It’s challenging enough to find the best cheap headphones with all the options available, but it gets even more complicated to find the best ones at such affordable prices. Earbuds now generally come with a microphone and controller that should work with Android when answering calls and adjusting the volume.
There are thousands of products to wade through, which is all too much work for many. Luckily, we did the hard bit for you and chose the best earbuds for under 20 bucks. All you’ve got to do is find the right fit for your lifestyle by picking any one of these excellent picks.
Meet all the best earbuds with a mic onboard within $20
Why you can trust Android Central
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Staff pick
Foam fit
They handle calls just fine, fit better than average, and aren’t terrible to wear. Best of all, they sound awesome. The Fusion Earbuds also include memory foam ear-tips to get the best fit possible without worrying about ear fatigue. KLIM offers a five-year warranty if anything goes awry with your amazing earbuds.
Frugally dynamic
1More’s Omthing AirFree Buds offer shockingly high value that includes support and customization through the 1More Music app. You get solid audio quality, and even some help to cancel out noise during phone calls. Expect up to seven hours of battery life, with another four charges coming from the case.
For the gym
These Bluetooth earbuds will get the hooks in your ears to stay in place without moving too much, especially if you want to free yourself from all cables. You can expect good sound quality with up to eight-hour battery life, plus an IPX6 water resistance rating, making these headphones perfect for someone frugal that needs wireless earbuds purely for runs and workouts.
Colorful example
These JLab earbuds have a colorful look to them that is likely to stand out, but as far as performance and everything else goes, you can expect universal mic and music controls, as well as a quick way to talk to your voice assistant. They keep things pretty simple with three sets of ear tips and two sets of fins, but it’s the lightweight and slim design that makes them comfortable to wear for longer periods.
Awesome for calls
The Sony MDR-EX155AP earphones are a fantastic choice thanks to the 45-degree angled design, which allows the earbuds to sit better in your ear canal. In addition, the inline mic makes it easy to chat on the phone without much background noise and includes playback controls if you’re listening to some tunes. Plus, there are a few different colors to choose from to get some headphones that match your style.
Most comfortable
Want cheap earbuds that you can wear all day? The Panasonic ErgoFit earbuds are great. The sound is decent for music or phone calls, and they aren’t the prettiest things to look at. Luckily, whatever the tips are made of is fantastic because they fit inside your ear without bugging you along the way.
Unique fit
Although these don’t sport a 45-degree angle, the Skullcandy Ink’d+ earbuds promise a noise-isolating fit due to the earbud tips. These come in seven different colors, and you get two extra sets of earbud tips to find the best fit. Skullcandy also offers a two-year warranty if something goes awry.
Tangle-free cable
Samsung’s Type-C are included with certain Samsung smartphones, but now you can purchase them separately. The headphones come with four interchangeable ear tips to give you the best sound from these AKG-tuned headphones. Additionally, the inline microphone has three buttons, allows you to control phone calls, and you won’t have to worry about dongles with the USB-C connector.
Lightweight and reliable
If you’re looking to free your ears from cables and at a price you can afford, the JLab Go Air True Wireless buds fit the bill. They’ve got limited battery life at up to five hours per charge max for the earbuds and a microphone capable of handling phone calls and voice assistants. They may not be super ideal for smaller ears, but they have various tips.
Type-C
Seeing a pair of USB-C earbuds with a mic at an affordable price is a surprise, but seeing a couple as nifty and versatile as the TITACUTE USB Type-C is even more of a surprise. These headphones offer a DAC to convert standard audio to lossless in a lightweight package. Plus, magnets on both earbuds let you clasp them together to avoid entanglement.
Tangle-free lifestyle
Skullcandy keeps things simple with the Set USB-C In-Ear Wired Earbuds. You just plug in and then play. Extra ear tips and fins will help you find the best fit to hear everything more clearly. If you’re looking for some bass in your tunes on a budget, you’re not likely to come away disappointed, either. A two-year warranty doesn’t hurt in case these buds don’t make it down the line.
Wooden aesthetic
The Symphonized XTC 2.0 In-Ear headphones are made from natural wood to provide a crisp acoustic sound coupled with deep bass. The inline controls allow you to skip or pause your music, and there’s also a microphone built-in so you can take your calls at any time.
- Back to the top ^
Get the best earbuds you deserve
You don’t have to look too far to find a set of cheap earbuds or headphones that work just like you want them to work. We’ve got a selection here that covers all the basics, so you’ll be sure to find something to match your lifestyle. For example, I like the KLIM Fusion Earbuds because I dig the sound of these tiny little things. And you can always know you’re getting an excellent seal with the foam ear tips.
For those looking for a superb wireless earbud experience, you could always try the 1More Omthing AirFree Buds for their sheer value proposition, or the JLab Go Air True Wireless for their effectiveness on a tight budget. The latter aren’t as epic as the JLab Work Buds, which come with a detachable mic, but you still get decent battery life and sound quality for a bargain price, including a few different sound profiles.
Are you looking for something in a higher price range? What about something specifically wireless? Headphones and earbuds come in all shapes and sizes, so check out our round-up of the best wireless headphones with microphones.
