[Quesenek]

It's been about 10 years since I've keep a tank and the last stint was less than a year.

Tank specs: 10 gallon rimless, 36" long, 7" from the substrate to the top of water column and another 1.5" to the top of the tank.

CO2: Injected

Plants: Nothing in it, but trying to grow a Monte Carlo carpet; once successful, plan to replace with glossostigma

Want to stay under $100 and narrowed down to Finnex Planted+ 24/7 HLC (https://www.finnex.net/planted-hlc) vs Finnex Stingray 2 (https://www.finnex.net/stingray-v2) vs Hygger 25W (Hygger Full Spectrum Aquarium Light with Aluminum Alloy Shell Extendable Brackets, White Blue Red LEDs, External Controller, for Freshwater Fish Tank and https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086SVNBHC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A2ZTLQT1KDF2O9&psc=1)

There's a bit of a price range, I know. If #1 criteria is effectiveness at growing the carpet with close #2 is ease of use and #3 design, which would be best?

All opinions welcome. Thank you for looking.

Realistically any 36" LED run at 100% is probably high/very high lighting at 7" depth so unless you wanted to go really deep into good color reproduction there's no real need to spend that much.
I have a 30" model of nicrew classicLED planted light on my 29 gallon low tech aquarium with a dimmer and I'm really happy with the light for the price.
Whatever LED you go with, be sure to verify you can install a dimmer on the light because you're likely going to need it.