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Best Cheap Window Replacement (2024 Guide)
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We know it’s a pricey time to be a homeowner. Many home expenses are rising, so it’s understandable you want to spend as little as possible on home improvement projects while still getting a quality result and valuable return on investment.
Replacing your windows is one of those projects likely to put a dent in your wallet, especially if you’re installing several new windows at once. We studied 15 of the best window companies to see which have the most affordable options that are high-quality enough to lower your energy bills, improve your home’s comfort, and ensure you won’t have to think about your windows again for many years.
We thoroughly researched and narrowed our list to the top five cheap window replacement companies we most recommend. We surveyed 1,500 homeowners who bought windows in the last two years, consulted two industry experts on what makes a quality window, read over 1,500 customer reviews, spoke with two homeowners who bought windows in the last three years, and joined a company’s installation crew on the job to learn what window installation is like. We developed a rating system from this research, with the following five budget-friendly window companies scoring the highest.
The listings that appear are from companies from which this website receives compensation, which may impact how, where and in what order products appear. This listing does not include all companies or all available offers and products.
Compare Our Top Cheap Window Replacement Picks
This table gives you a high-level look at how our top five cheap window replacement brands compare to all of the companies we reviewed in key categories, such as warranty coverage, materials, and financing options. You can quickly compare each company’s average price per window by looking at the third row from the top.
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| #1 out of 15 companies | #2 out of 15 companies | #3 out of 15 companies | #4 out of 15 companies | #5 out of 15 companies | #6 out of 15 companies | #7 out of 15 companies | #8 out of 15 companies | #9 out of 15 companies | #10 out of 15 companies | #11 out of 15 companies | #12 out of 15 companies | #13 out of 15 companies | #14 out of 15 companies | #15 out of 15 companies | |
| A+ | F | Not Rated | Not Rated | A+ | A+ | A | A+ | A+ | A+ | A+ | A+ | A+ | A+ | A+ | |
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Avg Price per Window*** |
$800 | $1,105 | $1,141 | $1,162 | $1,194 | $1,210 | $1,500 | $1,200 | $1,261 | $1,288 | $1,597 | $1,323 | $1,436 | $1,497 | $1,513 |
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Warranty Type |
Limited lifetime transferable | Limited lifetime transferable, lifetime transferable | Limited lifetime transferable | Lifetime transferable | Limited transferable | Lifetime transferable | Lifetime transferable | Limited lifetime transferable | Limited lifetime transferable | Limited transferable | Lifetime transferable, limited transferable | Limited transferable | Limited transferable | Limited lifetime transferable | Limited transferable |
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Energy Efficiency |
Energy Star partner | Energy Star-certified | Energy Star-certified | Energy Star-certified | Energy Star Partner of the Year 2015–2024 | Energy Star-certified | Energy Star-certified | Energy Star-certified | Energy Star partner | Energy Star-certified | Energy Star-certified | Energy Star-certified | Energy Star-certified | Energy Star 2023 Most Efficient winner | NFRC-certified |
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Material |
Vinyl | Aluminum, vinyl | Vinyl | Vinyl, wood | Composite | Vinyl | Vinyl | Vinyl | Fiberglass, vinyl, wood | Aluminum, fiberglass, wood | Vinyl, wood | Aluminum, vinyl | Composite, vinyl, wood | Vinyl | Aluminum, wood |
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Financing Offers |
In-house financing, 0% interest, deferred payments, discounts | None | In-house financing, 0% interest, 0% down, deferred payments, discounts | In-house financing, 0% interest, 0% down, deferred payments, discounts | In-house financing, 0% down, deferred payments, discounts | 0% down | In-house financing program | None | In-house financing program, 0% interest loan, discounts | None | None | None | None | None | None |
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State Availability |
50 | 13 | 29 | 18 | 50 | 11 | 23 | 15 | 44 | 50 | 19 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
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Summary |
We recommend Window World if you want quality windows on a budget. |
We recommend Milgard if your priority is a company that stands by its warranty. |
We recommend Champion if you plan to finance and want to reduce upfront costs. |
We recommend Window Nation if you want wood windows. |
We recommend Renewal by Andersen if your priorities are energy efficiency and durable materials. |
We recommend Castle if you prefer full, long-term warranty coverage. |
We recommend Universal Windows Direct if you want lifetime warranty coverage and vinyl windows. |
We recommend Power Home Remodeling if you want to upgrade multiple aspects of your home at the same time. |
We recommend Pella if you want to check out the windows at a home improvement store before buying. |
We recommend Marvin if you want plenty of material and style options |
