Best Budget Earbuds Under $50: My Ranked Picks

THE SCORECARD

TOZO NC20

• App customization and extra features

  8/10

  I found the 10-band EQ, optional advanced EQ, ANC modes and left/right balance useful, though the hearing test did not do much.

• Sound quality

  8/10

  After EQ, this was the most complete sound for me, with full bass, separated vocals and standout treble.

Which budget earbuds fit exercise and daily use best?

Fit is close across this list because every model has a stem design, and I gave all of them 8 out of 10 for security. I can use any of these stem-style earbuds for weight training or running. The stem helps hold the earbud down in the ear canal and reduces body-borne noise from impact.

The TOZO NC20 include six ear-tip sizes, QCY N70 include five, and the SoundPEATS P31i include four. The SoundPEATS C30 create the most body-borne noise, although I still found them usable.

For water resistance, the TOZO NC20 are IPX8. The QCY N70 are IPX5. If dust is a concern, I would look at an IP54 or IP55-rated option instead. Neither Moondrop model has a water-resistance rating.

How do calls, controls and connectivity compare?

Call performance is broadly fine in a quiet room or with crowd noise. The earbuds scoring 7 or lower struggle in my windy-city call test, so wind call quality is worth prioritizing if you take calls outdoors.

No earbuds in this group let you mute a call with touch controls. The CMF models and QCY N70 do let you change ambient-control settings while on a call. With SoundPEATS, TOZO and the Moondrop Space Travel 2, I had to use the app to change those settings. On the original Moondrop Space Travel, you are stuck with the ambient setting that was active when you answered.

Connectivity was completely fine on every model for me. Only the original Moondrop Space Travel lack multipoint connection, while all three CMF models offer Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair.

Best cheap earbuds under $30

If you want to spend less than $30 and still want a good all-round earbud with decent call quality in wind, get the SoundPEATS C30. Their ANC is especially good bang for your buck at their price, but their sound is only 6.25 out of 10 for me: vocals are boxy, the treble lacks detail and the bass is a little muddy.

The original Moondrop Space Travel are my best-sounding choice under $30, with a 7 out of 10 sound score. They are the only balanced earbuds in this ranking, with punchy bass, natural mids, treble and decent instrument separation. They are quiet, though, and their lidless case gives the earbuds less protection.

The CMF Buds 2a are the bassier alternative. Their stock bass is far too over the top, but EQ makes them a solid option with decent mids and treble for the price.

Which earbuds have the best ANC and transparency?

The SoundPEATS C30 offer great ANC value for the money. The TOZO NC20 and Soundcore P31i have impressively strong noise cancelling compared with earbuds that cost well over five times as much.

For transparency, the Soundcore P31i and CMF Buds Pro 2 gave me the best balance of clarity, white noise and occlusion at this price. Do not expect transparency on the level of the AirPods Pro 3.

Sound quality picks: balanced, bassy and customizable

For a balanced sound, choose the Moondrop Space Travel 2. They scored 7.5 out of 10 for sound, are slightly more natural than the original Space Travel, and their parametric EQ gives you plenty of room to tailor the tuning. They are not for bass heads, and their wind call quality is poor.

The CMF Buds 2 and CMF Buds Pro 2 also scored 7.5 for sound. Both deliver a bass-boosted but clear and engaging presentation after EQ. The Pro 2 sound a touch wider and airier, while the Buds 2 are more balanced.

The QCY N70 have a MEMS tweeter that gives them crisp treble, but their stock tuning is harsh and bass-heavy. EQ turns them into a solid V-shaped option, although I found it difficult to get the vocals completely clear. The Soundcore P31i are a sizeable step up from the P30i, with a decent if slightly bland stock tuning and generally good all-round sound after EQ.

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