The 6 Best Earbuds And Headphones Under $20 - Fall 2021 Reviews

The best earbuds under $20 that we've tested are the Sony WI-C310 Wireless. These lightweight earbuds are sometimes more expensive but are currently available at this price point in some colors. They have a lightweight neck cable design and a comfortable, stable fit, making them a solid choice for runs and workouts.

Their sound profile delivers a bit of extra thump and boom, which fans of bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop may like, but it's well-balanced overall, so it should be suitable for a variety of content and genres. Their continuous battery life of about 17 hours is more than enough to last through a 9-5 workday and commute, and they can passively isolate you from a good amount of mid-range noise like ambient chatter.

Unfortunately, their in-line mic has a disappointing recording quality, so your voice sounds muffled and lacks detail if you use them for phone calls. They also don't feel extremely well-built or durable. That said, the earbuds are magnetic, which can help with cable management, and overall they're a great choice if you want cheap wireless earbuds, especially for sports use.

The Skullcandy Spoke are the best truly wireless headphones under $20 that we've tested. These cheap Bluetooth earbuds are well-built, stable, and rated IPX4 for water resistance, although we don't test for it currently. Their continuous battery life of about 6.5 hours isn't bad, and they also come with a case that holds roughly 2.5 extra charges, so you can top them up when you're on the go.

While they don't have active noise cancelling, they do a decent job of passively isolating you from background noise like ambient conversation. They hardly leak any sound either, so you can listen to music at the office without much risk of bothering people around you. They have a v-shaped default sound profile that delivers a bit of extra bass. It's suitable for a variety of genres, but it can also be customized with EQ presets that you can access via the earbuds' touch-sensitive controls.

Unfortunately, they aren't the most comfortable earbuds, due to their bulky design and deep in-ear fit, so you may experience some fatigue if you wear them over long periods of time. Using the controls can also put pressure on your inner ear. Overall though, if you're looking for cheap truly wireless earbuds, these are a sturdy, customizable option.

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 to use them, and their low latency makes them suitable for wired gaming.

They 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, they 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. They 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.