11 Best Cheap Headphones (Over-ear, wireless & wired) 2024

We tested 193 headphones on 9 key points.

Here are the best cheap headphones from $50 to $20 with surprising sound quality and features.

Headphones on our list are evaluated based on 9 key factors (Sonic9Score).  The main criteria we looked at to pick the best budget headphones are sound quality, build quality, and user experience. Explore our testing and ranking methodology.

Are you looking for simple cheap headphones that are good-enough for a non-demanding user?

Then this list is for you.

Budget headphones don’t have to be low quality. While they can’t compare to high-end headphones, the models on the list offer good audio quality and an enjoyable user experience.

If $50 is too much for you, check headphones for less: top headphones under $30 and headphones under $20.

Fine tune your search:

• The best cheap earbuds (in-ear headphones)
• Best budget noise cancelling headphones (ANC)
• Best headphones under $100 (all types)

Best Cheap Wireless Headphones

1. TOZO HT2

If you need cheap over-ear headphones with deep bass and good noise cancellation, TOZO HT2 are our top pick – TOZO HT2 review.

Check TOZO HT2 A/B sound test:

If you like a bassier sound signature, these should suit your taste. On the other hand, playing with an audio equalizer makes HT2’s sound more natural, especially in the midrange. Overall detail retrieval is good for the price.

HT2 offer good active noise cancellation performance across all audible frequencies, making them a great companion on airplanes and public transport. Even ambient sound mode works great, capturing surrounding noise quite naturally albeit not as loud as if you’d take the headphones off your head.

Portability-wise, the ear cups have foldable hinges to make more space in your bag. However, there’s no carry bag or case to protect the HT2 from drops or scratches.

In our test, the battery life (with ANC) measured 29.5 hours, which should be enough for an entire week of carefree usage. Fortunately, headphones offer fast charging to quickly top them off when needed.

For more ANC, check the best budget noise cancelling headphones.

Best Wired Cheap Headphones

2. Audio-Technica ATH-M20x

Audio-Technica ATH-M20x are the best cheap wired headphones under $50 from a well-known brand. Perfect for home studio.

The ATH-M20x have a well-balanced sound signature. The overall detailed audio quality is much better than you’d expect for 50 dollars.

You also get a controlled bass response while keeping the details. They’re good enough for every music genre, and a worthy top pick on this list.

The wired over-ear headphones are well built, considering the price range. They can survive most of the unfortunate drops.

Another great thing about them is their simple yet sleek design that never comes out of style (they look similar to other higher-end models from Audio-Technica).

Large and well-padded over-ear ear cups provide comfort for many hours so you can enjoy your favorite music without itching.

More at $50:

• Best headphones under $50 (all types)

Best Cheap True Wireless Headphones

3. TOZO NC7

TOZO NC7 are the best cheap true wireless headphones we’ve tested. For less than $50 you get highly effective active noise cancellation – TOZO NC7 review.

Starting with audio quality, TOZO NC7 have a bad default sound (very V-shaped) that gets immensely better after applying custom EQ. It gets more natural and detailed, among the best performances in cheap Bluetooth headphones.

Check TOZO NC7 A/B sound test:

ANC and ambient sound mode are also excellent for the price. If you’re on a tight budget and frequently commute, you should definitely check these out.

On top of that, their 9-hour battery life (with ANC) and another 36 hours in the charging case should last you throughout a very lengthy trip.

Thanks to 6 pairs of ear tips, you can easily find the most optimal fit for your ears. Just note that while they’re very comfortable, they aren’t the most stable for sports.

Best Budget Audiophile Headphones

4. Samson SR850

SR850 are the best cheap audiophile headphones we’ve tested. These have open-back design and fantastic audio quality for the price suitable for studio work – Samson SR850 review.

For the price tag, the audio quality of these cheap headphones is mind-blowing. The overall solid bass doesn’t dig very low (as in most semi or fully open-back headphones), but the midrange is engagingly natural.

Detail retrieval and imaging are great, with good instrumental separation and airiness in the treble.

To save on material, the over-ear headphones are entirely plastic. With good care, you can have them for many years as we did. Also, the cable is thick so that it won’t break anytime soon.

You can choose between pleather or velour earpads. The latter ones are more breathable and gentler to the skin, giving you better comfort over long stretches of listening.

Due to sound leakage, they’re only usable for home listening. There’s a 6.3mm adapter in the box if you have a dedicated headphone amp or you want to plug them into a speaker amplifier.

Best True Wireless Headphones for $30

5. SoundPEATS Clear

SoundPEATS Clear are the best cheap $30 wireless earbuds we’ve tested. They are similar to Apple Airpods Pro but much cheaper and have surprising audio quality – SoundPEATS Clear review.

While costing only $30, the Clear have a decent sound with a nice balance and boost in the sub-bass, which adds a pleasant rumble and warmth. You can change that by using in-app’s EQ.

The latter is also the most surprising addition to these earbuds. They support a companion app with a custom EQ, sound presets, and a Game mode.

