5 Cheaper Alternatives To Beats Headphones Actually Worth Buying

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There are many things that separate Beats headphones from those by other manufacturers. There's the signature Beats audio profile that favors lower frequencies for bass-heavy music, and style is another big factor, along with active noise-cancellation (ANC). For Apple users, seamless device integration and the ability to configure peripherals with custom EQ settings are also important factors. 

If you're looking for headphones that have all of these but aren't willing to pay the premium $300-plus price tag for a Beats device, there are several great cheaper alternatives worth looking into. Some of these offer similar features and specs to Beats headsets at half the cost, and some even outshine Beats in certain areas. There will always be some consequences of going cheaper, like a less premium build quality that uses more plastic, and a lack of certain features. However, if all you want are a pair of wireless headphones that support ANC, can last you the entire day, are comfortable to wear for hours, and keep a certain stylistic touch, you can get some solid options just around the $100 mark.

We've seen how above and beyond Nothing goes with its smartphone designs, and it employs the same visual aesthetic to its line of headphones. The lineup's Nothing Headphone (a), priced at $199 on both Amazon and the official Nothing online store, is a great budget alternative to Beats headphones if you prioritize a unique look.

Beyond its visuals and cheaper price, the Nothing Headphone (a) has a lot going for it. It features decent ANC for the price that is especially effective at mitigating low engine sounds, a lightweight, comfortable frame that you can wear for hours without strain, and support for high-fidelity audio with LDAC — a feature lacking from Beats headphones. There are also areas where the Nothing Headphone (a) performs better than Beats headsets, including both the Beats Studio Pro and the Beats 360. For instance, the Headphone (a) has up to three times the battery life of Beats headphones, reaching 75 hours with ANC on and 135 with it disabled. In comparison, the Beats 360 lasts just 32 hours regardless of if ANC is on or not. The Nothing X app and its exceptional equalizer are also an advantage, as Beats users can only use an equalizer if they're using an Apple device, since the Beats Android app lacks an EQ manager .

As for areas where Beats edges ahead, there are a few. The build quality is an immediate one, especially when Nothing's offering is put next to the new Beats 360. The ANC also isn't as good as top-tier Beats models, especially for mid- and high-range frequencies. Furthermore, the audio quality requires some tuning, and while the Nothing X app makes this somewhat easy, Beats headphones have greater audio quality out of the box without manual configuration.

The headphone space is dominated by certain companies. Sony, Sennheiser, Apple, and Beats headphones are all worthwhile choices, but there are some hidden gems as well. A brand flying under most people's radars but silently dominating the budget headphone space is 1More, and if you want a true Beats-like experience without paying the Beats premium, the $119 1More SonoFlow Max is an excellent choice to consider.

The SonoFlow has everything you'd look for in a Beats device. There's decent ANC that 1More claims to block up to 50 dB of noise, a light build with deep ear cups to provide comfortable cushioning all around, and support for the LDAC codec. The headphones also have great battery life: up to 105 hours with ANC off and 65 with it turned on. As with the Nothing Headphone (a), the SonoFlow Max also has an amazing companion app with highly customizable EQ and a wide range of presets, something that isn't available to Android users with Beats devices.

Again, there are some drawbacks to consider. The construction isn't as premium as the top-tier Beats models, and 1More skips out on an IP water-resistance rating entirely. The ANC, while still great for the price, ultimately falls short of pricier headphones. These headphones also don't support hot-swappable ear cups, a feature that exists in the Beats 360 and is available in many other entries on this list. The USB-C port is also only for charging, which means it cannot be used for audio transmission; you can only use the headphones wirelessly or through a 3.5-millimeter analog connection.

If the main Beats feature you're looking to see replicated in a budget headset is its signature bass-heavy audio profile, we recommend the Sony ULT Wear. While slightly dated — Sony released them in 2024, and you can find them for as low as $148 on Amazon — these headphones remain an excellent budget option for those wanting the punchiest music profile on a budget.

