Looking for good headphones can get expensive fast. One might think that premium features like active noise cancellation (ANC), a balanced sound, and all-day comfort can only come at a high cost. But that's no longer true. These days, budget headphones offer more than just the basics, so it's not uncommon to find solid-performing ANC-equipped headphones that don't require you to pay an arm and a leg.
We've tested over 900 headphones, and below are our picks for the best budget and best cheap headphones. For the purposes of this article, we consider 'budget' headphones to fall under the $100 mark. Due to the nature of sales and pricing fluctuations, there are often some variations at this price point, so we try to point these out in our picks where possible.
For more recommendations, check out our picks for the best budget noise cancelling headphones, the best wireless Bluetooth headphones under $100, and the best noise cancelling headphones under $200.
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 Budget Headphones
Sound ProfileWirelessYesStyleSports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkWireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)Audio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsFrequency Response ConsistencyThe best budget headphones we've tested are the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless. They're the predecessor to the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless. As you might expect from budget headphones, they lack some of their successor's features, like support for high-resolution audio codecs. That said, you don't have to compromise too much. Their ANC that does a fantastic job of blocking out a wide range of noise, including rumbling engines and background chit-chat. They also last for approximately 44 hours on a single charge and support multi-device pairing, allowing you to stay connected to your phone and computer simultaneously.
Out of the box, these headphones deliver a lot of extra bass. There's extra thump and rumble in genres like EDM and hip-hop, but instruments and voices still sound clear and bright. If you prefer a different sound, you can use the in-app EQ and presets to customize it to your liking. They're lightweight and comfortable, though their thin ear cup padding can become fatiguing during long listening sessions. Their plastic frame isn't particularly premium, but they feel decently sturdy. Still, they come with a padded hard case to keep them secure during transit.
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Best Headphones Under $50
Sound ProfileWirelessYesStyleSports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkWireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)Audio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsFrequency Response ConsistencyConsider another pair of Anker headphones, like the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2024, if you want something below the $50 mark. The brand dominates the budget and mid-range over-ear market thanks to their offerings of reasonably priced headphones with great under-the-hood performance. While the Q20 2024 don't attenuate low-frequency sounds as well as the more expensive Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless, they still do a good job of reducing bassy background noise from commutes, and they excel at isolating your ears from nearby conversations.
The Q20 2024 have a comfortable fit and feel decently well-built, though parts like the plastic hinges feel flimsy. They also lack a hard carrying case like the one that comes with the Q30, instead offering just a simple pouch. Out of the box, they have an excited sound profile with lots of bass and treble to complement pop, rock, and hip-hop. You can also adjust their sound using the graphic EQ and presets in the companion app. They also support Bluetooth multi-device pairing and last nearly 49 hours continuously.
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Best Cheap Headphones
Sound ProfileWirelessTruly WirelessStyleSports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkWireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)Audio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsFrequency Response ConsistencyIf you want the cheapest possible pair of headphones, you'll likely find plenty more earbud options than over-ears. Buds like the Anker Soundcore P31i offer features commonly found in more expensive models in a smaller, more affordable design. That doesn't mean they aren't fun to listen to, though: they have a warm sound profile that adds punch and rumble to your favorite house tracks and club bangers. And if this doesn't sound like your jam, you can customize the sound to your liking using the graphic EQ in the companion app.
Despite their low price, they still come with features like Bluetooth multi-device pairing, so you can stay connected to your laptop and phone simultaneously. And they also have decent ANC. It doesn't rival the noise isolation offered by more expensive picks on this list such as the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2024, but it does a satisfactory job of quieting the sound of chatty coworkers. Just don't expect these cheap buds to reduce much engine rumble on your next flight. Their in-ear fit is comfortable and light on the ears, and their integrated mic is adequate for quick calls while you're out and about. They last just over seven hours on a single charge, and their case contains an additional four charges.
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Best Budget Wired Headphones
Sound ProfileWirelessNoStyleCommute/TravelSports/FitnessOfficeWireless GamingSee all our test resultsWired GamingWired headphones are useful for listeners who want the best sound quality and no audio latency. While the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x are less portable than Bluetooth-equipped cans due to their cable, they're a good choice if you mostly listen at your desk and want to avoid the hassle of batteries. They reproduce bass frequencies accurately, while their great mid-range accuracy keeps vocals and lead instruments clear and detailed. While their build quality isn't quite up to the same standard as the manufacturer's best-known closed-back headphones, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, they're still comfortable at a fraction of the price of the ATH-M50x.
