13 Gadgets Under $10 Users Say Are Actually Worth Buying

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E-waste is a huge problem, and it only seems to be getting worse. The WHO says that we dump tens of millions of tonnes of it every year across the world while only recycling a fifth of that amount. It’s no surprise that some U.S. states have made it illegal to throw away electronics. We recommend repairing or trading in devices before even considering disposing of old electronics. But another way to reduce e-waste is to buy fewer things you don’t need, and for the things you do buy, make sure they’re actually worth it. Cheap gadgets under $10 likely contribute to a huge amount of e-waste every year — so let’s change that.
We’ve compiled a list of 13 cheap gadgets that cost less than $10 but won’t get an early retirement in the garbage bin. Items on this list range from tools to kitchen appliances to travel must-haves. All of them punch above their dollar value and are meant to live a long, useful life.
It’s been said that sitting is the new smoking. This isn’t really true, but it is true that we sit too long. Sitting while staring at a screen for eight hours a day — and in many cases, much longer — seems to be all but a guarantee for bad posture and pain. While you’re making sure to keep your eyes protected from frequent daily screen time, a massage ball goes a long way toward easing sore muscles from long hours spent sitting. This Zongs Manual Massage Ball might be just the ticket at $7.99. Use it to work out the tough spots in your shoulders, neck, and back periodically throughout the day to prevent soreness and tension. It gets 4.3 out of 5 stars with over 12,000 reviews, and it’s the sort of thing you can easily slip into an office desk drawer.
If that’s not your style, you might try the OPTP Super Pinky Ball, a squishier option at the same $7.99, without the plastic housing. This one is great for rolling massages or against-the-wall massages. It gets 4.5 out of 5 stars. For sore feet, you can try the discreet ChiFit Reflexology Foot Massager Tool, which holds a solid 4.4 out of 5 stars. For facial massages on a hot day, the Teenitor Blue Ice Roller does the job for $6.99 with 4.6 out of 5 stars.
Wand candle lighters are convenient for lighting candles and the like, but they still involve an active flame that poses a fire risk — and, of course, can be blown out easily by a small breeze. Plus, they always seem to be empty for some reason, despite you rarely using them. So change the way you light candles (and other things) forever with an electric candle lighter like this one from Fukkuda. Rather than a flame, it uses a plasma arc that wind can’t buffet. Refills will be a thing of the past too, since it’s USB rechargeable. All of this goodness only costs $9.99, and almost 15,000 reviews rate it highly at 4.4 out of 5 stars.
The stylish design of the Fukkuda lighter doesn’t really lend itself to more rugged tasks outside the house. If you’d like the same flame-free, USB-rechargeable lighter design, try the LcFun Electric Lighter for $9.87. The only downside is that a single charge will power about 28 lightings, but the concentrated, focused arc may work faster than a flame when it comes to starting campfires and similar tasks. This model also gets high ratings at 4.6 stars out of 5.
Amazon is awash with credit-card shaped multi-tools meant for cheap stocking stuffers and Father’s Day gifts. Whether those tools are worth the low price is another question entirely. If you’re looking for a small, useful tool that costs less than $10, one of our recommendations is the Gerber Gear Shard, a 7-in-1 tool that can drive screws, open bottles, and more. Gerber is one of the leading brands in knives, known for its high quality; we recommended one of its knives in our list of the best Swiss Army knife alternatives. The Gear Shard costs only $9.45, and the 4.6-star reviews suggest you’ll get your money’s worth.
Admittedly, the Gerber Gear Shard has a somewhat threatening appearance that probably wouldn’t make it past most TSA checkpoints. For something a bit more discreet with a different form factor, the Mafehan 9-in-1 Multi-Tool Pen serves well. Aside from the pen, it’s got a ruler on the side, a bubble level, and even an LED light. Since it lacks a knife, this one likely wouldn’t get confiscated at a TSA checkpoint.
