The best cheap headphones are all about getting maximum quality for the smallest possible investment. That’s not to say that these are just the cheapest working headphones and earbuds we can find; we’ve tested them all to make sure that despite their low prices, they really can deliver on sound quality, comfort and practicality.
These aren’t the best headphones overall, and you won’t find advanced features like active noise cancellation here. But what you will find is a wide selection of reliable headphones and highly portable earbuds that will serve up music and podcasts for a fraction of the price — sometimes lower than a mere $20. Read on to find out our best cheap headphone picks and leave those purse strings unstretched.
What are the best cheap headphones?
Our top pick of the best cheap headphones is the Plantronics BackBeat Go 600, a winning blend of wireless Bluetooth convenience and powerful, bass-heavy sound. This set of over-ear headphones comfortable, too, thanks to the lightweight build.
In second place is the JLab Go Air Pop. This is something very rare indeed: a pair of true wireless earbuds, and pretty good ones too, for $20. It even comes IPX4-rated, so it could act as a budget alternative to the best sports earbuds if you want something that can resist rain and sweat.
We’ve also added the Mpow 059 Lite to the #3 spot. Like the BackBeat Go 600, this is a deceptively high-performing pair of over-ear headphones, complete with the convenience of Bluetooth connectivity. It’s light and comfy, and is cheap even compared to most of the other headphones on this list.
The best cheap headphones you can buy today
The BackBeat Go 600 is one of those models you’ll want to keep on your budget wish list if you desire strong audio performance highlighted by powerful bass response and crisp highs. A bass mode is programmed into these cans that accentuates the low end, though the default soundstage is great on its own. You get a full suite of controls split between the two earcups that are easy to operate too.
Having up to 18 hours of playtime on a single charge is incredibly generous when factoring price into the equation. Also, Plantronics bundles an aux cable with the headphones, so you can continue listening in passive mode when the battery dies. Build quality isn’t much to brag about, but the light plastic frame makes these headphones comfortable and portable-friendly. Now you see why we have these bad boys ranked No. 1 on our best cheap headphones list.
It turns out you don’t have to spend more than $20 to purchase a top-notch AirPods alternative. The JLab Go Air Pro is proof, housing a dynamic soundstage and 32-hour battery inside a sturdy, IPX4-protected design for sweat and water resistance. Three EQs are programmed into the buds, each one capable of enhancing sound quality based on your preference. Bass Boost is self-explanatory, while Balanced gives audio a neutral presence and JLab Signature offers a bit of both; we recommend sticking with the latter.
Up to 8 hours per charge is generous for buds this inexpensive, so is bundling the buds with a compact charging case that holds 4 extra charges and comes with an integrated USB cable for charging on the go. The different color options are enticing too: Black, Lilac, Rose, Slate, Teal.
Read our full JLab Go Air Pop review.
It can be difficult to find a comfortable pair of over-ear headphones for less than $20, but the Mpow 059 Lite manages it. And with wireless connectivity, no less — Mpow promises up to 60 hours of music and talk time from a single charge, and there’s a 3.5mm jack if you ever need to switch to wired mode.
Low weight and a decent amount of padding also means this pair of headphones isn’t as fatiguing as a lot of cut-price cans, and although its promise of “Hi-Fi” audio proves too tricky to fulfil, the 059 Lite doesn’t sound bad at all. The bass response is strong, and trebles can cut through when needed.
We suspect that for most people, “cheap” wireless earbuds would cost somewhere in the $100 dollar range, but the Skullcandy Dime delivers surprising quality for a fraction of that. Besides sounding better than we would ever have expected, their compact design is fully waterproof to the IPX7 standard: something even a lot of top-tier buds don’t bother with.
Is there a catch? Battery life could be a lot better — you only get about 3.5 hours of playback per charge — and the touch controls aren’t as reliable as we’d like. But hey, they let you ditch wires completely and only cost $25. That’s worth some misfiring sensors.
Read our full Skullcandy Dime review.
Status Audio might be a more popular brand these days, but about three years back, they were just newbies to the cheap headphones market. It didn’t take long for them to garner serious attention, thanks to these studio monitors, which offer resolute comfort and wide-open sound at an unmatched value. You get amazing stereo imaging that throws you right into the audience of live recordings, while professionally recorded tracks sound great backed by solid frequency range. At 8 ounces, the headphones are light to carry around, plus we like that the company bundles two aux cables with the purchase just in case one breaks. You’ll need to treat these accessories with care because the CB-1 does not support Bluetooth, nor does it have any on-board controls, meaning you’ll have to manage playback directly from your audio source.
Read our full Status Audio CB-1 review.
JBL is responsible for some of the best cheap headphones below the $100 mark and the Tune 500 is one of its finest options. Hidden underneath the flexible, sturdy plastic frame are JBL’s patented Pure Bass drivers that pump out serious lows; the bass response is thunderous at high volume. JBL’s profile leans towards the warm end, which is good news for music lovers who want more thump in their sound. The soft-padded ear cushions and headband add comfort to the equation, allowing users to enjoy music for long stretches.
