Best Affordable Portable Oxygen Concentrators in 2023

Portable Oxygen Concentrators We Reviewed:

• Most Reliable: Inogen One G3
• Best for Active Lifestyles: Belluscura X-PLOR 
• Best Battery Life: Oxygo NEXT
• Most Affordable: Invacare Platinum Mobile
• Best Continuous Flow Unit: Respironics SimplyGo

Best Cheap Portable Oxygen Concentrators At-A-Glance

Consider This When Buying a Portable Oxygen Concentrator

Flow type

Portable oxygen concentrators are available with pulse flow, continuous flow, or a combination of both. With pulse flow, oxygen release is usually triggered by inhalation. When the user inhales, a dose of oxygen is administered in a volume determined by your prescribed setting. 

Continuous flow produces a steady stream of concentrated oxygen, regardless of whether you’re inhaling, exhaling, or between breaths. Models offering continuous flow typically provide a higher maximum oxygen output, making them preferable for people with prescribed higher flow rates.

Flow rate

The flow rate is what determines how much oxygen is being delivered to you, either per breath (with pulse flow) or per minute (with continuous flow). It’s important to find a model with a flow rate range that can accommodate your needs according to your prescription. 

In pulse flow models, the flow rates available will be on a numbered scale, with most units offering between three and nine flow-rate settings. The models with more setting options allow for more precise dosing, which is beneficial for anyone with more sensitive or specific oxygen needs.

In continuous flow models, the flow rate is set in intervals of 0.5 liters per minute (LPM), with the flow setting between 1 liter per minute to 4 liters per minute or more.

Your ideal flow rate will be determined by your oxygen prescription, but many people benefit from a wider range of flow rates if they often need more during exertion or less during rest.

Size and weight

Although all POCs are by definition designed to be portable, they’re not created equal. Some are heavier or lighter than others, and the dimensions will vary in terms of height, width, and length. How much the size and weight of a unit affects portability will depend on your individual condition. 

For example, some people may find anything over 5 pounds cumbersome, while others can easily lift 10 pounds or more. While these models are designed to be lightweight and portable, factors like continuous flow capability, higher oxygen output, and longer battery life often mean more weight and larger dimensions.

Battery life

Like size and weight, how long a battery lasts on a full charge will directly affect how much mobility you’ll gain from your POC. Shorter battery life means you have less time to spend away from either a charger or other oxygen unit, whereas longer battery life means more time can be spent “unplugged.” 

It’s important to consider your individual needs, as not all people need maximum battery life. For example, if you typically only require oxygen therapy during activity or exertion, models with shorter battery life will have no problem accommodating your needs if your physical activity lasts less than a few hours.

If a model seems ideal on all factors except battery life, purchasing a second battery or a double-size battery is an option that many people choose. Having a spare battery offers extended battery life as well as peace of mind that you won’t be stuck away from home with a dead battery.

FAA approval

Approval from the Federal Aviation Administration is essential if you ever plan to use your POC during air travel. The FAA has strict guidelines for portable oxygen concentrators to be allowed onboard, but luckily most modern devices are FAA-compliant and usually labeled as such directly on the body of the POC.  

Filter

Portable oxygen concentrators filter the incoming air before it reaches the other components. Each model requires a specific filter as detailed by the manufacturer. 

Although most filters are designed for easy removal during cleaning or replacement, it’s important to recognize that filter maintenance is essential to keep your POC working properly and delivering filtered oxygen. Luckily, besides battery charging and tubing and cannula replacement, simply replacing or cleaning your POC filter is the only regular maintenance you should have to perform on your machine. 

Sound level

The sound produced by your POC, measured in decibels, will vary greatly between models. A continuous flow unit runs steadily during operation, so it requires a larger motor to produce higher-volume oxygen and is noticeably louder than pulse flow. 

While noise level doesn’t impact the effectiveness of a unit, some older adults find the steady hum of an oxygen concentrator to be embarrassing or distracting in certain settings. Even so, most models are designed to keep the sound level below that of a quiet conversation for the sake of subtlety and portability. 

If you plan to use your POC in quiet places such as a shared office environment, you may want to look for a model with a lower average sound level. 

Accessories

Some models come standard with a variety of accessories, while others may require additional purchases. Items like a carry bag, rolling cart (for heavier/larger models), cannula and tubing, and charging cable are typically included with the initial purchase of your portable oxygen concentrator.

Accessories available for purchase separately include spare batteries or larger/double size batteries, carrying backpacks, external battery packs, and replacement cannulas.

Warranty

The manufacturer’s warranty on your device is an important consideration in terms of protecting your investment. Most portable oxygen concentrators offer warranties between three and five years, though they typically break down the warranty into three parts—the portable oxygen concentrator, the battery, and the accessories. 

It’s helpful to be clear about what exactly is covered by the warranty on your POC to avoid any issues or difficulties if you need to make a warranty claim.

