The best cheap headphones in 2024: Big sound for less

Hero image for best cheap headphones showing 1More SonoFlow SE held against a colorful backdrop
(Image credit: Future)

The best cheap headphones are all about getting maximum quality for the smallest possible investment. That’s not to say that these are just the cheapest working headphones and earbuds we can find; we’ve tested them all to make sure that despite their low prices, they really can deliver on sound quality, comfort and practicality.

The headphones selected here aren’t the best overall, but they're reliable and serve up decent sound quality with music and podcasts for a fraction of the cost of some models from more established brands. Read on to find out our pick of the best cheap headphones that won't stretch your wallet. 

The best cheap headphones you can buy today

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Best cheap headphones for value

1More SonoFlow SE headphones worn by reviewer standing outdoors on a street

(Image credit: Future)
When it comes to great value headphones, these are hard to beat

Specifications

Size: 6.9 x 3.2 x 7.55 inches
Weight: 8.4 ounces
Battery life (rated): 50 hours (ANC on); 70 hours (ANC off)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 with SBC, AAC
ANC: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Strong battery life
+
Robust sound
+
Superb call quality
+
Effective ANC

Reasons to avoid

-
ANC struggles with high frequency noises
-
No aux cable or LDAC support
-
Wonky app experience

With remarkable battery life that lasts up to 50 hours with ANC on and strong performance across the board, these are the best cheap headphones right now. Our reviewer found that they were able to showcase higher quality music streams, and they also rank as one of the best cheap noise canceling headphones for value thanks to their noise cancelation performance that managed managed to block out 85% of incidental sounds in all environments during our tests. 

These headphones are also good for call quality handling, with the combination of strong ANC and a mic array that worked surprisingly well during our test calls. They also have some of the strongest quick-charging technology and claim to achieve around 5 hours of playtime from a 5-minute power top up, which is greater than some high-end models can achieve.         

Best cheap headphones for sound quality

Review listing image for Anker Soundcore Space One in blue

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
Best for high-quality sound with LDAC streams

Specifications

Size: 6.38 x 3.62 x 7.32 inches
Weight: 9.1 ounces
Battery life (rated): 40 hours (ANC on); 55 hours (ANC off)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC, LDAC
ANC: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Vibrant, customizable sound
+
Effective ANC
+
Stylish design
+
Long battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
Weak call quality
-
Very cumbersome
-
Outdated control scheme

We've been very impressed by the Anker Soundcore Space One for their premium sound features and ANC performance at the entry-level price. The have Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC codec support, customizable sound, multipoint technology, and some of the strongest quick charging out there. A safe volume settings add to the lengthy list of features. The adaptive ANC can be personalized via different listening modes to your liking, and is an impressive feature at the price.

Performance is above what we expected, with strong bass levels and a re-engineered sound profile that brings greater clarity to mids and highs. Unlike several cheap headphone designs, the Anker Soundcore Space One headphones are available in several attractive color options including jet black, latte cream and sky blue colorways.   

Best cheap wireless earbuds buds

JLab Go Pop Air review

(Image credit: Regan Coule/Future)
The best cheap wireless earbuds

Specifications

Size: 0.9 x 1 x 0.9 inches
Weight: 0.1 ounces (per bud)
Battery life (rated): 8 hours, 32 hours (with charging case)
Bluetooth range: 35 feet
ANC: No

Reasons to buy

+
Versatile audio
+
Good battery life
+
Sweat and water-resistant

Reasons to avoid

-
Unimpressive call quality
-
No companion app or extra features

The JLab Go Air Pro is proof, housing a dynamic soundstage and 32-hour battery inside a sturdy, IPX4-protected design for sweat and water resistance. Three EQs are programmed into the buds, each one capable of enhancing sound quality based on your preference. Bass Boost is self-explanatory, while Balanced gives audio a neutral presence and JLab Signature offers a bit of both; we recommend sticking with the latter.