Sadly, the headphones (like many wired models) don’t come with volume controls, so you’ll have to do so manually on your smartphone or MP3 player. Thankfully, the sound doesn’t distort or become unbearable when listening at high volumes, though others around you will notice sound bleeding from the cans.
Among our favorite inexpensive wireless earbuds for the past two years, the Liberty Air is one of the best AirPods alternatives that can be had for a fraction of the price. It’s also an awesome, inexpensive stocking stuffer that’s worth gifting family members this Christmas. Anker’s sound signature is more refined than Apple’s, resulting in richer bass and mids that complement modern music genres. A tight seal ensures fuller sound and minimizes external sounds from creeping onto the soundscape. Battery life is basic at 5 hours, but this is no different than the AirPods. Call quality is decent, and Bluetooth is stronger than advertised, giving you up to 40 feet of wireless listening before dropout occurs.
Despite its IPX5 rating for sweat and water resistance, these buds take on lots of damage, including scratches and scuffs. The touch controls aren’t as reliable as the AirPods either.
Read our full Anker Soundcore Liberty Air review.
At 10.6 ounces, they aren’t light and clamp down on both the ears and skull to create some discomfort after an hour of listening. The plastic design also looks more appealing in the photos than in person. Nonetheless, these shortcomings take a backseat to the OneOdio Studio’s remarkable sonics, which solely keep this model ranked high on our best cheap headphones list.
Powered by 50mm neodymium drivers, the OneOdio Studio serves up hi-def audio at an unbeatable price. Lows, mids, and highs are well-balanced, offering controlled bass and precise sound reproduction. The headphones sound great by themselves, though you have the option of hooking them up to other audio devices like a portable amp to take in deeper, fuller sound. We also love how you can daisy-chain them to another set of headphones and share music with others. Noise isolation is another area of strength for these cans, as the over-ear design helps create a tight seal to block out high-frequency noises.
The Plantronics BackBeat 500 is an excellent pickup for the price. Battery life is its biggest selling point, generating 18 hours of playtime on a single charge and featuring a Deep Sleep mode that can keep the headphones on standby for six months. You’re also getting some surprisingly good sound out of these on-ears that rivals models in the sub-luxury range ($150 and up). Bass is emphasized to give listeners a warm and energetic presence on hip-hop and rock tracks.
The athletic-inspired design is light and durable, but the headphones don’t provide the greatest comfort after 60 minutes of wear. It also lacks the sweatproof aesthetics of the BackBeat 500 Fit, which isn’t a huge deal unless you plan on working out with these on your head. They could also benefit from better isolation, as external sounds make their way into the ear canal.
Some wireless headphones age well, and the Jabra Move Wireless is one of them. Nearly six years old, these colorful cordless cans still deliver clear, balanced sound, courtesy of Jabra’s proprietary Digital Signal Processor (DSP). You’ll get a nice blend of lows, mids, and highs that not many models can match at this price point. The lightweight design is comfortable on the head and when worn around the neck. Build quality is decent with a pliable frame and dirt-resistant headband. We’re also attracted to the stylish colors: Coal (Black), Cayenne (Red), and Cobalt (Blue).
Battery life will seem super short compared to modern standards: 8 hours on a single charge doesn’t seem like a lot. The control scheme could have also been programmed better, as the touch sensors often confuse tap gestures.
Read our full Jabra Move Wireless review.
How to choose the best cheap headphones for you
Just because you’re spending less doesn’t mean you’re settling for less. You want to get the most bang for your buck when shopping for the best cheap headphones, and the one way to ensure this is by checking off a few essentials from the list.
Audio takes precedence over all other features. You want headphones that produce clean, balanced sound and solid bass. Some models might even offer built-in equalizer options (e.g. JLab) to personalize the soundstage based on your hearing.
Design comes second, which includes build quality, along with comfort and fit. Look for headphones that are durable and pliable; you want to know these things can survive whatever daily abuse you put them through. They should also feel cozy and pleasant on the skull when worn for long stretches, while creating a seal around the ears to keep out external noises.
Keep in mind that cheaper headphones are often wired, though if you’re looking for a cord-free experience, there are plenty of wireless headphones available as well. Just make sure they come with at least 15 hours of playtime on a full charge and Bluetooth 4.0.
How we test the best cheap headphones
As with most of our headphone roundups, we based our list of the best cheap headphones not only on price, but also design, sound, and ease of use. Available features such as controls, mics, and digital assistant support are tested as well.
Our reviewers wear each pair of headphones for 2 hours at a time throughout the testing phase. From there, they evaluate how comfy and securely they fit, along with how well they isolate noise.
For sound quality, we evaluate volume, clarity, and fullness by listening to many songs across different music genres. This includes hip hop, rock, jazz, classical, and electronica just to name a few. Movies, podcasts, and video games are considered, when necessary. Our reviewers make phone calls to assess call quality and microphone performance too.
After testing is completed, our reviewers rate the best cheap headphones on Tom’s Guide five-point system (1 = worst, 5 = best). Products that hit nearly every mark receive an Editors’ Choice badge.