You don’t need to spend €250 to get good wireless earbuds any more. Budget brands like CMF (Nothing’s value label), EarFun and JLab now offer noise cancelling, app EQ and even hi-res Bluetooth codecs for well under €100, while Sony’s entry models deliver big-brand reliability for around €40. What you give up is mostly polish: slightly weaker ANC, plainer cases and microphones that struggle in wind.
These are the cheap earbuds that Tom’s Guide, What Hi-Fi and hifi.de rate most highly in 2026. Euro prices were checked in October 2026; budget earbuds are discounted constantly, so the deal price is often the real price.
Our picks at a glance
- Best budget ANCCMF Buds Pro 2
- Best budgetSony WF-C510
- Best sound under €100EarFun Air Pro 4+
- Best mid-priceSony WF-C710N
- Most customisableCMF Buds 2
- Cheapest with ANCJLab Go Pods ANC
- Cheap classicEarFun Air
Prices are approximate and change often. Ad
1. CMF Buds Pro 2 — best budget earbuds overall
Tom’s Guide names the CMF Buds Pro 2 the best cheap earbuds overall, and it’s easy to see why. For around €55–65 – and as little as €39.95 in an October 2026 Prime deal – you get strong noise cancelling, punchy bass with dual drivers, LDAC hi-res Bluetooth, multipoint and up to 11 hours of playback (6.5 hours with ANC). IP55 means sweat and rain aren’t a worry.
Reviewers noted a slight static hum in quiet passages and some treble clipping with certain custom EQ settings. Those are minor complaints at this price.
CMF Buds Pro 2
Tom's Guide's best cheap earbuds overall: strong ANC, punchy bass, LDAC and long battery life.
- Battery
- 6.5 h ANC / 11 h off, 26 h with case
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LDAC
- Multipoint
- Yes
- Water
- IP55
Pros
- Strong noise cancelling for the price
- Good bass and LDAC
- Multipoint
- Very affordable
Cons
- Slight static hum
- Treble can clip with some EQ settings
2. Sony WF-C510 — best cheap Sony
Sony’s smallest earbuds don’t have noise cancelling, but they do almost everything else right. hifi.de scored them 8.4 for their natural, detailed sound and comfortable, secure fit, and What Hi-Fi gave them an award for battery life – 11 hours per charge. With a list price of €59.99 and sale prices around €35–40, they’re the safe choice for anyone who wants a familiar brand and a good app.
Bass is on the lean side, the plastic feels inexpensive and the IPX4 rating is only splash-proof.
Sony WF-C510
What Hi-Fi's best battery life award and an 8.4 at hifi.de: natural, detailed sound and a light, secure fit for very little money.
- Battery
- 11 h, 22 h with case
- ANC
- No
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC
- Water
- IPX4
Pros
- Natural, detailed sound
- Light, comfortable fit
- Long battery life
- Very low price
Cons
- No noise cancelling
- Bass is lean
- Feels a bit cheap
3. EarFun Air Pro 4+ — best sound under €100
Tom’s Guide’s best-sounding budget pair and an 8.8 at hifi.de, the Air Pro 4+ packs rich bass, detailed treble, LDAC and aptX support, Bluetooth 6.0 with Auracast and an enormous battery – 12 hours from the buds and 43 hours with the case. Five ear-tip sizes make a good seal more likely.
The only real criticism is that it looks and feels cheaper than it sounds. It lists at €99.99 but was €74.96 on Amazon in October 2026.
EarFun Air Pro 4+
Tom's Guide's best-sounding cheap earbuds and an 8.8 at hifi.de: rich bass, detailed treble, LDAC/aptX and a big battery.
- Battery
- 12 h, 43 h with case
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LDAC, aptX
- Bluetooth
- 6.0 + Auracast
- ANC
- Yes
Pros
- Rich, powerful sound
- Excellent battery life
- Five ear-tip sizes
- Auracast ready
Cons
- Looks and feels cheap
4. Sony WF-C710N — best budget pair with brand-name ANC
Stretching to about €100 gets you Sony noise cancelling and What Hi-Fi’s mid-price award winner. The WF-C710N’s sound is full and musical with controlled bass. Not every reviewer is convinced by its ANC – nextpit called it too weak – so if noise cancelling is the priority, the CMF Buds Pro 2 are better value. See our best wireless earbuds guide for more.
Sony WF-C710N
What Hi-Fi's mid-price award winner: fulsome bass, musical sound and decent ANC for the money – though nextpit found the ANC weak.
- Battery
- 8.5 h (ANC), ≈30 h with case
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC
- ANC
- Yes
- App
- Sony Sound Connect
Pros
- Fulsome, controlled bass
- Musical sound
- Good battery life
Cons
- ANC weaker than flagships
- No aptX or LDAC
- Slightly bulky case
5. CMF Buds 2 — most customisable
The cheaper CMF Buds 2 are Tom’s Guide’s pick for tinkerers: Dirac-tuned sound, plenty of EQ presets, decent ANC and extremely long battery life (up to 55 hours with the case when ANC is off). The microphone struggles outdoors and there’s no hi-res codec. EU pricing varies – check the current offer.
