Best wired earbuds under $20

A lot of us are guilty of losing earbuds, so having a $20 budget feels reasonable. Whether you’re looking for replacement earbuds or backup buds, we’re here to ease your decision-making process. Here are the best wired earbuds under $20.

Editor’s note: this list was updated on April 16, 2021, to include technical details.

Why is the 1MORE Piston Fit the best wired earbuds under $20?

Each earbud houses a dynamic titanium driver and the nozzles extend at a 45-degree angle for a comfortable fit. The four colorways are iPhone-matched to fit with your iOS device, but they look just as chic with Android devices too. Partway down the right earbud rests an in-line mic and remote, which facilitates playback and call controls

The aluminum housings aid in mitigating internal vibration and sound distortion. Aside from that, the Piston Fit is outfitted with a tensile-resistant cable that’s wrapped around Kevlar fiber. If you’re familiar with the 1MORE Triple-Driver In-Ear, then you know that this Kevlar fiber design is durable. For around $15, you’re going to have a hard time finding a better all-around pair of earbuds.

Get clear, amplified bass with the Philips Pro Wired Earbuds

Philips’ Pro earphones are the most expensive buds listed, and these drivers have the most extensive frequency response listed (7Hz-40kHz). The 3.5mm cable is interrupted by an integrated microphone, so you can take work calls remotely.

Philips includes a carrying pouch and three pairs of ear tips so you can find the best fit for you. It takes just a few minutes to do so and will vastly improve both comfort and sound quality, which is important to hear an accurate bass response. The housings are decorated with a metallic finish which makes these best wired earbuds under $20 a stylish, functional choice.

Get the best sound with the Sony WI-C310

Sony has a lot of experience in manufacturing audio products for budget-conscious listeners—whether it be Bluetooth speakers or wired earbuds. That experience comes through with the Sony WI-C310: a pair of wireless earbuds that offer a little more than you’d expect, given its sub-$20 price tag.

The construction of these neckband-style earbuds is serviceable at best. It’s primarily made of plastic with some rubberized components, which is typical of budget earbuds. The earbuds themselves have magnetic housings that snap together, allowing for easy storage and transport. Along the neckband cable are the control modules which feature playback controls. The modules also house the battery, which Sony claims should last roughly 15 hours.

Despite its low cost, the internals of the Sony WI-C310 is surprisingly modern. It supports Bluetooth 5.0, which is reliable and power-efficient. They support two Bluetooth codecs: SBC and AAC. The buds also feature 9mm neodymium drivers yield a loud bass response.

Make gains with the JBL Endurance RUN

The JBL Endurance RUN is a great option for exercise enthusiasts on a budget. These are IPX5-certified, meaning that they can withstand all the sweat your glands can spill onto them.

You can wear the earbuds the standard way, with the cables descending directly down from the ear, or hook them over and around the ear. The latter may be preferred if you’re usually aggravated by cable noise; doing so mitigates it. Wearing it around the ear also provides a more secure fit, so you don’t have to worry about them falling out while you complete your circuit training. Need more? These include an in-line mic and remote and extra ear tips. Overall, these are a steal for workout wired earbuds under $20.

Get the best bang for your buck with the Panasonic ErgoFit

The Panasonic Ergo Fit is legendary. It’s accrued ~54,000 Amazon reviews, proving that we consumers love these $9 earbuds. As you may expect, it doesn’t afford a lot. However, included are three pairs of ear tips: small, medium, and large. Lacking all else, the Ergo Fit is still an outstanding deal.

Audio quality is fabulous for this price point; the operative phrase being “for this price point.” The ErgoFit comes in a wide array of colorways, which also happen to dictate the price. Fun fact: they were designed to pair with the iPod Nano 5th generation colors, hence the whimsy.

