1. The list in brief ↴
2. Best overall
3. Best in-ears
4. Best earbuds for battery life
5. Best for aptX
6. Also consider
7. How to choose
8. How we test
9. F.A.Q.
10. Recent updates
11. Best deals
Noise-cancelling headphones carry a premium, right? Not necessarily. While plenty of our best headphones at the top end offer active noise cancellation (ANC), a surprising number of more affordable models also boast the feature. Sure, these might might miss out on more advanced ANC features like ambient modes that let in outside sound, but they can still deliver mighty impressive results.
We've brought together the best cheap noise cancelling headphones below, so you can block out distractions without paying top dollar. It includes both over-ear and in-ear options, and all are wireless for the ultimate in convenience. They're all five-star pairs and some are Award winners.
We've used each of the below extensively as part of our reviews process. We listen to a range of music and other content in a variety of settings to really gauge how each pair performs. We test them against rival models at a similar price to see where they sit in the market, and each verdict is decided in consultation with other members of our reviews team to avoid individual bias. For more on what our reviews process entails, see our how we test section further down this page.
My first pair of noise-cancelling cans were the mighty Bose QuietComfort 2 in the early 2000s. I used them for everything, from working, to walking around town listening to music and getting some shut-eye on the red-eye. Thankfully noise-cancelling headphones are now much cheaper than the QC2, making the tech more accessible to all. Whatever your want, you'll find a great – and affordable – pair from our list below.
The quick list
Best overall
For the price, these are well-built, comfortable, and offer very good sound quality and the all-important noise cancellation. The best ANC budget pair for most people.
Best in-ears
These are like the Award-winning C500, with added noise cancellation. Think of them as a taste of Sony's high-end earbuds at a much lower price.
Best earbuds for battery life
With eight hours from the buds, and a total of 30 hours including the charging case, the JBL Live Pro 2 TWS will keep you entertained for days on end. Not many noise-cancelling earbuds can match that – and certainly not at this price.
Best for aptX
Support for the aptX codec means higher-quality audio than most rivals. The Lindy BNX-60 are the only pair here with aptX, and they're mighty fine headphones besides.
The best cheap noise-cancelling headphones we recommend in 2024
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.
Best overall
The WH-CH720N were designed to be an affordable pair of over-ears with a heavy feature set and a particular focus on budget noise cancelling. And that's exactly what they deliver: for a very reasonable price, they’re a dependably made, enthusiastic-sounding pair of headphones that, while occasionally straying into the realm of excessive bass, deliver strong ANC and a large feature set to the market's mid-to-low price bracket.
The noise cancelling is first rate. While more premium models like the WH-1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort 45 block out external noises more effectively, we find these affordable Sonys do a pleasing job of dampening, if not silencing completely, outside noises and distractions. Further features, including Bluetooth multipoint, voice calls, a hefty battery life and Sony DSEE sound upscaling, only sweeten the deal.
Sonically, the CH720N are great for the price, and while you'll certainly receive more refinement and balance the higher up the price ladder you go, the affordable cans feel like they're spoiling you for £100. Sony might have focused on features, but the sound these over-ears provide is detailed, robust and exciting, with decent texture and feeling across the board. Job done.
Read the full Sony WH-CH720N review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | Enthusiastic with plenty of bass | ★★★★★ |
| Features | Impressive ANC with ambient mode; marathon battery life | ★★★★★ |
| Build | Plasticky, but solid with an intuitive layout | ★★★★☆ |
Best in-ears
Sony's excellent wireless earbuds slot neatly between its other Award winners, the wallet-friendly WF-C500 (which don't have ANC) and premium WF-1000XM5 (which are much more expensive).
They do a great job of bringing noise cancellation down to a more affordable price. The buds are small and lightweight enough to be even more comfortable than Sony's XM4. Battery life is competitive at seven and a half hours.