We recommend Harvey for those who want vinyl or wood windows and don’t mind hiring an installer. |
We don’t recommend PlyGem due to its poor customer ratings that cite low product quality and service. |
We don’t recommend Jeld-Wen because of its above-average window costs and poor customer reviews. |
We don’t recommend Simonton due to poor customer ratings and above-average pricing. |
We don’t recommend Loewen because of its limited window styles and number of unsatisfied customers. |
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Promotions |
No offers at this time. | Get $20-$40 rebates on new windows now! | Buy 2 Windows, Get 2 Free | Buy 2 Windows, Get 2 Free! | Save $375 off each window | Get a FREE Consultation Today! | Buy 2 Windows, Get 2 Free! | Next-Day Appointments Available | Get 25% Off Your Pella Project Today | No current offers available. | Up to 15% off JELD-WEN windows at Home Depot | ||||
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Rating Categories |
Window World | Milgard | Champion | Window Nation | Renewal by Andersen | Castle | Universal Windows Direct | Power Home Remodeling | Pella | Marvin | Harvey | PlyGem | Jeld-Wen | Simonton Windows | Loewen Windows |
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Value |
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Performance |
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Services |
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Customer Support |
*BBB ratings are accurate as of June 2024.
**Champion and Window Nation do not have BBB ratings as of June 2024. We detail why in our reviews below.
***Average window prices are based on our 2024 survey of 1,500 recent window buyers.
Tips To Reduce Window Draftiness and Save Money
When we surveyed homeowners, our team discovered that 20% replaced their windows due to draftiness resulting from air leakage. If this is you, our video below provides tips on reducing draftiness and energy bill spikes while you wait for your new, more energy-efficient windows to be installed.
Our Top-Rated Cheap Window Companies
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Most Budget-Friendly:
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Best Fiberglass Windows:
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Best Financing:
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Best Discounts:
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Best Installation:
How We Selected the Best Cheap Window Brands
Based on our research process and consumer insights, we determined the following six factors are most important to homeowners when shopping for a cheap window replacement brand: value, performance, selection, services, customer support, and reputation. Below is how we scored each of the 15 brands we reviewed in these categories.
Value
We first looked at price to evaluate value. You may be surprised how much window replacement costs. When we asked our 1,500 survey takers how much they paid per window on average, the top answer was $1,500–$2,000. To create our list of affordable windows, we considered only companies with an average cost per window of $1,400 or less. Four out of the 15 brands we reviewed didn’t make the cut: Harvey, Jeld-Wen, Simonton, and Loewen, according to the average cost survey respondents reported for these brands. All other brands we reviewed fell between $1,000 and $1,400 on average, with the exception of one standout: Window World. Window World averages $800 per window, earning it the highest points for this part of the Value category.
We also looked at what kind of financing offers these companies provide to determine other ways to save money and increase value. We looked for four financing incentives: 0% interest loan terms, no-money-down programs, discounts, and deferred payment options. We found that just six of the companies we researched offered these incentives: those that made our top five and Pella. Renewal by Andersen and Champion excelled in this category, both offering all four financing perks to help customers save money while being able to purchase new windows faster than if they needed to save up a large sum first.
While we didn’t find that Window World requires no money down or allows you to put off payments the first 12 months like some brands do, it still may be your most cost-effective choice. Not only does Window World have the least expensive replacement windows on average, but the company has a buy-two, get-two-free discount and its loan has a 0% interest rate.
Performance
We analyzed warranty coverage and energy efficiency to determine window performance. The warranty coverage a company offers tells us how much they stand behind the window’s durability and capabilities. Energy testing and certifications give us a reliable indication of how insulated a window is. The better the insulation, the less you’ll pay for your home’s heating and cooling.
Windows typically come with one of three warranty types: lifetime, limited lifetime, or limited. We awarded the most points to brands with lifetime warranties, which cover all aspects of the window for its entire lifespan. This includes leaks, screens, glass breakage, workmanship, seals, repairs, etc. The more covered under your warranty, the less you’ll pay out of pocket if any aspect of the window ever needs repair or replacement. We found lifetime warranty coverage to be rare in the window industry. Only three companies we reviewed (Castle, Window Nation, and Universal Windows Direct) exclusively offer a lifetime warranty. Harvey and Milgard offer lifetime coverage for select windows.
