26-02-2025
Best Budget Earbuds for 2025: Cheap Wireless Picks
There are plenty of premium headphones options from the likes of Bose, Sony, Samsung and Apple. But they're pricey. If price is a concern or you need a pair you won't mind wearing out -- like for workouts -- you might be in luck.
You no longer have to spend a fortune to enjoy crisp audio. Affordable earbuds have significantly improved in recent years, with better sound, more features and performance that often exceeds expectations. I've personally tested all the budget earbuds on this list, which only includes earbuds that cost less than $100. I'll keep updating this list as new, quality affordable wireless earbuds hit the market in 2025.
While there are a few cheap earbuds that stand out from the pack, we currently have the Soundcore by Anker P40i at the top of this list. Beats' new no-frills Solo Buds is a recent addition.
Over the last 10 years, I've personally tested hundreds of budget wireless earbuds. In recent years, the quality of earbuds has drastically improved, offering better sound, more features and surprisingly good performance. Here are our top picks for the best budget earbuds that 2025 has to offer.
Before anything else, you'll want to figure out just how "budget" your budget wireless earbuds should be. Value priced earbuds continue to improve, so you can find good "cheap" buds for not too much money, like many on this list. But if you're looking for more premium budget earbuds from Sony, Apple and Bose, be prepared to upwards of $60.
It's key that the earbuds you buy fit your ears well. They should offer a comfortable, secure fit. If you don't get a tight seal with noise-isolating earbuds, sound quality and noise canceling can be dramatically impacted for the worse. Open earbuds don't have that issue, but they should be comfortable to wear and sit securely in your ears.
You want earbuds that hold up well over time, so look for models that we note have sturdy build quality. This is especially important with budget earbuds, which are more susceptible to damage because of their design.
You want the best-sounding earbuds with the best sound modes, call quality and features for whatever you're able to spend.
It's critical to buy your budget earbuds at a retailer that has a good return policy, in case you have buyer's remorse. Some people who are having trouble deciding between two models sometimes buy both, try them out for a few days and then return one.
We test budget true-wireless earbuds based on five key criteria, comparing similarly styled and priced models. These criteria are design, sound quality, features, voice-calling performance and value.
We assess not only how comfortable the earbuds fit (ergonomics) but their build quality and how well the controls are implemented. We also look at water- and dust-resistance ratings, which are especially important for budget earbuds and headphones you may take to the gym.
Even budget earbuds can still deliver great sounding audio. We evaluate sound quality by listening to a set playlist of music tracks and comparing the earbuds to top competing products in their price range. Sonic traits such as bass definition, clarity, dynamic range and how natural the headphones sound are key factors in our assessment. Some of my test tracks include Spoon's Knock Knock Knock, Athletes of God's Don't Wanna Be Normal, The Doors Touch Me - Take 3, Orbital's Dirty Rat, Taylor Swift's Vigilante Shit, Jvke's Golden Hour and Drake's Passionfruit.
Many budget earbuds aren't loaded with features, but we do take into account what extra features are on board. These include everything from noise-canceling and transparency modes (ambient sound mode) to special sound modes to ear-detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off your ears.
When we test voice-calling performance, we make calls in the noisy streets of New York and evaluate how well the earbuds reduce background noise and how clearly callers can hear your voice. This is especially important for those who want a cheaper earbud to throw in their work bag. The best wireless earbuds for voice calling pick up your voice clearly while significantly reducing background noise. Onboard microphones, sophisticated noise-reduction algorithms and voice accelerometers that detect when you're speaking all factor into call quality. Plus, a sidetone feature allows you to hear your own voice when chatting with noise-isolating buds, helping you avoid talking too loudly. If you're looking for a broader selection of headphones that fit this bill, check out our roundup of the best earbuds for making phone calls.
We determine value after evaluating the strength of the earbuds against all these criteria and what the buds are able to deliver compared to other models in their price class. Because many of these models fall into a similar price range, we break the price classes further to ensure they're matched appropriately. Great sounding, feature-packed headphones that offer a great bang for your buck earn top marks in this category.
