Spending a lot of money on earbuds doesn't necessarily guarantee better performance. You don't have to break the bank to find the best product for your needs, as many products are available at an affordable price that can give you good value for your money.
We've bought and tested over 340 pairs of earbuds and in-ears, and below are our top picks for the best cheap and affordable earbuds. Also, check out our recommendations for the best cheap wireless earbuds, the best Bluetooth earbuds, and the best budget and cheap 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 Cheap Earbuds
Neutral Sound6.8Commute/Travel7.1Sports/Fitness8.0Office6.7Wireless Gaming5.6Wired Gaming5.5Phone Calls6.6Type:In-earEnclosure:Closed-BackWireless:Truly WirelessTransducer:DynamicNoise Cancelling:NoSee all our test resultsMic:YesThe Anker Soundcore P25i are the best cheap earbuds we've tested. These wallet-friendly buds work well for many use cases. They also have some extra features that help them stand out from similarly priced models. With a nine-hour battery life and a charging case with two extra charges, they'll easily last you through a workday. Their fit is comfortable, breathable, and stable, making them a solid choice for workouts. They also have good build quality and an IPX5 rating for resistance against water exposure, so you can take them out in the rain without issue.
Most products in this price category lack sound customization options. However, these buds have a whopping 22 EQ presets, which let you adjust their sound to suit your tastes. Their default EQ option features a bass-rich sound profile that delivers extra thump and rumble to your audio, making the buds a great choice for bass-heavy genres like EDM. However, they don't have active noise cancelling and don't do a good job of blocking out ambient sound. If you care about noise isolation, you'll want to check out the TOZO T6 Truly Wireless, our best cheap earbuds for noise isolation, further below.
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Best-Sounding Cheap Earbuds
Neutral Sound8.0Commute/Travel7.4Sports/Fitness8.1Office6.9Wireless Gaming5.4Wired Gaming5.2Phone Calls6.4Type:In-earEnclosure:Closed-BackWireless:Truly WirelessTransducer:DynamicNoise Cancelling:NoSee all our test resultsMic:YesThe best-sounding cheap earbuds we've tested are the Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless. These small and lightweight buds feature a balanced profile, making them a versatile choice for most types of audio content. They have a touch of extra bass and flat mids, so vocals and instruments sound clear and natural. Sibilants, such as those found in cymbals, also sound bright and sizzle. While you won't find more robust customization features, such as a graphic EQ, at this price point, these buds still have three EQ presets built in, allowing you to adjust their sound. That said, these buds aren't as comfortable as the Anker Soundcore P25i; the Skullcandy have a deeper in-ear fit, which can put pressure on your ear.
These buds are well-built and certified IPX4 for resistance against water splashes. They also have a stable fit, so you can wear them on the go or to the gym with little problem. Their continuous battery life of over eight hours will get you from point A to B, but their carrying case holds an extra two charges if needed. Unfortunately, the microphone's recording quality is quite disappointing; your voice lacks depth and sounds distant during calls. Unlike the previous pick, these buds support multi-device pairing, allowing you to connect to both your smartphone and PC without any issues.
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Best Cheap Sports Earbuds
Neutral Sound5.6Commute/Travel5.5Sports/Fitness8.3Office5.2Wireless Gaming5.0Wired Gaming4.8Phone Calls5.1Type:EarbudsEnclosure:Open-BackWireless:Truly WirelessTransducer:DynamicNoise Cancelling:NoSee all our test resultsMic:YesTry the Anker Soundcore C30i if you're looking for buds to take to the gym. While their recommended retail price is on the higher side, they often go on sale below the $50 mark. They have an IPX4 certification for water resistance and a unique clip design that ensures they stay in place for tough workouts. They're a little less comfortable than our top pick, but they're better built and more stable.
Due to their open design, which prioritizes environmental awareness and safety, the Anker Soundcore C30i lack bass in their sound signature. You can tweak their sound a bit with presets or the included graphic EQ, but don't expect much more bass due to the physical limitations of the earbuds. The buds boast a respectable 14.2-hour continuous battery life and an additional two charges in the case, so you can toss them in your gym bag between workouts at least a few times without needing a charge.
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Most Durable Cheap Earbuds
Neutral Sound6.6Commute/Travel7.5Sports/Fitness8.0Office6.9Wireless Gaming5.1Wired Gaming5.0Phone Calls6.1Type:In-earEnclosure:Closed-BackWireless:Truly WirelessTransducer:DynamicNoise Cancelling:NoSee all our test resultsMic:YesIf you want an inexpensive option that doesn't cut back on build quality, the Skullcandy Sesh Evo True Wireless are the best cheap earphones with a durable design that we've tested. While not quite premium-feeling, these earbuds have sturdy build quality, so they'll survive multiple accidental drops and bumps. Unlike the Anker Soundcore P25i, the Skullcandy have an IP55 rating, offering resistance against not just water but dust exposure as well. This makes them a better choice for harsher environments, like dusty mountain trails.
