While most companies' flagship headphones can cost upwards of $300, 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 865 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 ProfilePeaks/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-range and budget headphones market, and these all-rounders are the pinnacle of premium performance without the price tag. Their excited, V-shaped sound profile deliver extra bass and treble for a punchy, sparkling sound. This tuning means vocals and lead instruments aren't always detailed, but you can always tweak the Anker's sound with the companion app's graphic EQ.
While their ANC system performs close to par with pricier headphones and can easily block out a wide range of background noise, the headphones have a high noise floor when ANC is on. The hiss may not be as noticeable for everyone, but it's worth considering if you have sensitive ears. According to user reports, they're also somewhat prone to breakage around the hinges, though this doesn't appear to be a widespread issue.
The Anker have a continuous battery life of nearly 28 hours with ANC on, meaning they'll last through a couple of workdays without recharging. If you're planning on taking lots of calls with your headphones, the Sony ULT WEAR might be a better pick. They match the Anker in noise isolation performance; have a more natural-sounding mic that separates your voice from background noise on calls; and have a much longer 44-hour battery life. However, you'll need to monitor the Sony's price, as it fluctuates a lot when they go on or off sale.
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Best-Sounding Wireless Headphones Under $200
Sound ProfilePeaks/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 sound profile or not, a smooth response makes it easier to adjust the app's graphic EQ to your taste.
To deliver your audio, you have a choice of high-quality codecs, including the aptX Adaptive suite and AAC, which is optimized for Apple users, alongside multi-pairing with a second Bluetooth device. Additionally, using the aptX Adaptive in its low-latency mode lets you pull the phone out to game without much A/V desync. Their control scheme is intuitive, and their 56-hour battery life is fantastic. While their main appeal may be the wireless Bluetooth design, you can also use these headphones with either an analog cable or a USB-C cable for lossless audio listening, making them a versatile pick.
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Best Gaming Headphones Under $200
Sound ProfilePeaks/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 we've tested under $200. They have a low-latency dongle connection with 24ms of audio delay, 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 and take these headphones out and about; they have an integrated fallback microphone so you can still take calls.
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. However, we found their diagonally articulating hinge difficult to use, leading to fit inconsistencies that affected audio delivery. 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. What's the catch? Typical listings are above $200, but they can go on sale within this article's price range occasionally. Still, if you're not in a rush, it's worth waiting for a sale on the Razer.
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Best Headphones For Working Out
Sound ProfilePeaks/DipsNoise Isolation - Full RangeComfortBatterySports And FitnessTravelSee all our test resultsMicrophone (In Development)The Beats Studio Pro Wireless are a capable workout companion, and the brand is a mainstay found in gyms. These over-ears feel comfortable and have a long battery life, so you won't get caught without your tunes. Their sound profile is balanced, featuring a good amount of bass for boom and rumble, natural-sounding mids, and a bright treble register that allows you to hear great detail. However, it can sound a bit shrill if you're sensitive to high frequencies. If you have an iOS device, you can also enable Apple's Spatial Audio for a more immersive soundtrack during your workout. The headphones' listening modes include ANC and a transparency mode to either reduce distractions in the gym or stay aware of environmental dangers while exercising outside.
These don't have an IP rating for water resistance, so don't pour water over your head after an intense workout. They're also decently stable, but like most over-ears, they're not as stable as dedicated fitness-oriented earbuds. Their folding frame reduces their footprint, and their case provides additional protection, making it easy to toss the headphones into your gym bag. Unfortunately, they lack EQ in their companion app, so the only way to access a different sound profile is to cycle through the factory EQ presets via the headphones' physical controls.
If you want more control over the sound of your headphones and a slightly more stable fit, try the JBL Live 770NC. Although these lack virtual surround sound and USB-C audio connectivity, their app features a customizable equalizer, and they stay in place a little better, allowing you to focus without needing to readjust the cans. However, they don't cut quite as much noise as the Beats, and their fit can be a bit inconsistent.
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Best Wired Headphones Under $200
Sound ProfilePeaks/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
Recent Updates
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.
Aug 29, 2024: The Jabra Elite 10 True Wireless are our new top earbud pick because their mic performs better than the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless, and they have a more balanced sound by default. We've kept the Anker as an alternative for anyone looking to save money without compromising too much on performance. We also added the Sony ULT WEAR Wireless as an alternative to our main pick, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless. The Sony have a better build quality and mic, but we don't think the added cost is worth it for most people.
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.