Spending a lot of money on earbuds doesn't necessarily guarantee better performance. That said, when you're shopping on a budget, what's available can be made of cheaper material and have worse build quality (but not always). The best products in this category produce audio free of artifacts and audible defects without compromising too much in build, comfort, or overall performance. Some go beyond and bring features like active noise cancellation (ANC) to this price range.
We've tested over 360 pairs of earbuds and in-ear headphones, and below, you'll find our top picks for the best budget and cheap options. If you have a little more to spend, you'll also want to check out the best wireless earbuds and best wireless Bluetooth earbuds under $100. For over-ear options, try the best wireless Bluetooth headphones for under $100.
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 Wireless Earbuds
TravelOffice WorkSports And FitnessSound SignatureWarmPeaks/DipsComfortBuild QualityStabilitySee all our test resultsContinuous Battery LifehrsThe Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless are the best budget earbuds we've tested. Their price tends to fluctuate either side of $50, and if they're a little pricier when you're shopping, waiting a week or two should see their price drop. Regardless of the price, they're well worth the outlay because they punch way above their weight in overall performance. These earbuds feature an excellent active noise cancellation (ANC) system that outperforms more expensive picks at blocking noise. They do an amazing job tackling everything from rumbly bus engines to squeaky office chairs. And with ANC on, they last just over eight hours, with four additional charges in the case.
These buds have a warm, relaxed sound that's balanced in the bass and mids, with a gentle roll-off in the treble. If that doesn't suit your taste, their sound is customizable through their app's graphic EQ or presets. They can also use Sony's LDAC codec for Hi-Res audio and support multi-device pairing. Unfortunately, they sacrifice microphone performance to offer premium features at this price point; their recording quality is poor, making your voice sound sibilant on calls, with an emphasis on S and T sounds. If you'd prefer a better mic or just need an ANC-enabled option under $50 right away, check out the TOZO NC9 Truly Wireless. Keep in mind you'll sacrifice some comfort, and the TOZO's 4.2-hour continuous battery life is just over half that of the Anker's.
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Best Cheap Wireless Earbuds
TravelOffice WorkSports And FitnessSound SignatureWarmPeaks/DipsComfortBuild QualityStabilitySee all our test resultsContinuous Battery LifehrsAnker dominates the headphones value market with their offerings, since the brand's entries tend to outperform similarly priced competitors, and the situation is no different for the earbud subcategory. So if you're looking for more versatile buds and willing to trade off for worse noise cancellation performance, the Anker Soundcore P31i are a worthwhile pickup. They don't isolate you from low-frequency noise like rumbling engines quite as well as our top pick, the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless, but offer comparable battery life, better comfort and stability, and a lower purchase price.
These P31i have a warm default sound, and also come with a graphic EQ and presets in their companion app, so you can adjust their tuning to your tastes. Their mic also picks your voice up more naturally and overcomes background noise better than our top pick's. In a sense, these buds are more versatile than our top pick across a range of applications like sports and office work due to the better ergonomics and microphone, respectively; however, the Space A40 may be preferable if you value ANC performance more.
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Even Cheaper Wireless Earbuds
TravelOffice WorkSports And FitnessSound SignatureBoosted BassPeaks/DipsComfortBuild QualityStabilitySee all our test resultsContinuous Battery LifehrsIf you're looking for the cheapest buds we're happy to recommend, check out the Anker Soundcore P25i. At this price point, you might expect to sacrifice build quality or performance, but these stem-design earbuds are just as well-built as the Anker Soundcore P31i. They lack ANC, though, so you'll have to rely on your music to cover up the sound of background noise. Still, with roughly nine hours of continuous battery life, they'll easily get you through the day.
These earbuds have a bass-rich sound with extra thump, punch, and warmth to please EDM and hip-hop fans. Plus, their companion app offers 22 presets to fine-tune the mix to your liking. However, you get less control over their sound than with our previous picks, since they only feature EQ presets rather than a full graphic interface. The Anker also have a Game Mode feature, which reduces latency quite a bit. If you're not a fan of stems and want earbuds with a button-shaped design, check out the JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless. They're a bit less comfortable, but their case carries an extra charge compared to the Anker.
