Many people prefer the compact, portable design of earbuds, but there are few things more frustrating than pulling a tangled mess out of your pockets when you're running out the door. Wireless Bluetooth earbuds solve this issue but can be expensive. Fortunately, you don't have to break the bank to get something decent. Plenty of solid options are under $50, even for those who care about sound quality or like having many customization options.
We've tested over 245 wireless earbuds and in-ear headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best wireless earbuds for under $50. Also, check out our picks for the best wireless earbuds, the best earbuds under $50, and the best sounding wireless earbuds.
The best wireless earbuds under $50 we've tested are the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless. These budget-friendly earbuds have a solid build quality, with an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance, so they can withstand light rain. They have a well-balanced sound profile out of the box that's suitable for a variety of genres. They can sound a bit bright or harsh, but unlike many earbuds at this price point, they work with a companion app that has a parametric EQ and presets for sound customization. Their eight-hour continuous battery life can last through long days at work.
They don't have ANC and don't do a good job of passively isolating against ambient sound, so they aren't ideal if you want to listen to your music in peace on the bus or at a busy office. However, they have a few extra features accessible in-app, including 'Voice Aware', which lets you control how much of your own voice you hear during calls. Unfortunately, they aren't the most comfortable headphones, and getting a good, stable fit can be difficult. They're also prone to slipping out of your ears over time, so they aren't ideal for workouts.
Check out the Anker Soundcore Life A2 NC Truly Wireless if you want noise cancelling earbuds. These earbuds are often priced slightly above $50, and they don't have a rating for dust resistance like the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless. Their control scheme isn't as easy to use and lacks volume controls, but if you want a budget-friendly option with ANC, look no further. You can set their ANC to different modes in a companion app, and when set to 'Transport' mode, it does a good job of blocking out a range of ambient sound, including bus and plane engines and background conversations.
They have a V-shaped default sound profile and deliver extra rumble, punch, and boom to complement genres like EDM and hip-hop. Their app includes a graphic EQ and 20 presets for sound customization, so you can always adjust the sound profile to suit you. They also have a long, roughly 11-hour continuous battery life that can last through long flights and workdays, although they don't have an auto-off timer to save power, unlike the JBL.
The Sony WI-C310 Wireless are the best wireless earbuds for neutral sound under $50 that we've tested. These aren't as well-built as the other earbuds recommended here, but they offer a more neutral sound profile than options like the Anker Soundcore Life A2 NC Truly Wireless, with just a touch of extra punch and warmth in the bass range. You might prefer them if you listen to more vocal-centric content. Their neck cable might not be for everyone, but it's lightweight and flexible and allows you to wear the earbuds around your neck when not in use.
They have an in-line remote that lets you control your music, answer calls, and adjust the volume. While they don't come with a charging case, they have a long continuous battery life of around 17 hours that will easily last through a workday. However, they don't have ANC and struggle to block out noises like rumbling bus engines, so they aren't great for listening to music during your commute.
The SoundPeats TrueFree 2 Wireless are a solid choice if you're looking for buds to take to the gym. These buds are certified IPX7 for resistance against immersion in water and come with stability fins to keep them more secure in your ears than other picks on this list. Their bassy sound also adds thump, rumble, and boom to mixes, helping keep you pumped up during difficult reps. That said, they don't have any sound customization features to help you adjust their sound to your liking. Using their physical controls can also push the buds deeper into your ears, causing discomfort.
Although they lack noise cancelling, they can still block out ambient chatter around you. They also have minimal audio leakage, so if you like to listen to your music on blast, others around you are unlikely to hear it. Unfortunately, they have just over 3.5 hours of continuous playtime, which will last through a workout, but that's about it. Luckily, there are four extra charges in the carrying case if needed.
Are you an Apple fan and looking for a deal? The Beats Flex Wireless are a solid pick if you have an iPhone, thanks to their W1 chip, which allows you to seamlessly pair them with other devices in your Apple ecosystem. They also have low latency on iOS devices, making them a solid choice for streaming video. Since they're Beats headphones, you can expect them to come in various colors and special collab schemes to match your style.
Unlike the previous picks, they have a neck cable design, which makes it easy to securely wear the buds out of your ear while not in use. They're also well-built and have a comfortable and stable in-ear fit. Their bass-rich sound profile delivers extra thump, punch, and boom to music, although they don't have any sound customization features to help you adjust their sound. They also lack noise cancelling, though they still do a decent overall job blocking background noise like ambient chatter. They also last 11 hours continuously.
Sep 12, 2023: Replaced the Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 Truly Wireless with the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless as the 'Best Wireless Earbuds Under $50'. Also removed the TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless, which are out of stock currently, and replaced them with the Anker Soundcore Life A2 NC Truly Wireless as our 'Best Noise Cancelling' pick. Removed the Skullcandy Indy ANC True Wireless because their price has gone up.
Jul 18, 2023: Added the Anker Life Dot 2 Truly Wireless as the 'Best Wireless Earbuds Under $50' with a note that they can be difficult to find in stock. Made the TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless the 'Best ANC' recommendation.
May 24, 2023: We've overhauled this article as the Anker Soundcore Dot 2 Truly Wireless and the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless are currently out of stock. We've also replaced the Jabra Elite 3 True Wireless with the SoundPeats TrueFree 2 Wireless as they're more consistently under $50 and added the Beats Flex Wireless as 'Best Wireless Earbuds Under $50 For iPhone'.
Mar 17, 2023: We've replaced the TOZO NC9 Truly Wireless with the Beats Flex Wireless in Notable Mentions as the TOZO have been replaced with a newer model.
Jan 18, 2023: Made minor updates to the text and checked that the products are available.
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best Bluetooth earbuds under $50 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 would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews for wireless earbuds 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.