Key takeaways
- Cheapest pick worth buying: Soundcore AeroFit 2 ($99 – $130).
- Entry-level bone-conduction and air-conduction models work well for workouts; pay more for better bass and calls.
- Open-ear designs leave your ears free to hear traffic and people, which is the whole point for runners and cyclists.
In this article
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Cheap open-ear headphones can be a smart buy or a false economy. We picked the lowest-priced models in the US that still earn a buy or consider verdict from us.
Prices are typical ranges, not live prices. The button on each pick opens the current price.
Budget picks at a glance
| Product | Verdict | Score | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soundcore AeroFit 2 | Consider | 8.1/10 | $99 – $130 |
| Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 | Buy | 8.9/10 | $159 – $180 |
Budget picks in detail
Soundcore AeroFit 2
Verdict: Consider · Score: 8.1/10 · Typical price: $99 – $130
Our verdict on Soundcore AeroFit 2 is consider: a decent option, but compare it with the picks above before paying $99 – $130.
Shokz OpenRun Pro 2
Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.9/10 · Typical price: $159 – $180
A safe choice: Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 earns a buy verdict with a score of 8.9/10, at a typical price of $159 – $180.
How to save money
Entry-level bone-conduction and air-conduction models work well for workouts; pay more for better bass and calls.
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.
Where not to cut corners
Open-ear designs leave your ears free to hear traffic and people, which is the whole point for runners and cyclists.
Common mistake: Expecting deep bass or noise cancelling: open-ear headphones cannot block outside sound by design.
Compare more options
Search open-ear headphones on Amazon See top-rated open-ear headphones on Amazon
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
What are the best cheap open-ear headphones in the US?
The cheapest model we would still buy is Soundcore AeroFit 2, typically $99 – $130.
Are cheap open-ear headphones worth it?
Entry-level bone-conduction and air-conduction models work well for workouts; pay more for better bass and calls. Do not compromise on the basics, though. Open-ear designs leave your ears free to hear traffic and people, which is the whole point for runners and cyclists.
When are open-ear headphones cheapest in the US?
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.