One thing we’ve learned while testing for the best cheap headphones is that cheap doesn't necessarily mean bad. Sure, the market for headphones priced $35 (and under) is oversaturated with plenty of duds, and the odds of finding a true champion are about 1 in 100. However, if you look hard enough, you may discover some hidden gems out there designed to fill your ears with pleasant sounds, while also saving you time and lots of money.
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Tom’s Guide has evaluated and ranked the best cheap headphones based on sound quality, design, comfort, purpose, and style. This list includes headphones from industry giants like Sony, JBL, and Audio-Technica, along with newcomers like JLab and MPOW. Let’s jump into our current favorite picks. We didn’t forget about cheap headphone staples like Behringer and Koss either, two brands that have dominated the category for decades.
What are the best cheap headphones?
Based on our testing, the Behringer BH 470 Compact Studio Monitoring Headphones are the best cheap headphones right now, blending spacious sound and chic aesthetics into a pseudo-luxe (and modifiable) design. Music sounds refined with a bass-forward profile that leaves room for mids and highs to breathe. Even at its super-low cost of $25, the BH 470 surprisingly matches the premium construction featured in many of the market’s best headphones.
Our pick for the best cheap wireless headphones is the Anker Soundcore Life Q10. Backed by powerful specs (e.g. 60-hour battery, Bluetooth 5.0) and powerful sound, these cord-free headphones are an enticing purchase for music lovers who want some serious bass without breaking the bank.
Coming in third place is the JBL Tune 500 On-Ear Headphones, which is also available in wireless form and shares similar audio performance. These headphones don’t skimp on the low end, thanks to JBL’s powerful Pure Bass technology that ramps up the bass levels to make rock and hip-hop music sonically enticing. The cushioned padding on both the ear cups and headband affords listeners great comfort too. At $30, the JLAB Audio Studio Wireless On-Ear Headphones is another solid option with 30 hours of playtime, Bluetooth 5.0, and multiple EQ modes to match one’s personal sound preference.
The best cheap headphones you can buy today
A handsome design combined with great comfort and some of the best sound arrangement we’ve heard on a pair of inexpensive wired cans, the Behringer BH 470 stands out as the best cheap headphones in its price class. Behringer somehow managed to construct these from solid metal materials, even adding a matte finish and brown faux leather into the mix for a more upscale look. Small details like the 9-notch adjustable headband track and screwed components show the Swiss audio engineer values build quality.
The only thing it values more is audio performance, which the BH 470 excels at. Bass dominates the soundstage without compromising the mids or highs. Stereo imaging is even more impressive, making Jazz songs and live recordings more immersive to hear instruments distinctly. What’s really cool about these headphones is that they can be modified at the user’s discretion. If you want to swap out the cables or mess around with the sound output by toying with the circuitry inside, go ahead.
Anker is a name synonymous with affordable headphones: wired and wireless. The Life Q10 is the brand’s best offering under $50, spoiling owners with plenty of performance across multiple categories. Battery life maxes out at 60 hours, which is something we’ve yet to see from any other model at this price point. The headphones even support fast USB-C charging to generate 5 hours of playtime on a 5-minute charge. Bluetooth 5.0 also lets you stream music wirelessly up to 50 feet away from your audio device. Plush padding on the earcups make the headphones a comfy wear for about 1 to 2 hours.
The Life Q10’s default signature is decent, giving mids and highs some attention, but accentuating the low end to produce deep bass. Anker programmed a BassUp mode should you want to increase the bass levels, but the feature comes on too strong, resulting in some unpleasant distortion.
JBL is responsible for some of the best cheap headphones below the $100 mark and the Tune 500 is one of its finest options. Hidden underneath the flexible, sturdy plastic frame are JBL’s patented Pure Bass drivers that pump out serious lows; the bass response is thunderous at high volume. JBL’s profile leans towards the warm end, which is good news for music lovers who want more thump in their sound. The soft-padded ear cushions and headband add comfort to the equation, allowing users to enjoy music for long stretches.
Sadly, the headphones (like many wired models) don’t come with volume controls, so you’ll have to do so manually on your smartphone or MP3 player. Thankfully, the sound doesn’t distort or become unbearable when listening at high volumes, though others around you will notice sound bleeding from the cans.
Equipped with 30 hours of playtime, Bluetooth 5.0, and three built-in EQs that you can cycle through at will, the JLab Studio Wireless offers plenty of versatility at such a low cost. Audio isn’t anything to rave about, but each of the programmed modes –Signature, Balanced, and Bass Boost – slightly enhance sound quality when paired with the right music genre. Bass Boost will give EDM and hip-hop songs more oomph. Being able to use Google Assistant or Siri to perform voice commands is a cool feature to have as well.
As much as we would have loved USB-C charging here, micro-USB isn’t the end of the world, especially when a full charge gets you about a month of moderate playtime. The one concern we do have with these headphones is the exposed wires, which can rip if caught on something. You’ll want to be careful taking these out of your bag. When you do so, successfully, you’ll see why these are a worthy investment.
These old-school cans deliver amazing sound that is tough to beat for the price, producing transparent mids and highs with warm, full bass and solid detail. The only thing more pleasant than the sound is the comfort, as the foam earpads and lightweight frame rest gently on the head without applying any unwanted pressure. And how could you not love the nostalgic design that calls back to the days of cassette and CD players?
Since they feature an open-ear design, the Porta Pro bleeds out sound a high level, making the headphones best reserved for listening at home or in isolated areas. The slim, built-in cables also present an issue, as they can easily be ripped out and render the headphones useless. Those who are careful with the Porta Pro will find this on-ear solution to be a noteworthy pickup.
