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Headphones and earbuds don't have to be super expensive — sometimes you want something good that doesn't cost the world. To help you find the best option for you, I've gathered the three best options for each headphone category. The best cheap headphones, the best cheap earbuds, and best cheap wired headphones for those looking for the best jump into audiophiledom.
First off, what price makes a cheap pair of headphones? I've gone for a $100 maximum, and stayed under that with the options on the list. There are also cheaper options than my top picks.
Best cheap headphones overall
Good noise canceling, solid sound and a comfortable fit? At just under $90, you’re really spoiling us. After all, it's not long since ANC was the stomping ground of far more expensive headphones, usually with “Sony” or “Bose” written on the earcups. Now there are plenty of options that offer some combination of the three most important features of headphones, but very few offer all three for a good price. Apart from, of course, the 1More Sonoflow Pro.
I was pretty blown away when I tried out the Sonoflow Pro. I’d sampled impressive cheap headphones before, but nothing had really given me the complete package that the Sonoflow offers. For one, there’s impressive battery life, with 100 hours of ANC off time and 60 hours when you initialize the noise canceling. When my testing proved those figures to be accurate, all bets were off. They could sound awful and still offer a solid reason to buy.
Except they didn’t sound awful — they sounded really good. Obviously, they’re not going to scratch the sonic itch that audiophiles have constantly gnawing at the upper reaches of their cerebrum. Those looking for top-notch audio will be served better by the wired Fiio JT3 below. They do, however, deliver the goods when it comes to detail, bass, and mid-range reproduction. They sound twice as expensive as the price you pay.
Noise canceling is very good, and they’re comfortable for long periods. For the price, there’s very little that comes close to touching the quality of 1More’s finest.
Read the mini review
Sound quality
If you’re expecting to hear the songs of angels, you’re gazing into the wrong crystal ball. If you’re happy with solid reproductions of your favorite tunes across the frequency and genre spectrums, you’re in the right place. They’ve got plenty of detail so that you can hear the finer points of your music, and the mids are lovely, round and warm.
Bass is a little one-note, but you can’t expect wonders from something that costs this little. There’s a version of spatial audio in the application, but as with most systems under $200, you should leave it permanently in the off position. Overall, there’s nothing to complain about sound-wise, no matter what music you listen to.
Comfort
Thanks to a lightweight design and some very soft padding, the 1More Sonolfow Pro are a very comfortable pair of headphones. I was able to wear them for a full 8-hour workday without them becoming uncomfortable, and sometimes even longer, when I wore them on the train going to and from work.
There was a slight problem, but this plagues even more expensive headphone options. They can get a little hot under the earcups, because the leatherette isn’t particularly breathable. I found that just shifting them slightly helps cool things down, and it only became an issue when I wore them for hours and hours on end. Not an enormous problem, but one worth keeping in mind
Noise canceling
The ANC is, for something that costs less than a quarter of the price of the leading ladies, pretty special. Turn it on, and the sound of engines, fellow travellers and office environments is very well damped indeed. There is only one level of ANC — two, if you count “off” — so you won’t be changing levels depending on where you are.
Then there’s transparency mode, which is fine. There is some slight robotisicm to voices, and it can feel “piped in,” but it’s otherwise fine. If this is the one weakness we have to tolerate, considering how good the rest of the package is, it's a sacrifice I’m willing to make.
Battery life
100 hours of ANC off time should be all that I need to say here. That’s some of the best battery life you’ll find on any pair of headphones, let alone headphones that cost under $100. Game-changing battery life. Turn the ANC back on and the battery life drops to 60 hours, which is still double that of the leading brands' headphones.
When testing the battery life, we found that those specs rang true. I found around 10 hours of use used about 10% of the battery when I had ANC turned off, and ANC on for 10 hours used about 18% of my battery. Good battery life.
Application
The Application works fine. It’s not going to win any design awards, nor is it a place you want to spend much time, but it does lay everything out well to make features easy to find. This is where you can adjust the EQ for sound customization and turn the Spatial Audio on and off.
It can be a bit tetchy, though. Sometimes I won’t recognize if the headphones are connected, or it crashes while you’re trying to adjust some of the settings. It’s a “set it and leave it” app.
