Whilst you can spend a small fortune on alarms, you can get some of the best bite alarms for a real budget price. They might not have 50 different settings, but for anglers that just want reliable, easy-to-use tackle, there are some great options available.
Bite alarms are one of the most important items to any angler who fishes overnight, they will alert you when you have a bite whilst you're fast asleep, where you would be totally unaware otherwise. Some of the bite alarms you can get for under even £30 offer exceptional value for money, perform really well and will always let you know when you get that all-important take.
Best budget bite alarms at a glance:
• Best All-Round Budget Bite Alarm: Fox Mini Micron - View offer on Total Fishing Tackle
• Best Budget Bite Alarm With Receiver Compatibility: Nash Siren S5R - View offer on Total Fishing Tackle
• Best Value Budget Bite Alarm: Prologic C-Series Alarm - View offer on eBay
• Best Budget Compact Bite Alarm: Korum KBI Compact Alarm - View offer on Fishing Tackle and Bait
Whether you're new to fishing or are well into your angling journey, a budget set of alarms will provide you with a great introduction to using alarms or provide a backup set if you already have some. Here’s our guide to the best budget bite alarms, and coupled with a set of bobbins – that’s a three rod setup for less than £100!
Cheapest budget bite alarm
www.ebay.co.uk
What this alarm lacks in features, it makes up for in price and looks. Perfect for beginners or on that spare set of sticks for stalking, the Saber Z3 Bite Alarm features a high-quality speaker and ultra-bright red LED.
The only adjustments available are to the volume, making for an uncomplicated product which fulfils the basic requirement of letting you know a carp has picked up your rig well.
Pros
- Ultra bright LED.
- Good sound volume.
Cons
- Lack of other features for tone and sensitivity.
Best budget bite alarm for customisation
www.total-fishing-tackle.com
This Prologic Bat Alarm is named after the elongated arms, which act as snag ears. It comes supplied with a case to keep it protected when being transported and boasts 6 volume and 5 sensitivity options. These are controlled via buttons located on the face of the alarm, increasing its versatility in any fishing situation.
A night light is also present to add something extra aesthetically whilst also having the option to choose from 4 LED colours. Running on 2x AAA batteries (which aren’t included), the alarm is easy to set up and use, perfect for novice anglers or those looking for a bit more simplicity without compromising on features.
Pros
- Long snag ears to prevent rod losses.
- LED customisation is a big plus.
Cons
- Don't feel as premium as competitors.
Best budget bite alarm with receiver compatibility
www.total-fishing-tackle.com
The Nash Siren S5R is a great entry alarm for youngsters or anglers just getting into carping. A traditional roller dual wheel system also features an integrated line guard to minimise false indications. Only the volume can be controlled, but the alarms can go very loud or super-quiet if necessary.
The LEDs on this alarm are awesome, with one or both lighting up depending on if it’s a liner or a full-blown take. Available with red, white, purple and blue LEDs, the Siren S5 alarms do the basic principle well - they let you know when a carp is on the end!
These alarms also have remote function, so can be used in conjunction with a receiver, incredible really for under £30.
Pros
- Great alarm sound with loud volume control.
- Can be used with a receiver.
Cons
- No controls for sensitivity or tone.
Best value budget bite alarms
www.ebay.co.uk
A superb value-for-money alarm, the Prologic C-Series alarm also boasts some great features. There are six volume, tone and sensitivity settings, meaning you can have the alarm just as you want it.
When you do get that savage bite, both LEDs illuminate, with one blinking for 20 seconds after. It also features a night light, and a 2.5mm out socket for matching coloured illuminated hangers or swingers, meaning you can really show off your kit in the hours of darkness.
Pros
- Lots of adjustability options.
- Very durable design.
Cons
- Can look a bit bulky on the sticks.
5.
JRC Radar C4
Best LED system on a budget bite alarm
www.total-fishing-tackle.com
The JRC Radar C4 alarm offers a very affordable option without compromising on quality.
Volume, tone and sensitivity are adjustable. JRC uses the latest in electronic design and waterproof technology to ensure the Radar C4 will still provide excellent bite indication even in the worst of weather conditions.
Also included is a specially designed hard protective case and with the robust plastic body, it will help keep the alarms in top condition for many years to come. The bite alarms are powered by a 9V battery that has been noted to last up to 12 months (depending on usage).
The high ears not only eliminate the need for additional snag bars but have rubber lining to protect the rod and grip it, preventing it being dragged into the lake with a take. The bright travelling LED bar is a unique addition to JRC alarms and offers a nice visual stimulus when you get a bite.
Pros
- Great sound speaker.
- Run tower LED system is unique.
Cons
- Adjustment knobs can be tricky to operate in the cold.
Best budget bite alarm for usability
www.total-fishing-tackle.com
While not the most aesthetically pleasing alarm on this list, what the Sonik Vader X lacks in initial appearance, it makes up for in performance and features.
