Best Clip-On Open Earbuds: 11 Models Ranked

The Pros and Cons

Which clip-on earbuds are most comfortable?

Comfort is the main reason to buy a clip-on earbud, especially if conventional buds do not fit your ear canal well. You also avoid an ear hook that can interfere with glasses or long hair.

The Edifier LolliClip scored lowest for me because it feels more like a semi-in-ear bud with a clip attached. It is chunkier and less comfortable than the rest. The Bose Ultra Open Earbuds earned 9.5 out of 10 for their light feel, compact driver and well-designed joint, while both HUAWEI models earned 10 out of 10.

For side sleeping, the chunkier driver and how far the wire protrudes both matter. The earbuds I rated as okay are usable if you reposition them, but side sleepers should choose from the models I rated great.

Fit security, water resistance and cases

All 11 earbuds stayed on fine during exercise and training in my experience. The bigger issue is whether they rotate away from the small sound sweet spot. I usually position clip-on earbuds lower on my ear and angle the driver slightly down toward my ear canal for a richer sound with more bass.

The SoundPEATS PearlClip Pro had the loosest fit in my ranking, scoring 8 out of 10, although its silicone inner finish still provides decent grip. The SHOKZ OpenDots ONE and Bose Ultra Open Earbuds both scored 9.5 for their grip and wire tension. The Soundcore AeroClip includes attachable gel grips, making it the option I would look at for very small or thin ears.

The Baseus MC1 Pro and HUAWEI FreeClip 2 were the only models with dust resistance and waterproofing. The FreeClip 2 case is also the only case in this ranking with dust or water protection. For pocketability, the SoundPEATS PearlClip Pro and FreeClip 2 have the thinnest cases, while the Edifier LolliClip and Sony LinkBuds Clip are notably chunkier.

Controls and apps: the useful extras differ a lot

The SHOKZ OpenDots ONE scored lowest for controls because its pinch area is also where I hold the earbud to adjust it, so accidental taps are basically guaranteed. It does have wearing detection, though. The Sony LinkBuds Clip and Soundcore AeroClip let you tap the bud, ear or jaw, but both are limited in how many functions they offer.

If you prefer physical buttons, I would look at Earfun, Baseus or Bose. The FreeClip 2 improves on the original FreeClip with swipe volume control on the rear section. The SoundPEATS PearlClip Pro gives you complete freedom to customize functions, although its driver touch controls are not the most intuitive.

The Edifier LolliClip stands out for unusual extras. It has heart-rate and blood-oxygen tracking, plus light noise cancelling. It is the only clip-on open earbud here with noise cancelling, and while the effect is light, it can help you avoid turning your media up as loud in noisier places.

The Baseus MC1 Pro app was the weak point: its band EQ made the earbuds sound terrible when enabled, which is why it scored 7.5. HUAWEI FreeClip 2, meanwhile, scored 8.5 thanks to the same extras as the original FreeClip plus a solid 10-band EQ.

Call quality: HUAWEI wins, Bose needs work

I ran quiet-room, crowd-noise and windy-city-with-construction-noise call tests, with samples recorded on an actual phone call. The HUAWEI FreeClip 2 had the best call quality overall.

Most clip-on earbuds were usable even in windy conditions. The exception was the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, which were bad all around for calls. Bose really needs to update them.

None of these earbuds lets you mute the microphone from the earbud controls. About half let you adjust call volume using the controls, which is not essential because you can use your phone, but it is a useful option.

Sound quality: SHOKZ OpenDots ONE set the standard

Clip-on earbuds need realistic expectations. With no ear-tip seal, you do not get bass anywhere near a sealed in-ear earbud, particularly deep sub-bass. Positioning still makes a massive difference: moving the driver lower and angling it down improved the sound quality for me.

Below 60% volume, the SHOKZ OpenDots ONE set the standard with 10 out of 10. With a subtle bass and treble boost, they delivered more bass, crisp treble and well-separated vocals. They get closest to sounding like an IEM, even though deep sub-bass remains limited.

Above 60% volume, the OpenDots ONE scored 9.5. They had basically no distortion issues with my bass-boost EQ, along with crisper treble than the FreeClip 2. The FreeClip 2 had more forward vocals, so it is very close between the two.

The Soundcore AeroClip held a 9 out of 10 score at higher volume, with full bass, natural vocals and detailed treble. The Baseus Inspire XC1 also scored 9, with deeper, richer bass. The SoundPEATS PearlClip Pro reached 8.5 at higher volume, and its deep, standout bass is particularly impressive for a budget option.

THE SCORECARD

HUAWEI FreeClip 2

• Comfort

  10/10

  It had the perfect balance of wire tightness and compact design in my ear.

• IP rating

  10/10

  It has dust resistance and waterproofing, and its case is IP54.

• App customization and extra features

  8.5/10

  It adds a solid 10-band EQ to the original FreeClip feature set.

• How these buds sound below 60% volume

  9.25/10

  My EQ added a little extra bass while retaining punch and crisp treble.

• Sound quality above 60% volume

  9.25/10

  It kept crisp treble, clear mids and a full bass response.

Questions I keep getting