Side imaging used to be one of those fish finder features you had to spend serious money to get.
That is no longer completely true.
You can now find fish finders around the $500 range that scan water beside your boat instead of only showing what is directly underneath you.
This matters because fish are not always sitting directly under the boat.
They may be holding beside a weed edge, submerged tree, rock pile, dock, or drop-off that normal sonar never passes directly over.
However, this is also one category where you need to watch Amazon prices carefully.
There are many fish finders advertised as affordable side imaging units, but several quickly move above $500 once you select the correct transducer package.
These are the models I would watch first if your maximum budget is $500.
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Quick Comparison
| Fish Finder | Best For | Screen | Side Imaging |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7sv | Best Overall | 7" | SideVü |
| Lowrance Eagle 7 TripleShot HD | Best Mapping Value | 7" | SideScan |
| Lowrance HOOK Reveal 7 TripleShot | Best Alternative When Discounted | 7" | SideScan |
Best Fish Finders With Side Imaging Under $500
Side imaging requires more screen space than traditional sonar.
That is why most worthwhile units in this category use at least a 7-inch display.
You should also make sure you are buying the correct package.
The same fish finder can often be sold with several different transducers, and the cheaper transducer may not support side imaging at all.
For example, Lowrance uses names such as SplitShot and TripleShot.
TripleShot is the one you want when SideScan is required.
If side imaging is not essential, our Best Fish Finder Under $500 guide has more options.
1. Best Overall: Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7sv
The Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7sv is probably the easiest Side Imaging fish finder to recommend when your budget stops at $500.
The included GT52HW-TM transducer gives you three different sonar views.
You get traditional CHIRP for locating fish, ClearVü for detailed imaging underneath the boat, and SideVü for scanning water beside you.
The 7-inch display is important because SideVü becomes much harder to interpret on a very small screen.
You also get GPS, waypoint marking, Quickdraw Contours, and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Amazon was listing the STRIKER Vivid 7sv at exactly $499.99 in early August 2026, although this is one where I would definitely check the current price before publishing or buying because it sometimes moves above the limit.
Special features:
- 7-inch color screen
- SideVü
- ClearVü
- Traditional CHIRP
- Built-in GPS
- Quickdraw Contours
- GT52HW-TM transducer included
2. Best Mapping Value: Lowrance Eagle 7 TripleShot HD
The Lowrance Eagle 7 TripleShot HD is the other unit I would seriously consider around this budget.
TripleShot HD combines CHIRP sonar, DownScan, and SideScan in one transducer.
SideScan can search a large area beside the boat, making it much easier to locate structure without driving directly over it.
Lowrance also gives you FishReveal, which combines sonar information to make fish easier to separate from structure.
The other advantage is mapping.
U.S. versions can include C-MAP inland charting covering thousands of lakes, while Genesis Live allows you to create your own contour maps.
The Eagle 7 TripleShot has appeared on Amazon for around $419.99 during 2026 sales, although its normal price can be higher, so this one is worth buying when Amazon has it below the $500 mark.
Special features:
- 7-inch IPS display
- SideScan Imaging
- DownScan Imaging
- CHIRP sonar
- FishReveal
- Genesis Live
- TripleShot HD transducer
3. Best Alternative When Discounted: Lowrance HOOK Reveal 7 TripleShot
The HOOK Reveal 7 TripleShot is another model worth watching on Amazon, especially when older Lowrance stock gets discounted.
The TripleShot version combines traditional CHIRP, DownScan, and SideScan.
It also gives you GPS and charting, which makes it more useful for anglers who regularly fish larger or unfamiliar lakes.
FishReveal is another useful feature because it overlays fish targets against the more detailed DownScan image.
However, I would not blindly recommend this one at any price.
Amazon prices for older HOOK Reveal packages can move around considerably, and some listings now sit above $500.
Only include or promote it when the TripleShot package itself is actually selling below $500. Recent 2026 buying guides have still reported the model around the $480 range with Amazon availability, but other marketplaces show significantly higher pricing.
Special features:
- 7-inch screen
- SideScan
- DownScan
- CHIRP sonar
- FishReveal
- GPS and mapping
Is Side Imaging Worth Paying Extra For?
Side imaging becomes much more useful if you spend a lot of time searching for structure.
Instead of repeatedly driving over an area hoping you pass directly above the fish, you can scan water beside the boat.
It is particularly useful around:
- Weed edges
- Submerged trees
- Rock piles
- Creek channels
- Drop-offs
- Docks
- Sunken structure
If you mainly vertical jig known spots, normal sonar and Down Imaging may already be enough.
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Conclusion
There are not dozens of side imaging fish finders under $500 that I would confidently recommend.
The Garmin STRIKER Vivid 7sv is the best overall option when Amazon has it at $499.99 or below.
The Lowrance Eagle 7 TripleShot HD is another strong buy when discounted, especially if you want SideScan and more traditional mapping in the same unit.
