Are you searching for affordable headphones that deliver great quality for your daily needs? In this pC guide Let’s Find Out: What are the top picks for budget headphones that suit commuting, workouts, or casual listening?

what is the Best Cheap Headphones
Finding quality headphones may quickly become costly. It’s simple to assume that high-end features like balanced sound, active noise cancellation (ANC), and all-day comfort must be expensive given the way manufacturers promote their flagship models. Although you might be used to seeing simple, basic products at this price range, producers have been improving the standards of their low-cost goods over time. Finding high-quality headphones without breaking the bank is not exceptional.
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Great sound doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. Whether you’re listening to music, taking calls, or watching videos, finding affordable headphones that deliver quality audio, comfort, and reliability can be a game-changer. With so many options on the market, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best cheap headphones for everyday use in 2025.
Best Cheap Headphones

Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless
Best Budget Headphones

Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless
Best Cheap Headphones

Audio-Technica ATH-M20x
Best Budget Wired Headphones

Philips SHP9500
Best Budget Audiophile Headphones

Sony WH-CH520 Wireless
Best Budget On-Ear Headphones

JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless
Best Budget Earbuds
In this guide, you’ll find headphones that strike the perfect balance between performance and price, offering features like clear sound, durability, and even wireless connectivity. Whether you need headphones for your daily commute, work-from-home setup, or casual listening, these picks are sure to fit your lifestyle and budget. Let’s dive in!
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Tested The Best Cheap Headphones Under $50 In 2025
Best Budget Headphones

Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless
The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless are the greatest low-cost headphones we’ve ever tested. They are the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless’s predecessor. They lack several of the characteristics of their substitutes such as support for high-resolution audio codecs, as one might anticipate from cheap headphones.
Brand | Anker |
Type | Over-ear |
Enclosure | Closed-Back |
Wireless | Yes |
Transducer | Dynamic |
Noise Cancelling | Yes |
Mic | Yes |
Reasons to buy
- Excellent full range noise isolation
- Comfortable fit
- Graphic EQ
- Supports multi-device pairing
Reasons to Avoid
- Poor passive soundstage
- Fall off with high-intensity movement
However, you don’t need to make many compromises. A broad variety of noises, including as background chatter and rumbling engines, are effectively blocked out by their excellent ANC function. Additionally, they offer multi-device pairing to keep you linked to both your computer and phone at the same time, and they last for around 44 hours on a single charge.
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Their sound has a lot of extra bass right out of the box. Hip-hop and EDM have more thump and rumble, but the voices and instruments are still crisp and clear. If you would like a different sound, you may adjust it with the presets and in-app EQ. Although these headphones are comfy and lightweight, the thin earcup padding might get tiring after extended use. Although its plastic frame isn’t very high-end, they seem rather solid.
The Anker Q30 is a fantastic travel and commute device. They can lessen the rumbling of nearby bus or airplane engines and offer an excellent noise cancellation technology. Long travel days will benefit from their comfort, respectable build quality, and more than 44 hours of continuous battery life. They are quite heavy, though, which makes it more difficult to carry them around.
Best Cheap Headphones

Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless
If you want something less pricey, think about getting another pair of Anker headphones. The company offers affordable headphones with excellent sound quality, which allows it to dominate the budget and mid-range over-ear market. Few low-cost over-ear headphones perform better than the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless, particularly when it comes to their potent ANC technology.
Brand | Anker |
Type | Over-ear |
Enclosure | Closed-Back |
Wireless | Yes |
Transducer | Dynamic |
Noise Cancelling | Yes |
Mic | Yes |
Pros
- Excellent noise isolation
- Comfortable fit
- Stable for light exercise
Cons
- Poor isolation
- Not portable
- Lack multi-device pairing
They perform well at separating your ears from nearby conversations and at decreasing bassy background noise during commutes, while they don’t block out as much noise as the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless. Even though certain aspects, like their plastic hinges, are cheap, they fit comfortably and feel rather well-built. They feature an energetic sound profile that goes well with pop, rock, and hip-hop, with a lot of bass and treble.
They don’t have a related app, and you can’t adjust their sound using presets or an EQ as we did with our last Anker selection. Thankfully, their built-in Bass Effect tool gives you some control over the sound, adding extra boom and impact to the mix. Additionally, its approximately 33-hour continuous battery life will let them to survive for many long workdays or listening sessions. You lose out on a few extras, such as multi-device pairing and an auto-off timer to help save battery life. They still provide excellent overall quality and several high-end features at a fair price, though.
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The Anker SoundCore Life 2 Wireless has been improved upon with the Anker SoundCore Life Q20. A more comfortable fit and an enhanced ANC feature are two of the modest improvements made to these inexpensive headphones. You won’t find many sound tuning choices or a companion app, but it’s not surprising considering their price point that they don’t have as many capabilities as more expensive versions on the market.
Good headphones for traveling or commuting are the Anker Life Q20. They are really comfy, and when thrown in a bag, they include a simple pouch to provide some mild protection. On a plane, its ANC helps you ignore your chatty seatmate, but it can’t help you ignore the engine’s rumbling. Positively, you can use them passively if the power runs out, and their lengthy battery life can survive even the longest travel days.
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Best Budget Wired Headphones

Audio-Technica ATH-M20x
For those who like the highest sound quality, minimal latency, and no chance of connection problems, wired headphones may be a benefit. Take the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x into consideration if this is your preference. Depending on your circumstances, they may still be a good choice, even if they are less portable and restrict your range of motion.
Brand | Anker |
Type | Over-ear |
Enclosure | Closed-Back |
Wireless | No |
Transducer | Dynamic |
Noise Cancelling | No |
Mic | No |
Pros
- Balanced sound
- Comfortable
- Excellent frequency response
Cons
- Poor isolation
- No controls
- Bulky
Their closed-back design allows them to reproduce bass frequencies efficiently, and their excellent mid-range accuracy guarantees that lead instruments and vocals are heard clearly and in detail. Although they aren’t as well-made as the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, the company’s most well-known closed-back headphones, they are still sufficiently comfortable and strong for everyday usage.
Although its wired-only design eliminates the issue with battery life, the connection is exposed at the headband’s adjustment points and cannot be removed. This offers them a lot of points for possible damage that would need to be fixed by replacing the entire unit. They are also ineffective in passively isolating you from background conversations at work because they lack a microphone, which prevents you from using them for calls.
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The Audio-Technica ATH-M20x are good over-ear headphones that fall below the Audio-Technica ATH-M30x at the bottom of the ATH-M series. These are reasonably priced closed-backs that work well in quiet settings or for audio monitoring and tracking. It’s recommended to save them for indoor usage because, sadly, they don’t block much noise, which could negatively impact your listening experience in noisy settings or when commuting.
For neutral sound, the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x performs well. Their sound is well-balanced, delivering a nice bass and warmth. In mixes, vocals and instruments also have body and presence. However, the under-emphasis on treble accuracy’s results in a loss of vocal harmonic detail. Still, these give an excellent impression of what you’re listening to if you wish to track a recording.
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Best Budget Audiophile Headphones

Philips SHP9500
For users who are interested in audiophile headphones, the Philips SHP9500 are an excellent starting point. These over-ear headphones provide a comparatively flat sound profile that clearly and precisely captures vocals and instruments. They offer an excellent passive soundstage that seems spacious and wide due to their open design. Also, it indicates that they leak a lot of sound, making them unsuitable for recording sessions or casual office use. Even at modest volumes, your audio is audible to others in close proximity. To connect these headphones to an amp or audio interface, a detachable 1/8″ TRS cable and a 1/8″ to 1/4″ adapter are included.
Brand | Philips |
Type | Over-ear |
Enclosure | Open-Back |
Wireless | No |
Transducer | Dynamic |
Noise Cancelling | No |
Mic | No |
Pros
- Comfortable design
- Excellent soundstage performance
Cons
- Bulky
- Poor Background Noise Cancellation
The absence of low bass is the primary drawback of these cans. That characteristic is shared by many open-back headphones, whose design makes it more difficult to accurately capture the lowest frequencies. Take the Superlux HD 681 into consideration if you value a thumpy low-end. Compared to the Philips, these semi-open headphones provide a lot more bass. They have a flat mid-range, but their boosted treble makes sibilants and cymbals seem piercing. This is the sonic tradeoff at the other end of the spectrum. However, they are typically somewhat less expensive than our choice. Regretfully, they lack a detachable cable, which might be problematic if you ever need to replace it, are less comfy than the Philips, and are of worse build quality.
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These are low-cost audiophile headphones, the Philips SHP9500. These are worth taking into consideration if you want to test open-back headphones but are on a tight budget. Their flat sound guarantees that vocals and instruments are reproduced accurately, and they may be designed to create a large soundstage that will help you get fully immersed in your audio. If you don’t already have an amplifier, you may use them alone because they have a low impedance of 32 ohms and a sensitivity of 101 dB.
For neutral sound, the Philips SHP9500 is excellent. The sound profile of these cans is extremely neutral, allowing for clear and accurate reproduction of instruments and vocals. They feature a little more warmth and boom to help balance their sound, even if their open-back design means they don’t have a lot of low-bass. Their spacious passive soundstage produces a rich audio experience. Because of their low impedance, you can get the most out of them without using an amplifier.
Best Budget On-Ear Headphones

Sony WH-CH520 Wireless
The best low-cost on-ear headphones we’ve tested are the Sony WH-CH520 Wireless. A middle ground between the two common kinds of headphones is provided by on-ear headphones. They provide a more immersive soundscape and a different fit than in-ear headphones, but they also eliminate the weight of over-ear headphones like the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless. Since they are unable to form a seal around your ears or within your ear canal, this design finds it difficult to block out a lot of background noise, such as rumbly bus engines or background noise.
Brand | Sony |
Type | On-ear |
Enclosure | Closed-Back |
Wireless | Yes |
Transducer | Dynamic |
Noise Cancelling | No |
Mic | Yes |
Pros
- Long battery life
- Excellent Built
- Comfortable
- Graphic EQ
Cons
- Bad Noise Isolation
Although their build quality is a little poor, they are thankfully lightweight and rather comfortable for prolonged listening sessions. Their plastic headband is likely to break if it slips off your head, and their faux leather earpads are prone to breaking. They feature a warm sound profile right out of the box, which fills the audio without drowning out the rest of the mix. likewise their companion app has presets and a graphic EQ so you can adjust the mix as you like. They feature virtual surround sound as well, but you’ll probably need to have a streaming service subscription that works with it.
Their stability is fine as long as you don’t want to sprint while wearing them. They will last a full work week before needing to be recharged because to their impressive 53-hour continuous battery life. The JBL Live 460NC Wireless are an excellent choice to reduce background noise if you don’t mind giving up a lengthy battery life for active noise cancellation. Although they may be folded, their battery lasts just 29 hours, unlike the Sony headphones.
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The Sony WH-CH520 Wireless is the successor for the Sony WH-CH510 Wireless, which was used for casual purposes. A more modern style with monochromatic colors and greater padding along the headband are among the updates. With features like multi-device pairing and a longer battery life, this model is more than simply a cosmetic change. Additionally, they are compatible with the Sony Headphones Connect companion app, which enables sound customization through virtual surround sound and graphic EQ.
For neutral sound, the Sony WH-CH520 is a respectable device. Rock and EDM sound punchy, full-bodied, and a little warm because of the bass and mid-range’s excellent balance. By default, cymbals and vocals harmonic details seem dark and dull due to their treble range. Thankfully, the accompanying app’s graphic EQ and presets allow you to alter the sound profile. However, at moderate and high levels, your audio sounds less clear due to distortion in the low bass and low to mid-treble.
Best Budget Earbuds

JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless
The JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless are the best low-cost earbuds we’ve tested if you’re searching for smaller, more portable headphones. Because they are easier to fit in your pocket or backpack, they may be more practical for daily usage even if they won’t produce the same immersive soundstage as over-ear and on-ear headphones.
Brand | JBL |
Type | In-ear |
Enclosure | Closed-Back |
Wireless | Yes |
Transducer | Dynamic |
Noise Cancelling | No |
Mic | Yes |
Pros
- IP54 water resistance
- Comfortable wearing
- Excellent built quality
- Graphic EQ
- Excellent recording quality
Cons
- Bad soundstage
- No multi-device pairing
The JBL are a fantastic option for workouts because they are lightweight, quite comfortable, and have an IP54 rating for water and dust resistance. They perform a fair job of passively separating you from noises like computer fans and conversations, but they lack ANC and won’t block out much bass-range noise like rumbling engines
Due to the V-shaped default sound profile of these buds, vocalists and instruments are bright and detailed, while mixes have more rumble and punch. Their companion app has presets and a graphic EQ to allow you adjust the mix for a distinct sound. Although they are less adjustable and don’t offer dust protection like the JBL, the Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless feature a nice, balanced sound that isn’t overly bassy or trebly if you’re looking for something even less expensive and don’t want to modify your buds too much. Although they don’t last as long as larger, more powerful over-ear over-ears—nearly nine hours on a single charge—they will however carry you through a typical workday.
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The JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless are reasonably priced headphones. Their associated software allows them to have a customized performance, just like the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless. However, they lack additional capabilities like multi-device pairing and noise cancellation.
For neutral sound, the JBL Vibe Buds are respectable. These buds have a little agitated sound right out of the box, which gives mixes more thump, rumble, and boom. In contrast, the instruments and vocals seem clean and bright. However, if you want a different sound, you may adjust their tone to your desire using the 10-band graphic EQ and presets in their companion app. The music doesn’t sound very immersive due to the buds’ poor passive soundstage.
Top 7 Bluetooth Best Cheap Headphones Under $100
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Conclusion | Best Cheap Headphones
- The Best Budget Headphones: Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless
- The Best Cheap Headphones: Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless
- The Best Budget Wired Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-M20x
- The Best Budget Audiophile Headphones: Philips SHP9500
- The Best Budget On-Ear Headphones: Sony WH-CH520 Wireless
- The Best Budget Earbuds: JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless
Best Cheap Headphones | FAQs
Are cheap headphones any good?
Yes, affordable headphones offer good sound quality, comfort, and reliability, with great options from brands like JBL and Anker
What is a good price to pay for headphones?
$20–$50 provides good value for casual use, while $50–$100 offers better features and performance
How long do cheap earphones last?
Cheap earphones usually last 1-2 years with regular use, though careful handling can extend their lifespan