Still, it's worth noting that their cable isn't removable, which can reduce long-term durability, especially since the headband extension design directly exposes the cable to damage by routing the connection outside the body of the headband. Their lack of a mic means you can't use them for calls either, and they do a poor job of passively isolating you from background conversations at the office.
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Best Budget Audiophile Headphones
Sound ProfileWirelessNoStyleSports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkWireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)Audio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsFrequency Response ConsistencyThe Philips SHP9500 are a great entry point for users curious about audiophile headphones. Stock can be inconsistent, so consider the similarly designed Philips SHP9600 if you can't find them. The SHP9500 over-ears have a relatively flat sound profile that represents instruments and vocals with detail and clarity. Their open-back design helps make your audio feels spacious. But that design also means these cans leak a lot of audio, making them unsuitable for recording with a live mic or listening in a crowded office. Mics will pick up your backing track when recording, and people nearby can easily hear your audio.
The main downside of these headphones is their lack of low-bass. Many open-back headphones share this trait, as the open driver enclosure makes it more challenging to reproduce the lowest frequencies. If a thumpier low-end is important to you, consider the Superlux HD 681. These semi-open headphones have significantly more bass than the Philips. The sonic trade-off comes at the other end of the spectrum; despite a flat mid-range, they have an elevated treble that can make cymbals and sibilants sound piercing. That said, they're usually a little cheaper than the Philips, though they aren't as comfortable or well-built and don't have a detachable cable.
Notable Mentions
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JBL Tune 520BT:
The JBL Tune 520BT are on-ears that offer a different style of fit to the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2024. The JBL have a longer battery life than the Anker and a slightly less boomy bass response, but the Anker are more comfortable, stable, and well-built. The Anker also feature an ANC system that's capable of cutting out quite a bit of external noise.
See our review -
CMF Headphone Pro:
The CMF Headphone Pro are stylish over-ears that underperform both the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless and the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2024 in aspects like noise isolation and comfort. Still, they offer impressive ANC, especially for the price.
See our review -
Anker Soundcore P25i:
Unlike the Anker Soundcore P31i, the Anker Soundcore P25i don't have ANC. As a result, they block out less noise, making them less useful if you work in a busy office or like to take your earbuds on the bus with you. Still, the P25i are usually a little cheaper and have slightly longer battery life than the P31i, though they don't support multi-device pairing.
See our review -
JBL Endurance Peak 4:
The JBL Endurance Peak 4 are in-ears with stabilizers that sit just at the upper edge of the budget range. While the JBL are pricier than our cheap headphone pick, the Anker Soundcore P31i, they'll make a better companion for runners and gym-goers thanks to their hook-style stabilizers and IP68 rating, which helps protect them against water and dust exposure.
See our review
Recent Updates
Jul 30, 2026:
The Anker Soundcore P31i replace the Anker Soundcore P25i as our cheap pick because they offer much better noise isolation performance and a longer battery life. The Anker Soundcore P25i move to our Notable Mentions, where their support for an EQ in their companion app means they replace the JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless. Also in our Notable Mentions, the CMF Headphone Pro replace the TOZO HT3 because they have stronger noise isolation.
Jun 02, 2026:
We've verified our existing picks are still relevant and in stock. We also added the JBL Endurance Peak 4 to the Notable Mentions as a workout-friendly pick.
May 08, 2026:
We've made minor edits to the article, including adding the TOZO HT3 as a new Notable Mention.
Apr 10, 2026:
We've merged this article with our 'Best Headphones Under $50' article, as the two had substantial overlap. In practice, this has meant introducing a cheap pick (the Anker Soundcore P25i) while shifting the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 2024 to our 'Best Under $50' pick. We've also added the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless as our budget earbuds pick.
Mar 04, 2026:
We've updated this article, making changes to the text throughout for conciseness and clarity, though our picks have stayed the same.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best budget and cheap headphones 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 or almost out of stock everywhere).
f you'd like to choose for yourself, here's the list of all our reviews for headphones and earbuds under $100. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.