Best Archery Crossbows of 2026

"I was new to crossbows, so I did a lot of research before buying. I found assembly to be pretty straightforward after checking out some YouTube guides. The power of this crossbow is amazing—my first shot went straight through a 2x4! The only thing I’d mention is that loading takes a good amount of strength, but I’m happy with the quality and performance overall."

"As a combat veteran trying out my first crossbow, I was blown away by the deadly accuracy at distances up to 50 yards. The crossbow is light and easy to handle, and both the bolts and the bow itself feel very well-made. My single gripe is the buttstock—it’s cheaply made and hard to adjust. I replaced it with a standard AR-15 buttstock and it’s much better now. Still, for the price, this crossbow is a fantastic deal."

"My crossbow arrived early but had some shipping damage—the fore grip and one of the bolts were broken. Killer Instinct’s customer service was excellent; they sent replacements right away with no hassle. After sighting it in, I found it to be super accurate and powerful. It can be tough to pull back due to the 220lb draw, so I recommend using the included rope cocker or a silent crank. Assembly was easy and the instructions were clear. I’d definitely recommend the Boss 405."

"I found this toy super cool and fun to use. While it doesn’t shoot quite as far as advertised, it’s still worth the price. I love that you can load multiple darts and once you get used to it, it’s easy to operate. Sometimes the darts get stuck, but it’s not a big problem. Wish it had extra dart storage."

"This was exactly what I expected—easy to handle and holds up well. My son loves it and it’s been a hit in our household. Definitely recommend for anyone looking for a unique dart toy."

"The design is clever and provides lots of fun, but you can tell it’s made in China. The included screwdriver broke and the screws were tough to install, but once set up, it’s a great little toy for target practice with my son. Overall, happy with the purchase."

"I've really enjoyed using this crossbow for backyard archery. It was simple to set up, and after watching a few online videos, I had it up and running in no time. Once I adjusted the sights, it was remarkably accurate, hitting the bullseye from about 15 yards away. The crossbow itself feels sturdy, but the extra bolts included are pretty flimsy—several broke on impact with the target. Still, the original bolts are solid, and overall, this is a fun, reliable product that's definitely not a toy. Make sure to supervise if kids are around."

"At first, I was hesitant about this crossbow's quality and power, but it turned out to be surprisingly strong and well made for the price. The assembly instructions are a bit vague, but anyone with basic mechanical skills can figure it out. Once I tweaked the sights, the accuracy was consistent even at 20 yards. Like others have said, the included aluminum bolts do break easily, so I bought extra plastic ones and spray painted the ends for visibility. I recommend this crossbow for anyone over 16—definitely not a toy, but a lot of fun."

"This crossbow is worth every penny—the three bolts that came with it work great and are reusable. The only real issue is the 'extra' pack of bolts, which break almost immediately and can be a safety concern if you don't wear eye protection. Despite that, I'm very happy with the crossbow and the customer service I received. It's very powerful for its size, and even my young son can almost cock it himself and shoots with impressive accuracy. Just keep in mind, this is not a toy and should be used with care."

"I've owned this crossbow since 2019 and it's incredibly rugged and reliable. Over the years, I've taken multiple deer and wild pigs with it, and despite treating my gear pretty rough, this bow has never let me down. Accuracy is spot on—I even made a clean shot at 62 yards! The only weak point is the included scope, but I swapped it out early on. For the price, it’s hard to beat the performance and toughness of this bow."

"As a beginner hunter, I found this crossbow to be extremely accurate, lightweight, and easy to use. Being 5'2”, I added the crank to make cocking easier, which took a little getting used to, but it worked out. My husband, who’s been hunting for nearly four decades, even says it’s better than his own! Great value for the money—highly recommend for new hunters."

"After developing severe RA, I thought my hunting days were over, but this crossbow changed everything for me. It’s made with high quality materials, easy to assemble, and comfortable to shoot. The scope works well for me, and I was amazed at how accurate I could be right away. For anyone with physical limitations or looking for something dependable, this bow truly delivers and brings the joy of hunting back."

"I've used this crossbow for about a month and already took a whitetail doe with it. The trigger is one of the best factory triggers I've experienced—smooth and crisp—and the bow is impressively quiet for how fast it shoots. It's not too heavy to carry and remains stable for offhand shots. I really enjoy the illuminated 7-distance scope, and the overall accuracy is 'stupid good' out to 40 yards. My only minor gripes are that cocking can be tiring, especially for smaller folks, and the quiver attachment isn't ideal for those with big hands. Overall, the pros outweigh these minor issues for me."