Limited lifetime warranties are most common in the industry. This warranty type covers certain parts of the window for the window’s lifespan but not others. For example, it may cover glass for the lifespan but only cover seals for 10 years. Brands Champion, Window World, Pella, and Power Home Remodeling offer this coverage type, so you should read the fine print of their warranty policies to know exactly what’s covered and for how long if you decide to purchase from them.
We awarded the fewest points to companies with limited warranties. This warranty type doesn’t offer lifetime coverage on any aspect of the window. Instead, it caps coverage for varying window parts at a certain number of years. For example, the policy may cap glass coverage at 20 years and frame coverage at 10.
Though Renewal by Andersen made our top five, it’s the only brand among our highest-rated picks that has a limited warranty, with window coverage ranging from 10–20 years. There’s debate about the lifespan of a window, but the general consensus is 15–30 years depending on materials and maintenance. Renewal by Andersen at least guarantees the most important parts of their windows, glass, and framing for 20 years, beating the low end of that range. However, companies with lifetime coverage may consider their products’ lifespan to be longer than 20 years, so we deem this warranty type superior.
All window companies we reviewed are Energy Star-certified, so they’re similar in energy performance. Windows from any of these brands are bound to be more efficient than your old windows.
Reputation
“Positive customer reviews” was the No. 2 answer when we asked survey takers why they chose the brand they bought from. We primarily looked at two trusted sites to gauge reputation: Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot. In cases where brands had fewer than 50 customer reviews on these sites, we also read reviews on sites such as Google Reviews, Facebook, and Reddit.
We looked at each company’s BBB profile for both its BBB score and overall customer rating. We awarded the highest points to companies with A ratings, because these signal that the company is in good standing regarding its business practices. We deducted points for each descending letter grade. We were impressed that all brands but three hold an A or A+ score. Milgard, Champion, and Window Nation are not rated. There are many reasons why a brand doesn’t have a BBB rating—some due to improper business practices and some due to not meeting BBB requirements, such as annual payments to the bureau. We’ve noted where these companies fall in their reviews below.
Because BBB ratings don’t always paint an accurate picture of business practices, we also took into account customer ratings on BBB and Trustpilot. These are numeric ratings out of five stars. The more stars, the more points we awarded.
We read a minimum of 100 reviews per company to identify positive and negative feedback themes to shed light on star ratings. This is because we know customers tend to leave online reviews to express negative feedback more than positive, which doesn’t always paint a fair picture. For example, we looked at how many reviews simply call the company a scam. All companies we reviewed are legitimate companies with legal business practices, so we disregard this generalization. We also noted when customers complained of warranty claim denials, but the brand’s warranty policy explicitly states it doesn’t cover what the claim was about.
We considered a good customer rating to be an average of three out of five stars, which more than half of the companies had. Universal Windows Direct, Power Home Remodeling, and Harvey stood out for exceptionally high customer ratings.
Selection
We focused on the number of window styles and the number and quality of window materials to judge selection. The highest points went to companies with eight or more styles, as this captures the most popular types of windows customers are interested in. Most companies we reviewed offered eight to 11 style options, except for Renewal by Andersen and Milgard. Both companies do sell double-hung windows, though, which are one of the cheapest window styles.
Material availability and quality were the heaviest-weighted part of this rating category. It’s common for window companies to only sell one frame material, but some sell two or more options. This allows them to serve more customers, since some may want more budget-friendly window materials in some parts of the home and more luxury or high-performing windows in others.
Window frames are made from either aluminum, vinyl, wood, fiberglass, or a composite blend. Aluminum windows are the lowest-performing and typically cheapest window option. Vinyl windows are a staple in the industry because they’re a good balance of performance and cost. They’re often the second-cheapest material option while still being long-lasting and meeting Energy Star criteria for performance. Wood windows are a classic choice offering warmth and curb appeal to a home’s facade, but they’re midtier regarding energy performance and are often more expensive.
