The 10 Best Guitar Amps as of July 2026

How we ranked these guitar amps

Each pick earns a score out of 10 from weighted criteria:

Performance (35%) — how well each guitar amp does its core job.
Value (25%) — quality and features for the price.
Build & reliability (20%) — materials, longevity and warranty.
Features (20%) — meaningful extras that improve the experience.

We also weigh real-world owner reviews — star ratings and how many people left them — and whether each product has the features you'd expect in its class.

At a glance: top 10 compared

Swipe across to see all columns, including Amazon links →

#	Guitar Amps	Score	Best for	Type	Approx. Price	Amazon links
1	Boss Katana-50 MkII	9.1	Best overall	Modelling	£220	View Price
2	Fender Mustang GTX50	9.0	Best modelling versatility	Modelling	£280	View Price
3	Positive Grid Spark 40	8.8	Best smart practice	Modelling	£230	View Price
4	Fender Blues Junior IV	8.8	Best tube	Tube	£600	View Price
5	Marshall DSL40CR	8.7	Best rock tube	Tube	£550	View Price
6	Yamaha THR10II	8.7	Best desktop	Modelling	£300	View Price
7	Blackstar HT-5R MkII	8.6	Best low-watt tube	Tube	£450	View Price
8	Orange Crush 20	8.4	Best budget practice	Solid-state	£120	View Price
9	Boss Katana Mini	8.3	Best portable	Modelling	£90	View Price
10	Fender Frontman 20G	8.1	Best cheap	Solid-state	£80	View Price

The full ranking

Best overall

Boss Katana-50 MkII

9.1Our number one pick.

The Boss Katana-50 MkII delivers a huge range of excellent amp voices and effects with genuine gig-ready volume, all at a price that's hard to beat. The app-based tweaking has a learning curve, but the versatility and value are excellent.

Tone: 9.2Versatility: 9.4Build: 9.0Value: 9.4

Pros

Huge range of great tones
Gig-ready volume
Outstanding value

Cons

Deep menus to learn
Effects best set via app

Check price on Amazon≈ £220

Best modelling versatility

Fender Mustang GTX50

9.0A superb runner-up.

The Fender Mustang GTX50 offers superb amp models, a big effects library and a clear colour screen for easy tweaking, brilliant for home and small gigs. It is pricier, but the tones and interface are excellent.

Tone: 9.2Versatility: 9.4Build: 9.0Value: 8.8

Pros

Excellent amp models
Easy colour-screen editing
Wi-Fi/Bluetooth updates

Cons

Higher price
Lots of options to explore

Check price on Amazon≈ £280

Best smart practice

Positive Grid Spark 40

8.8Rounds out our top three.

The Positive Grid Spark 40 pairs great practice tones with smart app features like auto-backing tracks and jam tools, a superb learning companion. Its focus is practice over gigging, but the features and tone are excellent.

Tone: 8.8Versatility: 9.0Build: 8.8Value: 9.0

Pros

Clever practice app
Great home tones
Auto backing tracks

Cons

Not built for gigs
App-reliant features

Check price on Amazon≈ £230

Best tube

Fender Blues Junior IV

8.8A standout in the upper half.

The Fender Blues Junior IV is a much-loved 15-watt valve combo with warm, dynamic cleans and a sweet natural break-up beloved for blues and rock. It is a one-channel purist's amp, but the tone is excellent.

Tone: 9.4Versatility: 8.2Build: 9.0Value: 8.4

Pros

Gorgeous valve tone
Dynamic touch response
Compact and giggable

Cons

Single channel
Loud for bedrooms

Check price on Amazon≈ £600

Best rock tube

Marshall DSL40CR

8.7A well-rounded mid-table pick.

The Marshall DSL40CR is a versatile 40-watt valve amp with classic Marshall crunch, two channels and a master volume for taming the roar. It is heavy, but the rock tones and build are excellent.

Tone: 9.2Versatility: 8.6Build: 9.0Value: 8.6

Pros

Classic Marshall crunch
Two footswitchable channels
Master volume control

Cons

Heavy
Loud at its best

Check price on Amazon≈ £550

Best desktop

Yamaha THR10II

8.7Great value in the middle of the pack.

The Yamaha THR10II is a stylish desktop amp with lovely low-volume tones, stereo speakers and Bluetooth, perfect for home playing and practice. It won't fill a venue, but the home tones and design are excellent.

Tone: 8.8Versatility: 8.8Build: 9.0Value: 8.8

Pros

Great low-volume tone
Stereo with Bluetooth
Battery option

Cons

Not for gigging
Smaller sound

Check price on Amazon≈ £300

Best low-watt tube

Blackstar HT-5R MkII

8.6A dependable pick if the price is right.

The Blackstar HT-5R MkII packs real valve tone into a 5-watt combo with reverb, making cranked tube sounds achievable at lower volumes. Headroom is limited, but the valve tone and features are excellent.

Tone: 9.0Versatility: 8.4Build: 8.8Value: 8.6

Pros

Real valve tone at low volume
Built-in reverb
Great for home

Cons

Limited clean headroom
Still loud when pushed

Check price on Amazon≈ £450

Best budget practice

Orange Crush 20

8.4Solid, if outshone by pricier rivals.

The Orange Crush 20 offers punchy dirty tones and a useful clean channel in a rugged, stylish package at a friendly price, a great practice amp. It is solid-state, but the tone and value are excellent.

Tone: 8.6Versatility: 8.2Build: 8.6Value: 9.0

Pros

Punchy Orange dirt
Rugged build
Great value

Cons

Solid-state feel
No effects

Check price on Amazon≈ £120

Best portable

Boss Katana Mini

8.3A budget-friendly option worth a look.

The Boss Katana Mini is a battery-powered 7-watt amp with surprisingly good tones and a built-in delay, ideal for practice anywhere. It is small and mono, but the portability and tone are good.

Tone: 8.4Versatility: 8.0Build: 8.4Value: 9.0

Pros

Battery powered
Good tones for size
Built-in delay

Cons

Small sound
No line out

Check price on Amazon≈ £90

Best cheap

Fender Frontman 20G

8.1Rounds out our top ten.

The Fender Frontman 20G is a cheap, simple practice amp with clean and drive channels that covers the basics for beginners. Tones are basic, but for a first amp the value is good.

Tone: 8.0Versatility: 8.0Build: 8.2Value: 9.0

Pros

Very affordable
Clean and drive channels
Simple to use

Cons

Basic tones
Harsh at high gain

Check price on Amazon≈ £80

Frequently asked questions

What's the best of the guitar amps in 2026?

Our top overall pick is the Boss Katana-50 MkII, which leads on our combined score for performance, value and features. The Fender Mustang GTX50 and Positive Grid Spark 40 are excellent alternatives depending on budget and needs.

How did we choose these?

We weight performance, value, build quality and features, drawing on hands-on use and independent testing. See the methodology box above for the full breakdown.

Are these prices accurate?

Prices are approximate UK figures at the time of writing and change frequently. Click through to Amazon for the current price.

The bottom line

If you just want the best guitar amps without overthinking it, the Boss Katana-50 MkII is our top recommendation — it earns the highest overall score for performance, value and features. Have a look at the current price and see what you think.

Check price on Amazon ≈ £220

Our top picks at a glance

Boss Katana-50 MkII

Orange Crush 20

Fender Mustang GTX50

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How we ranked these guitar amps

At a glance: top 10 compared

The full ranking

Boss Katana-50 MkII

Pros

Cons

Fender Mustang GTX50

Pros

Cons

Positive Grid Spark 40

Pros

Cons

Fender Blues Junior IV

Pros

Cons

Marshall DSL40CR

Pros

Cons

Yamaha THR10II

Pros

Cons

Blackstar HT-5R MkII

Pros

Cons

Orange Crush 20

Pros

Cons

Boss Katana Mini

Pros

Cons

Fender Frontman 20G

Pros

Cons

Frequently asked questions

The bottom line

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