Key Points
- Our pick for the #1 Best Budget Earbuds are the Tranya T20 Wireless Earbuds.
- While the best budget earbuds will offer noise isolation or noise canceling capabilities, a few on this list don’t offer those options. They do make up for it with better battery life and ambient audio, though.
- Everyone has a different ear size, but these earbuds should fit most ears. If you have smaller or larger ears, feel free to grab a pair that comes with many ear tips to find the best fit for you.
- No matter which budget earbuds you buy, they should be durable, water-resistant (at the very least), offer clear audio, and connect to Bluetooth.
Almost everyone has a pair of budget wireless earbuds these days. But if you’re on a budget, expensive options like AirPods may be out of the question. You can still get fantastic value for your money though, with decent features, quality sound, and a chic design, if that’s what you’re looking for.
Some of the best budget earbuds on the market right now sacrifice very little quality for their low cost. This makes it easy to make an informed decision based on your needs, including your work life and ear size. Here are our top options for the best budget earbuds available now.
- Best Overall: TRANYA T20 Wireless Earbuds
- Best for Travel: EarFun Free Pro 2
- Most Fashionable: Skullcandy Sesh EVO
- Best Noise-Cancelling: soundcore by Anker Sport X10 Earbuds
- Best Battery Life: LYPERTEK PurePlay Z3 2.0 Earbuds
#1 Best Overall Budget Earbuds: TRANYA T20 Wireless Earbuds
- Advanced chip and a high-intensity magnetic driver
- 4-microphone and noise filtering system
- Low-latency Game Mode
- 8 hours of listening from a single charge
Before we dive into why the TRANYA T20 Wireless Earbuds are the best overall budget earbuds, let’s get the biggest con out of the way. These earbuds do not offer any noise cancelation. If that’s important to you, these will not work well for your needs.
Yet, these earbuds are frequently on sale. You can usually snag them for under $70, which makes them a fantastic deal for what they do offer. These earbuds are fairly basic in design, but considering their low cost, they are sleek and comfortable.
They also won’t poke out too far from your ears. This makes them a great option if you like to wear discreet headphones. One of the best perks of the TRANYA earbuds is that they have a battery life of up to 8 hours, which is perfect for busy people.
They are also IPX7 waterproof, meaning they’re safe in the rain and while working out. The added microphone also helps them function well for making calls. While the shell is plastic, the earbuds are light and won’t cause pain, even if you wear them for multiple hours.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| These earbuds are completely waterproof. | The TRANYA earbuds do not offer noise cancelation or isolation. |
| The discreet size helps you blend in. | |
| These earbuds are under $100. |
Check out the TRANYA T20 Wireless Earbuds on Amazon.
Best for Travel: EarFun Free Pro 2
- Ultra-lightweight and ergonomic design
- QuietSmart Hybrid ANC Technology eliminates 40dB of external noise
- 6 microphones
- 80ms ultra-low latency
The EarFun Free Pro 2 earbuds are a step up from the original free earbuds. They include aluminum alloy caps, which are more durable than plastic and offer dust-proofing. They also come with two microphones installed to boost voice-calling quality.
These earbuds offer decent clarity and bass for their smaller price tag. Unfortunately, they don’t offer ear-detection sensors. This means you’ll have to pause your music or sound yourself.
They also won’t pause for you when you take the earbuds out. For some users, this isn’t an issue. But it can become annoying if you find yourself having to take them out throughout the day.
EarFun Pro 2 earbuds are lightweight and won’t cause pain, and they can fit most ears well. They also have noise-canceling capabilities and offer transparency mode. While not as significant as AirPods, you’ll still be able to hear the outside world fairly clearly when you need to, like when traveling.
One of the main cons to these earbuds is that their battery life is only around six hours. So, if you’re on a long flight or traveling all day, they may die before you get to your destination. The earbuds are IPX5 splash-proof though, so they will be safe if you sweat or need a bit of water resistance.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| These offer water resistance from sweat and dust. | The battery life is the lowest on this list. |
| The earbuds provide both noise cancelation and transparency mode options. | |
| These earbuds can be found for under $80. |
Take a look at the EarFun Free Pro 2 on Amazon today.
Most Fashionable Budget Earbuds: Skullcandy Sesh EVO
- VGA, Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity
- 6mm drivers
- Tile technology makes it easy to track down either earbud
- 24-hour battery life
- IP55 rating for sweat, water, and dust
The most fashionable pick are definitely the Skullcandy Sesh EVO earbuds. Unfortunately for many cheaper earbuds, plain is the game. You’ll find more black and simple earbuds under $100 than just about any other color.
Luckily, the Skullcandy Sesh EVO earbuds come in multiple colors, which is great for people who want more chic and fashionable earbuds. Not only that, but they also offer terrific quality for an affordable price.
First, the Skullcandy earbuds have a fresh design that is meant to stay in your ear while being lightweight and discreet. If the earbud tips don’t fit properly, you can easily switch to ones that offer a more snug fit.
Their case is small and includes LED lights to indicate how charged the earbuds are. The best part is that you’ll also be able to use Tile technology and track the earbuds if they get lost or stolen.
When it comes to sound quality, the earbuds offer a strong bass and clear quality. Plus, you can easily adjust the volume and take calls with the earbuds themselves. They have an automatic pause if you take one or both out.
While they’re chic and cute, they’re durable, too, offering IPX5 water resistance to keep them safe, even if you sweat. Last but not least, they offer a high battery life, providing a full 24 hours before you need to charge them.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| These earbuds provide 24 hours of battery life. | Some users report that the battery life declines with use. |
| These earbuds come in four different colors, including black. | |
| These earbuds are some of the cheapest options on our list, and are usually under $30. |
Check out the Skullcandy Sesh EVO on Amazon today.