They lack aptX HD and LDAC but do have some other neat features. Adaptive Sound Control automatically switches listening modes depending on your location, and Sony's DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) upscales low-res digital audio files to higher quality. A software update has seen Bluetooth Multipoint also added so you can be connected to two devices simultaneously.
They sound superbly balanced too, with deep, detailed bass, expressive mids and engaging highs. They're a very musical listen for the money and a clear step up from the cheaper WF-C500.
Downsides? The charging case only provides one extra charge which seems a little harsh. But the superb sound and great features for an affordable price make these some of the best cheap noise-cancelling headphones available.
Read the full Sony WF-C700N review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | A taste of what Sony's high-end earbuds sound like, at a fraction of the cost | ★★★★★ |
| Features | Different listening modes and app control, but the on-bud controls could be more versatile | ★★★★☆ |
| Build | Very small and discreet, making them very comfortable to wear | ★★★★★ |
Best earbuds for battery life
If you're after a pair of cheap noise-cancelling earbuds with great battery life, these are the ones for you. Their eight-hour run time might not sound that special (it's only half an hour longer than the Sony WF-C700N's), but add in the extra 22 hours from the portable charging case, and you can see it's worth shouting about. The 30-hour total battery life is double that of the Sony WF-C700N. Say it loud.
But there's a lot more to them than just battery life. They have all the features you could wish for, including ANC, IPX5 water resistance, a thorough control app which offers some customisation, a good user experience, and a comfortable enough design. A few more ear tip options to help get the perfect fit wouldn't go amiss, though, but we're nitpicking by this point.
Touch controls are included at the top of each stem and you also have Multipoint Bluetooth so you can connect two sources simultaneously and switch between them on the fly.
The excellent sound quality is the icing on this cake, with the JBLs favouring a lively and entertaining sound. Bass weight is nicely judged and there's good extension there, too. Detail levels are excellent at this level, as are the dynamics on offer. If you're looking to make the step up from a cheap pair of earbuds and want an entertaining sound that outlasts its rivals, these JBLs have to be on your list.
Read the full JBL Live Pro 2 TWS review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | Very entertaining, and a real step up from most cheaper pairs | ★★★★★ |
| Features | Packed full of useful features, including that long battery life | ★★★★★ |
| Build | A glossy finish and good waterproof rating, but could be comfier and a tighter fit | ★★★★☆ |
Best for aptX
aptX is a codec that can transmit audio at a ‘CD-like’ 16-bit/44.1kHz, and while it's still compressed, it does have better sound quality than the standard AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs. These Lindy BNX-60 are the only headphones in this list to support aptX, but remember, to hear the benefit you'll need a compatible audio source too.
Codecs aside, these are very good noise-cancelling headphones. One ear cup has a volume control, an on/off switch for the active noise-cancellation and a blue light that indicates when ANC is in use. The other has the USB input for charging, pause/play/skip track controls, a Bluetooth connection light and a standard wired headphone output. A full charge is good for 15 hours of wireless music, or a little less with the active noise-cancelling.
At this price, you'd be worried about bright treble or booming bass, but instead, the Lindy BNX-60 headphones produce a balanced sound that’s easy to listen to. They also deliver a nice groove while doing a decent job with vocals.
For this kind of money, it's extremely hard to grumble. So we won't.
Read the full Lindy BNX-60 review
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Sound | Balanced and very easy to listen to | ★★★★★ |
| Features | Come with a carry case and optional cable with adapters galore | ★★★★★ |
| Build | Comfortable and snug without getting too warm | ★★★★☆ |
Also consider
The best cheap noise-cancelling headphone alternatives we've tested:
Panasonic RZ-S500W: they might be getting on a bit now, but these wireless earbuds still pack a punch. Their audio is superb, noise cancelling first rate and their build quality second to none. What's even more impressive is that they were Panasonic's first stab at a pair of true wireless earbuds. We're getting impatient waiting for its second effort.