Volume, tone and sensitivity settings can all be easily adjusted, with eight settings for each. The rubberised casing also makes these alarms extremely durable, and two really nice touches are the supplied snag ears and the illuminated roller.
They’re among the loudest you’ll come across.
Pros
- Easily adjustable settings.
- Great sound volume and quality.
Cons
- Hard to get matching LED colours.
Best all-round budget bite alarm
www.total-fishing-tackle.com
The Fox Mini Micron is a new and improved version of Fox’s old-school classic and boasts several great features. These alarms look incredible and offer a discreet low profile on the rests. Both volume and tone have four different adjustment settings, with two for sensitivity.
Available in red, orange, green and blue LED colours, the light intensity of the LEDs can also be controlled. A 2.5mm power out socket at the base can be used to link up the alarms with illuminated bite indicators or swingers, for those who like that real classy looking rod station.
Pros
- Look fantastic for the money.
- Available in a variety of LED colours.
Cons
- Limited sensitivity control.
Best budget compact bite alarm
www.fishingtackleandbait.co.uk
The Korum KBI Compact Bite Alarm is the perfect alarm for anglers that don't always require an alarm but like to keep one with them for the occasions they do want to use one. These alarms are super compact, measuring 39mm x 85mm x 25mm in size, you can easily keep one or two in your tackle bag without even realising they are there, allowing you to take them on every trip regardless if you'll use them or not.
The volume is adjustable and they are incredibly loud for their size, with the speaker being water resistant to prevent it being damaged. The 5mm LED is available in red and is really visible, so you'll certainly see when you get a bite. For the price and the size, it's hard to believe they aren't in every angler's bag.
Pros
- Super compact size.
- Great audio output.
Cons
- Might be too small for some.
What to look for in a budget bite alarm
When choosing between bite alarms in the budget range of under £30, it can seem a little confusing, with all of them offering slightly different features. You can be sure though, whatever alarm you choose from the list, they will all alert you to a bite. If you're an angler that likes to personalise every aspect of their alarm, then you are best choosing one that will allow you to do so, many allow tone, volume and sensitivity changes to allow you to get the best from them.
If you fish in all weathers and aren't put off by the rain, then it is always wise to go for an alarm that is waterproof, or at least showerproof, as there is little point buying an alarm that will fail because the conditions beat it. Many of the bite alarms in the budget range are water resistant, but some aren't, so make sure to check before you commit to any. If you only fish when it is dry, this won't be an issue to you.
If you struggle with small buttons and fiddly switches, the best alarm to opt for would be one with a very simple control panel. Either one large switch to turn the alarm on and off or several easy-to-use knobs would be really beneficial, especially when the weather gets cold, you have damp hands, or you need to alter something in the dark.
Glossary
LED: Light emitting diode, this will light up when you get an indication on a bite alarm.
Roller wheel: A small wheel in or on the alarm head where the line sits. When the line is moved, the wheel moves in conjunction with it, triggering the audio and visual cues of the alarm.
Bobbin: Small plastic or metal item that clips on the line to keep tension on it.
Snag ears: Strong metal bars that can be mounted on your bite alarms in order to keep your rod secure, preventing it from being dragged off the rest.
Receiver: An electrical box that wirelessly connects to the bite alarm. It provides audio signals to alert the user to a bite.
Sensitivity: A setting on a bite alarm that alters the amount the mechanism must move to trigger an indication.
Tone: A setting on the alarm that will alter how the alarm sounds.
Frequently asked questions on budget bite alarms
How do you set up a fishing bite alarm?
Setting an alarm up couldn't be simpler. There is a metal screw thread at the base of the alarm head, which attaches to either a bank stick or pod system. Your rod then sits on top of the alarm, with the line running over the detection mechanism, which is generally a wheel or plate, depending on the manufacturer. A bobbin indicator is clipped between the alarm and the reel to create some tension to emphasise line movement.
What do all the settings on bite alarms do?
Modern alarms tend to come with a variety of settings such as sensitivity, volume, tone and the ability to vary LED colour.
Changing the colour is purely for aesthetic reasons and won't affect how the alarm performs. Some anglers choose to have their alarms in different colours so they can identify which rod has a bite during the hours of darkness.
Tone and volume merely change the sound and volume the alarm makes. Tone can make your alarms more identifiable to you, depending on how you set them up. Volume is personal preference, with some people choosing to have their alarms silent and others at full volume if they struggle to hear them.
Sensitivity is the only setting that directly impacts how an alarm performs. By adjusting the sensitivity, you are determining how much movement is required to trigger the alarm. Some anglers opt for the highest setting, meaning a minimal amount of movement is needed, but in particularly windy conditions, a low-sensitivity setting can eliminate any annoying false bleeps.
Author Aidan Bordiuk is an enthusiastic angler who enjoys all fishing disciplines from match fishing to beach casting. He is currently occupying the position of Commercial Content Writer at Angling Times.