Best Overall

Madam Glam Soak-Off Gel Polish

View on AmazonView on WalmartView on Madamglam.com

Shades: About 300 | Size: 0.5 oz | Finish: Shimmer, shine, matte, jelly, opaque | Cruelty-Free: Yes

After testing these gel polishes out at home, we were blown away by this best gel polish. Even after three days of wear, we noticed that the polish still looked luxurious and creamy, and didn’t chip even when we accidentally snagged our nails on luggage while packing. It didn’t become dull after two weeks of wear, and we were also incredibly impressed by how easily it came off. After you’ve soaked/foiled your nails in acetone for 15 minutes, the gel polish basically peels itself off your nails. We did notice that it does leave your nails dry, which is typical after using a gel polish and removing it with acetone.

Best Budget

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel

$7

$6 at AmazonView on Ulta$10 at Target

 Shades: 123 | Size: 0.5 oz | Finish: Shimmer, shine | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Applying this budget-friendly polish from Sally Hansen was a breeze. No UV lamp is required, but it is essential to apply the first coat evenly; otherwise, the subsequent layers may appear uneven or chunky. The application is straightforward, fast-drying, and applies thickly to the nail.

This polish lasted almost two weeks without issues. After a week of wear, our tester’s nails looked about the same as when we first applied the polish, except a few minor chips and wear down on the polish. The gel can smudge shortly after application if you don’t allow it to dry properly for about 15 minutes, so that’s something to be aware of. We appreciated that the nails remained shiny throughout the testing period. Small caveat: Even though this formula doesn’t require a UV lamp, we still found that we had to file down the polish, use acetone and a cotton ball, and cover all of our nails with foil to fully remove it.

Best Long-Lasting

Dazzle Dry Nail Lacquers System Kit

$78

$77 at AmazonView on AmazonView on Dazzledry.com

Shades: 152 | Size: 0.5 oz | Finish: Shimmer, shine, sheer, opaque | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This pick from Dazzle Dry Nails lasted over two weeks without chipping, peeling, or cracking. We really like that it doesn’t require a UV light, and that there was basically no learning curve needed for this gel nails kit. The polish was easy to work with, and wasn’t thick or goopy at all. It spread nicely, and it took less than two minutes for it to dry. In fact, this is one of the fastest-drying nail polishes that we’ve ever used.

You’ll need to purchase the full kit to use this gel polish, which some may consider a bit pricey, but if you’re looking to invest in your nail care routine, we think this is a great choice.

Best Bolds

Londontown Gel Color

$17

$17 at AmazonView on Londontownusa.com

Shades: 160 | Size: 0.4 oz | Finish: Shimmer, shine, sheer, opaque | Cruelty-Free: Yes

There were a lot of things we liked about this polish from Londontown. It comes in a variety of bold colors, making it easy to find one that matches your mood. We also like that the colors are pretty vibrant even after one coat, and the polish was pretty easy to remove with regular nail polish remover. Although it didn’t last super long, we think this is a great option for a quick, low-commitment manicure.

Best Shade Range

Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish

$13

$12 at AmazonView on Ulta$13 at Target

Shades: 60+ | Size: 0.46 oz | Finish: Shimmer, shine, opaque, sheer | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This polish from Essie has a relatively thin formula and is easy to apply. Although it doesn’t have the most shades on this list, it does offer a wide range of colors (we’re talking really, really wide), from light neutral pinks to bold blues. When combined with the corresponding top coat, it can sustain up to a week of chip-free wear.

After testing this pick out, we noticed that the polish was a bit cracked after a week, but there was no chipping whatsoever. It was really easy to remove, too. We recommend applying a base coat to your nails before the polish, as the darker shades tend to stain a bit after removal.

Best for Beginners

Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro

$20

$17 at Amazon$20 at NordstromView on Ecosmetics.com

Shades: 86 | Size: 0.5 oz | Finish: Shimmer, shine | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This pick from Deborah Lippmann couldn’t have been easier to apply. We applied a base coat, followed by two coats of color, and then a top coat. All four coats went on smoothly and dried quickly. Because this product doesn’t require a UV light, the overall process was equally as easy—if not easier—than any non-gel polish.

