While many assume that all gaming accessories are expensive, you can get a decent pair of gaming headphones for less than $100. Many headphones in this price range have microphones with decent recording quality, so you're heard by your teammates. Ideally, they should deliver balanced in-game audio and have a comfortable fit for long gaming marathons. That said, they'll often lack features like wireless connectivity or customization options you'd commonly find on more expensive pairs. At this price point, it's also common to see a reduction in build quality, with designs that struggle to stand up to daily, long-term use. It's especially the case with gaming headsets under $50, which tend to use a plastic-heavy build and sacrifice many options that'll work with your consoles or PC without blowing a hole in your budget.
We've tested over 925 pairs of headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best gaming headsets under $100. Also, check out our recommendations for the best gaming headsets, the best PS5 gaming headsets, and the best Xbox X/S headsets.
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 Gaming Headset
Recording QualityFrequency Response ConsistencyComfortSports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkWireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)Audio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsFrequency Response ConsistencyThe best budget gaming headset we've tested is the GLORIOUS GHS Eternal RGB. These wired headphones offer solid performance and features that exceed what you'd expect at the sub-$100 price point. They offer an impressively comfortable fit with a great microphone and both USB-C and analog connection types, so you can easily connect to consoles, PCs, and mobile devices. They're also better built than any of our other picks, save for the HyperX Cloud III. While they're made of robust plastic, the headband's suspension could lose tension over time, making it a potential weak link. The microphone's recording quality makes your voice sound natural and detailed, so you're easily understandable on the party chat.
If there's one caveat, it's that its bass-heavy sound won't be to everyone's taste. The boosted mid-bass can overwhelm more delicate soundtrack mixes and, while there are some EQ presets in the Windows-only companion app, there's no graphic or parametric EQ for you to really dial in the sound. Some users might prefer a wireless design too, but at this budget price point, you'll be hard-pressed to find a headset that delivers comparable features in a wireless design. Plus, its low-latency wired connection options mean you won't have any excuses for your poor reaction time when playing first-person shooters.
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Best Cheap Wired Gaming Headset
Recording QualityFrequency Response ConsistencyComfortCommute/TravelSports/FitnessOfficeWireless GamingSee all our test resultsWired GamingIf you're willing to compromise on build quality to keep costs down, then you'll want to consider the Turtle Beach Recon 50X/Recon 50P. Their simple and plasticky design is a big step down from the GLORIOUS GHS Eternal RGB, but they're still worth considering as one of the best gaming headsets under $50. Their cost varies by color, but all models work with any device that has an AUX port. Their large ear cups are comfortable enough for your average gaming session, though their padding isn't quite plush enough to get you through all-night marathons.
Thanks to their wired design and boom microphone, they deliver amazing recording quality, which is great if you want your voice to sound natural over Discord, even if you're gaming in a moderately noisy environment. Their sound signature has more bass on tap and an elevated mid-range, which can accentuate sound effects like explosions in gameplay, but it can muddy dialogue compared to our top pick. They don't have any sound customization features to adjust their sound to your liking, but you can always EQ them with third-party software if you game on PC.
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Best Budget Wireless Gaming Headset
Recording QualityFrequency Response ConsistencyComfortSports And FitnessTravelOffice WorkWireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)Audio Reproduction AccuracyNoise IsolationMicrophone (In Development)See all our test resultsFrequency Response ConsistencyWhile it can be hard to find wireless options at this price point, the best we've tested are the Turtle Beach Stealth 500. Their USB dongle provides a low-latency wireless connection so you can still take on challenging FPS games, and they also support Bluetooth so you can listen to audio on devices like your phone. They come in separate PC, PlayStation, and Xbox variants, so make sure you get the right version for your platform. Their flip-to-mute boom mic also has great recording quality, keeping your voice natural and clear. That said, while the wireless design gives you some freedom of movement, they're not as comfortable or well-built as our top pick, the GLORIOUS GHS Eternal RGB.