Cheap Portable Oxygen Concentrators

Before we dive into our picks for the best cheap portable oxygen concentrators, let’s define what is considered “cheap.” While the most expensive options can cost $4,000 or more, the more affordable models are still a significant investment—$2,000 or more.

When searching for cheap portable oxygen concentrators, you might come across even cheaper options, some even less than $500. However, those machines may not be producing medical-grade oxygen. A concentrator producing medical-grade oxygen will deliver oxygen with an average oxygen concentration of 95% or more. 

Non-medical devices are often sold as “oxygen concentrators” if they deliver anything above the average atmospheric air concentration of oxygen, which is 21% and does not accommodate increased medical oxygen needs.

With that understanding, let’s take a look at our favorite cheap portable oxygen concentrators.

How Oxygen Concentrators Work

Oxygen concentrators work by drawing in the air around you and purifying it to produce concentrated oxygen. The motor draws surrounding air in through a filter, then it passes through a sieve bed where nitrogen is removed. The concentrated oxygen is then compressed and temporarily stored in the machine before being released at a rate according to your settings.

Concentrated oxygen is delivered to you either through your nose with a cannula, or less commonly through your mouth and nose with a mask. The cannula or mask and tubing simply attaches to the outlet port on the machine. 

Once power is turned on, most portable oxygen concentrators have a short “power up” period of a few seconds to a couple minutes. From there, you set your flow rate, attach your mask or cannula, and you’re ready to be mobile and active while receiving your prescribed oxygen therapy.

Who Uses Portable Oxygen Concentrators?

A portable oxygen concentrator is an excellent solution for anyone on oxygen therapy who wants more freedom and mobility than they can get from a stationary concentrator or another oxygen method. Oxygen needs range widely, and many oxygen users are capable of normal activity levels if their oxygen needs are being met. 

The most common conditions that require supplemental oxygen use include:

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD)
• Asthma
• Pneumonia
• Pulmonary Fibrosis
• Sleep Apnea
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Lung Cancer

Although stationary oxygen concentrators are still a widely-used option, “[portable] oxygen concentrators work on a plug-in battery, making them more convenient to use, lightweight, and compact, thus providing easy mobility. These factors contribute to the upsurge in demand for portable oxygen concentrators.”

Do I Need a Prescription to Buy a Portable Oxygen Concentrator?

Yes, you need a prescription to complete the purchase of a medical-grade portable oxygen concentrator in the United States. This restriction is enforced by the Food and Drug Administration, which states: “The FDA has not approved or cleared any oxygen concentrators to be sold or used without a prescription” to avoid misuse and dangerous side-effects like oxygen toxicity.

Though your prescription may be the most important factor in choosing your portable oxygen concentrator, a study from Respiratory Care Journal reiterates that patient choice matters, stating that “the healthcare provider should provide information and help to direct the subject toward the most clinically appropriate oxygen system, while being mindful of the patient’s preferences and lifestyle.”

Other Portable Oxygen Concentrators We Recommend

If you didn’t find exactly what you’re looking for here, there are plenty of other options on the market. Here are some additional models that we highly recommend:

CAIRE Freestyle Comfort

With exceptional battery life and modern features like MyCaire Telehealth, this model is a great all-around pick for value, function, and portability.

Inogen One G5 System

Inogen’s most advanced portable oxygen concentrator system yet, offering 24/7 capability, smart features, and up to 6.5 hours of battery life.

ResMed Mobi

On top of competitive specifications like weight and battery life, this model comes with an unbeatable five-year warranty, which includes one year of warranty coverage on batteries and accessories.

Check out our Best Portable Oxygen Concentrators in 2023 for more details and reviews of our favorite models.

Why Trust Us?

The AgingInPlace.org team researches, analyzes, and tests health products to help older adults make better decisions as they age. For portable oxygen concentrators, we’ve reviewed 11 manufacturers and 22 individual models on the market today to offer you our top picks for the best affordable oxygen concentrators in 2023. 

We’re committed to bringing you the most accurate information, based on our in-depth research. Below you’ll find a description of our methodology for reviewing portable oxygen concentrators:

• Spent hundreds of hours researching POC brands and models
• Consulted medical experts and journals
• Studied the user experience through insight from professionals, user reviews, and third-party research

To provide the most fair and objective reviews and comparisons, we use a mathematical formula to score each model based on the following considerations:

• Unit weight
• Battery life
• Range of settings
• Price
• Battery recharge time
• Warranty
• Oxygen delivery method

Our team monitors and regularly updates information to ensure relevance and reliability throughout all of our content. Many products and services featured on AgingInPlace.org will play a crucial role in your daily life. As these products should help enhance aging at home, we work to uncover as much as possible about the products and services we review. We also consult occupational therapists, audiologists, geriatricians, respiratory therapists, professional adult caregivers, and other experts in the field to ensure we’re providing the most accurate, helpful information.