Earfun Air Pro: the Earfun Air were the first really affordable true wireless earbuds to earn five stars from us. These are essentially the same buds with added noise cancellation, which makes them well worth considering. It's just a shame Earfun's more recent headphones have gone a bit off the boil...
Lindy BNX-80: these are a tad pricier than the BNX-60 in our list, but add a hybrid mode that allows in outside sound. They're decent all-rounders with very good sound, a comfortable fit and impressive noise cancellation.
How to choose the best cheap noise-cancelling headphones for you
So, should you go wireless? In short, yes. It's more convenient, and sound quality has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, even if it doesn't yet compete with the wired alternatives for the same price. It will also give you much more choice – wired active noise-cancelling (ANC) pairs are becoming a rarity these days.
Most pairs with ANC feature microphones that cancel outside sound, and also those to let sound in, so you can be more aware of your surroundings or even have a chat without taking the headphones off. This 'ambient aware' mode (or 'talkthrough', as it's also known) was once the preserve of pricier pairs, but is now trickling down to the budget end of the market.
The big consideration is: in-ear or over-ear? The former are smaller and more pocketable, while the latter's design – the fact that they tend to envelop your ears completely – makes for more effective noise-cancelling.
Battery life should also be a key factor. Budget pairs can't match their pricier counterparts, but you should still demand around 20 hours to avoid having to plug in too often.
How we test noise-cancelling headphones
While we have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London, Reading and Bath, where our team of experienced, in-house reviewers test the majority of hi-fi and AV kit that passes through our door, noise-cancelling headphones are different beasts that require use on the go in different environments.
Therefore, our noise-cancelling headphones reviewing process sees us use pairs in an office, on busy streets, on public transport and, when we can, even on a plane. We judge a pair's portability, comfort and battery life, and of course, sound quality is also key in forming our verdicts and star ratings.
As What Hi-Fi? is all about comparative testing, each pair we review is compared to the best in its price and style class – whether that's one standout pair or a few we favour the highest among the many models we listen to each year for reviews and What Hi-Fi? Awards judging. We keep class-leading products in our stockrooms so we can always compare new products to rival ones we know and love.
All review verdicts are agreed upon by the team rather than an individual reviewer to eliminate any personal preference and to make sure we're being as thorough as possible. There's no input from PR companies or our sales team when it comes to the verdict, and there never has been – we're proud of having delivered honest, unbiased reviews for nearly 50 years and counting, so you can trust we're giving you the best buying advice possible.
MORE:
These are the best headphone deals around
More to spend? The best wireless headphones you can buy
Sony WF-1000XM5 vs Sony WF-C700N: which five-star wireless earbuds reign supreme?
F.A.Q.
Are noise-cancelling headphones worth it?
We think so. If you want to block out background noise to really focus on what you're listening to – or just to enjoy some peace and quiet – noise-cancelling headphones are just the ticket.
What are the best budget noise-cancelling headphones?
It depends what you're looking for. We rate the Sony WH-CH720N as the best all-rounders, meaning they'll be the best option for most people. But if you want earbuds instead of over-ear headphones, then the Sony WF-C700N are for you. Check our list and see which would suit you best.
Which are better, noise-cancelling earbuds or headphones?
In terms of pure noise cancellation, over-ear headphones are usually more effective, because they enclose your whole ear, providing another barrier to outside sounds. But you'd be surprised how much noise ANC earbuds can cancel. Generally speaking, over-ears give a fuller sound, but some people prefer earbuds' greater portability – just sling them in your pocket when you're done.
Recent updates
- 3rd May 2024: Changed to new Best Buy format. Removed Panasonic RZ-S500W and Earfun Air Pro from main list. Added new 'Also consider', 'Recent updates' and 'F.A.Q.' sections.
- 8th February 2024: Edited the introduction.
- 14th November 2023: Added Sony WH-CH720N.
- 19th May 2023: Added Sony WF-C700N and JBL Live Pro 2 TWS.
