The Best Cheap Earbuds of 2023

We’ve written a lot about headphones over the years, looking at everything from top of the range models to seeing how cheap you can go without sacrificing too much in the way of quality. Today we’re looking at budget options for those who prefer earbuds to headphones, and you may be surprised by just how little you need to spend.

Before continuing, ask yourself a few questions. First, how much do you really care about audio quality? Are you a self-professed audiophile who annoys roommates by constantly tinkering with the sound settings on your speakers, or regales strangers with the difference between lossy and lossless audio formats?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, or if you’re looking for great noise cancelation or something to make regular work calls with, head over to our piece covering some of the best earbuds and headphones on the market.

If you answered no, don’t worry—there’s no shame in that. You’ll save yourself plenty of money by buying at the lower end of the market, especially if you’re known to misplace or break your earbuds.

We’ve put together our list of the best cheap earbuds of 2023, so you don’t have to waste your money on high-end gear that you may not need. After all, we’re not all sound engineers. 

Best Cheap Earbuds Under $15: Panasonic ErgoFit

If we can say one thing about the Panasonic ErgoFit earbuds, it’s that the price is right. You could easily spend more on a solo dining experience at McDonald’s—and these earbuds are going to stick with you for a lot longer than a double quarter pounder with cheese. 

The buds come with three sets of silicone eartips in small, medium, or large to ensure they’ll easily fit inside your ear canals no matter what size they are. Getting the right fit helps the earbuds block out a little background noise, and makes them more comfortable as well. 

The earbuds are available in 15 different colors and shades, including plain old black or white if you’re not a fan of bright colors. The extended 3.6-foot cord, while thin and prone to tangling, allows you to easily thread the earbuds through your bag or clothing. 

The most impressive thing about these earbuds (beyond the price) is that the sound quality is actually decent, matching or bettering many models costing three or four times as much.

Note we said decent, not perfect. The sound lacks detail when playing softer genres like acoustic guitar and solo piano, and, unfortunately, it’s not all about that bass either. Once again, though, you can’t beat the quality for the price.

If you frequently lose or break your buds, or if you’re looking for something inexpensive to leave in your gym bag or take on a trip, these are the best cheap earbuds available right now. 

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Best Cheap Wireless Earbuds: Lypertek SoundFree S20

If you’ve gone wireless before, then you know how hard it is to go back. That’s as true with earbuds as anything else, and just like the wired versions, there are cheap wireless earbuds out there that sound good and won’t break the bank.

The batteries in the Lypertek SoundFree S20 are rated to last an impressive eight hours between charges, and often last longer in the real world. The case can charge the earbuds an extra five times, for a total of 48 hours or more of play time.

When it’s time to charge the earbuds, you won’t have to wait long to start listening again: 15 minutes in the case provides two extra hours of listening time. The case itself charges quickly via its USB C port, and it can be charged with any Qi-compatible wireless charger as well.

The IPX5-rated earbuds have basic resistance to rain and sweat if you plan to use them for exercise, but don’t drop them in the toilet if you want them to keep working. The buds are comfortable for most wearers, helped significantly by the six different silicone caps that come in the box to help fit any ear size. 

The sound quality is good for the price, with strong bass, clear midrange, and acceptable treble. It can be hard to make out the detail in complex pieces, but for the money, you’re unlikely to be upset by the sound flowing into your ear canals.

Unusually these days, the S20 have a small physical button on the top of the buds to control most settings, rather than the more usual touch-sensitive surface on the side. Honestly, it’s a good idea in cheaper buds, since it tends to be more comfortable and reliable to use.

We wouldn’t recommend these buds if you’re planning on regularly making calls with them, however. While you’ll probably be able to hear your caller, there’s a good chance they won’t be able to hear you. Muffled audio and minimal cancellation of outside noise often results in a poor experience for the person on the other end.

If you don’t care about calls, though, the Lypertek SoundFree S20 provides impressive value for money. Good battery life, decent sound, simple controls, and a comfortable fit makes them the best cheap wireless earbuds you can buy right now.

