Best Archery Crossbows of 2025

"I decided to purchase a Ten Point crossbow because of its reputation. However, I'm disappointed; it didn’t meet my expectations. After a friend's recommendation, I bought this bow and was not disappointed. It outperformed the Ten Point in every aspect. As a veteran living on a VA pension, I appreciate Centerpoint Archery's great job on this bow at such a reasonable price. It performed as good if not better than advertised."

"I've had the Wrath for a year and upgraded from a 305 fps bow to this one, which boasts 430 fps. I use a 470 grain arrow weight, which reduces speed but also wear on the limbs. It currently shoots at 400 FPS, which is still incredibly fast. Now, 30-yard shots feel like 20 yards, and I've noticed that deer don’t jump the string at all. I believe that many limb issues are often due to user error, and with the right arrows, this crossbow is efficient and powerful. I absolutely love the Wrath 430!"

"I was excited to shoot my crossbow, and it was phenomenal! There's little to no recoil, which is perfect for me after shoulder surgery. It’s easy to shoot, simple to assemble, and operates as quietly as a mouse! I’m sure you will not be disappointed with this purchase!"

"As a first-time crossbow user, I found this to be a complete package. The assembly instructions could be better, but thankfully, the seller has a helpful YouTube video. Overall, it's accurate and comes with a decent scope. Just a note: make sure to tighten all screws before shooting!"

"After years of bow hunting with a compound bow, I decided to switch to this crossbow. It's a great alternative as it shoots much faster than a typical bow. PSE has a solid reputation, and this crossbow lives up to it. However, it is a bit louder than I expected, which might startle deer."

"I initially had a poor impression as the camo rubbed off in places, and the cocking device broke on the first use. The scope needed adjustments, but once I got it sighted in, the crossbow performed well. Despite some setbacks, it’s a good crossbow for the price, though the scope and paint quality could use improvement."

"I found that this crossbow is very accurate and hits hard, especially with the hyper lite arrows. After about 20-30 practice shots, I tightened the bolts, and it has performed beautifully since. It's fairly quiet, and the deer don't react until it's too late!"

"For the price, this crossbow is a fantastic deal! Although the instructions were a bit confusing at first, I watched several helpful videos and found the setup quite simple. The performance exceeded my expectations, and I'm excited to recommend it to others!"

"As a first-time crossbow user, I absolutely love this one! I upgraded to better arrows, and while I noticed it makes a bit more noise than I anticipated, it was easy to dial in the scope. I just had to ensure the mounting screws were tightened well!"

“I found this Killer Instinct Crossbow package to be a fantastic value with everything I needed for hunting. It’s a bit heavy, so I’ll be adding a sling. The included safety warnings in the manual are important to read before use. Overall, I’m very satisfied!”

“After reading reviews, I knew I wouldn't like the stock optics, so I got a Vortex Crossfire at the same time. Once my crossbow arrived, I immediately swapped out the scope. This thing is fast and super accurate with the Vortex—definitely a great choice!”

“Putting this bow together was a breeze. There was only one small piece I questioned, but the instructions made it easy to follow. The included draw rope is good quality, and I was pleasantly surprised by the accuracy. I really feel satisfied with my purchase.”

"I didn’t know much about crossbows, but after researching, this one seemed like the best value. The assembly was straightforward after I watched some videos. My only issue is loading it; it takes a lot of strength, but I’m fit. The quality is impressive, and I was amazed at its power—I shot through a 2x4 on my first try!"

"I bought this crossbow for my husband after seeing the great reviews. When it arrived, everything was in order, and it sighted in easily. However, during the first use in a tree, the limb broke. Even after getting replacement limbs, it broke again, leading him to toss it out. I guess the saying 'you get what you pay for' holds true here."

"This is my second crossbow in 15 years, and I have to say, the scope is fantastic for my vision! I've had issues with previous scopes, but this one is spot on. I do have a couple of minor complaints, like the loose butt stock and the loud safety switch. But the accuracy is impressive, and I've even split a few arrows at 30 yards!"

"I’m a new hunter and purchased the Barnett Whitetail Hunter STR based on my buddy’s research. After heavy use, I’m consistently impressed with its rugged design and accuracy. It’s easy to set up and maintain, and it holds zero well, even in tough conditions. I really couldn’t find a better option in this price range!"

"After assembling the crossbow, I found the instructions lacking and needed some patience to align everything properly. However, once I got it together, it shot great, producing 2 to 4 inch groups at 40 yards. Overall, it's a solid product, but I could do without the fiddling during setup."

"I received this crossbow as a gift from my late father-in-law. My husband took down a large male moose with it in October 2024. It was a memorable moment, and I’m grateful for this powerful tool that played a part in such a significant experience."

"At 57 years old, I started hunting recently, and I bought this bow on my husband's recommendation. It's extremely accurate, lightweight, and easy to use. I did get a crank because of my height, but I found it a bit large. My husband even prefers it over his own!"

"I watched some YouTube videos before my crossbow arrived, and it was as easy to set up as they said. However, I found the scope's elevation was set high, and the windage was off. Barnett support agreed to warranty it, so I'm hopeful the new scope will fix the issue."

"This bow is exactly what I expected. It's easy to cock and lightweight, but the scope was surprisingly off by 18 to 20 inches at just 15 yards. Despite that, I still rate the bow 5 stars because it performs well."

“I think this crossbow is excellent! The crank makes drawing the bow in a crowded tree stand simple and very quiet. Once it was zeroed, I punched bullseyes from 40 yards every shot with very little deviation. Using Montec broad heads, I took a doe and an 8-point white tail this year. The bolt went through the rib bone, the heart, and still buried 6 inches into the dirt at 25 yards. It's that powerful! I just wish there were some Picatinny rail options for more accessories.”

“I absolutely love this crossbow! It took me only two shots to sight in the scope, and it was very accurate from day one. It took me a few minutes to figure out how to un-cock it, but once I did, it was smooth sailing. I would definitely buy this again.”

“I bought two of these xbows, but unfortunately, I had to return both. The first one had serious quality control problems with the warranty sticker halfway off and cross-threaded string stops. The second one had misaligned cams, and the acu-draw system would unravel itself mid-cock if I let go. I would suggest staying away from this.”

"I was very impressed with the whole package. This crossbow is a heavy duty model that shoots at 400 fps and is accurate. The only downside is its weight and that the scope isn't great, but I can replace that easily."

"I recently got the Intense crossbow and I'm not an expert, but after a few adjustments, I was able to group three bolts in a 1-inch group at 20 yards. It's a bit heavy, but I find that adds to its stability and durability. I even added dampeners to reduce noise and it performed awesome!"

"After getting my crossbow, I struggled to get it lined in and it broke on the first hunt. The string failed and the arrow didn't hold up well either. It felt solid before that, so I'm not sure if I just got a bad string."

"I found the quality of this bow to be beyond what I expected. It shoots fast, flat, and quietly. I shot this crossbow alongside a friend who paid $1600 for his, and mine performed just as well with less noise. I'm telling you, buy this bow; it's worth it!"

"This crossbow is extremely fast and quiet. I added some bowjax dampeners to it. However, I wouldn't really consider it a beginner crossbow; it has a nice punch and is consistent. Just a heads up, the stock rattles, and the scope adjustments can be a bit tricky."

"After setting it up, I took a close shot at my target to sight it in. The bolt went completely through the target! This bow is fast, accurate, and quiet. I've already killed a deer with it and I'm excited to get more!"