The Plantronics BackBeat 500 is an excellent pickup for the price. Battery life is its biggest selling point, generating 18 hours of playtime on a single charge and featuring a Deep Sleep mode that can keep the headphones on standby for six months. You’re also getting some surprisingly good sound out of these on-ears that rivals models in the sub-luxury range ($150 and up). Bass is emphasized to give listeners a warm and energetic presence on hip-hop and rock tracks.
The athletic-inspired design is light and durable, but the headphones don’t provide the greatest comfort after 60 minutes of wear. It also lacks the sweatproof aesthetics of the BackBeat 500 Fit, which isn’t a huge deal unless you plan on working out with these on your head. They could also benefit from better isolation, as external sounds make their way into the ear canal.
The Behringer HPS3000 Studio Headphones deftly deliver light, airy vocals with sparkling strings, crisp percussion and booming lows, depending on the song. This makes them a great option for monitoring bass when mixing at home or in the studio. We found that on very-bass-heavy tracks, the low end could get a bit muddy when listening at max volume. It’s also nice to see that they come with extra accessories like an 1/4-inch jack and 1/8-inch connector, so you can plug them into other devices like a stereo system, mixing console or guitar amp.
Little can be made about the unattractive, bulky design, as it doesn’t make sporting these headphones fashionable or convenient. The HSP3000 wasn’t made for noise isolation either, as ambient sounds creep into the soundstage and affect clarity when hearing music in rowdy environments.
Audio-Technica’s historical resume is all the convincing one needs to chance it on these low-priced studio monitors. What the ATH-AVC200 SonicPro lacks in features and style, it definitely makes up for in sound. Bass hits hard and blends smoothly with vocals for crisp and consonant audio. Drums sound accurate, while instrumental separation is superb on orchestral-heavy recordings; hi-hats and cow bells won’t go unnoticed. Despite their large frame, these headphones feel very light and the weight proportion is superb, keeping them stabilized atop the head and preventing slippage.
We’re not too fond of the thin ear pads, which fail to provide the quality comfort and padding of other models. If your interest in these headphones is really high, we recommend looking into third-party ear pads that are compatible with the ATH-AVC200 SonicPro to gain the best experience.
Battery life alone makes these headphones worth checking out. There are a handful of other models in this price range that advertise higher playtimes, but the XFree Go is the only one we’ve tested that has lived up to its claim of nearly 60 hours; it’s really 56 hours when factoring in high volume and music streaming. Still, it’s an abundant amount to have at your disposal. On top of that, the headphones are super-easy to set up, and produce punchy, loud sound that surpasses its MSRP. The design isn’t anything to rave about, but at least you’ll get quality comfort when worn for casual listening.
I’ll just warn you to expect some technical difficulties right out of the box. For instance, the controls were disabled when I paired the headphones to my MacBook Pro for the first time; it took charging the headphones for a few seconds to break the connection and repair for everything to work. Another disappointment is the aux cable, which only lets you hear audio from the left earcup.
Skullcandy’s sound signature is nowhere near the level of industry staples like Sennheiser or Sony, but it has vastly improved over the years. The Riff Wireless is exemplary, dishing out powerful lows and sculpted highs for full, detailed sound. Bass doesn’t distort at high volume levels either, which is pleasing to hear. Having 12 hours of continuous playback and quick charging (a 10-minute charge gets you 2 hours of listening) are also beneficial for long road trips.
If you’re looking to save battery life by using wired mode, look elsewhere because these headphones lack a headphone jack. The design is flimsy as well, composed entirely of cheap plastic that provides very little durability. If those are compromises you’re willing to live with, then you’ll be happy to hear the Riff Wireless is on clearance for as low as $17.99 on Best Buy. Act fast.
How to choose the best cheap headphones for you
Just because you’re spending less doesn’t mean you’re settling for less. You want to get the most bang for your buck when shopping for the best cheap headphones, and the one way to ensure this is by checking off a few essentials from the list.
Audio takes precedence over all other features. You want headphones that produce clean, balanced sound and solid bass. Some models might even offer built-in equalizer options (e.g. JLab) to personalize the soundstage based on your hearing.
Design comes second, which includes build quality, along with comfort and fit. Look for headphones that are durable and pliable; you want to know these things can survive whatever daily abuse you put them through. They should also feel cozy and pleasant on the skull when worn for long stretches, while creating a seal around the ears to keep out external noises.
Keep in mind that headphones around the $35 mark are often wired, though if you’re looking for a cord-free experience, there are plenty of wireless headphones available as well. Just make sure they come with at least 15 hours of playtime on a full charge and Bluetooth 4.0.
How we test the best cheap headphones
As with most of our headphone roundups, we based our list of the best cheap headphones not only on price, but also design, sound, and ease of use. Available features such as controls, mics, and digital assistant support are tested as well.
Our reviewers wear each pair of headphones for 2 hours at a time throughout the testing phase. From there, they evaluate how comfy and securely they fit, along with how well they isolate noise.
For sound quality, we evaluate volume, clarity, and fullness by listening to many songs across different music genres. This includes hip hop, rock, jazz, classical, and electronica just to name a few. Movies, podcasts, and video games are considered, when necessary. Our reviewers make phone calls to assess call quality and microphone performance too.
After testing is completed, our reviewers rate the best cheap headphones on Tom’s Guide five-point system (1 = worst, 5 = best). Products that hit nearly every mark receive an Editors' Choice badge.
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