Quick Answer: Under $25: Whole Foods whitefish caviar. Real sturgeon on a budget: Noir Caviar hackleback (about $32 for 30 g). The splurge: Petrossian Royal Ossetra (about $129).
Our top picks
You don't need $200 tins for a New Year's board: the cheap roes are good, and real sturgeon starts around $32.
All 6 picks
Prices are from Sporked's and Food & Wine's 2025 tastings and the makers' sites; caviar prices rise in December.
Best cheap caviar
Whole Foods Market Whitefish Caviar
- Roe
- Whitefish
- Score
- 9.5/10 at Sporked
- Where
- Whole Foods, Amazon
Why it's here: Small, pale, delicate eggs that Sporked found closest to expensive caviar, for well under $25.
Watch out: Not sturgeon, so it's milder and less buttery than real caviar.
Why we picked it (sources)
Sporked's under-$25 tasting (Sporked).
Best salmon roe
Echo Falls Wild Alaskan Keta Salmon Roe
- Roe
- Keta salmon
- Score
- 9/10 at Sporked
- Where
- Grocery stores, Instacart
Why it's here: Rich salmon flavor, a good pop and thin skins, without too much salt. Whole Foods' own Keta roe scored the same.
Watch out: Big orange eggs look festive but taste fishier than sturgeon.
Why we picked it (sources)
Sporked scored it 9/10 (Sporked).
Best real caviar on a budget
Noir Caviar Co. Hackleback
- Roe
- Hackleback sturgeon
- Size
- 30 g
- Tested by
- Food & Wine
Why it's here: Food & Wine's best budget pick of more than 60: briny and almost cheesy, without fishiness.
Watch out: Smaller, darker eggs than Ossetra.
Why we picked it (sources)
Food & Wine lists $32 for 30 g (Food & Wine).
Most flavor for the money
Paramount Royal Siberian
- Roe
- Siberian sturgeon
- Farmed
- Italy
- Best
- Eaten on its own
Why it's here: Food & Wine's most complex pick: salty, cheesy and full of umami, from sustainably raised sturgeon.
Watch out: Strong for beginners; serve it plain so you taste it.
Why we picked it (sources)
Food & Wine (Food & Wine).
Best for parties
California Caviar Company Royal White Sturgeon
- Roe
- White sturgeon
- Farmed
- Sustainably, US
- Use
- Blini, chips, eggs
Why it's here: Salty and umami-forward but balanced, which Food & Wine liked for a crowd with toppings.
Watch out: Priced per ounce, so a party adds up fast.
Why we picked it (sources)
Food & Wine (Food & Wine).
The splurge
Petrossian Royal Ossetra
- Roe
- Ossetra sturgeon
- Size
- 30 g
- Tested by
- Food & Wine
Why it's here: Food & Wine's most versatile caviar, buttery and smooth. Tasting Table's chef source says a good Ossetra is the best first caviar.
Watch out: Over $100 a tin; buy one tin to share, not one per guest.
Why we picked it (sources)
Food & Wine (Food & Wine); Tasting Table on Ossetra for beginners (Tasting Table).
How much to buy and what to serve it on
- How much: about ½ oz (15 g) per person as a taste, 1 oz (30 g) if caviar is the star.
- Serve it on blini or potato chips with crème fraîche, chives and chopped egg.
- Keep it cold: in the coldest part of the fridge, and set the tin on ice to serve.
- Use a non-metal spoon: bone, shell, wood or plastic. Silver can give it a metallic taste.
- Drink: brut Champagne or very cold vodka.
For the bubbly, see the best cheap Champagne; for the board, the New Year's Eve charcuterie board.
Caviar questions
What's the best cheap caviar?
Whole Foods whitefish caviar scored 9.5/10 in Sporked's under-$25 tasting. For real sturgeon, Noir hackleback is about $32 for 30 g.
Is salmon roe real caviar?
Strictly, caviar is sturgeon roe. Salmon roe (ikura) and whitefish roe are sold as caviar, and they're good and much cheaper.
What caviar is best for beginners?
A mild, buttery Ossetra if you're splurging; whitefish or salmon roe if you're testing the waters.
How much caviar per person?
About ½ oz as a taste, or 1 oz per person if it's the main event.
How long does opened caviar last?
Eat it within a day or two of opening, kept very cold.
How we picked these, and sources
We combined Sporked's tasting of 16 roes under $25 and Food & Wine's tasting of more than 60 caviars, both from December 2025, with makers' prices. Tasting Table's chef interview informed the beginner advice. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Sporked: best caviar under $25 (Dec 2025)
- Food & Wine: we tasted over 60 caviars (via AOL, Dec 2025)
- Tasting Table: the best caviar for beginners
For smoked fish on the same board, see the best smoked salmon. Every guide is on our charcuterie buying guides page.