Out of the box, these headphones have a bright sound that keeps effects like clashing swords feeling sharp and exciting. However, explosions lack some low-end rumble, though a boost across the high-bass keeps sounds like footsteps feeling immersive. And if you prefer a different sound, the companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets, so you can dial in the profile you prefer. Their 37.5-hour battery life is enough for a few back-to-back gaming sessions, and if you do run out of juice, you can use them while charging. If you need a longer battery, you can check out the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 (Gen 3) instead, which can run for double the time without charging and have more intuitive controls. While they retail for more, you can often find them on sale for under $100.
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Best Budget Gaming Headphones For Mic Performance
Recording QualityFrequency Response ConsistencyComfortCommute/TravelSports/FitnessOfficeWireless GamingSee all our test resultsWired GamingIf you're choosing between the best budget gaming headsets but want the best combination of mic recording quality and noise handling, look at the Astro A10. Your voice won't sound quite as natural as it will on the Turtle Beach Recon 50X/Recon 50P, but the Astro are a more complete package: their build quality, stability, and comfort are all superior to the cheap pick. Plus, their boom mic still keeps your voice comparably full-bodied and natural, while doing a better job separating you from background noise, so your teammates will hear you clearly no matter where you game.
As for sound, they bring a little extra punch and boom to emphasize sound effects like footsteps. However, dialogue and instruments are pushed to the back of your mixes, and they lack EQ presets to customize their sound.
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Most Durable Budget Gaming Headset
Recording QualityFrequency Response ConsistencyComfortCommute/TravelSports/FitnessOfficeWireless GamingSee all our test resultsWired GamingIt's not easy to find a sturdy-feeling headset at this price point. The HyperX Cloud III have a similarly high build quality to our top pick, the GLORIOUS GHS Eternal RGB, but feature premium materials like brushed aluminum in their construction. That said, their control scheme isn't as comprehensive as our top pick and they leak more audio into their surroundings. They're one of the more expensive picks on our list, but you can often find them on sale for closer to $50. They're the next generation of the popular HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II and feature compatibility with a companion app, where you can access a graphic EQ and presets.
They use an analog connection that you can convert into a USB connection (with an included adapter), which gives you access to features like a graphic EQ and virtual surround sound. Their mid-range is superbly detailed, so dialogue comes through with clarity, but their sub-bass energy is underwhelming, so explosions lack rumble and boom. That said, you can always adjust the sound profile in the companion app. These headphones also have a detachable mic, so you can use them in more casual settings, which adds to their versatility.
Notable Mentions
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Turtle Beach Recon 70:
The Turtle Beach Recon 70 are more comfortable than the Turtle Beach Recon 50X/Recon 50P, but they have a worse microphone.
See our review
Recent Updates
Oct 28, 2026:
We've replaced the Logitech G432, our top pick, with the GLORIOUS GHS Eternal RGB, as the GLORIOUS performs better across the board and fits the scope of this article after its price dropped. We've also removed the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 because it doesn't offer any advantages over our other picks and costs the same or more. We've also rewritten text throughout the article to improve the clarity of our comparisons.
Aug 18, 2026:
The Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED Wireless are out of stock in most places online, so the Turtle Beach Stealth 500 are our new 'Best Budget Wireless' pick.
Jun 22, 2026:
We've trimmed down the article to provide clearer product guidance, added the GLORIOUS GHS Eternal RGB to the Notable Mentions, and validated that the remaining picks are relevant and in stock.
Apr 24, 2026:
We've checked that our picks are in stock, but we haven't changed them.
Mar 03, 2026:
We edited this text for clarity and checked that all our picks are in stock, but we haven't changed our selections.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best budget and cheap gaming headsets for most people to buy. 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'd like to choose for yourself, here's a list of all our reviews of headphones below $100, sorted by gaming performance. 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, especially if you don't care about having a microphone or wireless features.