I used to think a good electric toothbrush had to cost a hundred dollars. Then I spent a month testing budget electric toothbrushes, and I found out the cheap ones are genuinely good. The expensive ones are nicer, sure, but the gap is smaller than the price gap.

Here is what I learned about finding a solid electric toothbrush without overspending.

The basics that matter

For a budget brush, three things matter: a two-minute timer, a pressure sensor, and replaceable heads. The two-minute timer is non-negotiable, it makes you brush the full time without thinking. The pressure sensor stops you from scrubbing too hard, which is the most common cause of receding gums. Everything else is bells and whistles.

Oscillating vs sonic

There are two main types. Oscillating brushes, like the round-head kind, rotate back and forth. Sonic brushes vibrate fast and push fluid between teeth. Both clean well. Budget versions of both exist. Try one of each if you can, because it comes down to feel. I prefer sonic, my wife prefers oscillating, and we both have clean teeth.

What you can skip

Skip the smartphone app, the Bluetooth, and the charging travel case on the premium models. The app shows you a map of your mouth and tells you where you brushed, which is fun for a week and then ignored. A travel case is nice, but a zipper pouch holds a toothbrush fine. These features add 60 dollars and do not clean better.

Where the value is

The sweet spot is a mid-range brush from a known dental brand, usually between 25 and 50 dollars, ideally with a rechargeable battery instead of AA batteries. Rechargeable lasts longer and charges faster. Buy a pack of replacement heads in bulk when they are on sale, because the heads are the real ongoing cost.

My pick for most people

I would not buy the cheapest 15 dollar model, because the motors are weak and the batteries die fast. I also would not buy the 100 dollar flagship. The 25 to 40 dollar range from a major brand is where the value is, and it will clean your teeth as well as anything twice the price. Set a reminder to swap the head every three months, and you are done.

Your dentist will not be able to tell which brush you use. Mine could not. They just said the brushing was working.