It’s challenging enough to find the best cheap headphones with all the options available, but it gets even more complicated to find the best ones at such affordable prices. Earbuds now generally come with a microphone and controller that should work with Android when answering calls and adjusting the volume.
There are thousands of products to wade through, which is all too much work for many. Luckily, we did the hard bit for you and chose the best earbuds for under 20 bucks. All you’ve got to do is find the right fit for your lifestyle by picking any one of these excellent picks.
Meet all the best earbuds with a mic onboard within $20
Why you can trust Android Central
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Staff pick
Foam fit
They handle calls just fine, fit better than average, and aren’t terrible to wear. Best of all, they sound awesome. The Fusion Earbuds also include memory foam ear-tips to get the best fit possible without worrying about ear fatigue. KLIM offers a five-year warranty if anything goes awry with your amazing earbuds.
Frugally dynamic
1More’s Omthing AirFree Buds offer shockingly high value that includes support and customization through the 1More Music app. You get solid audio quality, and even some help to cancel out noise during phone calls. Expect up to seven hours of battery life, with another four charges coming from the case.
For the gym
These Bluetooth earbuds will get the hooks in your ears to stay in place without moving too much, especially if you want to free yourself from all cables. You can expect good sound quality with up to eight-hour battery life, plus an IPX6 water resistance rating, making these headphones perfect for someone frugal that needs wireless earbuds purely for runs and workouts.
Colorful example
These JLab earbuds have a colorful look to them that is likely to stand out, but as far as performance and everything else goes, you can expect universal mic and music controls, as well as a quick way to talk to your voice assistant. They keep things pretty simple with three sets of ear tips and two sets of fins, but it’s the lightweight and slim design that makes them comfortable to wear for longer periods.
Awesome for calls
The Sony MDR-EX155AP earphones are a fantastic choice thanks to the 45-degree angled design, which allows the earbuds to sit better in your ear canal. In addition, the inline mic makes it easy to chat on the phone without much background noise and includes playback controls if you’re listening to some tunes. Plus, there are a few different colors to choose from to get some headphones that match your style.
Most comfortable
Want cheap earbuds that you can wear all day? The Panasonic ErgoFit earbuds are great. The sound is decent for music or phone calls, and they aren’t the prettiest things to look at. Luckily, whatever the tips are made of is fantastic because they fit inside your ear without bugging you along the way.
Unique fit
Although these don’t sport a 45-degree angle, the Skullcandy Ink’d+ earbuds promise a noise-isolating fit due to the earbud tips. These come in seven different colors, and you get two extra sets of earbud tips to find the best fit. Skullcandy also offers a two-year warranty if something goes awry.
Tangle-free cable
Samsung’s Type-C are included with certain Samsung smartphones, but now you can purchase them separately. The headphones come with four interchangeable ear tips to give you the best sound from these AKG-tuned headphones. Additionally, the inline microphone has three buttons, allows you to control phone calls, and you won’t have to worry about dongles with the USB-C connector.
Lightweight and reliable
If you’re looking to free your ears from cables and at a price you can afford, the JLab Go Air True Wireless buds fit the bill. They’ve got limited battery life at up to five hours per charge max for the earbuds and a microphone capable of handling phone calls and voice assistants. They may not be super ideal for smaller ears, but they have various tips.
Type-C
Seeing a pair of USB-C earbuds with a mic at an affordable price is a surprise, but seeing a couple as nifty and versatile as the TITACUTE USB Type-C is even more of a surprise. These headphones offer a DAC to convert standard audio to lossless in a lightweight package. Plus, magnets on both earbuds let you clasp them together to avoid entanglement.
Tangle-free lifestyle
Skullcandy keeps things simple with the Set USB-C In-Ear Wired Earbuds. You just plug in and then play. Extra ear tips and fins will help you find the best fit to hear everything more clearly. If you’re looking for some bass in your tunes on a budget, you’re not likely to come away disappointed, either. A two-year warranty doesn’t hurt in case these buds don’t make it down the line.
Wooden aesthetic
The Symphonized XTC 2.0 In-Ear headphones are made from natural wood to provide a crisp acoustic sound coupled with deep bass. The inline controls allow you to skip or pause your music, and there’s also a microphone built-in so you can take your calls at any time.
- Back to the top ^
Get the best earbuds you deserve
You don’t have to look too far to find a set of cheap earbuds or headphones that work just like you want them to work. We’ve got a selection here that covers all the basics, so you’ll be sure to find something to match your lifestyle. For example, I like the KLIM Fusion Earbuds because I dig the sound of these tiny little things. And you can always know you’re getting an excellent seal with the foam ear tips.
For those looking for a superb wireless earbud experience, you could always try the 1More Omthing AirFree Buds for their sheer value proposition, or the JLab Go Air True Wireless for their effectiveness on a tight budget. The latter aren’t as epic as the JLab Work Buds, which come with a detachable mic, but you still get decent battery life and sound quality for a bargain price, including a few different sound profiles.
Are you looking for something in a higher price range? What about something specifically wireless? Headphones and earbuds come in all shapes and sizes, so check out our round-up of the best wireless headphones with microphones.
