Looking for Cheap Earbuds? These Are the 8 Best Under $50

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Looking for a pair of cheap earbuds — whether for yourself or someone else — that don’t lack in good sound and features? Believe it or not, you can find plenty of affordable pairs under $50 that overdeliver for their price.

Once strictly reserved for wired and mediocre wireless earbuds, the under-$50 marketplace for in-ear headphones is more vibrant than ever, allowing you to pick and choose a set that fits an exact lifestyle and your budget preferences. You’ll find more true wireless offerings and, remarkably, can even score noise-canceling earbuds for half a Benjamin.

To determine the best cheap wireless earbuds, we reviewed the latest from leading brands like Beats by Dre, Sony, and Soundcore, to name a few. Some we tested, others we haven’t yet, vetting them through our research and experience using headphones. But we parsed through hundreds to select the ones with respectable sound you can get for yourself or gift to someone.

The Best Cheap Earbuds

• Best Overall: Soundcore Life P3i

• Best Value: Sony WI-C100

• Best for Exercising: JBL Vibe Buds

• Most Comfortable: 1More Comfobuds 2

What to Consider

Affordable earbuds come in a few forms, so it's important to know the pros and cons of each. You can choose between true wireless earbuds, wireless neckbands, and fully wired earphones.

True wireless earbuds are unquestionably the newest, most convenient option. Such earbuds are water-resistant and best for exercising, since there are no cables bouncing around or potentially tugging them in your ears like with their wired rivals. However, be mindful that spending well below $50 on a new set might not get you the best sound. Getting closer to that price cap will broaden your options to earbuds with additional bits like noise cancelation and better durability.

On the other hand, wireless neckband earbuds have vastly longer battery life than their fully wireless siblings. Their neckband can accommodate a bigger-capacity batter without sacrificing comfort, whereas true wireless buds can become unwieldy if they weigh an extra gram. If you’re looking for a wireless headset to last an entire workday, this is the type to go for.

And while wired earbuds might seem like an old-school thing of the past, don’t be so quick to write them off. Compared to their wireless relatives, some wired earbuds deliver higher-quality sound for the money. For this reason, you should seriously consider wired earbuds if you’re buying for a discerning audiophile, so long as you or your recipient has a media player or a phone with a standard audio jack. If not, don’t worry. There are solid options with a Lightning or a USB-C connector worth buying, as well as Lightning and USB-C adapters that will bring the old-school audio jack functionality to just about any gadget. And not having to charge these buds is another major benefit.

How We Selected

I’ve been testing audio gear for over a decade, and budget-friendly earbuds that cost below $50 have always been on my radar. For this comprehensive guide, I scrutinized close to 100 products before selecting earbuds from brands with proven track records in this space like Beats, JBL, Sony, and Soundcore, among others.

I tested most of the earbuds on this list, carefully evaluating their audio quality, ergonomics, and — in the case of wireless earbuds — features like battery life, durability, and their apps. For the sets I haven’t used, I researched those with my testing experience in mind, considering design elements and features that indicate they’re solid options.

Our guide spans from $50 true wireless earbuds to wired earphones that cost less than $10. Find better sound on the cheap among these offerings.

Soundcore Life P3i Wireless Earbuds

The stem-toting Soundcore Life P3i by Anker are the best $50 can buy, offering a sleek, decidedly high-end design, a comfy fit, entertaining sound that’s customizable via a best-in-class app, and exceptional noise cancelation. In fact, that noise cancelation was instrumental in keeping me focused on work during outdoor sessions in the park. The P3i earbuds also deliver solid call quality. They tick all the boxes a pricier pair of earbuds should, which is why they’re our top pick in this crowded space.

You can expect up to 9 hours of battery life from the earbuds — a frankly remarkable feat for such an affordable product. The USB-C case packs a trio of additional charges.

Consider the Soundcore Life A3i if you’re looking for under-$50 earbuds with a stemless design. The tiny buds will treat you to similar performance and features.

WI-C100 Wireless Neckband Earbuds

Sony did many things right with its WI-C100 while keeping the price down. There’s high-fidelity sound with support for immersive 360 Reality Audio (befitting the brand’s reputation for quality headphones). The neckband design is ergonomic and unobtrusive. The battery charges fast and has juice enough for more than a day of listening. Lack of noise cancellation, not the old-school design, is the only thing that prevented these earbuds from being our top pick.

Thanks to Google Fast Pair tech, the WI-C100 earbuds are super easy to link to an Android phone. To top things off, the buds have a water-resistant build and an excellent app for customizing their sound.

Vibe Buds Wireless Earbuds

The Vibe’s lightweight build, ergonomic shape for a comfy-yet-secure fit, and bass-forward sound make the earbuds ideal for hitting the gym — or any other workout venue. In addition, they offer long battery life and an app with easy-to-access controls for customizing their sound. I have experience using the app while testing pricier JBL earbuds and enjoyed being able to quickly adjust the sound before workouts, commutes, or work sessions.

The IP54 rating for water- and dust-resistance of the Vibes is the highest on this list. Impressively, the earbuds’ charging case is water-resistant despite lacking a cover.

Great news if you like the Vibe Buds but prefer a stem design: The JBL Vibe Beam earphones will treat you to similar performance and features.

Smile Jamaica Wired Earbuds

The Smile Jamaica wired earphones by House of Marley feature eco-friendly materials — think responsibly sourced wood and recycled aluminum. The build is available in many colors, so you can choose between low-key and attention-commanding buds.

The use of wood in their construction results in an entertaining, old-school sound with enhanced bass delivery. The natural material is less dense than plastic or metal, resulting in a better low-range transmission. It made my favorite tunes sound more enjoyable.

A one-button remote control and microphone allow you to snap out of the good vibes and make phone calls.

Flex Wireless Earbuds

The Beats Flex wireless neckband offers a mixture of cool, instantly recognizable design, the brand’s signature sound, stellar battery life, a convenient USB-C connector, and superb connectivity with Apple and Android devices.

Thanks to the W1 chip, the Beats Flex can seamlessly connect with Apple hardware (e.g., iPhone, iPad, Mac) that uses the same iCloud account. Like AirTags, the buds are even compatible with Apple’s Find My network.

Piston Fit Wired Earbuds

These cheap earbuds by 1More have a sleek design and a metal finish, which isn’t typical at this price. Their colorful, machined aluminum housings give them a look unlike anything else under $20. The metal bits’ textured finish also makes the buds easy to grip and adjust in your ear.

Thanks to an expertly tuned dual-layer audio driver, the Piston Fits deliver good sound for the money. Other key features of the headset include a one-button remote control and audio connectors whose color matches the earbuds.

RP-HJE120 ErgoFit Earbuds

Sound aficionados might scoff at any earbuds that come in at less than $10, but they’ve probably never tried the Panasonic ErgoFits. These just happen to be a longtime favorite of ours. They offer a playful look, a comfortable fit, and adequate sound quality for their low price tag.

If calls are important to you, though, consider this version with an inline microphone for a few dollars more.

Battle Buds In-Ear Gaming Headset

The Battle Buds will serve well any gamer looking for a cheap pair of headphones. They deliver powerful sound with enhanced bass and treble, tuned to faithfully reproduce onscreen action — from explosions to conversations. Thanks to a detachable microphone, the Battle Buds also ensure that your in-game voice chats (or Zoom calls) are loud and clear.

Best of all, these earbuds are super comfortable. They come with several sets of ear tips and ear stabilizers for finding the perfect fit and staying in place with or without the microphone.

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