Jars can be such a pain to open that it’s a surprise there isn’t a heavyweight jar-opening event in the Olympic Games. In any case, they’re not really designed to be opened easily unless you like showing off your muscles when you cook — and risking early carpal tunnel in the process. A cheap, convenient way to open jars faster and pain-free is with this Bloss Anti-Skid Jar Opener. The clamp-shaped design features four sizes, from standard jars down to smaller metal lids like those on bottles of oyster sauce. For $5.99 with a 4.3-star average, this is worth buying even if you only open a jar once in a decade.
An alternative to the clamp design is Prepworks Progressive Jar Grips. They do cost more at $9.95 each, but they have the benefit of molding to virtually any jar size — and work for lids, too. The textured, rubbery material ensures a tight grip on virtually any surface. The 4.6-star average and almost 14,000 reviews speak to a product you can likely buy once and use for years.
Don’t throw out old USB cables if they still have a use, even if that use isn’t for you. Instead, get this Azvegr Multi USB Charging Adapter Cable Kit. It fits into a compact, makeup mirror-like container and includes plugs for the vast majority of use cases: USB-C, Apple Lightning, USB-A, and Micro USB. For $7.99 with a 4.4-star average, you can’t go wrong here.
Not all USB-C cables are the same, so this kit helpfully ensures you get the fast charging or data transfer speeds that you need. And since we’re in that awkward phase where we haven’t quite fully transitioned to USB-C on charging bricks and laptops, you’ve got every USB-A configuration — and vice versa — you can imagine. For those who still have Apple devices with that pesky Lightning cable, this serves as one of the best Lightning-to-USB-C adapters, too.
It also has a few extra goodies. Inside the case you’ll find a SIM card removal tool and two slots for storing a SIM or nano-SIM card. On top of that, the back pops open to double as a phone stand. We have some recommendations for the ultimate tech go-bag and the things you should never travel without. But this tiny multi-plug converter is so small that it can go in almost any bag, virtually anywhere.
We’re slowly returning to an era of smartphone repairability. Apple may still heavily discourage non-Apple replacement parts when repairing your iPhone, but even the notoriously recalcitrant tech giant has massively improved its repair program. Regardless, phones and other electronic gadgets are filled with tiny proprietary screw types that most toolsets aren’t equipped to handle. It’s a huge bummer when you want to add more storage to a laptop, only to be delayed until an Amazon delivery shows up with the right bits. Prepare in advance with the AXTH 25-in-1 Small Precision Screwdriver Set for $9.99.
Aside from having a convenient case with 25 screw bits — more than most people will ever need — the driver itself has a swivel-cap handle that’s a real game-changer. Screwing and unscrewing one-handed is way easier this way. Magnetized tips also make it hard to lose one of those screws in the dark internals of an electronic device, never to be found again. If the price and all the features weren’t enough, AXTH offers a lifetime warranty for this product.
If there’s one thing screws love, it’s pulling a Where’s Waldo. You drop one and it bounces away, somehow winding up in the backwoods of Siberia. A handy (pun intended) solution that works for any small metal pieces — screws, nails, drill bits, hex nuts, whatever — is this Horusdy Magnetic Wristband. The $9.99 wristband may not be the most fashionable thing in the world, but nothing beats being able to slap a handful of screws onto it instead of digging through your pocket. If it’s magnetic and small, the wristband will hold onto it for you; one customer picture proves this by lifting the wristband — still in the box — while attached magnetically to a pair of scissor blades. Enough said.
If the series of 10 magnets doesn’t hold something, that thing goes into one of two additional pockets. The pockets are bigger than one might think based on the product photos, since another user was able to fit the full length of scissor blades inside one of them. The breathable mesh ensures it doesn’t get too hot and sweaty during a busy day outdoors. You also get a free telescopic magnetic pickup tool.
The best major espresso machines cost so much that you might as well sell your car to buy one. That said, you can make great coffee with something simple and cheap like a French press. Add a milk frother, and it’s hard to tell the coffee came from humble ten-dollar-tool origins. FrothBlast’s Handheld Milk Frother gives you that fluffy cappuccino foam you see in far more