While most companies' flagship headphones can cost upwards of $350, you can still get a great, well-rounded pair for less. To get the best bang for your buck under $200, keep an eye out for active noise cancelling (ANC) and feature-filled companion apps in casual Bluetooth headphones. Comfort, a solid build, and defect-free sound reproduction should be the default for products in this price range. If you need something more specialized, like a low-latency dongle connection for gaming, you may have to compromise on features like ANC, though.
We've tested over 910 pairs of headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best headphones and earbuds under $200 you can buy. See our picks for the best wireless headphones, the best noise cancelling headphones under $200, and the best headphones.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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Best Headphones Under $200
Sound SignatureWarmPeaks/DipsNoise Isolation - Full RangeComfortBatterySports And FitnessTravelSee all our test resultsMicrophone (In Development)The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless are the best headphones under $200 that we've tested. Anker dominates the mid- and budget-range headphones market, and these headphones balance premium performance and price exceptionally. They have active noise cancelling that contributes to amazing noise isolation, quieting airplane engine rumble and busy street noise. And with the feature enabled, they last for nearly 28 hours, so you won't need to charge them every day. That said, even the best all-rounder in this price range isn't perfect; the Anker have a noticeable hiss when ANC is on, and there are user reports of breakage around the hinges.
Their excited, V-shaped sound delivers extra bass and treble for punchy kicks and sparkling vocals. Plus, you can tweak the tuning with the app's graphic EQ. If you're okay spending more, the JBL Live 780NC sometimes go on sale just below our $200 cutoff, and bring flagship-level noise isolation performance rivaling that of other premium brands like Sony, Bose, and Apple. They also have a longer battery life, but their higher clamping force on your ears can be uncomfortable for some.
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Best-Sounding Wireless Headphones Under $200
Sound SignatureWarmPeaks/DipsNoise Isolation - Full RangeComfortBatterySports And FitnessTravelSee all our test resultsMicrophone (In Development)If sound quality ranks high on your list of must-haves, but you still want the convenience of Bluetooth, the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus are the best headphones under $200 that let you go cable-free with good sound. Their noise isolation isn't as effective as the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless', but the Sennheiser cans make up for it with their sound. These over-ears provide a smooth tuning with a low-end oomph by default, resulting in full bass, balanced mids, and slightly warm yet even treble. While your personal preferences determine whether you like a headphones' tuning, a smooth frequency response makes it easier to adjust the the headphones' sound with the app's equalizer.
To deliver your audio, you have a choice of high-res Bluetooth codecs, like aptX Adaptive, which features a high-quality mode. However, it's worth noting that this codec requires a compatible source device and isn't natively supported by Apple devices. Fortunately, you can also use these headphones with either an analog cable or a USB-C cable. Even while using the analog connection, the headphones need to be powered on, but this isn't a huge issue since the Sennheiser have a substantial 56-hours of battery life.
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Best Gaming Headphones Under $200
Sound SignatureV-ShapedPeaks/DipsNoise Isolation - Full RangeComfortBatterySports And FitnessTravelSee all our test resultsMicrophone (In Development)Console Compatibility: PC, PlayStation
If you're planning on hopping onto a competitive shooter, the Fractal Scape are the best gaming headphones that we've tested under $200. They have a low audio latency wireless connection, allowing you to react quickly to your opponents' sound cues. And you can choose to integrate the dongle into the headphones' dock, or connect it straight to your PC (or take it on the go). The headphones have a great boom microphone that captures your voice naturally and rejects noise, so you stay clear even if your (real-world) surroundings are chaotic. You can also detach the boom microphone for a more casual look, and take these headphones out and about; they even have an integrated fallback microphone so you can still take calls. However, we found their diagonally articulating hinge difficult to use, making it difficult to get a consistent sound on the headphones between wears.
The headphones have a V-shaped sound signature with a bit of high-bass emphasis for footsteps, though you can tweak to your heart's content with the app's 5-band parametric EQ. The Fractal also don't have ANC and don't work with Xbox consoles, which might be a letdown for some. If you're on Team Green, the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro (Xbox version) work with both Xbox and PlayStation, and have ANC too. However, they're typically above $200, though they can go on sale within this article's price range occasionally.
