The Best Indoor Air Quality Monitors of 2026

• Powered by: USB cable and battery options
• Dimensions: 4”H x 4”W x 2”D
• App available: Yes
• Smart home integration: Yes
• Number of sensors: 7
• What it tracks: Radon, particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon dioxide, temperature, humidity, airborne chemicals (VOCs), air pressure

The Airthings View Plus landed at the top of our list not only for the number of pollutants it monitors but also for its impressive comprehensive compatibility with smart home systems and an easy-to-navigate app.

The View Plus measures radon gas, PMs, carbon dioxide, VOCs, humidity, temperature, and air pressure. Not all monitors offer radon detection, but since it's such a powerful and harmful pollutant, it is comforting to have this extra feature.

Its simple, rounded design takes up minimal space on a counter or shelf. The screen only shows two pollutants at a time, but you can use the app to adjust which settings are shown on the E-ink screen. The View Plus is powered using six AAA batteries or by using the included USB cord. We don’t like that the USB intake is hidden underneath the battery compartment lid and the awkward placement makes it tricky to install the cord. Also, a power adapter is not included, so you have to provide your own.

One of our favorite features is the accompanying smartphone app. The app provides a list of pollutants with color-coded indicators. It notes each item as being good, fair, or poor. You can select a reading to get more details and you can also look back at data for the past 30 days. If you wave your hand over the View Plus unit, it lights up in the corresponding colors, green, yellow, or red, and gives you a quick message about your air quality. When the CO2 reading turned to fair, we opened a window to improve ventilation and it was cool to watch in real time as the CO2 levels went down.

Once you register your account, Airthings sends you a series of helpful emails, giving you tips for placement, and helping you understand different pollutants. They also let you know when your unit is calibrated as some measurements take several days to get up to speed.

While the Airthings View Plus is one of the most expensive options available, the ease of use and the number of pollutants measured make it worthwhile. We also really appreciate the customer service emails offering an extra level of support.

• Powered by: USB cable
• Dimensions: 6.06"W x 1.8" Dx 3.33"H
• App available: Yes
• Smart home integration: Yes
• Number of sensors: 5
• What it tracks: Particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon dioxide, temperature, humidity, airborne chemicals (VOC)

There is a lot to like about the Awair Element indoor air quality monitor. While it doesn’t provide radon or pressure detection like the View Plus, it still offers detection of the three main pollutants—PMs, CO2, and VOCs—in addition to temperature and humidity. A USB cord and adapter are provided as a power source. There is no battery option for the Element.

The Element doesn’t have a screen display. You’ll see an overall air quality score and a small color-coded indication light in the top right corner indicating if the number means good, fair, or poor. It also shows a series of dots that light up to indicate measurement levels; One dot means healthy and five dots mean unhealthy. You have to log into the app to see which element corresponds to which row of dots. However, the app is extremely comprehensive and houses all the details you need to understand your air quality.

Connecting your device to the app is simple and only takes a few steps. The app is very user-friendly and provides readings that are easy to understand and tips to take action should you need to. We really liked the detailed range scale for each pollutant so we could understand not just the status of the air quality, but where it fell on the overall scale.

The Awair Element offers many of the same features as the Airthings View Plus, at a slightly lower price point. The Element is a solid choice if you don’t plan to move your air quality monitor from room to room and you’re fine without a battery option and radon detection.

• Powered by: USB cable
• Dimensions: 1.8”H x 2.6” W x 2.6”D
• App available: Yes
• Smart home integration: Yes
• Number of sensors: 5
• What it tracks: Particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide, airborne chemicals (VOCs), temperature, humidity

The Amazon Smart Indoor Air Quality Monitor is a top option if you use Alexa. The smallest in size of the devices we tested, it measures five of the key air quality components. Absent from the Smart monitor are carbon dioxide and radon sensors. Instead, there is a reading for carbon monoxide, which we didn’t see on the other models we tested. It is important to note that it is not meant to replace a stand-alone CO detector.

The small cube does not have a screen. Instead, a color-coded indicator light at the top notifies the user of the current air quality. All of the insights are provided via the Alexa app. It was a tad frustrating navigating all of the different components in the app to find the Smart Air Monitor data. Ideally, we would prefer if the Smart monitor had its own app.

However, we like that insights are provided on an hourly, daily, and weekly basis, allowing you to drill down into the data for a better understanding. Amazon also provides tips for creating cleaner air in your home.

What makes the Smart air quality monitor stand out is its ability to integrate with Alexa Routines and with the Amazon Echo. Being able to have the device communicate with an air purifier to turn on automatically is a game changer. With all of the high-tech features and the low price point, the Amazon Smart air quality monitor is a great value.

Read our full review of the Amazon Smart Indoor Air Quality Monitor.

• Powered by: USB cable or rechargeable battery
• Dimensions: 7.48” W x 3.15” H x 2.05” D
• App available: No
• Smart home integration: No
• Number of sensors: 8
• What it tracks: Small and large particulate matter (PM2.5) (PM10), carbon dioxide, total airborne chemicals, air quality index, formaldehyde, temperature, humidity

The AirKnight indoor air quality monitor features a large screen so you can see all of the eight air quality components it detects at once.

The included quick start guide is a wealth of information and clearly explains each of the eight components. You’ll also find general tips for why the readings may be high. While the data is real-time, you won’t receive real-time advice on improving your air quality. One big complaint is that the guide’s font size is minuscule and requires a magnifying glass to be able to read it.

AirKnight uses color-coding and smiley face indicators for their four air-quality categories, good, acceptable, unhealthy, and very unhealthy. If you are standing in front of the monitor, it is easy to see if adjustments need to be made. However, since there is no online component, there is also no historical data to reference should you need it. The unit features a USB power cord and adaptor but also has the convenience of a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 11 hours.

The large size and busy screen are far from discreet on a counter, but if you like being able to see your air quality readings in one place without using a phone, this is a good mid-range option.