If you love baking, cooking, or doing meal prep for fitness, you probably know how important a reliable digital kitchen scale is. Whether it’s tracking calories, getting perfect dough measurements, or dividing meal portions evenly, accuracy makes all the difference.
I’ve been doing a lot of home cooking lately — trying to eat healthy and stay consistent with my meal prep — but I realized my old scale wasn’t accurate anymore. Sometimes it showed a different reading for the same ingredient, and honestly, it got frustrating.
So, I went on a bit of a research spree! I read reviews from WireCutter, Lifewire, and Good Housekeeping, and also checked Reddit cooking communities and baking blogs. After hours of scrolling, one thing became clear — two digital kitchen scales kept coming up again and again:
- Amazon Basics Digital Kitchen Scale with LCD Display
- Etekcity Food Kitchen Scale, Digital Grams and Ounces for Weight Loss, Baking
Both of these models have thousands of positive reviews, strong reputations, and affordable price tags. But which one is truly the better pick for everyday use? Let’s break them down in detail.
🧁 Amazon Basics Digital Kitchen Scale with LCD Display
The Amazon Basics Digital Kitchen Scale is known for its simplicity and durability. It’s not overloaded with fancy features, but it does what matters most — gives quick, consistent measurements every single time.
It comes with a large stainless-steel platform, which makes cleaning super easy after measuring messy ingredients like butter, oil, or flour. The LCD display is bright and readable, even in low light, and it measures in multiple units (grams, ounces, pounds, kilograms), which is handy if you follow recipes from different countries.
Another thing I really liked from user reviews is that this scale turns off automatically after a short period of inactivity — a small feature but useful if you often forget to switch it off.
However, some users mentioned that it’s slightly slower to register tiny changes compared to other premium models. So, if you’re measuring delicate ingredients like yeast or baking powder, it might take an extra second or two to settle.
Still, for everyday home cooking, baking cookies, or prepping meals for the week, the Amazon Basics scale delivers accurate, no-fuss performance at a very budget-friendly price.
Pros:
- Simple and easy to use
- Stainless steel platform (easy to clean)
- Large, readable LCD display
- Auto shut-off feature
Cons:
- Slight delay in registering very light weights
- Doesn’t have app connectivity or advanced tracking features
🍞 Etekcity Food Kitchen Scale (Digital Grams and Ounces
The Etekcity Food Kitchen Scale has built a strong reputation among fitness and baking enthusiasts alike — and after reading dozens of reviews, I can see why.
This model stands out for its speed and precision. The sensors respond almost instantly, showing changes in real time. That’s a huge plus when you’re measuring multiple ingredients quickly, especially while baking.
It also measures in grams, ounces, pounds, and milliliters, and has a tare function that lets you subtract the container weight with a single tap — perfect for when you’re using bowls or cups.
The sleek glass platform gives it a modern look and makes cleaning effortless. Plus, it’s compact enough to store in small kitchen drawers.
Another highlight is that many reviewers mentioned it holds accuracy even after long-term daily use, which is rare in budget scales. The only slight downside is the battery life, since it runs on AAA batteries and doesn’t have a rechargeable option. But that’s a small trade-off for the performance you get.
Pros:
- Fast and accurate sensor response
- Tare function for easy measuring
- Compact and stylish design
- Great for both baking and calorie tracking
Cons:
- Battery-powered (no rechargeable option)
- Glass surface can get smudgy if not wiped often
⚖️ Amazon Basics vs Etekcity — Which One Wins?
If you want something durable, minimal, and reliable for daily cooking, the Amazon Basics scale is a solid choice. It’s sturdy, affordable, and built to last.
But if you’re a detail-oriented baker or someone tracking macros for fitness, the Etekcity scale’s speed and precision might give you an edge. It feels slightly more premium and responsive during frequent use.
In short:
- Go for Amazon Basics if you want simplicity and durability.
- Go for Etekcity if you want speed, precision, and a modern design.
Both are great picks, and whichever one you choose, you’ll definitely notice how much easier your cooking routine becomes once you start using a reliable scale.
✅ Final Thoughts
After reading hundreds of reviews and comparing user experiences, it’s clear that both models dominate the “best budget digital kitchen scale” category. It really comes down to your style — minimalist and practical (Amazon Basics) or fast and precise (Etekcity).
No matter which you choose, make sure to keep it clean, avoid overloading, and always use it on a flat surface for consistent results.
Below are the links where you can check both models, read full specs, and see what other buyers are saying:
