Overview
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![Tribit FlyBuds 3]()
Tribit FlyBuds 3
Best for Exercise - Jump To Details
![Amazon Echo Buds (2023)]()
Amazon Echo Buds (2023)
Best for Alexa - Jump To Details
![JLab JBuds Mini]()
JLab JBuds Mini
Best for Small Ears - Jump To Details
![JVC HA-A9T]()
JVC HA-A9T
Best for Bass Lovers - Jump To Details
![Phiaton BonoBuds Lite]()
Phiaton BonoBuds Lite
Best for Battery Life - Jump To Details
![Onanoff BuddyPhones School+]()
Onanoff BuddyPhones School+
Best for Kids - Jump To Details
![Skullcandy Dime]()
Skullcandy Dime
Most Affordable
Less than a decade ago, a headline like the one above would've been hard to imagine. But times have changed and now you can find affordable headphones and even true wireless earphones that deliver good sound and palpable bass without distortion. Below are our top budget-friendly picks, along with some additional buying advice for the category.
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
![Tribit FlyBuds 3]()
Tribit FlyBuds 3
Best for ExerciseWhy We Picked It
The affordable Tribit FlyBuds 3 sport a fully waterproof IPX7 rating, which means you can expose them to heavy rain and dunk them for cleaning without worry. They also produce bass-forward audio that can help motivate your workouts.
Who It’s For
The waterproof design of these earphones makes them a great pick for runners and gymgoers. Furthermore, a secure in-ear fit ensures they won't fall out even during the toughest workouts.
Pros
- Bass-forward, powerful audio performance
- Excellent battery life for true wireless earphones—can charge external devices, too
- Affordable
- IPX7-rated waterproof
- Excellent fit stability, with multiple eartip options
Cons
- Ho-hum design
- Wildly sculpted sound signature
- No app, so no EQ to tame the audio
Learn MoreTribit FlyBuds 3 Review![Amazon Echo Buds (2023)]()
Amazon Echo Buds (2023)
Best for AlexaWhy We Picked It
Ordinarily, we're not fans of open-style earbuds, but the Echo Buds can provide decent bass depth and imaging if you get a secure fit. But the main reason to get them is for their hands-free Alexa support. Rounding out the experience is a granular app with a customizable EQ, a quality range of codec options (AAC, AptX, and SBC), and decent battery life.
Who It's For
If you use Alexa to control your smart home, these earbuds should fit right into your lifestyle. They aren't ideal for music listening due to their non-sealing design, but the drivers are at least capable of delivering quality audio,
Pros
- Decent bass depth and bright highs
- Hands-free Alexa
- Affordable
- Companion app includes adjustable EQ, on-ear controls
Cons
- Box doesn't include a charging cable
- Poor water-resistance rating
- Ear-to-ear stereo image can be inconsistent
Get It NowLearn MoreAmazon Echo Buds (2023) Review![JLab JBuds Mini]()
JLab JBuds Mini
Best for Small EarsWhy We Picked It
The tiny JLab JBuds Mini don't sacrifice many features to meet their low price. They put out enjoyable audio, pair with a full-featured app with an adjustable EQ, and sport a rugged IP55 rating. An excellent mic array and a quality transparency mode more than make up for the SBC-only audio.
Who It’s For
If you don't want to stick something bulky in your ears, the compact JLab JBuds Mini should appeal. They're also great for calls and commuting thanks to their high-quality mic system.
Pros
- Affordable
- Sculpted sound with rich bass and bright highs
- App lets you adjust EQ, on-ear controls
- Water- and dust-resistant design
- Clear mics and quality transparency mode
Cons
- Tiny charging case is difficult to open
- Support for only the SBC codec
Learn MoreJLab JBuds Mini Review![JVC HA-A9T]()
JVC HA-A9T
Best for Bass LoversWhy We Picked It
JVC's HA-A9T earphones don't work with a companion app, but they put out an impressive amount of bass depth with crisp, sculpted highs. A battery life of around 7.5 hours and an IPX5 water-resistance rating are additional highlights.
Who It’s For
These JVC earphones deliver low-end frequencies commendably and should make the short list of any bass lover on a budget. They easily compete with more expensive models on sound quality.
Pros
- Powerful bass response with bright highs
- Affordable
- Water-resistant design
Cons
- No companion app
- Could use a bit more high-mid presence
- Plastic build looks a little cheap
Get It NowLearn MoreJVC HA-A9T Review![Phiaton BonoBuds Lite]()
Phiaton BonoBuds Lite
Best for Battery LifeWhy We Picked It
The Phiaton BonoBuds Lite are anything but light on features—they produce impressive bass depth, pair with an app that features a user-adjustable EQ, feature a water-resistant build, and last decently long per charge. All of those reasons make it easy to look past their nondescript design.
Who It’s For
If you want respectable deep bass power and the flexibility of a six-band EQ, you should check out the BonoBuds Lite. They are yet another option on this list that punch above their price.
Pros
- Powerful, bass-forward audio with bright highs
- Water-resistant build
- Clean app design with adjustable EQ
- Solid battery life
- Affordable
Cons
- App can be slow
- Ho-hum design
Get It NowLearn MorePhiaton BonoBuds Lite Review![Onanoff BuddyPhones School+]()
Onanoff BuddyPhones School+
Best for KidsWhy We Picked It
Cheap kids' headphones have obvious appeal—kids tend to break things a lot so an expensive pair can be a potentially foolish investment. But that doesn't mean you have to make a ton of sacrifices. The Onanoff BuddyPhones School+ headphones, for instance, offer excellent mic clarity and enjoyable, 85dB-limited audio for a reasonable $30.
Who It’s For
In a literal sense, these headphones are for kids. But they should specifically appeal to parents who want to ensure their child listens at safe volume levels. The only catch is that they are wired; look elsewhere if you need something with Bluetooth.
Pros
- Affordable
- Volume limited to 85dB, can’t be disabled
- Excellent mic clarity
Cons
- No Bluetooth
- Audio sounds thin
Learn MoreOnanoff BuddyPhones School+ Review![Skullcandy Dime]()
Skullcandy Dime
Most AffordableWhy We Picked It
We're ever so slightly disappointed that the Skullcandy Dime earphones don’t actually cost 10 cents, but they are still an excellent value with surprisingly good bass depth and mic clarity. An IPX4 water-resistance rating isn't anything to disregard either.
Who It’s For
If you are on a very strict budget, these Skullcandy true wireless earbuds are the least expensive ones we recommend without hesitation. Yes, they feel plasticky and cheap, but that's because they are. What's important is that they sound better than their price would lead you to expect.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Surprisingly powerful audio performance
- Solid mic clarity
- Water-resistant design
Cons
- Poor battery life
- Cheap plastic build
- Cumbersome on-ear controls
Learn MoreSkullcandy Dime Review
Buying Guide: The Best Cheap Earbuds and Headphones (Under $50)
What's the Difference Between Earbuds and Earphones?
Let's clarify an important distinction: The terms earbuds and earphones might seem interchangeable, but, for our purposes, earbuds are flat and sit just outside the ear canal, while earphones have silicone or foam tips that provide a full seal. The loose fit of the former type often leads to inconsistent stereo imaging and poor bass response, so we generally recommend you go for the latter.
Are Budget Headphones Worth Your Money?
Budget headphones have really improved in recent years. They have more stylish designs, use more comfortable materials, and fit more securely than ever. Some super-lightweight pairs even somehow manage to output a decent amount of power. In the other direction, plenty of inexpensive kids' headphones actively limit volume levels to protect their hearing.
If you are looking in this price range because you want something cheap for the gym, we have a separate roundup of the best earbuds for running and other types of exercise. Some of the entries here have a sufficient IP rating for that use case, however.
Don't expect any of these headphones to offer studio-quality sound. That doesn't mean you shouldn't buy a cheap pair of headphones, but keep your expectations in check.
Can Cheap Headphones Cancel Noise?
Effective active noise cancellation (ANC) is expensive, so you aren't likely to find top-notch noise-cancelling headphones or earphones in this price range. At a minimum, you need to expand your budget to around $100 to get something decent.