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Best Headphones For Working Out
Sound SignatureWarmPeaks/DipsNoise Isolation - Full RangeComfortBatterySports And FitnessTravelSee all our test resultsMicrophone (In Development)The Nothing Headphone (a) are the best headphones for working out under $200. They're the only pick on our list with a certification for dust and water resistance, which is rare for over-ears. Even so, we don't recommend taking them out in the rain or pouring water over your head (while you're wearing the headphones). While their construction is primarily plastic, the Nothing feature metal hinges and glass fiber-reinforced nylon for added durability. They're not the most comfortable picks on the list, though: the headband padding is a bit shallow, and the clamping force is quite high. Still, this clamping force helps keep the headphones secure and stable on your head for a gentle jog or resistance training.
By default, the headphones have a warm tuning, which is perfect for most people's high-tempo workout playlists that are heavy on hip-hop and pop. If that's not your style, the app has a parametric EQ for fine control over the headphones' tuning. And while the headphones come with active noise cancellation, their overall noise isolation performance doesn't match our top pick's, letting in more engine rumble and background chatter.
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Best Wired Headphones Under $200
Sound SignatureFlatPeaks/DipsNoise Isolation - Full RangeComfortBatterySports And FitnessTravelSee all our test resultsMicrophone (In Development)If you don't want to break the bank on a pair of wired headphones with an audiophile flair, consider the Sennheiser HD 560S. These headphones have an open-back design, which helps them create an open, spacious, and naturally immersive audio experience. Although they lack a bit of low bass, these well-built over-ears have a balanced sound profile, so vocals and lead instruments are accurately reproduced. Once you achieve a good fit, you'll also receive consistent audio delivery.
These cans are comfortable for most people and have a lightweight design with well-padded ear cups. However, their open-back design makes them less versatile than closed-back wired headphones, such as the Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO, as they leak noise and let in ambient sound. Closed-back headphones, like the Beyerdynamic, are worth considering if you want headphones for use in a shared space; they leak much less audio and reduce some ambient sound. However, the Beyerdynamic cans come in 250-ohm, 80-ohm, and 32-ohm variants. The 250-ohm headphones require an amp to be properly powered, which is an added expense if you don't already have one.
Notable Mentions
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FIIO FT1 Pro:
The FIIO FT1 Pro are open-back headphones like the Sennheiser HD560S with a flat response. These planar magnetic headphones deliver a touch more bass boom than the Sennheiser, but they're less consistent-sounding between people with different traits.
See our review -
JBL Live 680NC:
If you're looking for a comparable ANC performance to the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless but prefer an on-ear fit, the JBL Live 680NC could be a good option. The JBL are slightly better-built and feature an incredible 65 hours of continuous battery life, but they're not as stable as the Anker, and the lack of padding on the ear cups can make them uncomfortable over long sessions.
See our review
Recent Updates
Jun 17, 2026:
We've looked over our picks to make sure they still represent the best value in their categories, but have left them unchanged. The Anker Soundcore Space 2 have been added as a Notable Mention, though, given their long battery life and comfortable fit, along with the JBL Live 680NC, which are a solid on-ear alternative to the many over-ears in this article.
Mar 19, 2026:
We've overhauled this article, changing a few picks and trimming the Notable Mentions. Notably, we've removed our 'Best Earbuds' and 'Best On-Ear' picks and replaced them with a 'Best Gaming' pick, the Fractal Scape.
Dec 04, 2025:
This article has been updated to replace the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 with the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus for the 'Best Sound' pick. The Notable Mentions have been updated to include the FIIO FT1 Pro and Technics EAH-AZ80. Otherwise, minor text edits and formatting changes were made.
Mar 14, 2025:
This article's updates include replacing the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 with the Nothing Ear due to pricing, adding the Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus as an alternative to the Audio-Technia ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless for people who want noise cancelling, adding the Beats Solo 4 for those who don't want ANC as an alternative to the JBL Live 670NC, and moving the JBL Live 460NC to Notable Mentions.
Dec 12, 2024:
We've updated a couple of our picks and improved the text. The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 replace the Jabra Elite 10 as the top earbuds under $200 for their improved ANC and microphone quality. Meanwhile, the Sennheiser HD 560S replace the Philips Fidelio X2HR as our best audiophile headphones under $200 thanks to their superior control of their sound profile.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best wired and best wireless headphones under $200 to buy for most people. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find in the US or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews for headphones. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no ideal headphones. Personal tastes, preferences, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.