As far as fit is concerned, well, they’re ergonomic. Now, what does that actually mean? They’ll stay in your ears without causing unbearable hot spots. They stay in fairly well but vigorous movement may be enough to cause them to fall out. For the best wired earbuds under $20, these are a great value.

wired earbuds under $20: notable mentions

• Betron YSM1000 Earbuds: These 24K gold-plated pair of earbuds offer a rather balanced sound signature at an incredibly low price tag.
• JLab GO Air: If you have a bit more to spend, $10 more, then the JLab Go Air is the perfect pick. These earphones come in a sleek charging case and boast the company’s premium dual connect feature for a more reliable listening experience. Just as with most other JLab products, the case has an integrated USB cable for you to charge from anywhere.
• KZ ATE HiFi: These were formerly the best cheap earbuds, and the ear hook design mitigates microphonics. This results in greater clarity and less external noise masking your music.
• MEE Audio Sport-Fi M6: This pair of earbuds feature a memory wire that wraps over your ear, ensuring a comfortable fit that won’t fall off during your workouts.
• MEE Audio RX18: This is the same company that manufactures the Sport-Fi M6P. If you’re constantly struggling to find cheap earbuds that fit well, your search ends here.
• Monoprice Enhanced Bass Hi-Fi: The Monoprice Enhanced Bass Hi-Fi earbuds are a recurring conversation piece when it comes to affordable IEMs. These ‘buds are bulky and are outfitted with an ear-hook design, so they’ll stay in place as you walk to work.
• RHA S500: If you’re willing to splurge an additional few dollars, RHA’s affordable earbuds are a great pair of budget drivers. Aluminum housings make the earbuds look grander than the ~$20 price tag implies, and the one-button remote works with both iOS and Android devices.
• Sony MDR EX15AP: These earbuds include an in-line, one-button mic and remote. You can download the Sony Smart Key app to customize control over your Android phone all for less than $15.

What you should know about the best wired earbuds under $20

Expect many cut corners

If you’re in the market for wired earbuds under $20, there are bound to be some significantly cut corners. Unfortunately, the sound quality isn’t going to blow anyone’s socks off. Now, relative to what you’re paying, all of these options are impressive but none of them can hold a candle to something like the RHA MA650, which will run you more than double our $20 limit.

One of the first things to go when hunting even for the best wired earbuds under $20 is build quality. Materials are predominantly plastic. You certainly won’t find any sort of Kevlar-reinforced braided cable like you will with pricier 1MORE products. Additionally, few research and development resources are allocated to cheaper products. This means that ergonomics and sound quality fall to the wayside. Things are passable and could be good for the price. However, they won’t outperform professional IEMs.

Take the time to find a good fit

One of the most important factors when it comes to earbuds is seal and fit. A cogent seal will vastly improve sound quality because it isolates you from ambient noise.  Bass reproduction is the first to go when a seal isn’t formed to the ear. By allowing external noise in, you’re degrading the overall sound quality of your earbuds, because of auditory masking. Investing in third-party ear tips will vastly improve sound quality.

What if your phone doesn’t have a headphone jack?

If your phone manufacturer nixed the headphone jack, you can always pick up a USB-C adapter. It’s a bit cumbersome but does the trick. Otherwise, you can always look into cheap true wireless earbuds or USB-C headphones. Regarding the latter, though, the technology has yet to impress us. In fact, it seems a dead market at this point.

Related: Best earbuds under $50

How we choose the best wired earbuds under $20

Being that we’ve been covering the audio industry for some time, we’re acutely aware of what the top of the market is. It’s not exactly a huge mystery which companies are great at this sort of thing, and which ones aren’t as much. However, we give everyone their fair shot because there are always some surprises out there. That said, we’ve culled through countless wired earbuds under $20 to find the best possible options for you.

Start here: Ultimate headphone buying guide

Why you should trust SoundGuys

We’re stationed at this site day-to-day and understand that consumer and professional needs are constantly evolving. Seeing as we’re inundated with audio products, we’re able to easily sift through the noise to pick out the good from the disappointing. Each of us has multiple years of experience when it comes to keeping tabs on the audio industry and rely on that to guide our review process.

We also take objective measures when applicable and just want our readers to enjoy their purchases. None of our writers may profit or benefit from steering readers to or from a certain audio device. While the site uses referral links, none of our writers will know whether or not a link was clicked. If you so choose, our ethics policy is publicly available.

Frequently asked questions about the best wired earbuds under $20