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 builds (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 can go beyond and bring features like active noise cancellation (ANC) to this price range.
Below you'll find entries from over 355 bought and tested earbuds and in-ears, which offer excellent value for money at an affordable price. Also, check out our recommendations for the best budget and 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
The 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 and stable, making them a solid choice for the gym, too. They also have good build quality and an IPX5 rating for resistance against water exposure, so you can take them out in the rain.
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 preset 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 want to work in peace despite a noisy environment, you'll want to check out the TOZO NC9 Truly Wireless, our best cheap earbuds for noise isolation, further below.
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Best-Sounding Cheap Earbuds
The best-sounding cheap earbuds we've tested are the Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless. What's considered the best sound can vary from person to person, but we think these headphones suit a wide range of content thanks to their balanced sound profile. 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. While the buds are small and lightweight, they're not as comfortable as the Anker Soundcore P25i; the Skullcandy have a deeper in-ear fit, which can put pressure on your ear.
Still, the Skullcandy 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
Try 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 output. 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
If 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 with Active Noise Cancellation
At this price point, it's pretty difficult to find earbuds equipped with noise cancelling (ANC). Our pick for best cheap earbuds for noise isolation, the TOZO NC9 Truly Wireless, is one such example. With their on-board ANC, they do a solid job blocking low and high-frequency noise, but they fall short in the mid range and struggle to deal with voices and passive chit-chat.
The inclusion of the feature brings their battery life down to 4.2 hours, with an extra three charges in the case. 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.
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Best Earbuds Under $50
The best earbuds under $50 we've tested are the JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless. If you don't mind spending a little more than most other entries on the list, the JBL 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.
Recent Updates
Mar 17, 2026:
We've updated the article to ensure our picks are up to date, and replaced the TOZO TC6 Truly Wireless with the ANC-enabled TOZO NC9 Truly Wireless as our 'Best ANC' pick (renamed from 'Best Noise Isolation').
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.
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.