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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 reviewWe've checked our picks for accuracy and product availability, but our recommendations haven't changed.
Aug 15, 2024: We checked that our picks are still relevant and in stock but made only small edits to the text for clarity.
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.
May 22, 2024: We've validated this article to ensure all picks are up-to-date and available.
Apr 23, 2024: We've made minor updates to the text and checked that the products are in stock.
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.