As we mentioned above, the Sony ULT Wear's main selling point is its bass signature that makes it ideal for listening to music. If you ever feel that you need them to be louder or want them even heavier on the bass, the headphones come with a dedicated ULT button to instantly up the bass — though users generally don't recommend doing so. Beyond the sound, the headphones carry a decent battery life — 30 hours with ANC and 50 hours with it disabled. This isn't at the same level as some of the other options, but it's still longer than more premium Beats models. The ANC is one of the best on the list and in this price range, the fit is comfortable, and there's support for LDAC. These headphones also feature some premium features missing not only from others in their price range, but even from Beats flagships. For instance, Sony ULT Wear has the same ear detection found in Apple AirPods Max.

We mentioned that the headset is good for listening to bass-heavy music, but with the profile favoring bass so much, mid- and high-frequency sounds lack clarity compared to other headphones. There are no swappable ear cups here either, nor is there support for audio over USB-C.

The Nothing Headphone (a) is a great budget alternative to Beats headphones, and the CMF Headphone Pro is an amazing budget alternative to the Nothing Headphone (a). The headphones are currently selling for $83 on Amazon, yet still feature serviceable ANC, a decently comfortable fit, and several features not usually found in this price range.

While not at the same level as the Nothing (a), the CMF Headphone Pro is stylish in its own right. It also boasts a similarly impressive battery life: 50 hours with ANC on and 100 hours with it turned off, punching well above its price. It has access to the same Nothing X companion app for EQ tuning as the Nothing Headphone (a), also supports LDAC, and features swappable ear cups — a feature missing from the Beats lineup except from its most premium headphones, the Beats 360.

Considering it sells for less than $100, the CMF Headphone Pro understandably falls short in some areas. The lower price ultimately means that the plastic build feels much cheaper and that the foam padding isn't as premium as over-ear Beats headphones. The ANC, while serviceable, is also not nearly as good as top-tier Beats headphones. The sound profile isn't the most accurate either, and like the Sony ULT, it can be incredibly bass-heavy — though this can be adjusted with the highly customizable EQ settings inside the Nothing X app.

Audiophiles and casual listeners want very different things in headsets. While one demographic wants the highest fidelity sound and a good EQ manager above all else, the other prioritizes a better out-of-the-box experience and a stylistic touch. Beats has always targeted the latter group, and while the latest Beats headphones have improved in this regard, many still prefer other brands for audio quality.

One such brand is Sennheiser, and while many of its higher-end models can cost thousands of dollars, the Accentum Wireless offers the Sennheiser experience at just $129 on Amazon. They deliver great sound quality for the price, can use the exceptional Sennheiser app and equalizer, and while they lack LDAC, there is support for aptX HD. The battery life is also well beyond its price bracket, offering the same 50 hours with ANC turned on as other heavy hitters — though there's no option to turn ANC off on these. If you're willing to spend a little more, there's also the more recent Sennheiser Accentum Plus Wireless for $180 on Amazon. The Plus model adds a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack, touch-based gesture controls on the right ear cup, and ear detection.

The one area where both the Accentum Wireless and Accentum Plus Wireless lag behind Beats is in ANC performance. The noise-canceling is fine for general use or if upgrading from headphones with no ANC, but there are better options available for a similar price purely in terms of active noise-canceling.

Getting the right pair of headphones can be a challenge, and doubly so if you're on a budget. To select the top budget Beats alternatives, we took note of what makes Beats headphones so great — active noise-cancellation, great audio tuning with a punchy, bass-forward sound signature, and its focus on fashion — and looked at cheaper options that offer a similar deal.

We also accounted for factors like build quality and comfort when using these headsets for hours, as well as additional features that give these options an edge over pricier Beats alternatives. These include support for advanced Bluetooth audio codecs, better companion apps, longer-lasting battery life, ear detection, and more.