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The 5 Best Budget And Cheap Wireless Earbuds of 2024

Updated Nov 08, 2024 at 10:28 am
Best Budget and Cheap Wireless Earbuds

Not too long ago, if you wanted a pair of wireless Bluetooth earbuds, you'd have to spend a lot of money. Now that headphone jacks are becoming less common on phones, and Bluetooth headphones are becoming the norm, you don't have to spend a lot to get a decent pair of wireless in-ears. Unsurprisingly, wireless headphones don't require wires to work, making them more portable and easier to toss into a pocket or bag.

We've tested over 270 pairs of Bluetooth 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 Bluetooth earbuds under $100 and the best wireless earbuds under $50. For over-ear options, try the best wireless Bluetooth headphones for under $100.


  1. Best Budget Wireless Earbuds

    Current Deal: The JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless has dropped in price by $20 at Amazon.com.

    The JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless are the best budget wireless earbuds we've tested. These affordable buds stand out from the crowd thanks to their feature set. Their companion app includes a graphic EQ and presets, so you can fine-tune their excited sound. They support Google Quick Pair, so you can easily connect them to your Android devices. You can also use the Audio Mode to improve audio quality, while Video Mode decreases latency, so lip-sync issues aren't as noticeable when watching videos. That said, they're still cheap buds, so you'll still encounter some lip-sync issues, even with Video Mode enabled.

    They have a decently comfortable fit and are well-built. They're also certified IP54 for resistance against dust and direct water exposure. However, their carrying case doesn't have a lid. While the buds are kept in place by magnets in the case, some people may still find this design choice a little unusual. If you prefer a more sturdy carrying case, check out the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless. They offer a similar performance but have a stem design, and their carrying case has a lid. However, their fit isn't as comfortable or stable, and you get one less charge cycle from the case.

    See our review

  2. Best Cheap Wireless Earbuds

    If you're looking for even less expensive buds that still offer solid performance, check out the JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless. At this price point, you might expect to sacrifice build quality or performance, but these colorful buds are just as well-built as the previous pick. Their continuous battery life of roughly nine hours will easily get you through your day. They also come with a case that holds three extra charges.

    These comfortable buds have a bass-rich sound with extra thump, punch, and warmth to please EDM and hip-hop fans, and you can use their companion app's customization features to fine-tune the mix to your liking. However, you get less control over their sound than with the JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless since they only feature EQ presets rather than a full parametric interface.

    If you want an even cheaper option, check out the Skullcandy Jib Wireless. Their battery life is shorter, and their bass-heavy sound profile clutters the mix somewhat. However, they're still a versatile set of earbuds with a neck cable design for added stability and protection from falls during intense exercise.

    See our review

  3. Best Sounding Cheap Wireless Earbuds

    If sound quality is at the top of your priorities, then the best cheap wireless earbuds are the Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless. While our previous picks are bassy and boomy, these buds have a flatter, more neutral sound profile. They have pleasant warmth, with vocals and instruments that sound balanced and detailed. Sibilants and cymbals sound a little piercing, but these buds have a couple of onboard EQ presets to help you find the best sound.

    They're well-built and have more than eight hours of continuous battery life, and their carrying case supplies two extra charges if you need them. They also support multi-device pairing, so you can stay connected to your PC and smartphone at the same time. However, they have a deep in-ear fit, so if that's a deal-breaker, consider the Sony WI-C310 Wireless instead. They have a smaller bud design, and their neck cable allows you to wear them on your person when not in use. However, they aren't as well-built.

    See our review

  4. Best Budget Wireless Sports Earbuds

    If 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 more intense exercise like CrossFit or aerobics. However, the bulky sleeve, paired with the earbuds' angled fit, can put undue pressure on your inner ear and negatively affect comfort depending on your ear shape. Their sound profile is extremely bass-heavy, giving hip-hop and EDM tracks lots of intense thump and rumble. The rest of the mix sounds bright, if not piercing, and some overemphasis in the bass range adds muddiness. There's no app support either, meaning you can't change the sound profile to match your preferences.

    While these earbuds don't have active noise cancelling (ANC), 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. Also, you can frequently pick them up at a steep discount, making them all the more interesting.

    See our review

  5. Best Cheap Bluetooth Earbuds For Noise Isolation

    It's uncommon to find noise cancelling (ANC) at this price point. However, some buds, like the TOZO T6 Truly Wireless, can significantly reduce ambient sound passively. Once you get a good seal in your ear, these buds can block out chatty coworkers very well. They also easily isolate you from the high-pitched hums of computer fans. However, they struggle to cut down bass-range noise, like the rumbles of bus and plane engines.

    These buds have a bass-heavy sound that's well-suited for genres like EDM and hip-hop, as they deliver extra thump, punch, and boom to mixes. However, they don't have any sound customization features. Their fit is decently comfortable, and the earbuds are stable enough to wear during moderate exercise. They're also well-built and are certified IPX8 for resistance against submersion in water. While their over five-hour continuous battery life may not be enough to get you through your day without a recharge, their carrying case supplies an additional four charges if needed.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • Anker Soundcore P25i/P20i True Wireless:

    The Anker Soundcore P25i/P20i True Wireless are cheap, truly wireless buds. They're more comfortable than the JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless, but they don't block out as much background noise, and their sound isn't quite as balanced.

    See our review
  • Skullcandy Sesh Evo True Wireless: The Skullcandy Sesh Evo True Wireless are well-built and are similarly rated IP55 for dust and water resistance as the JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless, with slightly longer continuous battery life and an app with EQ presets. They have a less stable in-ear fit and about half the total battery life when you include the case's battery. See our review
  • TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless: The TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless offer ANC—a rarity at this price—to reduce low-pitched rumbles effectively, yielding eight hours of continuous playback on a single charge. While both of those features are attractive, these buds are often out of stock. They don't cut out as much mid-range and high-pitched noise as the TOZO T6 Truly Wireless and typically cost more. See our review
  • Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless: The Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless aren't usually in the budget range, but recent sales have had them dip below the $50 mark. If you can get a good deal, they have exceptional noise isolation performance that provides more attenuation than any of our other picks in this price range. They also have a comfortable, stable fit and useful features like Bluetooth multipoint pairing and a graphic EQ. See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Nov 08, 2024:

    We've checked our picks for accuracy and product availability, but our recommendations haven't changed.

  2. Aug 15, 2024: We checked that our picks are still relevant and in stock but made only small edits to the text for clarity.

  3. Jun 28, 2024: We made some small changes to the text for style and clarity and checked through all our latest test results to ensure our picks are up-to-date, but our recommendations have stayed the same.

  4. May 22, 2024: We've validated this article to ensure all picks are up-to-date and available.

  5. Apr 23, 2024: We've made minor updates to the text and checked that the products are in stock.

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-ears and earbuds headphones we've tested. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.