Also consider:
Best cheap wireless earbuds
They’re orange. There’s not much more to add about these buds from Nothing’s budget branch, CMF. The Buds Pro 2 are a pair of orange earbuds in a world that seems to be black, white, or gray. It helps, then, that the buds inside those lovely orange shells happen to be rather excellent, and that they cost around $70. Nice and cheap, then.
You get a whole lot for your $70 as well. Our reviewer, Erin, says that the ANC is “AirPods Pro good,” and I’m inclined to agree. It does an impressive job at keeping noise at bay, making sure that you’re more comfortable at the office, on the train or in airplanes. Play some music and it’ll block out everything around you — the same cannot be said of similarly priced options. Good ANC at this price is a big selling point for the buds.
The sound is good, with good highs, mids and bass. Detail heads might miss a little, but you can dip into the solid Nothing X app to adjust all the right settings to dial in the sound. That’s using a very comprehensive EQ as well. They’re comfortable for long periods thanks to well-shaped buds and soft eartips, and the control scheme works reasonably well too.
Battery life is good, and the spatial audio works well. They’re a great pair of affordable buds that bring excellent features to a lower price point. AirPods Pro 3, who?
Read the mini review
Sound quality
When you say something goes toe to toe with Apple’s finest, you’re going to need to back up your claim. Well, slip the Buds Pro 2 in your ears and you’ll soon find sound that gets so close to the AirPods Pro 3 you’d be hard pressed to find the difference. They’re very musical, and while there’s a little lost detail, you’ll soon get lost in a sea of sound.
Spatial audio obviously isn’t up there with the Apple Buds, but it does a good job of widening the sound stage. The very useful EQ means you can dial in the sound just the way you like it, or use presets for different genres.
Comfort
They’re small, they’re light and there are plenty of different eartips in the box so that you can get them as secure and comfortable as possible. We found that we could wear them for long periods of time without any worries of them falling out or becoming uncomfortable.
Using the touch controls does shift the buds in your ears slightly, and that can press on some tender areas form some slight irritation. Still, they’re a comfortable pair of earbuds that we had no problem wearing for a full day's work — and even longer when we hopped on the train to go home.
Noise canceling
The noise canceling is top-notch. Turn it on, and you’ll find the outside world completely blocked out. Loud bus engines melt away, crying babies become a mere whisper and construction work a thing of the past. It's perfect for commutes and noisy offices, so that you can enjoy your tunes without any distractions. it’s up there with the very best — extremely impressive for the price.
Transparency mode is fine as well, although not as good as Apple’s option. Usually, you wouldn’t compare the two, but given the strength of the noise canceling, it makes sense to talk about the two. It’s more than fine for the price, though, despite the slight robotic edge voices can take.
Battery life
The Buds Pro 2 last for a long, long time. There are 11 hours of battery life before you’ve even popped them back in the charging case. That’s more than the AirPods, Sony and Bose buds — and they cost triple the cost of the Buds Pro 2. Turn ANC on and that battery drops to 9 hours, which is still very good.
There’s a further 43 hours of battery life in the case, again more than the more expensive rivals. We found that the battery life claims from Nothing matched the numbers we got, with about 24% drop in battery over the course of 3 hours of use.
Application
The Nothing X app is one of the best in business. It’s very easy to use, with loads of features and useful buttons that are clearly labelled. The EQ is excellent, and the ANC control is easy to access. The on-buds controls could be better, though, as we found them to be slightly more irritating than we’d hoped while we were using them.
Thankfully, the app is very stable with no connection problems throughout our testing. We’ve had absolutely no issues with the Nothing X app throughout testing, not just the Buds Pro 2, but other CMF and Nothing products. A great app.
- Read the full CMF Buds Pro 2 review
Also consider:
Best cheap wired headphones
Generally, cheap wired headphones mean cut-price budget options for those looking for a quick sonic fix. The JT3, however, prove that you can get excellent sounding headphones without breaking the bank. They’re a lovely-looking and feeling pair of wired audiophile headphones that also happen to be comfortable and easy to use.
