The 6 Best Cheap Earbuds of 2025

The Anker Soundcore P25i are the best cheap earbuds we've tested. These wallet-friendly buds work well for many use cases. They also have some extra features that help them stand out from similarly priced models. With a nine-hour battery life and a charging case holding two extra charges, they'll easily last you through a workday. Their fit is comfortable, breathable, and stable, making them a solid choice for workouts. They also have a good build quality and an IPX5 rating for resistance against water exposure; you can take them out in the pouring rain with no issue.

They have a whopping 22 EQ presets available, which let you adjust their sound to suit your tastes better. That said, their default EQ option has a bass-rich sound profile that delivers extra thump and rumble to your audio, making the buds a great option for bassy genres like EDM. However, like most cheap earbuds, they don't have active noise cancelling and don't do a good job of blocking out ambient sound. If you care about noise isolation, you'll want to check out the TOZO T6 Truly Wireless, our best cheap earbuds for noise isolation further below.

The best-sounding cheap earbuds we've tested are the Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless. These small and lightweight buds reproduce a balanced profile that makes them a very versatile choice for most kinds of audio content. They have a touch of extra bass and flat mids, so vocals and instruments sound clear and natural. Sibilants like cymbals also sound bright and sizzle. While you won't find more robust customization features like a graphic EQ at this price point, these buds still have three EQ presets built in if you want to adjust their sound. That said, these buds aren't as comfortable as the Anker Soundcore P25i; the Skullcandy have a deeper in-ear fit, which can put pressure on your ear.

These buds are well-built and certified IPX4 for resistance against water splashes. They also have a stable fit, so you can wear them on the go or to the gym with little problem. Their continuous battery life of over eight hours will get you from point A to B, but their carrying case holds an extra two charges if needed. Unfortunately, their mic's recording quality is pretty disappointing, and your voice lacks body while sounding distant. Unlike the previous pick, these buds support multi-device pairing, so you can connect to both your smartphone and PC without trouble.

Try the JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless if you're looking for buds to take to the gym. Their price fluctuates slightly, but you can sometimes find them under $25. They have an IP55 certification for dust and water resistance and have stability sleeves to ensure they stay in place for tough workouts. They're also well-built and decently comfortable. However, using the controls can put pressure on your ears and cause discomfort, so you may want to use the controls through your phone instead.

These buds have a very bass-heavy sound that delivers extra thump, rumble, and boom. This can help keep you pumped up from set to set, but if you find it overwhelming, you can also take advantage of the three EQ presets built-in to help adjust their sound to suit your tastes. Unfortunately, they have a very low continuous battery life compared to our other picks, clocking in at 3.3 hours; you'll likely need to recharge them between workouts. Luckily, their carrying case holds an extra 10 charges if needed.

If you want an inexpensive option that doesn't cut back on build quality, the Skullcandy Sesh Evo True Wireless are the best cheap earphones with a durable design that we've tested. While not quite premium-feeling, these earbuds have sturdy build quality, so they'll survive multiple accidental drops and bumps. Unlike the Anker Soundcore P25i, the Skullcandy have an IP55 rating, offering resistance against not just water but dust exposure as well. This makes them a better choice for more harsh environments, like dusty mountain trails.

Passively, they can't block out the loud rumble of a bus or plane engine, but they do a much better job of keeping you isolated from ambient chatter or the high-pitched whine of a PC fan. These earbuds have a very bass-heavy sound profile. It's great if you like a lot of thump and rumble when listening to hip-hop, metal, or EDM, but it can overpower and muddy vocals or lead instruments.

While they don't have a companion app, the Skullcandy have three EQ presets integrated into the buds themselves, allowing you to have some control over their sound. Their battery lasts just over 4.5 hours on a single charge, so you'll need to use one of the case's three extra charges if you use them all day.

At this price point, it's pretty difficult to find earbuds equipped with noise cancelling (ANC). That said, choices like the TOZO T6 Truly Wireless can still offer great performance when it comes to blocking out background sound. Thanks to their in-ear fit, they're able to passively reduce noise such as people talking around you. Their shortcoming is more so in the bass range: they have a harder time reducing rumbly bus and plane engines, which may not be ideal for your morning commute.

Without ANC, there's no need to worry about another feature draining your battery life. Even though their five-hour playtime may be still a bit limiting, their carrying case holds an extra four charges. They're also decently comfortable, and you can even wear these buds during a moderate workout. If you like a bassy sound, these buds deliver satisfying thump and boom too, but unlike the Anker Soundcore P25i, they lack sound customization features to help you adjust them to your preferences.

The best earbuds under $50 we've tested are the JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless. If you don't mind spending a little more, they offer more features than the Anker Soundcore P25i. These buds have an app with a graphic EQ and presets, so you can customize their bass-rich default sound profile to suit you. While they don't have ANC, they do a good job of passively blocking out sounds like voices. They have a couple of ambient sound modes meant to let you hear your surroundings: TalkThru, which lowers the volume on your audio so you can hear conversations, and Ambient Aware, which enables you to listen to what's going on around you.

They're decently comfortable and have a sturdy build. Additionally, they're rated IP54 for dust and water resistance, which can help protect them during outdoor workouts in the rain or along a dusty path, but they aren't extremely stable and can slip out of your ears. They last almost nine hours off of a single charge, similar to the Anker, but they have the added functionality of an auto-off timer to help save power when you're not using them.

If you're still looking for the right earbuds, check out our list of the best earbuds under $50.