Best Noise-Canceling Budget Earbuds: soundcore by Anker Sport X10
- 210° rotatable ear hooks
- The dynamic acoustic system delivers 2× more bass
- Fully waterproof, IPX7-rated build
- 32 hours of playtime
- 6 mics and noise cancellation
If you need to be able to tune out all sound from the outside world, you need the soundcore by Anker Sport X10 earbuds. These are the only in-ear earbuds that have a swiveling ear hook design that keeps them in your ear and makes charging easy.
This design is also perfect for those who participate in sports, like long-distance running, swimming, and more. These earbuds offer active noise canceling, keeping the outside world firmly outside.
They’re completely waterproof and have an IPX7 rating, so they can be fully submerged in water for up to 30 minutes — perfect if you want to swim with them. And the battery life is amazing, too, with an 8-hour life and an extra 24 hours with the charging case.
Along with the battery life and waterproof rating, these earbuds offer decent sound quality, with a deep base and a high-quality acoustic system.
They also pause when you take them out, so you won’t need your phone unless you want to keep it near you. Because they are sports earbuds, they also include in-app breathing exercises, if you’re interested in using them.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| These earbuds are the best option for those who participate in sports or daily exercise. | These earbuds are larger than most, so they’re not discreet. |
| They offer noise cancelation. | |
| THey have an have an IPX7 rating. |
Take a look at the soundcore by Anker Sport X10 earbuds on Amazon.
Best Budget Earbuds with the Highest Battery Life: LYPERTEK PurePlay Z3 2.0
- Bluetooth 5.2 and wireless connectivity
- 7-band EQ, LDX Audio mode, and Hear Through mode
- Playtime can be extended to 80 hours
- Professionally tuned graphene drivers
The LYPERTEK PurePlay Z3 2.0 earbuds are simple and easy to use, offering two earbuds with a charging case, but where they shine is their battery life. They offer 10 hours of playtime on one charge and an additional 70 hours of battery life in the case itself.
That’s the highest play time on this list, making them perfect for people who don’t have time to constantly charge their earbuds. And while the LYPERTEK PurePlay Z3 2.0 earbuds offer a high battery life, they aren’t bulky.
The case is easy to store and put in your pocket since it’s only 8cm x 3cm x 4cm. The buds themselves are also fairly small. While they may protrude from your ear, they will only do so slightly. They’re also lightweight and you’ll receive four different ear tips to find the most comfortable fit.
While most earbuds offer touch-sensitive controls, these have physical buttons on them. This may make it a bit weird to press your ear, but they control volume, can answer calls, and offer a voice assistant.
The volume is also independent of your phone, so the earbuds can become incredibly loud if you put everything on max volume. The main con to these earbuds is that you have to pair them to your device separately, and they use 5.0 Bluetooth, which is slightly behind. However, this can be a pro if you only like using one earpiece at a time.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The battery life is over 70 hours, the highest on our list. | The earbuds must be paired separately. |
| There are buttons on the earbuds to make music and voice navigation easy. | These earbuds use 5.0 Bluetooth, which is lower connection quality than the current 5.3. |
| These earbuds are small. |
Take a look at the LYPERTEK PurePlay Z3 2.0 earbuds on Amazon.
How to Pick the Best Budget Earbuds: Step by Step
Before purchasing a new set of budget earbuds, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:
- Price
- Bluetooth Connection
- Quality
- Water Resistance
Let’s go over these more thoroughly.
Price
Some budget earbuds are cheaply built and have fragile parts that fail easily. So, while you may prefer low-cost options, anything under $20 may not be the best option.
These earbuds are usually all plastic and don’t offer any additional benefits like noise isolation, bass, and comfort. Aim for earbuds around $50 to $100 if you’re trying to stick to a budget.
Bluetooth Connection
If you’re purchasing wireless earbuds, their Bluetooth connection reliability is incredibly important. Be sure that the earbuds you purchase are running on the newest Bluetooth connection, which is currently Bluetooth 5.3.
Quality
While you shouldn’t expect the cheapest earphones on the market to offer the best quality, they should be built decently. Look for earbuds that offer noise cancelation, and that aren’t made completely with plastic. Comfort can also go a long way, so choose earbuds that fit your ears properly.
Water Resistance
While your earbuds won’t have to be completely waterproof, water resistance can go a long way. This is best if you plan on traveling or moving around with them.
Water-resistant earbuds can help protect against electrical harm from liquids, like your sweat. While many wireless earbuds have an IPX4 rating, we suggest an IP certification of at least IPX5 if you plan on walking outside with your set.
What to Know Before Buying Budget Earbuds
Before you purchase a new set of budget earbuds, you’ll want to keep in mind your lifestyle and ear size. For example, some earbuds only offer water resistance, which won’t work well for someone who is in water sports or who lives in a rainy area.
Other earbuds are large and don’t have a long battery life, which may not work for someone who travels often or works in an office for hours on end.
Of course, quality also plays a large part in how much you will enjoy your earbuds. No one should expect AirPod quality for under $100. But yours shouldn’t be staticky or break for at least a year. They should also offer comfort and neutral sound at the very least.
Using Budget Earbuds: What it’s Like
Certain budget earbuds can be diamonds in the rough, offering high-quality sounds and durability without a high price tag. Keep in mind that, sometimes, you get what you pay for.
Be sure to check connectivity, build quality, and noise isolation options, among other qualifications, before buying a new pair. To get the best bang for your buck, try one of our recommendations.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©fizkes/Shutterstock.com.
