Are cheap monitor arms worth it, or should I pay for an Ergotron?

Across the reviewers we read, budget arms from HUANUO, ErGear and VIVO satisfy most single- and dual-27-inch setups, with verified-purchase reviewers and community threads reporting solid daily use. The recurring caveat is long-term stability: specialist subreddit users repeatedly point to Ergotron for heavy, premium, or sag-sensitive monitors and for setups expected to be readjusted often. If you have an expensive or ultrawide display, the consensus leans toward spending more.