Everyone has at least one necessary chore that they absolutely loathe, and for me, that chore is washing the dishes—and I know I’m not alone on this one. When I moved into my new dishwasher-less studio apartment last year, I knew it was going to be a major adjustment for me to have to wash my dirty plates, cups, and cat food bowls by hand every single night, and while I do my best to keep my sink clean and dishless, from time to time, I’ll admit that I let things get a bit out of hand. My apartment was built in the 1920s and management seemingly has zero interest in modern renovations, and while I love its art deco charm, I often miss my old space’s contemporary amenities—namely, the dishwasher.

When I found out that compact, countertop dishwashers actually exist, my mind was blown, and surprisingly, they’re not as costly as you may think. For me, getting a little bit of help with my least favorite chore is priceless, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover how affordable many models actually are. While they’re clearly not going to be as robust or roomy as a conventional dishwasher, they’re a huge, huge help. Scroll through below to check out some of the best, wallet-friendly models to take for a spin yourself.