Just a few years ago, you would have had difficulty finding a quality pair of wireless headphones for under $50. But times have changed, and you can now find affordable headphones and true wireless earphones that deliver palpable, distortion-free bass and crisp highs. PCMag has been reviewing headphones for over two decades, so you can trust that our selections are worth your money. Our current Editors' Choice winners under $50 are the Tribit FlyBuds 3 for the exercise crowd and the Earfun K2 Kids headphones for young listeners. Of course, one of our other picks might appeal more to you in terms of design or connectivity, so make sure to explore our comprehensive reviews of each. We also provide some buying advice past the list that's worth reading before you start your search.
Overview
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![Tribit FlyBuds 3]()
Best for ExerciseTribit FlyBuds 3
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![Earfun K2 Kids Bluetooth Headphones]()
Best for KidsEarfun K2 Kids Bluetooth Headphones
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![Amazon Echo Buds (2023)]()
Best for AlexaAmazon Echo Buds (2023)
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![JLab JBuds Mini]()
Best for Small EarsJLab JBuds Mini
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![JVC HA-A9T]()
Best for Bass LoversJVC HA-A9T
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![Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds]()
Most AffordableSkullcandy Smokin’ Buds
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![JLab JBuds ANC 3]()
Best for Affordable Noise CancellationJLab JBuds ANC 3
You Can Trust Our Reviews
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
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![Tribit FlyBuds 3]()
Best for ExerciseTribit FlyBuds 3
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The affordable Tribit FlyBuds 3 sport a fully waterproof IPX7 rating, which means you can expose them to heavy rain and dunk them for cleaning without worry. They also produce bass-forward audio that can help motivate your workouts.
Who It’s For
The waterproof design of these earphones makes them a great pick for runners and gymgoers. Furthermore, a secure in-ear fit ensures they won't fall out even during the toughest workouts.
Specs & Configurations
Connection Type Bluetooth True Wireless Type In-Canal Water/Sweat-Resistant Wireless Learn More Tribit FlyBuds 3 Review -
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Credit: Tim Gideon
![Earfun K2 Kids Bluetooth Headphones]()
Best for KidsEarfun K2 Kids Bluetooth Headphones
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Cheap kids' headphones have obvious appeal—kids tend to break things a lot, so an expensive set can be a potentially foolish investment. But that doesn't mean you have to make a ton of sacrifices. For instance, the wireless Earfun K2 Kids headphones offer bass-forward sound, excellent comfort, and good connectivity for under $25, though we wish they didn't have a 94dB listening mode, which is too loud for children.
Who It’s For
In a literal sense, these headphones are for kids. Their understated design means that both younger and older children can enjoy them, while the 40 hours of battery life ensures parents won't constantly need to search for an outlet.
Specs & Configurations
Connection Type Bluetooth Connection Type Stereo 3.5mm Connection Type USB-C Type Circumaural (over-ear) Wireless Learn More Earfun K2 Kids Review -
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Credit: Tim Gideon
![Amazon Echo Buds (2023)]()
Best for AlexaAmazon Echo Buds (2023)
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
Ordinarily, we're not fans of open-style earbuds, but the Echo Buds can provide decent bass depth and imaging if you get a secure fit. But the main reason to get them is for their hands-free Alexa support. Rounding out the experience is a granular app with a customizable EQ, a quality range of codec options (AAC, AptX, and SBC), and decent battery life.
Who It's For
If you use Alexa to control your smart home, these earbuds should fit right into your lifestyle. They aren't ideal for music listening due to their non-sealing design, but the drivers are at least capable of delivering quality audio,
Specs & Configurations
Connection Type Bluetooth True Wireless Type In-Ear Wireless Learn More Amazon Echo Buds Review -
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![JLab JBuds Mini]()
Best for Small EarsJLab JBuds Mini
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The tiny JLab JBuds Mini don't sacrifice many features to meet their low price. They put out enjoyable audio, pair with a full-featured app with an adjustable EQ, and sport a rugged IP55 rating. An excellent mic array and a quality transparency mode more than make up for the SBC-only audio.
Who It’s For
If you don't want to stick something bulky in your ears, the compact JLab JBuds Mini should appeal. They're also great for calls and commuting thanks to their high-quality mic system.