Of course, you’re not going to get all the fancy wireless features here. There’s no ANC, no transparency mode, no app, and no built-in EQ. Instead, they’re built from the ground up to give you the best sound possible without sonic compromise. And they deliver with aplomb — these are the best-sounding things this side of $150.
The soundscape is deep, rich, and complex. You’ll hear parts of your music you’ve never heard before, from fingers on fret boards to light breaths between lines. There’s loads of detail to get lost in, and a wide soundstage that makes your music feel huge. If you’ve never experienced this style of headphone before, they’re the perfect jumping-on spot.
They’re comfortable and light for lengthier listening sessions, and the detachable cable means they’re going to last a whole lot longer than headphones with attached cables. They’re the perfect way to get started with audiophile headphones.
Read the mini review
Sound quality
The Fiio JT3 are a glorious pair of headphones if you’re even remotely interested in critically listening to your music. Finding the best bits, absorbing the sound, turning it over in your hands to work out how it was born and created. They’re a sonic enabler — something that’s generally only said of headphones that cost a whole lot of money. They’re effortlessly detailed, and provide plenty of richness and clarity.
Some audiophile headphones need a period of appreciation, building your understanding of what they’re showing you. That’s not a thing with the JT3. They’re immediately arresting, and welcoming with their warmer sound quality. We’ve loved every second of using the JT3, and it’s likely to be no different when you get them on your head.
Just remember that there’s no ANC — you likely won’t be plugging these in on the bus. You’ll need a dongle, too, for devices that don’t have a headphone jack.
Comfort
Because they don’t have any kind of extra bits and bobs in them like Bluetooth modules and batteries, the JT3 are very light. Add that to their ample padding, and you’ve got a very comfortable pair of headphones that you can wear for long periods of time. They’re so comfortable, in fact, that our tester Erin forgot she was wearing them while reviewing them.
Just remember that they’re cabled, and you might get tangled if you move around a lot while wearing them — or you’ll pull your expensive digital audio player off the arm of your couch. Not recommended.
- Read the full Fiio JT3 review
Also tested
We test a lot of audio products across different price points. Not all are selected for inclusion in our buying guides. That's not to say that they're not great performers, just that they're beaten by rival models with a stronger set of features or performance. Our picks are the very best we've tested and have all been given full reviews. With more models to choose from than ever, we want to make sure that you consider these also tested options, which have all been through our rigorous testing processes, but didn't quite make the cut.
How to choose
5 things to consider when selecting the best cheap headphones
Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.
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.
Many factors come into play when shopping for the best cheap headphones, but your decision should always come down to intended use. That being said, you’ll want to take the following categories into account before settling on any pair.
1. Design: Are you looking for in-ear, on-ear, or over-ear headphones? Wired or wireless? Since these are headphones that will be used for multiple occasions, you want something that suits your lifestyle. Whatever type you choose, make sure the headphones are well built, easy to carry, and comfy to wear for about 1 to 2 hours daily.
2. Sound quality: Different models offer different sound, and since you’re buying a pair to enjoy music individually, it’s important to find headphones that match your sound preference, be it heavy bass or distinctively clear, so that you can hear the littlest nuances in recordings. Some models offer personalized sound via a companion app, which allows the user to create their own profiles and tweak EQ levels to their hearing.
3. Battery life: In the lower price segment, this is a great way for manufacturers to stand out. Many options now last anywhere from 50-100 hours. Wireless earbuds can last about 5 to 10 hours and offer extended playtime with their bundled charging cases — always make sure one is included.
4. Accessories: It's disappointing to spend money on a new pair of headphones only to find that you need to buy the accessories separately. For wired models, the manufacturer must include the aux cable, and any headphones that come with a carrying case, charging cable, user guide, and extra ear cups or tips are solid purchases.
5. Pricing considerations: Obviously, price is a big consideration when looking for the best cheap headphones. Generally speaking, the less you spend on a pair of headphones, the greater the chance that sound and features will be compromised. Going for a budget option isn't necessarily a bad thing, though, as the models in this list demonstrate.
How we test
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 Editor's Choice badge.
Find out what we listen for during our testing process and how to get the best headphone sound for you.
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