JBL Live Pro 2: Over the years, JBL has put out some decent true-wireless earbuds, but nothing that really got me too excited. That's finally changed with the arrival of the Samsung-owned brand's new and buds. Both sets of buds -- the Live Pro 2 have stems while the Live Free 2 have a pill-shaped design -- offer a comfortable fit along with strong noise canceling, very good sound quality and voice-calling performance, plus a robust set of features, including multipoint Bluetooth pairing, an IPX5 splash-proof rating and wireless charging.
JBL Live Free 2: Like the , JBL's new Live Free 2 buds are surprisingly good. With 11mm drivers, six microphones, oval tubes and oval silicon tips, they combine a comfortable fit along with strong noise canceling, very good sound quality and voice-calling performance. Features include multipoint Bluetooth pairing and wireless charging, and they're rated for up to seven hours with IPX5 water-resistance (splash-proof).
Beats Studio Buds: The Beats Studio Buds look a lot like the rumored stemless AirPods some people have been waiting for. Geared toward both iOS and Android users, they are missing a few key features on the Apple side of things (there's no H1 or W1 chip), but they're small, lightweight buds that are comfortable to wear and offer really good sound. While their noise canceling isn't as good as the AirPods Pro's, they do have a transparency mode and they're decent for making calls. Read our Beats Studio Buds review.
Sennheiser CX: If you can't afford Sennheiser's flagship Momentum True Wireless 4 earbuds, the CX are a good alternative. They feature very good sound, plus decent noise canceling and voice-calling performance. The only issue is they stick out of your ears a bit and may not fit some smaller ears. This model, which often sells for less than $100 on Amazon, doesn't feature active noise canceling but the step-up CX Plus does (the CX Plus is also a good value, particularly when it goes on sale). Learn more about the budget earbuds in my full Sennheiser CX true wireless earbuds review.
Apple improved the sound quality of the third-gen AirPods so it raised the bar. That said, many true wireless earbuds that cost less than $100 or even less than $50 offer surprisingly good sound for the money and measure up pretty well against the AirPods and AirPods Pro, although not the AirPods Pro 2, which offer significantly improved sound.
Often, the biggest difference is build quality. Premium buds tend to feel sturdier and tend to be built with more premium materials. They also have a more premium look and feel to both the buds themselves and their charging case. In theory, premium buds should hold up better over time. Additionally, they tend to have more features such as ear-detection sensors and they pair with a companion app so you can upgrade the firmware (as well as tweak the sound and possibly customize the controls). Finally, while some cheaper buds have active noise cancellation, the performance of the noise-canceling and transparency modes tends to be better with more premium buds.
Some do. Many cheaper buds now feature multiple microphones and some do a surprisingly good job when it comes to voice calling. A few models on this list have surprisingly good noise reduction and measure up well against the AirPods, which are known for their strong voice-calling performance.
There are several ways to improve the sound of even the cheapest earbuds. Here are just a few:
Ensure the proper fit. The buds should be positioned to send sound waves directly into the ear canal with minimal sound leakage, even with open models. If you feel like your earbuds don't fit properly, you may want to consider adding ear foam or silicone ear tips or looking for a new model altogether.
Use the EQ settings on your device. Because each person hears audio differently or has different sensitivities to tones like bass and treble, small adjustments to EQ can ensure your budget earbuds sound best for your individual listening needs. Most devices allow for EQ editing in their settings, while streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music allow for in-app adjustments.
Clean and inspect your earbuds regularly. Ear wax and oils naturally build up on your earbuds as you wear them. That build-up can change the quality of the sound overtime. Regularly cleaning your earbuds with tools like a soft lint-free cloth, tooth picks, cotton swabs and soft-bristled brushes can remove build-up and keep your earbuds clear. As you clean, inspect your earbuds for any visible damage to the cable or earpieces that could affect audio quality. We also have a full article on how to clean your AirPods that also applies to other earbuds, but consider this the condensed version.
Consider using outside equipment. If possible, you can try using a detailed music player with higher-quality audio output than your current source. Adding new ear tips that better direct sound or using a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) are other options to improve your listening experience.
