11 affordable wireless earbud alternatives to AirPods — starting at just $20

Moriba Cummings
·3-min read

Our team is dedicated to finding and telling you more about the products and deals we love. If you love them too and decide to purchase through the links below, we may receive a commission. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

Gone are the days of wired headphones and earbuds, especially when premium-quality wireless technology no longer costs an arm and a leg to snag.

Wireless and wearable tech is more affordable than ever, as seen in the smartwatch market. And Apple has been continuously dominating the earbuds arena for some time now — dating all the way back to 2016. In fact, a report by Counterpoint Research via Bloomberg outlined that Apple sold approximately 82 million AirPods in 2020 alone. This marked an increase of 61 million units compared to 2019.

However, despite the massive surge in sales, the study explained that Apple is reportedly losing market share compared to other wireless earbuds brands. Putting that fact into perspective, in 2019 Apple AirPods (the standard AirPods models as well as the latest AirPods Pro) reportedly accounted for about half of all true wireless earphones. The study goes on to explain that this year, Apple AirPods sales are expected to decrease to around 35 percent due to rival brands gaining popularity.

One major factor that likely caused this decline of interest in Apple's models is the influx of more affordable options that perform just as well. Currently, Apple AirPods retail for $159 on Amazon, and the AirPods Pro retail for $249 (when not on sale).

That being said, check out the 11 best affordable wireless earbuds that range in price from $20 to $149. To make your shopping easier, the top features of each are listed below.

1. Otium Wireless Hi-Fi Stereo Earbuds, $19.99 (Orig. $26.99)

Credit: Amazon
Credit: Amazon

Top Features:

  • 30 hours of playtime

  • Low power consumption

  • Long-lasting battery

  • USB Type-C Quick Charge

  • Comes in four colors

Buy Now on Amazon

2. Tozo T12 Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds With Premium Fidelty Sound Quality, $39.99 (Orig. $59.99)

Credit: Amazon
Credit: Amazon

Top Features:

  • Touch-control

  • Smart LED Digital Display

  • Waterproof

  • Easy pairing

  • Charge on the go

  • Comes in five colors

Buy Now on Amazon

3. Beats Flex Wireless Earbuds, $39 (Orig. $49.99)

Credit: Amazon
Credit: Amazon

Top Features:

  • Customized fit for all-day comfort

  • Apple headphone chip

  • Up to 12 hours of listening time

  • Auto-play and pause

  • On-device controls

  • Extended wireless range

  • Comes in four colors

Buy Now on Amazon

4. Comiso True Wireless Earbuds With Deep Bass, $40.99

Credit: Amazon
Credit: Amazon

Top Features:

  • Ergonomic comfort sports design

  • Upgraded ultra-long playback

  • Rich bass sound

  • 48-hour ultra-long playtime

  • Waterproof

  • Comes in three colors

Buy Now on Amazon

5. JBL Tune True Wireless In-Ear Headphones, $59.95 (Orig. $99.95)

Credit: Amazon
Credit: Amazon

Top Features:

  • Two-hour charging time from empty

  • Hands-free stereo calls

  • Signature JBL pure bass sound

Buy Now on Amazon

6. UrbanEars Alby Wireless Earbuds With Customizable Fit, $69.99

Credit: UrbanEars
Credit: UrbanEars

Top Features:

  • Earbuds attach to charging case magnetically for extra security

  • Includes silicone in-ear tips for a customizable fit

  • Available in four colors

  • Voice and touch controls

  • Water-resistant design

Buy Now on UrbanEars

7. Jabra Elite Wireless Earbuds With Charging Case, $79.99

Credit: Amazon
Credit: Amazon

Top Features:

  • Four-microphone call technology

  • Up to 15 hours of use on a single charge

  • Fast-charge compatible

  • Two-year warranty against dust and water

  • Voice assistant compatible

Buy Now on Amazon

8. Marshall Minor II Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds, $99.43 (Orig. $129)

Credit: MarshallHeadphones
Credit: MarshallHeadphones

Top Features:

  • 12 hours of wireless playtime

  • Custom-tuned drivers

  • Magnetic pause function (automatically pause when earbuds are attached)

  • Ergonomic ear-fit system to ensure earbuds stay in place all day

  • Multi-directional knob (play, pause, shuffle, adjust volume, answer calls, etc.)

  • Short cord for easy neck resting

Buy Now on Amazon

9. Marshall Minor III True Wireless Earbuds, $129

Credit: MarshallHeadphones
Credit: MarshallHeadphones

Top Features:

  • Signature vintage Marshall design and color

  • 25 hours of wireless playtime

  • Touch-sensitive surface

  • Auto-play and pause

  • Water-resistant

Buy Now on Marshall Headphones

10. Amazon Wireless Echo Buds With Premium Sound And Active Noise Cancelation, $139.99

Credit: Amazon
Credit: Amazon

Top Features:

  • Dynamic audio and active noise cancelation

  • Alexa-compatible (also works with other assistants)

  • Customizable fit

  • Sweat-resistant

  • Wireless charging compatible

  • Comes in two colors

Buy Now on Amazon

11. Jaybird Vista, $148.99

Credit: Amazon
Credit: Amazon

Top Features:

  • Sweat and waterproof

  • Single earbud mode

  • Sport fit

  • Fast charge

  • Premium sound with custom EQ

Buy Now on Amazon

If you enjoyed this story, check out these 3 premium earbuds that are the best you can buy.

More from In The Know:

Meet the man on a mission to make 10,000 new friends

This was one of the best-selling laptops during Labor Day — and it's still $110 off

The 7 best carry-ons that will definitely fit in the overhead compartment

All of the best Labor Day laptop sales you can still shop right now

Our goal is to create a safe and engaging place for users to connect over interests and passions. In order to improve our community experience, we are temporarily suspending article commenting

Latest stories

  • Ukraine leader pledges 'strong response' after shots fired at aide's car in assassination attempt

    Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has warned the "response will be strong" after one of his top aides survived an assassination attempt. At least 10 bullets struck Serhiy Shefir's car, the top aide and close personal friend of Mr Zelenskiy, outside of Kiev on Wednesday. The driver of his black Audi was badly wounded and taken to hospital, but Mr Shefir escaped uninjured.

  • Bewilderment by Richard Powers review: An original look at fatherhood and the future of the planet

    This Booker-shortlisted follow-up to The Overstory probably won’t nab Richard Powers the prize, but it’s a moving and original read, writes Susannah Butter

  • Trip to the Dry Cleaners, Anyone? Snakes Take Over Laundry Room at Queensland Home

    Everyone loves a reason to skip the housework occasionally, but one woman found herself with the ultimate excuse to ditch the washing when a number of snakes took over the laundry room at her Queensland home.Footage by Kylie Coates shows at least four snakes tangled up and writhing in the window of the laundry room at her home north of Townsville.Sharing the bizarre sight to her local Townsville Snake Catchers Facebook group on September 16, Coates wondered if perhaps the snakes were engaged in a group mating session.Coates told Storyful that she and her household are no strangers to snakes due to living in the bush, but said she was shocked when she was greeted by the reptiles while going to do a load of washing.“Snakes 1, washing 0! Absolutely unbelievable sight! And they did not seem to be bothered by us watching,” she said. Credit: Kylie Coates via Storyful

  • First look at Queen's Platinum Jubilee medal

    Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries visits the Worcestershire Medal Service in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, where the Queen's Platinum Jubilee medal is being struck ahead of next year's celebrations. The medal will be awarded to serving frontline staff with five years' service, including police, fire, paramedic and prison staff and armed forces personnel. Exclusive footage of the previously unseen medal and interviews with Nadine Dorries and Worcestershire Medal Service chief executive Phil McDermott.

  • Queen came up with gags for London Olympics James Bond sketch herself, reveals Daniel Craig

    The Queen came up with ideas for the London 2012 Olympics James Bond skit herself, Daniel Craig has revealed.

  • Don’t target teachers in teen jabs debate, protesters warned

    Schools have been left in the “eye of a storm” over the vaccination programme, school leaders warned today, as they urged people not to threaten teachers or stage protests. “The role of schools is limited to hosting these sessions and dealing with associated communications, and it is quite wrong to make them the target of opposition.”