Specs & Configurations
Connection Type Bluetooth True Wireless Type In-Canal Water/Sweat-Resistant Wireless Learn More JLab JBuds Mini Review -
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![JVC HA-A9T]()
Best for Bass LoversJVC HA-A9T
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
JVC's HA-A9T earphones don't work with a companion app, but they put out an impressive amount of bass depth with crisp, sculpted highs. A battery life of around 7.5 hours and an IPX5 water-resistance rating are additional highlights.
Who It’s For
These JVC earphones deliver low-end frequencies commendably and should make the short list of any bass lover on a budget. They easily compete with more expensive models on sound quality.
Specs & Configurations
Connection Type Bluetooth True Wireless Type In-Canal Water/Sweat-Resistant Wireless Learn More JVC HA-A9T Review -
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![Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds]()
Most AffordableSkullcandy Smokin’ Buds
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
For under $25, the true wireless Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds balance surprisingly good bass depth with sufficiently bright highs. An IPX4 water-resistance rating means decent protection against splashes, and the 8-hour battery life is above-average. Support for the AAC codec is a nice bonus at this price.
Who It's For
If you are on a strict budget, these Skullcandy earbuds are the least expensive ones we recommend without hesitation. The controls could be better, but the important thing is that they sound better than their price suggests.
Specs & Configurations
Connection Type Bluetooth True Wireless Type In-Canal Water/Sweat-Resistant Wireless Learn More Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds True Wireless Review -
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![JLab JBuds ANC 3]()
Best for Affordable Noise CancellationJLab JBuds ANC 3
Pros & Cons
Why We Picked It
The JLab JBuds ANC 3 deliver audio with notable thump, offer effective active noise cancellation (ANC) against low-frequency distractions, and provide an adjustable in-app EQ.
Who It's For
If you're looking for sculpted sound with good ANC for a low price the JBuds ANC 3 are a fine alternative to other similarly priced earphones.
Specs & Configurations
Active Noise Cancellation Connection Type Bluetooth True Wireless Type In-Canal Water/Sweat-Resistant Wireless Learn More JLab JBuds ANC 3 Review -
Compare Specs
Our Pick | ||||||||||
Rating |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
3.5 Good |
3.5 Good |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
4.0 Excellent |
Best For | Best for Exercise | Best for Kids | Best for Alexa | Best for Small Ears | Best for Bass Lovers | Most Affordable | Best for Affordable Noise Cancellation | Best for Exercise | Best for Kids | Best for Alexa |
Type | In-Canal | Circumaural (over-ear) | In-Ear | In-Canal | In-Canal | In-Canal | In-Canal | In-Canal | Circumaural (over-ear) | In-Ear |
Wireless | ||||||||||
True Wireless | ||||||||||
Connection Type | Bluetooth | Bluetooth, Stereo 3.5mm, USB-C | Bluetooth | Bluetooth | Bluetooth | Bluetooth | Bluetooth | Bluetooth | Bluetooth, Stereo 3.5mm, USB-C | Bluetooth |
Water/Sweat-Resistant | ||||||||||
Active Noise Cancellation |
Buying Guide: The Best Cheap Earbuds and Headphones (Under $50)
What's the Difference Between Earbuds and Earphones?
Let's clarify an important distinction: The terms earbuds and earphones might seem interchangeable, but for our purposes, earbuds are flat and sit just outside the ear canal (often referred to as an open design), while earphones have silicone or foam tips that provide a full inner-ear seal. The loose fit of the former type often leads to inconsistent stereo imaging and poor bass response, so we generally recommend you go for the latter.
Are Budget Headphones Worth Your Money?
Budget headphones have really improved in recent years. They have more stylish designs, use more comfortable materials, and fit more securely than ever. Some super-lightweight earphones even somehow manage to output a decent amount of power. In the other direction, plenty of inexpensive kids' headphones actively limit volume levels to protect their hearing.
If you are looking in this price range because you want something cheap for the gym, we have a separate roundup of the best earbuds for running and other types of exercise. Some of the entries here have a sufficient IP rating for that use case, however.
Don't expect any of these headphones to offer studio-quality sound. That doesn't mean you shouldn't buy a cheap pair of headphones, but keep your expectations in check.
Can Cheap Headphones Cancel Noise?
Effective active noise cancellation (ANC) is expensive, so it is unlikely you will find top-notch noise-cancelling headphones or earphones in this price range. At a minimum, you need to expand your budget to around $80-$100 to get decent performance.
Ben Moore contributed to this article.