Fiberglass and composite windows are generally the best material options, so we awarded brands with these materials the highest points. Composite windows are long-lasting and durable without the price tag of fiberglass. Fiberglass windows are highly energy-efficient, weather-resistant, long-lasting, and low maintenance. You’ll pay more for them, but we see the high return on investment as a worthwhile tradeoff. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reports that heat gain and loss through windows is responsible for 25%–30% of heating and cooling use. A more energy-efficient frame material, such as fiberglass or composite, will substantially reduce your energy bills.
If you want to stay more budget-friendly, we recommend vinyl windows from Window World, Champion, or Window Nation.
Services
The top service we awarded points for was in-house window installation. Some window manufacturers have their own in-house team trained to install their windows. We prefer this because it increases customer service. An in-house team is highly knowledgeable at installing that brand’s windows specifically. Plus, communication, scheduling, and warranty coverage are all under one roof, which we think results in a smoother experience.
For example, an outside contractor may have more difficulty getting in touch with the company if a window arrives damaged. A warranty claim involving faulty installation has to go through two parties instead of one. The more parties are involved, the slower and more cumbersome the process may be. Nearly half (48%) of our 1,500 survey respondents said they went with a company that offers in-house installation services, and 59% said their professional installation was complete in one or two days.
Less than half of the window companies we reviewed offer this service. If you purchase from a brand that doesn’t handle installation in-house, your options are to either hire an outside contractor or check if the company has a network of installers it recommends. Four out of five of the companies that made our list offer in-house installation, with Milgard being the only exception.
We also looked to see if companies offered services beyond windows, such as door, siding, or roofing installation. Most do, which is convenient if you’re doing a major home improvement project and want to update multiple areas. You also may be able to get a better deal by bundling work.
Customer Support
Customer support availability is the last category we evaluated brands on. We gave the most points to companies with 24/7 customer support hours as opposed to those with traditional Monday–Friday business hours. This mattered to us because window issues don’t just happen on weekdays before 5 p.m. If your mower spits a rock through your window or you notice a leak during a bad storm after hours, you likely want to arrange service immediately. Castle is the only brand out of the 15 researched that offers 24/7 customer support.
We also gave points to companies with chat features, service forms, or maintenance guides on their site. Online chat features that pop up on a company’s site are convenient for when you have a quick question and don’t want to wait on the phone. Castle and Window Nation both have this. All companies that made our top five have online service forms, so you can request service any time, though we don’t know how closely this is monitored. A 24/7 support line is likely the quicker way to get service. Most companies we scored provide some type of maintenance guide on their site where you can find tutorials or answers to frequently asked questions about your windows.
Our Top Affordable Window Replacement Picks
After scoring 15 window companies on the six rating factors above and using our survey data to compare average window costs, we recommend the following five companies for their below-average pricing combined with quality products and services. We want to note upfront that all of these brands meet Energy Star certification criteria, so their high energy performance is similar enough that we didn’t spend much of our reviews driving home that these brands are both low in cost and high in energy efficiency.
We focused our reviews more on material quality, warranty coverage, and customer satisfaction. We’ve listed the average cost per window for the brands at the top of each review. All five brands fall within the $800–$1,200 range, which is significantly less than the $1,500–$2,000 per window our survey respondents reported spending.
Most Budget-Friendly: Window World
No offers at this time.
What We Liked
- Has the lowest window prices of the 15 companies we reviewed
- Offers BOGO discounts
- Provides a 0% interest rate loan option
What We Didn't Like
- Only sells vinyl windows, which are budget-friendly but not as durable as other options
- Requires some money down if you’re financing via their loan
Our Scores
We scored Window World 4.6 out of 5 stars. The brand has the lowest average prices of any company we reviewed.
Our Review
Window World’s pricing is well below average, but that doesn’t mean its products aren’t high in quality. Despite average pricing of $800 per window according to customers, the manufacturer’s windows are certified by both Energy Star and the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), signifying great energy performance.
Window World also provides discounts that vary by location, so you may be able to save even more money. Plus, many locations don’t charge interest for the first 15 months if you finance your purchase using their loan program. The loan does require some money down, however, and we didn’t see that you can defer payments for 12 months, as some brands offer.
Our biggest drawback with Window World is that it only sells vinyl windows. Make no mistake—vinyl windows aren’t a bad option, and Window World has some of the best vinyl windows you can buy according to customer reviews. Vinyl just isn’t as good as fiberglass or composite windows in terms of energy efficiency or durability. You’ll still likely see a drop in your energy bills by upgrading to energy-efficient vinyl windows, and vinyl is much cheaper than wood, fiberglass, or composite materials.
