Spend on the cooking job, not the longest feature list
At a $100 ceiling, start with the meal you make repeatedly: one tray of food, a main and side at different settings, or a small dinner with leftovers. Pay attention to basket layout, usable area and cleanup before counting presets. These are selection priorities, not a claim that any listed model currently sells below $100.
Compare a single undivided basket with two separate compartments only if you actually need two settings. An eight-quart dual appliance does not give you one eight-quart cooking surface. The extra divider can be useful for a main and side, but awkward for a wide piece of food. Check per-basket capacities and the official manual.
Look beyond the checkout price
Check which removable components can go in the dishwasher, what the warranty actually covers in the US, and whether the manufacturer identifies replacement parts for that exact model. A useful control or an easier-to-wash basket may matter more to your routine than an extra named cooking mode. Published access to parts is not a guarantee of stock or service quality.
Include delivery, tax where applicable and only the accessories you truly need. A percentage-off badge or manufacturer list price does not establish the final cost, a historic low or the best deal. Recheck the amount and return conditions at checkout.
FTC guidance on comparing online purchases and complete costs
Keep size and safe operation separate
A small appliance can still need open space around its vents and room to pull out the drawer. Read the exact manual’s operating-clearance instructions. Exterior width is not usable basket width, and advertised quarts are not a guaranteed portion count. If measurements or instructions are missing, leave that requirement unresolved.
Use the finder to choose a plausible cooking layout, then the countertop checker to distinguish storage from operation. You do not need to guess kitchen measurements in the quick quiz; a final purchase deserves a check against the actual appliance instructions.
Compare two prices you have checked
Enter complete delivered prices from the exact sellers and models you are considering. The worksheet compares your numbers; it does not verify a retailer listing. Its initial ceiling is $150, and a total exactly equal to that ceiling is not “under” it.