The 6 Best Earbuds Under $50 of 2024

The best earbuds under $50 we've tested are the JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless. These budget-friendly earbuds offer solid performance with a well-balanced default sound profile, especially compared to competitors like the TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless. That relatively flat sound makes them a great pick if you listen to a wide variety of genres, as instruments sound clear and detailed without ever being honky or boxy. Their sound can also be tweaked to your liking through the JBL headphones app, with both a graphic EQ and presets at your disposal. They're well-built, and their eight-hour battery life is enough to get you through long voyages without needing a top-up from their charging case.

They don't have active noise cancelling (ANC) but do a decent job of passively isolating you from ambient sound like background chit-chat. Their IP54 rating for dust and water resistance also comes in handy if you get caught in a rain shower while jogging around the park. However, they aren't extremely comfortable for most people, and taking them out from your ears can cause a plunger-like effect due to the suction created by their deep in-ear fit.

If you're looking for a cheaper option, check out the JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless, which are among the best cheap earbuds we've tested. They have a simpler design than the JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless, with no companion app or EQ for sound customization. However, they have a versatile sound profile, with clear and present instruments and vocals and some extra rumble and punch in the bass range. They lack more robust sound customization features like an EQ, but unlike most cheap earbuds, they have a few presets you can cycle through using the onboard controls.

They have decent passive noise isolation performance, so they can help reduce noise like background conversations. They also offer a decently comfortable fit, a solid build quality, and a fairly long continuous battery life of roughly nine hours. Their case holds about three extra charges and has a built-in charging cable, which means you won't forget the cable at home, but you'll have to replace the earbuds if it breaks. For more hands-on control in sculpting the sound of your buds, check out the Anker Soundcore P25i/P20i True Wireless for an app with EQ. However, they don't block out noise as effectively as the Audio GO Air POP.

The best earbuds for workouts under $50 are the Beats Flex Wireless. These comfortable, well-built earbuds have a much more stable fit than our top pick and won't slip out of your ears during workouts. They're wireless but have a flexible cable connecting the buds, so you can wear them around your neck when you're not using them. Their bass-heavy sound profile delivers extra thump and rumble, which is great if you like to listen to genres like EDM and hip-hop to keep yourself pumped up. However, these straightforward buds don't offer sound customization features like an EQ, unlike the JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless.

They last around 11 hours of continuous use, which gets you through a few long workouts before recharging. However, their in-line controls make it easy to change the track or turn up the volume mid-workout, and you can turn on an auto-pause feature if you want your audio to pause when you remove the buds. Their W1 chip also makes it easier to pair them with iOS devices.

If you'd rather have true wireless earbuds for working out, the Jabra Elite 3 True Wireless fluctuate in price but frequently sell for less than $50. These stable-fitting buds are rated IP55 with a higher dust and water resistance than the Beats, though their continuous battery is a few hours shorter than the Beats. If your device is an Android, the Jabra support aptX codec for higher-quality audio, but if your phone runs on iOS, then you may prefer the AAC codec on the Beats.

The TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless are the best ANC earbuds under $50. There aren't many noise cancelling earbuds out there for less than $50, but don't let their price fool you: these offer impressive noise isolation. They do a great job blocking out everything from the rumble of plane engines to the hum of A/C units and office chatter. It's worth noting that you can't turn their ANC off completely: it must always be on or in ambient mode. Avoid these if you sometimes like to listen without the 'cabin pressure' feeling of ANC. They ship with six sets of ear tips to find your fit, which undoubtedly helps their noise cancelling efforts, but the silicone quality is a weak point.

Their default sound isn't as well-balanced as the JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless, particularly in the treble range, where sibilants and cymbals sound harsh. But, their bass-heavy sound will suit fans of EDM and hip-hop. They also lack an app with an EQ for fine-tuning your sound, and their case only has two extra charges, unlike the JBL's three. On the plus side, the case has a lid.

Many of the picks here have a bass-rich sound profile, but you might prefer a flatter sound for vocal-centric content or if you listen to a wide variety of genres. The Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless are the best earbuds under $50 for a neutral sound that we've tested. Although the manufacturer has developed a reputation for releasing bass-centric earbuds, these buds have a more balanced sound profile than the JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless, and you might prefer them if you listen to podcasts or genres like classical. There are even built-in EQ presets to help you get the best out of your buds, including 'Podcast,' 'Music,' and 'Bass Boost,' the latter of which injects some serious thump and punch into your audio.

These earbuds even support Bluetooth multi-device pairing, a more premium feature that's nice to have in budget buds. This can be a blessing if you want to stay connected to both your phone and your computer while working at the office, and their eight-hour battery life can get you through long workdays. Like most earbuds recommended here, they don't have an ANC system and don't do a great job of passively isolating you from ambient noise.

If you prefer a wired design, look at the KZ ZSN. Unlike other picks on this list, these buds are in-ear monitors (IEMs), so they have a simple design that prioritizes sound and lacks all other features, including mic support. You can easily replace their sturdy braided audio cable if it gets damaged or swap it out for a cable with an in-line mic. The earbuds also have a metallic-finish backplate, making them feel durable and dense.

Their warm sound profile delivers extra boom to mixes, which is good for genres like rock and jazz that can benefit from extra bass. However, they don't have an EQ or presets to adjust their sound. They don't have ANC, and they passively isolate you from even less noise than the JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless, so they may not be the best choice if you want to listen to audio in noisy environments like on a bus. While they come with four different pairs of ear tips, the overall bud shape is a bit bulky and may not fit well if you have small ears.