Customer Reviews
- Friendly installers
- High-quality windows
- Quick installation
- Incorrect orders
Window World’s customer ratings on BBB further strengthen our confidence in the brand despite its low prices. Window World has an A+ rating on BBB and an average customer rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars—one of the highest we’ve seen across window brands. The company averages slightly lower on Trustpilot, though, earning 2.3 out of 5 stars. While this is far from the lowest customer rating we’ve seen, we’re not sure why satisfaction varied among review sites. We didn’t see much difference in the types of positive and negative comments left on different sites.
We read many reviews that highlighted how much homeowners liked the windows’ appearance and that the in-house installation team was courteous, clean, and fast. A major negative theme was windows showing up damaged or incorrect on installation day, resulting in a delay due to reordering. While we know this is frustrating for customers, it’s often not the installer’s or even the company's fault. Windows pass through many hands as they’re boxed and shipped. Installers typically aren’t aware there’s an issue until unboxing the windows on installation day.
Best Fiberglass Windows: Milgard
Get $20-$40 rebates on new windows now!
What We Liked
- Provides lifetime warranty coverage on two of its window lines
- Sells fiberglass, vinyl, and aluminum material options as opposed to just one
- Has above-average customer ratings
What We Didn't Like
- Doesn’t offer helpful financing perks
- Doesn’t handle installation in-house, so you’ll need to hire a contractor
Our Scores
Milgard earned 4.4 out of 5 stars. We’re impressed that it sells high-quality fiberglass windows at such low prices.
Our Review
Our survey respondents reported Milgard’s average window price as just over $1,100, putting it well below most competitors. Milgard doesn’t provide in-house installation, however, so this isn’t factored into the price. What you’ll pay for your window installation depends on the contractor you hire.
Milgard stands out for being one of the few companies we reviewed that sells three frame material options. Most companies sell just one, possibly two. Customers can choose between aluminum, vinyl, or fiberglass windows. We explained in our rating criteria above why we don’t recommend aluminum windows, but vinyl and fiberglass are two solid options with varying prices. Vinyl will cost less, but fiberglass will likely be the better return on investment given how much more energy-efficient and durable it is compared to other materials.
You’re not making a bad decision if you go with vinyl. Many vinyl windows are certified by Energy Star and last 20+ years. They’re just not as high-performance as fiberglass. Milgard clearly stands behind its vinyl choices because it provides lifetime warranty coverage for only its vinyl windows in its Tuscany and Trinsic window series. All other windows have limited lifetime coverage. If budget is your top priority, we recommend going with vinyl. If you can pay a little more for a potentially better return on investment, go with fiberglass.
Customer Reviews
Milgard doesn’t have an A+ rating on BBB like most of the other brands on our list. It actually doesn’t have a rating at all. This isn’t concerning to us, though. We’d only be concerned if the company had a low letter grade, indicating poor business practices. No rating likely means the company hasn’t met one of BBB’s rating requirements that doesn’t relate to business practices, such as not paying its annual dues to the organization.
What really makes us unfazed by the lack of rating is the customer-specific rating on BBB. Milgard has 4.6 out of 5 stars from customers out of more than 700 reviews. This is the second-highest BBB customer rating out of all 15 brands we researched.
Customers praise the company’s fast and courteous installers and service technicians. We saw a few reviewers say they’re repeat customers, and one said their Milgard windows look just as good as the day they were installed 22 years prior. The most common complaint was lack of responsiveness. Customers said they had difficulty getting someone on the phone to handle their issue.
Best Financing: Champion
What We Liked
- Has multiple advantageous loan terms to help you save money if you finance
- Frequently offers generous discounts
- Has mostly positive customer reviews
What We Didn't Like
- Only sells vinyl windows, which we don’t recommend for certain climates
- Has a business conduct alert on its BBB profile (explained below)
Our Scores
We scored Champion Windows 4.6 out of 5 stars. It earned its highest points for its valuable financing offers.
Our Review
Champion Windows is the third cheapest window replacement company, according to our survey respondents. Plus, Champion offers generous rotating discounts. For example, at the time of this writing, the company is offering 35% off. We’ve also seen the company have BOGO deals. If your budget doesn’t allow you to purchase all the windows you need upfront, you can finance them through Champion’s in-house loan program. You don’t have to put any money down, and while the loan’s interest rate varies, it’s guaranteed to be low.
