The 5 Best Earbuds And Headphones Under $20 - Winter 2021 Reviews

The best earbuds under $20 that we've tested are the Skullcandy Jib Wireless. These in-ear buds are connected by a thin cable with an in-line remote that's very easy to use. They're portable and decently stable in your ear, so they should stay in your ear if you wear them to the gym or during a workout.

Overall, they have a bass-heavy sound profile that adds an extra boom and punch to the mix, making them suitable for listening to bass-heavy genres like hip-hop and EDM. They don't leak a lot of noise, so you can crank up the volume on your favorite tunes without bothering the people around you. Their continuous battery life lasts for almost six hours, too.

Unfortunately, they don't have the best build quality, so they feel a bit cheap and plasticky. Also, they don't isolate against a lot of background noises, so they may not be the best choice to wear during your commute or while working in a noisy office. That said, if you're shopping on a tight budget, these headphones offer reasonably versatile performance.

If you're looking for over-ears, the best headphones under $20 that we've tested are the Koss UR20. These lightweight headphones have a comfortable fit that makes them suitable for long listening sessions. Thanks to their wired design, you don't need to charge them in order to use them, and their low latency makes them suitable for wired gaming.

These headphones have a fairly balanced sound profile, though the overemphasis in the mid-range can make vocals and lead instruments forward and boxy in the mix. However, they should still be suitable for lots of audio content. They can also passively isolate against higher-frequency background noises, like the hum of a nearby AC unit.

Unfortunately, these headphones struggle to block out lower-frequency background noises, so you can still hear the low rumble of bus and plane engines or chatter from people nearby. They also leak a bit of noise, which can be distracting to those around you. However, if you want straightforward over-ears for less than $20, they're a solid choice.

The best headphones under $20 with an on-ear design that we've tested are the Koss KSC75. They have a unique clip-on design that's very lightweight and ensures a stable, secure fit without putting any pressure across the top of your head. It also makes them very portable and breathable, so they're not bad if you're looking for something affordable to wear while running but don't like earbuds.

These inexpensive on-ears have a similar sound profile to the popular, yet more expensive, Koss Porta Pro Wireless. The KSC75 have a bit less bass, but they share the same overall bright, yet still fairly neutral sound. This makes them very well-suited to podcasts or audiobooks. Since they have an open-back design, they also sound quite spacious.

Unfortunately, the ear-clip design isn't the most comfortable. Their ear-hooks stop feeling as intrusive once you've had them on for a while, but if you wear glasses, it doesn't get much better. They also don't isolate any ambient noise at all. While this can actually be a good thing if you're jogging around the neighborhood, they're not suitable for wearing on the bus, especially since they leak a lot of sound.