Passively, they can't block out the loud rumble of a bus or plane engine, but they do a much better job of keeping you isolated from ambient chatter or the high-pitched whine of a PC fan. These earbuds have a very bass-heavy sound profile. It's great if you like a lot of thump and rumble when listening to hip-hop, metal, or EDM, but it can overpower and muddy vocals or lead instruments.
While they don't have a companion app, the Skullcandy have three EQ presets onboard, allowing you to have some control over their sound. Their battery lasts just over 4.5 hours on a single charge, so you'll need to use one of the case's three extra charges if you use them all day.
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Best Cheap Earbuds For Noise Isolation
Neutral Sound6.7Commute/Travel7.6Sports/Fitness8.0Office7.0Wireless Gaming5.3Wired Gaming5.2Phone Calls6.9Type:In-earEnclosure:Closed-BackWireless:Truly WirelessTransducer:DynamicNoise Cancelling:NoSee all our test resultsMic:YesAt this price point, it's pretty difficult to find earbuds equipped with noise cancelling (ANC). That said, choices like the TOZO T6 Truly Wireless can still offer great performance when it comes to blocking out background sound. Thanks to their in-ear fit, they're able to passively reduce noise such as people talking around you. Their shortcoming is more so in the bass range: they have a harder time reducing rumbly bus and plane engines, which may not be ideal for your morning commute.
Without ANC, there's no need to worry about another feature draining your battery life. Although their five-hour playtime may still be somewhat limiting, their carrying case accommodates an extra four charges. They're also decently comfortable, and you can even wear these buds during a moderate workout. If you prefer a bassy sound, these buds deliver a satisfying thump and boom. However, unlike the Anker Soundcore P25i, they lack sound customization features to help you adjust them to your preferences. While we haven't reviewed the TOZO NC9, they might be worth considering as they're ANC-enabled and available under $50.
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Best Earbuds Under $50
Neutral Sound7.7Commute/Travel7.3Sports/Fitness8.1Office6.9Wireless Gaming5.9Wired Gaming5.8Phone Calls6.5Type:In-earEnclosure:Closed-BackWireless:Truly WirelessTransducer:DynamicNoise Cancelling:NoSee all our test resultsMic:YesThe best earbuds under $50 we've tested are the JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless. If you don't mind spending a little more, they offer more features than the Anker Soundcore P25i. These buds come with an app that features a graphic EQ and presets, allowing you to customize their bass-rich default sound profile to suit your preferences. While they don't have ANC, they do a good job of passively blocking out sounds, such as voices. They have a couple of ambient sound modes designed to let you hear your surroundings: TalkThru, which lowers the volume on your audio so you can hear conversations, and Ambient Aware, which enables you to listen to what's happening around you.
They're decently comfortable and have a sturdy build. Additionally, they're rated IP54 for dust and water resistance, which can help protect them during outdoor workouts in the rain or along a dusty path, but they aren't extremely stable and can slip out of your ears. They last almost nine hours off a single charge, similar to the Anker, but they have the added functionality of an auto-off timer to help save power when you're not using them.
If you're still looking for the right earbuds, check out our list of the best earbuds under $50.
Notable Mentions
- Skullcandy Jib True Wireless: If you're a fan of bass-heavy music, the Skullcandy Jib True Wireless deliver intense thump, rumble, and boom to mixes. However, they have shorter continuous battery life than the Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless. See our review
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JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless:
The JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless are value earbuds similar to the Anker Soundcore P25i. The JLab come with an extra charge in their case compared to the Anker and have more color options available for a personalized choice. That said, they're not as comfortable and have higher Bluetooth latency.
See our review -
CHU II
If you're looking for an audiophile-oriented IEM on a budget, check out the Moondrop CHU II. They have the option to switch out nozzle filters, which can be used to customize their sound, but these must be purchased separately.
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Recent Updates
Nov 03, 2025:
We've updated the article for clarity and replaced the JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless with the Anker Soundcore C30i as our sports pick due to the Anker's highly stable and open-ear design.
May 05, 2025:
We've checked our picks are still valid and removed the TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless due to their limited stock availability.
Feb 06, 2025:
We've updated the text for clarity and changed our top pick from the JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless to the Anker Soundcore P25i for their comfort and sound customization options. The JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless and TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless are also now Notable Mentions.
Nov 08, 2024:
We've moved the TOZO T6 Truly Wireless, which was mentioned as a comparison with the JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless, to a new category: 'Best Cheap Earbuds For Noise Isolation.' The TOZO have a deep in-ear seal, so they do a great job of passively blocking out sound around you.
Aug 15, 2024: We made small updates to the text for clarity but didn't change our picks.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best cheap earphones to buy for most people in each price range. 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).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews for earbuds and in-ears under $50. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.