Sequential read up to 7,000 MB/s
- Low-profile M.2 2280 form factor
- Excellent durability and write lifespan
- Price – $80 – Buy Now
Corsair’s MP600 Elite is another strong Gen 4 performer with solid build quality and a reputation for reliability. The TLC NAND ensures high endurance, making it a good pick for creators or professionals who move a lot of data. It uses a DRAM-less controller with HMB support, offering great speeds without the extra cost or heat of DRAM.
It fits cleanly into compact builds thanks to its low-profile form factor—no bulky heatsinks or metal shrouds—yet it still manages solid thermal performance. Whether you’re upgrading a gaming rig or outfitting a compact workstation, this drive blends price, performance, and compatibility nicely.
Pros
- Durable TLC NAND
- Reliable speeds for all workloads
- Easy fit in slim or ITX builds
Cons
- No hardware encryption
- Software suite is minimal
WD_BLACK SN770 1TB
Quick Highlights
- Gen 4 PCIe x4 interface
- Up to 5,150 MB/s read speed
- Optimized for gaming and fast loading
- WD Dashboard support for monitoring
- Price – $75 – Buy Now
The WD_BLACK SN770 may not top the charts in speed, but it’s designed for low-latency gaming performance with a consistent user experience. Its DRAM-less architecture is offset by aggressive SLC caching and firmware-level tuning that keeps games loading fast and keeps stutter at bay—even during background tasks or system updates.
This SSD is especially well-suited for gaming builds on a budget. It doesn’t pretend to be a flagship, but it still delivers quick boot times and keeps thermal throttling in check. It’s ideal for systems where speed matters but extreme performance isn’t necessary—think budget to midrange gaming PCs or secondary storage in a dual-drive setup.
Pros
- Reliable and consistent gaming performance
- Affordable Gen 4 upgrade
- Very power efficient
Cons
- Slower than other Gen 4 drives
- No DRAM or advanced caching features
Final Thoughts
Under $100, you’re not just getting “good enough” anymore—you’re getting genuine high-speed Gen 4 SSDs with enough performance for serious gaming, content creation, or multitasking. The Samsung 990 EVO Plus is a top-tier choice for those who want speed and forward compatibility.
Crucial’s T500 is arguably the best gaming-focused pick thanks to PS5 optimization and firmware tuning. The Corsair MP600 Elite and WD SN770 are great for reliability and clean installs, while TEAMGROUP’s MP44Q offers an unbeatable 2TB capacity at this price point.
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