"I've had this crossbow for four years and taken about a dozen deer with it. Every shot has resulted in a complete pass-through, and the bow shoots flat and true out to 50+ yards. This is my second Barnett crossbow, and I keep coming back because of their reliability and performance. Barnett is definitely my favorite brand."

"Assembly was a breeze and the crossbow is very accurate. I appreciate the lightweight arrows for achieving high speed, and Barnett's customer service went above and beyond when I needed a replacement scope cap. As with any scope, you'll want to confirm your own setup, but overall, it's easy to use and extremely reliable."

"This mini crossbow really impressed me with its solid construction and surprising power for its size. It's both lightweight and sturdy, making it easy to handle, and the accuracy is top-notch. Perfect for both beginners and those with more experience—definitely not a toy! I'd recommend it to anyone in the market for a compact and reliable crossbow."

"I found the assembly instructions a bit unclear, but if you know your way around these things, it's a quick setup. The bow packs serious power and is impressively accurate—once I adjusted the sights, my grouping at 50 feet was consistently tight. It's also easy to cock with the stirrup if you use both hands. Absolutely worth buying again."

"After struggling to string the bow by myself and accidentally snapping it, I reached out to the seller and was pleasantly surprised when they shipped a replacement part at no cost. Stringing it with two people made all the difference, and now it works great, shooting straight with plenty of power. For the price, it's a solid choice."

"As someone who’s owned several crossbows, I was impressed by the accuracy and value this one offers. After shooting over 25 bolts, it remained dead-on at 20 yards. Assembly was a breeze, and I appreciated the included accessories like bolts, lube, and a rope cocker. For the price, it’s hard to beat—I’d definitely recommend it."

"I picked up this crossbow mostly for my kids, and I was pleasantly surprised by its power and ease of use. It was straightforward to put together, and the adjustable stock fit both my right-handed and left-handed kids comfortably. The illuminated scope is a bonus for low light. Overall, it’s a great value and shoots accurately at multiple distances."

"After using the bow a few times, I found it to be very accurate and lightweight, but did notice the draw weight was a bit much for me personally. Once sighted in, it grouped bolts extremely tight—sometimes hitting the same hole. Highly recommend for the price, as it performs nearly as well as much pricier models."

"After using the Whitetail Hunter STR, I’m consistently impressed with its reliable accuracy, rugged construction, and lightweight feel. The setup was straightforward, and it’s comfortable to carry and shoot in all conditions. I appreciate how easy it is to cock and maintain, and the new stirrup design is a definite upgrade. I honestly wouldn’t consider any other crossbow in this price range—it just checks all the boxes for me."

"I bought this crossbow hoping for improved speed and accuracy out to 70 yards, and it fully delivered. Assembly was simple, though the fit was tight. Once sighted in, groupings stayed solid even at longer distances, and I even took down a deer at 45 yards. The crossbow is lightweight and powerful, though I’d suggest upgrading the scope for best results. Overall, I’d definitely recommend it."

"As someone looking for something lighter and better balanced than my old Barnett crossbow, the Whitetail Hunter STR fits the bill perfectly. With my arthritic hands and recent shoulder surgery, I needed something easy to manage but still powerful. It shoots tight groups out to 50 yards and is a breeze to use. Assembly was a bit tricky for me, but I’m very happy with my purchase."

"After trying out a bunch of pricey crossbows, I kept coming back to this one because of the unbeatable quality and price. I found it easy to set up, and once I got it dialed in, it was super accurate and fairly quiet. Even though the shoulder extension was a bit loose, a little camo tape fixed it right up. I managed to take down two bucks in two states on public land. I was ready to spend a lot more, but this proved you don't need to break the bank for excellent results."

"This crossbow is incredibly powerful—I shot a bolt clean through a 4x4 post! I haven't had any trouble with the drawstring, but I'd recommend keeping it waxed after each use. For me, it's absolutely worth the investment."

"The assembly was a breeze, and the bow came with everything needed to get started. I found the scope clear and easy to sight in, and the performance is spot on—tight shot groups and strong pull. My only minor complaint is the butt stock has a little too much play, but overall, I'm really satisfied with this purchase."