The Best Cheap Earbuds and Headphones (Under $50)

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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.