Don't break the bank: The best budget earbuds, tested by our audio experts

Read our full review of the Bose QuietComfort earbuds.

If you want good-quality sound but don’t want to spend over $200, the Bose QuietComfort is an affordable answer to the brand’s lineup. They’re focused on a great fit, as they not only come with multiple ear tips but multiple bands that can be changed out on the earbuds for a better fit on the crest of your ear. 

The accompanying app lets you adjust audio levels, but you won’t need to, as these earbuds make all your music sound better. They’re reliable, have a long battery life, and are sure to please the pickiest of audiophiles.

I’ve sung the praises of the QuietComfort Ultra, but Bose’s latest earbuds, the entry-level QuietComfort, are also fantastic, especially with their under-$200 price tag. Even after adjusting the ear tips and bands, I didn’t find the fit on these quite as secure as the Ultras. However, my colleague Bethany Allard, who also tested the QuietComfort earbuds, said they were the best earbuds that have ever fit her.

The QuietComfort’s sound quality is just phenomenal. With these earbuds, listening to Ethel Cain’s "A House in Nebraska" immersed me in the orchestrations. When "Brick House" by The Commodores came on, the earbuds elevated the snappy drum beats so that I may have been listening live.

The noise cancellation on the QuietComfort earbuds isn’t as sophisticated as the Ultras; I found they had more sound leakage and that classic ANC buzz when I was in noisy environments. However, the ANC on these is still great, especially in quiet spaces. 

One tiny beef I have with the Bose QuietComfort earbuds is that they require a different app than the standard Bose one. This is annoying if you’re an existing Bose user and need to download another app; plus, this earbud app just isn’t as good as Bose’s flagship app.

All in all, these are a solid pair of budget earbuds that, for $179, are an unbeatable value.

If you really want to stay on a tight budget but don't want to sacrifice features, your best bet is the Anker Soundcore Life P3i earbuds. They're affordable at $50 and have battery life to get you through an eight-hour workday. While it might not be the best ANC you've ever experienced, we still think they're a great value at $50.

The $50 price tag, good sound quality, and active noise cancellation earn these earbuds a spot on this list. You can customize touch controls and adjust audio presets if you're picky about sound quality.

The biggest miss with these headphones is the lack of a multi-point connection. This means you must completely disconnect from one device before reconnecting to another. This could be a dealbreaker if you constantly need to switch between your phone and laptop.

Otherwise, they're a decent pair of headphones that you really can't beat for $50. Plus, they're often on sale for even less, and active noise cancellation for $35 is an even sweeter deal.

Read our full review of the Skullcandy EcoBuds.

If you're environmentally conscious, then buying tech is a constant dilemma. While the most sustainable tech will always be what you already have, if you've run your earbuds into the ground, turn to Skullcandy EcoBuds. The brand reduced its product's usual carbon footprint by 50 percent, using less plastic and metal. While this has scaled back on some features we like in wireless earbuds like ANC or a self-charging case, these buds still bring crisp audio for vibrant music listening.

The Skullcandy EcoBuds are an interesting competitor in the earbud market. The buds are made of 65 percent recycled plastic and contain fewer metals, so they lack some features. But if you don't need a lot of flair in a pair of earbuds, these ones are a steal.

All of the other earbuds on this list have charging cases that hold enough power to recharge the buds. However, there's no battery in this case. Instead, there's a built-in USB-C charger to plug into your computer, smartphone, or the wall. So, despite not being able to charge on its own, the built-in charger makes up for that. There's also no lid to the case, which means the buds tend to fall out easily — not great for the clumsy.

These earbuds have audio performance that shines. In our tests, we were impressed with how they picked up the beat of pop songs and the nuances of live performance recordings. However, they don't have ANC, so you'll have to crank up the volume to drown out the world.

All this to say, at $39.99, these Skullcandy Ecobuds are totally affordable, especially when they're on sale for even less.

Read our full review of the Apple AirPods 4.

If you're committed to the iOS ecosystem, you can still join the budget earbuds club. Apple's AirPods come in different price tiers so if you want the most affordable option, go for the Apple AirPods 4. They start at $129 and deliver five hours of battery life and smooth sound quality. Plus, they don't skimp on AirPods easy iOS connectivity, just open the case and they'll connect to your iPhone.

Apple AirPods are the go-to earbuds for iPhone users. With seamless connectivity between multiple devices, they're ideal for working, commuting, or relaxing on any iOS device. In 2024, the base pair of AirPods got an upgrade to the 4th generation model, delivering incredible sound quality. The AirPods 4 now come at two different price points: without noise cancellation, they're $129 and with, they're $179.

Mashable's former tech editor Kimberly Gedeon took them on a cross country flight, and these budget earbuds kept airplane noise at bay. But even if you go for the pair without ANC, you'll save $50 and still enjoy the multi-dimensional audio that the AirPods can provide. Not to mention, the microphone is crisp and clear on the AirPods 4 so you can take calls on them without a problem.

For a pair of affordable earbuds, they also come with specialized features including the ability to answer calls with the nod of your head. So if you're looking for a pair of cheap AirPods, go for the AirPods 4.