CMF Buds 2
Tom's Guide's pick for customisation: Dirac tuning, EQ presets, decent ANC and very long battery life.
- Battery
- 12 h, up to 55 h with case (ANC off)
- ANC
- Yes
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC
Pros
- Extensive sound customisation
- Comfortable
- Very long battery
Cons
- Call mic struggles outdoors
- No hi-res codecs
6. JLab Go Pods ANC — cheapest with noise cancelling
When every euro counts, JLab’s Go Pods ANC bring noise cancelling, IP55 protection and an app with EQ for pocket money – around $32–39 in the US, Tom’s Guide’s best pick under $50. The sound is bassy rather than refined and they can feel tight after a few hours, but they’re ideal as a gym or backup pair.
JLab Go Pods ANC
Tom's Guide's best under $50: bassy sound, ANC and an app with EQ for pocket money.
- Battery
- 7.5 h, 23 h with case
- ANC
- Yes
- Water
- IP55
Pros
- Extremely affordable
- Bassy sound
- Useful app with EQ
Cons
- Can feel tight after long wear
- Basic sound quality
7. EarFun Air — cheap classic
What Hi-Fi’s long-standing best cheap pick still delivers punchy, expansive sound and a classy finish without ANC. Its treble lacks refinement, and What Hi-Fi notes that spending a little more buys a noticeable jump – which is why the Air Pro 4+ ranks higher here.
EarFun Air
What Hi-Fi's best cheap earbuds: punchy, expansive sound and a classy finish for the money.
- Battery
- 7 h, 28 h with case
- ANC
- No
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC
Pros
- Punchy, expansive sound
- Strong features for the money
- Classy finish
Cons
- Treble lacks refinement
- Spending a little more buys a big jump
Compare the key specs
| Model | CMF Buds Pro 2Best budget ANC | Sony WF-C510Best budget | EarFun Air Pro 4+Best sound under €100 | Sony WF-C710NBest mid-price | CMF Buds 2Most customisable | JLab Go Pods ANCCheapest with ANC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TechHive score | 8.6/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.6/10 | 8.2/10 | 8.1/10 | 7.6/10 |
| Approx. price | €55 | €40 | €75 | €100 | Varies | Varies |
| Battery | 6.5 h ANC / 11 h off, 26 h with case | 11 h, 22 h with case | 12 h, 43 h with case | 8.5 h (ANC), ≈30 h with case | 12 h, up to 55 h with case (ANC off) | 7.5 h, 23 h with case |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC, aptX | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC | — |
| Multipoint | Yes | — | — | — | — | — |
| Water | IP55 | IPX4 | — | — | — | IP55 |
| ANC | — | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | — | — | 6.0 + Auracast | — | — | — |
| App | — | — | — | Sony Sound Connect | — | — |
| Shop Ad | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
How to choose cheap earbuds
Decide whether you need ANC
Budget ANC has improved a lot, but it’s still weaker than flagship noise cancelling. If you mainly listen at home or in the gym, a non-ANC pair like the Sony WF-C510 often sounds better for the money.
Look at the app
A decent app with EQ, firmware updates and ear-tip fit tests makes cheap earbuds much better to live with. CMF, EarFun and Sony all offer one.
Codecs matter only on Android
LDAC and aptX can improve sound quality with compatible Android phones and services. iPhones use AAC, which all of these support.
Battery and fast charging
Most budget pairs now last 7–12 hours per charge, often more than flagships. Quick charging (10 minutes for several hours) is common and very useful.
Buying in Europe
Budget earbuds are constantly discounted, so compare prices before buying – today’s “deal” may be the normal price next week. EU purchases come with a two-year legal guarantee, and online orders can usually be returned within 14 days (check hygiene rules for in-ears).
How we choose
We compare reviews from Tom’s Guide, What Hi-Fi, hifi.de and nextpit, focus on models that score consistently well, check European prices and list weaknesses honestly. We don’t run our own lab tests yet – see how we research.
FAQ
What are the best earbuds under €50?
The Sony WF-C510 (often €35–40) and, on sale, the CMF Buds Pro 2 (seen at €39.95) are the standouts.
Are cheap earbuds bad for calls?
Not bad, but they struggle more with wind and traffic noise than premium pairs. For frequent calls, consider a pair with strong mics such as the Sony WF-1000XM6.
Do budget earbuds work with iPhone?
Yes. All of these connect over standard Bluetooth and support the AAC codec iPhones use; you just won’t get Apple-specific features.
Should I buy budget earbuds or wait for a flagship sale?
If your budget is under €100, buy budget – flagship sales rarely drop below €180–220.