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Best Budget Wireless Earbuds For Sports
Commute/TravelOfficeSports/FitnessPeaks/DipsComfortBuild QualityStabilitySee all our test resultsContinuous Battery LifehrsIf you're looking for cheap buds to use while playing sports, consider the JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless. They have good build quality and an IP55 rating for protection against dust and water splashes, making them a great choice for outdoor runs. Their unique stability sleeve and lightweight build provide great stability for intense workouts like CrossFit or aerobics. However, that bulky sleeve can also make them feel a little uncomfortable at times. Their sound profile is extremely bass-heavy, giving hip-hop and EDM tracks lots of intense thump and rumble. That's fine for listening to workout techno playlists, but there's no app support, so you can't adjust the sound profile to match your preferences.
Unlike the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless, these earbuds don't have active noise cancelling, but they still do a decent job of passively isolating you from the background noise of chatty joggers and squeaky treadmills; though they don't do much to keep out the rumble of heavy traffic or a passing bus. They only last three hours continuously, so you must charge them between each workout. Thankfully, their case has 10 additional charges, so you won't run out of extra power too quickly. If you want to stay aware of your surroundings while street cycling or jogging, consider the Anker Soundcore C30i. They're clip-on open earbuds, allowing you to easily stay aware of oncoming traffic. That said, you'll be sacrificing any semblance of isolation and much of their bass, which is to be expected from their design.
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Best Budget Bluetooth Earbuds For Music
TravelOffice WorkSports And FitnessSound SignatureWarmPeaks/DipsComfortBuild QualityStabilitySee all our test resultsContinuous Battery LifehrsFor tinkering enthusiasts, the MOONDROP SPACE TRAVEL 2 are our pick for the best budget Bluetooth earbuds for music and sound customization. With the headphones' app, you have access to a parametric EQ, a community database of sound settings, and even auto-EQ features. They also have a smooth, warm sound signature with minimal fluctuations, making them easier to tune to taste as well.
That said, the MOONDROP fall short in just about every other aspect compared to some of our top picks. They aren't terrible, but their comfort and build quality fall short of more versatile picks like the Anker Soundcore P31i. And while they come with ANC, the system's performance doesn't provide much attenuation compared to our top pick, the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless. Still, for any audiophiles looking for an inexpensive gadget to play with when they're away from their go-to audio stack, the MOONDROP fit the bill.
Notable Mentions
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CMF Buds Pro 2:
The CMF Buds Pro 2 are budget earbuds that offer ANC. While their isolation isn't quite as strong as that of the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless, and their battery life is shorter, they do have a better-performing microphone than our pick.
See our review
Recent Updates
Apr 27, 2026:
We've renamed this article to 'Best Budget Earbuds' and merged it with the 'Best Cheap Earbuds' article, consolidating some of the text and picks in both. We've also added the Anker Soundcore P31i and MOONDROP Space Travel 2 to our options.
Mar 18, 2026:
The Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless are our new top pick for their strong all-around performance and amazing ANC. The JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless are now our cheap pick, with the Anker Soundcore P25i an even cheaper option. We also removed our Best Sounding pick, so the Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless are now a Notable Mention.
Nov 06, 2025:
We've made text changes to the article to reflect newer methodology results on the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless, Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless, and JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless. That said, we haven't changed our picks.
May 02, 2025:
We've replaced the TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless in the Notable Mentions with a more widely available pick, the CMF Buds Pro 2.
Feb 03, 2025:
We've overhauled our picks to reflect price and stock changes and updated text throughout for clarity.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best budget Bluetooth earbuds. We factor in the price (cheaper buds win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no earbuds that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
That said, there are no perfect earbuds. If you'd like to make the choice yourself, below is the full list of wireless in-ear and earbud headphones we've tested. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.