  • Dozens of Vehicles Line Up at Brighton Fuel Station Amid Panic Buy Warning

    Dozens of vehicles were seen waiting in line at a fuel station in Brighton, England, on September 24, amid warnings from the UK government to not panic buy fuel.According to ITV News, BP said it had temporarily closed some of its petrol stations due to a shortage of lorry drivers on September 23.BP’s head of UK retail, Hanna Hofer, told ITV that the company has “two thirds of normal forecourt stock levels required for smooth operations” and that level is “declining rapidly”.The BBC reported that the UK government had said that people should carry on buying petrol as normal despite the supply problems.“The fuel is there, it can continue to flow” the country’s Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told the BBC.He said refineries had “plenty of petrol” and that the government could bring in the army to drive fuel tankers if it was needed. Credit: Petr Mysicka via Storyful

  • Sabina Nessa murder probe police seek man in CCTV images

    Images show a man walking in Pegler Square, Kidbrooke, on the evening Sabina was attacked.

  • Climate funding target for poorer countries ‘likely to be met’ by 2022

    Climate funding target for poorer countries ‘likely to be met’ by 2022Rich states missed $100bn target in 2020 but recent pledges by US, EU and China have lifted prospects, says economist China has pledged to stop financing coal-fired power plants abroad – although Stern said it was also important for the country to ‘start reducing coal strongly at home’. Photograph: Li Bin/EPA

  • Tell us: have you learned to love the ‘pest’ you hated?

    Tell us: have you learned to love the ‘pest’ you hated? . We would like to hear about the creatures that once were a nuisance, but you had a change of heart about them

  • Andrew Neil ‘almost had breakdown’ at GB News

    Andrew Neil ‘almost had breakdown’ at GB News. Veteran presenter, who quit after eight shows, says technical faults and other problems ‘would have killed him’ if he had carried on

  • Exclusive: London’s Thames Clippers sail towards sustainability

    Zero carbon fuel, hybrid engines and ‘intelligent propulsion’, Sean Collins, co-founder and CEO of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers says the capital’s river buses must go green

  • Climate crisis: do we need millions of machines sucking CO2 from the air?

    Climate crisis: do we need millions of machines sucking CO2 from the air?From turning CO2 into rock to capturing the breath of office workers, a growing number of companies think the answer is yes The Canadian firm Carbon Engineering’s pilot plant pellet reactor and associated equipment. Photograph: Carbon Engineering

  • ‘Loss-making’ HS2 to be delayed by a decade, says Tory MP

    The claim was made by Andrew Bridgen.

  • Rick Stein is ripping up the rulebook in his new cookbook

    The chef talks to Prudence Wade about cooking for his family in lockdown, putting his own spin on traditional dishes and why simple food is best

  • La Palma firefighters make path to divert red-hot lava flow

    La Palma firefighters make path to divert red-hot lava flow

  • Best children’s clothing brands in the UK to order online

    Where to buy clothes your children (and you) will love

  • 8 best men’s cycling jackets: Keep warm on winter rides

    From insulated to lighter, packable designs – we took these styles for a spin

  • ‘We haven’t finished the job’: JVT reflects on 18 months of Covid

    ‘We haven’t finished the job’: JVT reflects on 18 months of CovidExclusive: Listen to the experts, says deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam, not the celebrities Jonathan Van-Tam is set to present this year’s Royal Institution Christmas lectures. Photograph: Paul Wilkinson/Paul Wilkinson Photography

  • Paris court upholds life sentence for 'Carlos the Jackal' in 1974 grenade attack

    Carlos the Jackal, the Venezuelan leftist militant who carried out attacks across the globe in the 1970s and 1980s, had the life sentence he had been given for a deadly grenade attack on a Paris shop in 1974 confirmed on Thursday, the Paris Prosecutor's Office said. Following hearings that began on Wednesday, a special criminal court in Paris confirmed the life sentence for a 1974 grenade attack on the Publicis Drugstore, an upmarket shopping centre in the French capital. Carlos, who carried out