Up to 8 hours per charge is generous for buds this inexpensive, so is bundling the buds with a compact charging case that holds 4 extra charges and comes with an integrated USB cable for charging on the go. The different color options are enticing too: black, lilac, slate, rose, and teal.

Best cheap wireless earbuds with drop-stem style

The EarFun Air connected to a smartphone

(Image credit: EarFun)
The best AirPods alternative

Specifications

Size: 2.1 inches x 2 inches x 1.3 inches (charging case)
Weight: 1.8 ounces (charging case)
Battery life (rated): 7 hours, 35 hours (with charging case)
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 with SBC, AAC
ANC: No

Reasons to buy

+
Good sound quality
+
Waterproof
+
Noise-cancelling mics
+
Lengthy wireless range

Reasons to avoid

-
Unreliable fit
-
Tricky touch controls

Despite being superseded by the EarFun Air 2, the original EarFun Air continues to be available and ranks at No. 1 on our list of the best fake AirPods for many reasons. Let’s start with audio, which is bright and crisp to hear vocals and instruments more distinctly. This level of sound translates well to videos and podcasts as well. Second, the noise-cancelling mics do a fantastic job of limiting the number of ambient noises that enter phone or video calls. Bluetooth 5.0 functions well, providing strong connectivity and up to 50 feet of wireless listening. Then there’s the design, which is clearly inspired by the original AirPods, but sleeker and sturdier with IPX7 certification, making these buds waterproof.

Fit is often loose, though you can customize it by swapping out the installed tips for any of the three different size pairs in the box; the AirPods doesn’t even come with ear tips. The touch controls could also use some work, but with some patience, you’ll have a full suite of functions that can be enabled through basic tap gestures.

Best cheap wireless earphones

Beats Flex

(Image credit: Regan Coule/Tom's Guide)
Great value wireless flex headphones

Specifications

Size: 4 x 0.6 x 34 inches
Weight: 0.66 ounces
Battery life (rated): Up to 12 hours
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 with AAC, SBC
ANC: No

Reasons to buy

+
Stable battery life
+
Intuitive, responsive controls
+
Ideal for movies and podcasts
+
Strong mics for calls and digital assistant use

Reasons to avoid

-
Sound could be better for music
-
No waterproof rating

Did you ever think Beats would release $50 wireless earbuds? Neither did we, but fortunately for budget shoppers, the Flex is a no-brainer purchase if you want many of Beats’ hallmarks (e.g. flashy design, long playtimes, acceptable call quality) in a super-affordable package. Even with Apple’s older W1 processor at the helm, you’re given plenty of useful features to work with, including easy pairing with iDevices, Fast-Fuel technology to speed up charging, and audio sharing. We’re also surprised by how good the audio quality is on these buds, particularly with movies and podcasts.

It is disappointing to see that there is no water or sweat resistance, plus the bass levels don’t knock as hard as they should for a device bearing the Beats logo. However, performance is equally balanced in almost every category.

How to choose

5 things to consider when selecting the best cheap headphones

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 to where you can hear the littlest nuances in recordings. Some models offer personalized sound via companion app, which allows the user to create their own profiles and tweak EQ levels to their hearing.

3. Battery life: Models like Sennheiser's 60-hour battery life are a real crowd pleaser, but most wireless over-ear headphones typically manage around half that. 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 spending 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. 

As the saying goes: timing is everything, and right now some of our favorite cheap headphones are being discounted online and are available for even less. Bookmark our best headphone deals pages to keep track of the latest bargains.

Contributions from Alex Bracetti

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.

More from Tom's Guide

Lee Dunkley
Audio Editor

As a former editor of the U.K.'s Hi-Fi Choice magazine, Lee is passionate about all kinds of audio tech and has been providing sound advice to enable consumers to make informed buying decisions since he joined Which? magazine as a product tester in the 1990s. Lee covers all things audio for Tom's Guide, including headphones, wireless speakers and soundbars and loves to connect and share the mindfulness benefits that listening to music in the very best quality can bring.