Removing this polish was also really simple. We used the “stripper” product that came with the polish, which was just a little finger-sized mitt soaked in acetone and other ingredients. It worked well and removed the polish from each finger in less than five seconds. The biggest downside was that it didn’t last as long as some of the other polishes on this list—it started to have significant chips around the edges of each nail after one week. The surface of the polish across each nail also started to develop very fine cracks, which were only noticeable upon close inspection, but still detracted from the overall smooth and glossy appearance. The shine wasn’t completely gone at the end of the two-week period, but it was definitely diminished.

Best Neutrals

OPI GelColor

$24 at AmazonView on Beyondpolish.com

Shades: 100+ | Size: 0.5 oz | Finish: Shine, shimmer, opaque, sheer | Cruelty-Free: No

This polish is a non-streaky, shiny lacquer that comes in more than 100 shades and stays looking fresh for up to 10 days. The OPI polish comes in a wide range of shades, including many neutrals to choose from. This pick lasted a long time during our testing, and we felt like it lived up to salon-grade mani standards.

The issue with this pick is that it’s mostly only available in salons. You can purchase it on a few websites, but it’s more for in-salon use.

Best Glossy

Dior Vernis Gel Shine Nail Lacquer

View on Dior.com

Shades: 23 | Size: 0.3 oz | Finish: Shimmer, shine | Cruelty-Free: No

Vibrant and glossy are the top adjectives that come to mind for this lacquer. We like that the polish has a luxurious quality to it—it has a rich color without being gloopy. It has a super high-shine finish, too.

We were a bit disappointed with how long this polish lasted. We noticed that the polish chipped after two days. Still, we think the drying speed, high gloss, and vibrant colors make this pick a worthy contender for a fast and luxurious gel manicure.

Best Quick Application

Essence Gel Nail Color

$10

$8 at AmazonView on Essencemakeup.com

Shades: 16 | Size: 0.5 oz | Finish: Shimmer, shine | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This polish from Essence was very easy to apply—great for any beginner. All you need is one swipe of a base coat, one swipe of color, and one swipe of a top coat. The color was thick and took the shape of the nail easily. Plus, each layer dried very fast and evenly. It has a pretty short application process and you don’t need a UV light to cure the polish.

The polish did not smudge and remained shiny; however, after two days, it did chip like regular polish. After one week, the polish was almost entirely gone, so you shouldn’t expect this pick to hold up as long as a salon gel manicure.

Best Sheer

Orly GelFX Gel Nail Color

$11 at Amazon

Shades: 100+ | Size: 0.3 oz | Finish: Shine, shimmer, sheer | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This pick from Orly requires a UV lamp to cure, and the formula is quite sheer, allowing you to build up the color to the desired opacity. When we tested this polish out, we noticed that it lasted for almost a full week. The polish on one nail popped off at the end of the sixth day, and a couple of nails had very small chips. However, the manicure looked almost the same as it did on day one after a week.

Pro tip: Apply this nail polish in thin layers to help the manicure last longer. Follow with the accompanying top coat for a manicure that stays shiny and chip-free far longer than its regular polish counterparts. The thing we liked about this polish, admittedly, won’t work for everyone—the colors are pretty sheer, so you will need to apply multiple layers to really get an opaque look.

Best Strengthening

Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy Nail Polish

$14

$10 at AmazonView on WalmartView on Revlon.com

Shades: 34 | Size: 0.4 oz | Finish: Shine | Cruelty-Free: No

The overall application of Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy Nail Enamel is straightforward, as no lamp is required, and the polish applies to the nails just like regular polish. The polish lasted well on our nails for the first week, and continued to look fully painted without chips. The downside is that our nails became less shiny, and the polish was still susceptible to bumps, scratches, and various forms of damage to the overall coat. This resulted in a fully-painted, but not-so-polished look over the course of the week.

The removal process was pretty straightforward—we just rubbed our nails with a cotton ball soaked in acetone. We loved how this formula did not damage our nails, and they looked even stronger after removing the polish.