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Best Cheap Earbuds For Calls: TaoTronics SoundLiberty 80

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Here’s the thing about using earbuds or headphones for calls: generally speaking, you’ve got to spend more for quality. That said, if you don’t want to pay through the nose for earbuds just so you can make calls that don’t sound terrible, the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 80 wireless earbuds are the way to go. 

These earbuds fit differently to most others: instead of silicone eartips, there’s a vertical stalk and speaker housing made of molded plastic. This lets some outside noise in, but the inbuilt mics have AI noise suppression technology to help counter that.

The AI filters out background noise no matter your surroundings, optimizing the clarity of conversations for both yourself and the person you’re speaking to. They’re still not as good as the best headphones for calls, but they’re as good as you’ll find at this end of the market right now.

The earbuds are voice-controlled, so if you want to skip a track or adjust the volume, you can do so by voice command. You can also ask the earbuds directly how much battery life they have left.

Inbuilt motion sensors mean that as soon as you remove the earbuds, whatever you’re listening to will automatically pause. It’ll start up again once the earbuds are back in your ears. For most wearers, the buds are comfortable and fit very well. 

The SoundLiberty 80’s crisp, clear sound is ideal for music as well as calls, with highs and lows nicely balanced, and strong bass. That said, getting truly powerful bass from a set of budget earbuds is a challenge: dance music enthusiasts may still feel the deep thump thump they’re accustomed to is lacking.

If these buds have one downside, it’s the battery life. Depending on how loud you listen to your music, they may only provide up to three hours of power before running flat, although at least the case provides up to five extra charges. 

Best Cheap Earbuds For Running: Skullcandy Ink’d Wireless

If you’re looking for earbuds that won’t fall out when you’re running, Skullcandy’s Ink'd Plus wireless earbuds ensure a secure fit with specially-designed ear gels and a collar that hugs the neck. They’re sweat and water-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about soaking them after a challenging workout. 

They’ve got an impressive 8-hour battery life, so you can work out multiple times without the buds dying on you. If you do forget to power them up, they only need ten minutes on the charger to give two hours of play time. 

Sound quality is acceptable, although the volume is a little low in general, and that includes the bass levels. Calls also sound a bit tinny, although you likely won’t be taking many work calls when you’re out for a jog anyway. 

These buds will stay in your ears even during an intense workout, which is their biggest drawcard. They’ll also get rid of some surrounding noise due to that snug fit. If sound quality or call clarity are more important to you, however, the above options will better suit your needs. 

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Best Cheap Earbuds For Sleeping: MAXROCK Sleep Earplugs

If you like to listen to music or ambient noises before you sleep, the design of the MAXROCK Sleep Earplugs combines earplugs and earbuds for a snug, cozy fit that helps block surrounding noise like a busy street, blaring television, or your partner’s snoring. 

They don’t have built-in noise cancelation; rather, they’re designed like an earplug, so the noise suppression will depend on how snugly they fit in your ears. The earbuds are made of squishy, flexible double-layered silicone to fit comfortably, even if you’re a side sleeper.

An inline remote lets you answer calls and control playback as needed, and there’s even a basic carry case so they won’t get tangled when you drop them in your bag. 

The sound quality isn’t anything to write home about, but keep in mind that they’re designed for helping you get to sleep. We wouldn’t recommend buying these primarily for listening to music or making calls, but they’re a comfortable and affordable solution for sleeping.

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Brand-name earbuds can cost a lot, with features and sound quality to match the high-end prices. That said, expensive earbuds may not be in your budget right now, or you may not even notice much of a difference between earbuds that cost hundreds of dollars and ones costing a lot less.

If you frequently lose or break earbuds, want a second set for the gym or outdoor exercise, or just don’t care all that much about having the best sound quality available, save your money and start out with a cheaper pair. Odds are you’ll be more than satisfied by their performance, and if not, you can always return them and invest in something better.

If, however, you need to make frequent work calls and will be using your earbuds as a headset, you should consider investing in more expensive models designed specifically for calls. Alternatively, stick with your reasonably-priced earbuds, disable the inbuilt mic entirely, and grab an external USB or Bluetooth microphone for making calls instead.

🎧 If you’re prepared to spend a little more, we also have recommendations for the best earbuds for sleeping, the best wireless earbuds, and the best noise-canceling headphones.

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Main image via rupixen, product images via Amazon