Champion’s below-average pricing is partly due to only selling vinyl windows, which are typically cheaper than wood, fiberglass, and composite options. Vinyl is cheaper to make, and it’s not as energy-efficient as fiberglass or composites. Vinyl replacement windows are still quality options, especially when you’re on a tight budget. We do caution you if you live in an excessively hot climate or have severe storms, however. Vinyl is susceptible to cracking in intense heats, and it doesn’t hold up as well as other options to severe winds.
We noticed that the company isn’t rated on BBB and has an alert on its BBB profile about a recent legal settlement. Though we couldn’t find details, it sounds like a Minneapolis location may have performed work with an out-of-date license. Champion agreed to pay a fine, and we trust this was an oversight the company will resolve soon if it hasn’t already.
Customer Reviews
- Smooth process
- Helpful representatives
- High-quality windows
- Missed appointments
Champion doesn’t have a BBB rating, but it does have 4.1 out of 5 stars from more than 3,700 customers on Trustpilot, and 3 out of 5 stars from more than 750 customers on BBB. This is the largest sample size of reviews we’ve seen for a window company, so we feel confident about the picture it paints.
We like how many reviews we read stating that Champion has the best representatives. Many customers detailed how thorough and helpful reps were in understanding and solving their issues. Customers also wrote that they loved the look of their windows and were happy with the quick and efficient process.
We did notice a theme of missed appointments, but company reps haven’t responded to these individual statements to give an explanation why. Our theory is that this could be a location-specific issue due to short staffing, but we can’t say for sure. Another negative theme was about sales consultants overpromising and under-delivering. From what we read, it sounds like sales reps told some customers that certain services or upgrades would be included and this didn’t turn out to be true.
Best Discounts: Window Nation
Buy 2 Windows, Get 2 Free!
What We Liked
- Provides lifetime warranty coverage on all windows
- Makes vinyl and wood windows, whereas most companies sells just one material
- Offers a buy-two, get-two free discount, as well as an additional 5% off for military and seniors
What We Didn't Like
- Only sells midtier material options, so performance won’t be as strong as it could be
- May put stipulations on its financing offers according to customer reviews
Our Scores
Window Nation earned 4.3 out of 5 stars. We rated it the best, most budget-friendly choice for wood windows.
Our Review
Window Nation is the only company that made our list that sells wood windows. Wooden windows are typically midrange in pricing when compared to the other four material options, so to still come in below-average on cost is a plus. The company also sells vinyl windows, which are usually cheaper.
Window Nation’s discounts help reduce costs further. The company is running a buy-two, get-two deal at the time of this writing. Seniors and active or veteran military members get an additional 5% off, which we haven’t seen from competitors. We’re a little skeptical of Window Nation’s discount promotions, however. We saw several customer reviews stating that the person saw an ad from the company advertising attractive financing terms, such as a 0% interest rate, only to learn from the fine print that the offer had a big catch.
You may think low prices mean low-quality products, but Window Nation backs all of its windows with a lifetime warranty. That means it covers every aspect of the window plus installation for the lifespan of the window, which is usually 20+ years. Lifetime coverage is a rarity in the industry. Only 3 out of the 15 companies we reviewed offer it on all of their window lines.
Customer Reviews
- Fast installation
- Knowledgeable technicians
- Repeat customers
- Miscommunication
Window Nation isn’t rated on BBB, but we don’t see any listed alerts as to why. Since the rating isn’t a low letter score, this likely means the lack of rating isn’t due to bad business practices but to not meeting BBB accreditation requirements. This could be unrelated to how the company conducts business with its customers, such as not making its annual payment to the bureau.
The brand has an average of 3 out of 5 stars from customers across BBB and Trustpilot. We saw reviews from several repeat customers who said they were happy enough the first time to come back when they bought a new home. We see this as the biggest endorsement a company can have. Customers reported that installers were professional and worked quickly and that representatives were helpful.
A common complaint we saw was miscommunication, which some customers said was deceptive. This pertained to a range of things, such as promotion fine print, window orders, and project expectations. A theme was that the customer thought they were ordering one type of window or window size in the consultation only to see that the paperwork listed another. To prevent this, we recommend getting all the details of your order in writing before ending the consultation.