Check SoundPEATS Clear A/B sound test:

Furthermore, earbuds sport a partly transparent design, giving them a unique look. They’re also rated for IPX4, which means complete sweat resistance but not waterproofness.

Still, thanks to a pretty stable fit, you can easily wear them for physical activities like fitness or other forms of light workouts. Battery life will also not disappoint you with 6 hours of playtime per charge.

Related: Best wireless earbuds under $50

Best Cheap $20 In-Ear Headphones

6. Moondrop Chu

Moondrop Chu are the best $20 in-ear headphones we’ve tested. With amazing high-quality audio for a twenty-dollar bill.

The Moondrop Chu offer a well-balanced bass and midrange, with natural and tight sound that performs well for fast-paced music with decent soundstage and excellent imaging.

To squeeze a bit more out of them, pairing them with an amp makes the bass tighter and more controlled. These earbuds stand out for their audio quality at a low price. We go in more details in the review.

Check Moondrop Chu sound test:

Their zinc alloy housing offers a comfortable and secure fit, despite their noticeable heft compared to plastic models. Their over-the-ear wearing style with detachable ear hooks ensures weight distribution across the earlobe for optimal comfort. This design makes them suitable for everyday use and light physical activities.

Moondrop Chu are the by far the best $20 in-ear headphones we’ve tested. We highly recommend them, you won’t be disappointed.

Related:

• Best earbuds under $20

Runner-Ups: Other Headphones to Consider

7. Best Cheap Headphones for $25: Monoprice 116150

8. Best Cheap Headphones for $20: Koss UR-20

9. Jlab Audio Go Air

10. Jlab Audio Jbuds Air

11. Linsoul Tin Audio T2

More budget guides:

• Best cabled earbuds under $100
• Best earbuds under $30

How We Tested and Picked?

After talking with many people, we established the price of cheap headphones is around $50. After all, $50 is less than a full tank of gas (for most cars) or the cost of a nice restaurant date for two.

The $50-100 price range falls in the affordable range but 100 bucks isn’t cheap for all people.

Then we started searching through all the 193 headphones we tested for the best performing ones. We focused on 3 categories:

• Sound quality: The sound has to be pleasant to listen to no matter the price.
• Build quality: Many cheap headphones are poorly built. We made sure to only recommend well-built ones.
• User experience: Comfort, ease of use, battery life (for wireless models), features, design, etc.

What to Expect from the Top Cheap Headphones?

• A low price around $50 and less.
• Nearly Hi-Fi audio quality that punches well above their price tag.
• Cheaper materials, mostly plastic. With some bright exceptions that use quality materials (metal).
• Lower-quality earpads with thinner padding and limite lifespan (thankfully you can replace them on many models)
• Limited features: If wireless expect the barebones. A microphone for hands-free calls, basic controls, rarely decent ANC (active noise cancellation). If wired it’s a nice bonus if you get an in-line microphone and control module.

So, are cheap headphones worth it?

• If you’re a non-demanding user who needs a pair for occasional listening, cheap headphones make the most sense.
• In case you need a 2nd pair for home listening or home-studio work, then a budget pair is perfect for the job.
• If you’re buying basic headphones for a kid that doesn’t have high demands, why splurge if you don’t have to?

As long as you know that the low price brings some shortcomings, they’re worth it.

What are good cheap headphones brands?

We researched the best cheap headphones brands. The top ones are: Soundcore, EarFun, Sony, Jlab, and we’d also mention Monoprice and TOZO as honorable mentions.

Shortcomings of Cheap Bluetooth Headphones

Specifically for wireless Bluetooth headphones:

• The battery won’t last forever. Since you’re paying less money, you’re not getting the latest battery technology. Expect a battery to last for about 2 to 3 years.
• Cheap headphones don’t have the latest features like inductive charging (Qi wireless charging).
• Good audio quality but not the best wireless models offer today. It’s not comparable to Hi-Fi audiophile headphones.
• No support for premium Bluetooth codecs like aptX and LDAC.
• Less effective features: ANC does’t remove as much ambient noise, microphones aren’t as clear, apps have less options, etc.

How to Get the Best Audio Quality from Cheap Headphones?

1. The easiest way to get the best audio quality from budget headphones is to use audio equalization (EQ). There are different ways to EQ your music:

• Some smartphones come with built-in EQ settings or app (check yours)
• You can download free Android equalization apps from Google Play.
• You can use EQ on your music streaming service, like Spotify.

Here we go into more details on how to equalize.

2. Use an amplifier. This is a more advanced way, only suitable for wired headphones that’s less convenient and costs a bit of money (you’ll have to buy an amp). But with good amplification you can considerably improve the audio.

Read this first: Do I need an amp?

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

We hope our list helped you make a decision. All the models are top-notch for the price and here is the #1 recommendation.

And if you end up getting a pair recommended in our list, we’d love to know which you picked (we read comments).

Last update: Updated structure and added new models.