Best Installation: Renewal by Andersen
What We Liked
- Uses a composite window material, which is hard to find in this price range
- Provides in-house installation services from Certified Master installers
- Offers helpful loan terms, such as 0% down and a 0% interest rate
What We Didn't Like
- Only offers limited warranty coverage
- Doesn’t sell as many window styles as most competitors
Our Scores
We scored Renewal by Andersen 4.8 out of 5 stars. Its proprietary Fibrex composite material sets it apart from competitors.
Our Review
Even if you haven’t heard of the popular Renewal by Andersen brand, you’ve likely heard of its parent company, the Andersen Corporation. Andersen has over 120 years of experience and focuses mostly on new construction windows, but Renewal by Andersen is its offshoot that specifically makes and installs high-quality replacement windows.
Renewal by Andersen’s windows are made from its proprietary Fibrex composite material that no other company has. Renewal credits it as a big reason why the company has been an Energy Star Partner of the Year every year since 2015. The manufacturer guarantees the material won’t rot, decay, or mold, and that its low expansion rate makes it more stable and less likely to crack or warp under fluctuating temperatures.
The Andersen name has a reputation for being costly due to its high quality, but our 1,500 survey respondents showed that Renewal by Andersen’s average window price is actually just under $1,200 per window. Roughly 36% of those we surveyed bought Andersen-name windows, with 15% specifically buying from Renewal by Andersen. The company provides multiple ways to save money, including a 0% interest rate and 0% money down at select locations. At the time of this writing, the company is offering a buy-one, get-one-40%-off discount.
Our main complaint about Renewal is its limited warranty coverage. Most of the other companies we reviewed offer lifetime or limited lifetime coverage. Renewal caps its glass and frame coverage at 20 years. It’s not uncommon for well-maintained windows to last beyond this, so you’d be better off with lifetime coverage.
Though we don’t recommend it, if you want to save as much money as possible upfront, you can purchase Andersen windows at the Home Depot and DIY install them. Unless you’re highly skilled at window replacement, this may become a more difficult and costly project than simply hiring Renewal by Andersen and having their installers do the work for you, but we wanted to make this option known.
Customer Reviews
- Clean, professional technicians
- High-quality windows
- Durability
- Installation delays
Renewal by Andersen has an A+ rating on BBB, 3 out of 5 stars from customers on the site, and 2 out of 5 stars from customers on Trustpilot. Reviewers call installers and service technicians out by name for being so professional, prompt, polite, and respectful of their home. Customers also note how great the windows did and that they already noticed their air conditioning not turning on as often.
We noticed a theme of complaints about caulking during installation. Customers said it was either too little or too much. It’s hard to tell whether this is truly a company-wide installation problem or customer perception. We also saw a theme of reviewers saying something was damaged during installation and that the company wasn’t helpful in resolving the issue. We suggest being home during installation and identifying problems with installers before they leave, getting anything you want fixed in writing on the spot.
FAQ About Cheap Window Replacement
Is it cheaper to buy windows from the manufacturer?
Yes, it’s typically cheaper to buy windows directly from the manufacturer than from a home improvement store. This is because the retailer has likely included a markup on top of the manufacturer’s price so it can make a profit.
What is the least expensive replacement window?
Single-hung aluminum or vinyl windows are typically the least expensive window types. Double-hung windows are also budget-friendly. Our survey data shows that the brand Window World has the least expensive replacement windows that are still Energy Star certified and well-rated. Survey respondents say Window World averages $800 per window, well below the industry average of $1,500.
Who makes the best replacement windows for the money?
Renewal by Andersen makes the best replacement windows for the money, according to our scoring. The company manufactures highly energy-efficient composite windows and handles installation in-house using a certified team, all for an average of $1,194 per window.
How can I tell if windows are cheap?
You can tell if a window is cheaply made or of poor quality by its materials. Avoid aluminum framing and single-pane glass, as these offer poor energy performance, durability, and weather resistance. Don’t purchase a window that isn’t Energy Star certified.
Is it cheaper to replace your own windows?
You’ll save money by replacing the windows yourself but may end up paying more in the long run if you do the job poorly. Not hiring a professional window installer is only cost-effective if you have all the required construction tools and skills to do the job properly so you don’t experience costly leaks or damage over time.